CHEM - Chemistry Course Descriptions

CHEM A1100 Environmental Chemistry

Intended to broaden the student's understanding of chemical processes taking place in our environment. The relationship between atmospheric, soil and water chemistry will be underlined. This course draws upon general, analytical and organic chemistry experience.

Credits

3

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A1101 Environmental Chemistry Lab

Introduction to environmental analysis. Samples of water, air, soil, food, etc. will be obtained and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively for pollutants. The effects of these pollutants on the environment will be discussed and linked to urban problems. Analytical techniques will include titrations, separations (GC, HPLC, GC/MS) and polarography.

Credits

2

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A1200 Environmental Organic Chemistry

Examination of processes that affect the behavior and fate of anthropogenic organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Chemical properties influencing transfers between hydrophobic organic chemicals, air, water, and sediments, based on a fundamental understanding of intermolecular interactions, will be studied. Mechanisms of important thermochemical and photochemical transformation reactions will also be briefly investigated.

Credits

3

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A1400 Chemical Information Sources

An introduction to the retrieval of chemical information. Topics covered: primary, secondary and tertiary literature, including the major abstract journals, data sources, compendia, patents, current awareness, and computer readable sources.

Credits

1

Offered

Spring semester only

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A4000 Journey to the Center of the Cell

A semester long journey that follows the path taken by two extra-cellular signals as they reach a cell, traverse the plasma membrane, navigate the cytoplasm, and finally manifest their effects on the genome. Through reading and discussion of primary research literature, this course highlights how structural biology has helped develop a detailed picture of each step in the pathway.

A portion of this course will be taught in so-called ‘flipped’ course mode. Prior to each class meeting, students will review reading material, listen to lecture podcasts, or view videos. Class time will be devoted to discussion/questions about the lecture, review of selected portions of the lecture, problems sets. Quizzes and other types of assessments will be used to evaluate students.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Grade of C or better in Chem. 26300 [or placement by the department] and Grade of C or better in Bio 10100 (Biological Foundations I)

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM CHEM A5900:Biochemistry II Biochemistry I

The course covers the cellular biochemistry of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Prereq.: Organic chemistry. 3 hr./wk.; 3 cr.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

Organic chemistry.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A8000-A8999 Special Topics in Chemistry

Special topics not covered in the usual department offerings. Topics will vary from semester to semester depending on student and instructor interest. Each course will have a designated list of prerequisites. These depend on the central topic of the course and will be decided by the instructor. Credits and hours will be determined by the instructor and the department.

Credits

1-5

Contact Hours

1-5 hr./wk.

CHEM A8005 Biochemistry II

Molecular basis of enzyme action, membranes (transport and signal transduction), protein structure, signal transduction, virology, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, molecular basis of replication, transcription of genetic information, immunology.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

A one semester undergraduate biochemistry course.

Offered

Spring semester only.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A8200 Chemistry-Physics-Engineering Seminar I

Topics in physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.

Credits

1

Offered

Fall semester only

CHEM A4200 RNA Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Chemistry, structure and function of the ribonucleic acids (RNA), and the increasingly important role this ancient biopolymer is recognized to play in Biochemistry and other life sciences, including medicine. Theoretical and methodological concepts will be explored in lectures and in class discussion of classic and contemporary RNA research papers.

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Admission into the chemistry MS program and CHEM A8005 (Advanced Biochemistry), or equivalent.

Contact Hours

3 hr./wk.

CHEM A8300 Chemistry-Physics-Engineering Seminar II

Topics in physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.

Credits

1

Offered

Spring semester only

CHEM B1000 Inorganic Chemistry

Theories of chemical bonding and molecular structure applied to inorganic compounds; stereochemistry; compounds of the non-transition elements; transition metal complexes.

Credits

5

Offered

Spring semester only

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B3000 Polymer Chemistry

Fundamentals of polymer science; polymerization, solution properties, and solid state properties.

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B5000 Organic Mechanisms

The basic methods of studying organic reaction mechanisms and their application to specific reactions.

Credits

5

Offered

Fall semester only

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B5100 Organic Synthesis

A critical and mechanistic evaluation of methods and concepts in organic synthesis.

Credits

5

Prerequisites

CHEM B5000.

Offered

Spring semester only

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B5200 Spectroscopy and Structural Proof in Organic Chemistry

Principles and concepts in spectroscopic methods such as infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy including techniques such as decoupling, 2-dimensional correlated spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analyses.

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B5300 Organometallics

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B6000 Quantum Chemistry

An introduction to quantum chemistry. A mathematical development of the theories which explain atomic and molecular behavior with applications to chemical bonding and spectroscopy.

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B7200 Surface Chemistry and Colloids

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B7300 Computers in Chemistry

Credits

5

Contact Hours

5 hr./wk.

CHEM B8000 Special Topics in Chemistry

Credits

5

Contact Hours

4 hr./wk.

CHEM B8001 Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

Credits

CHEM B8002 Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry

Credits

CHEM B8003 Special Topics in Organic Chemistry

Credits

CHEM B8004 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry

Credits

CHEM B8900 Introduction to Research Methodology

An introduction to methods of doing research; students are required to submit a research notebook and a short paper. With approval, may be converted to the first half of thesis research.

Credits

5

Contact Hours

Hrs. TBA

CHEM B8905 Research Methods in Biochemistry

Students gain experience in current laboratory and/or computational Biochemistry research techniques under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Requirements include 3 hours of research exercises per credit each week; a final progress report in oral or written format is also required. This course can be taken twice for a maximum of 10 credits; eligible for SP designation that converts to a letter grade upon completion.

Credits

1-5 (variable); letter grades

Prerequisites

Permission of the MS/4+1 Biochemistry Coordinator; consent of a faculty supervisor in Chemistry & Biochemistry or a cognate department.

Contact Hours

3-15 per week

CHEM B9100 Basic Laboratory Techniques for Research in Physical, Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry

Electronics, principles of instrumentation, application of some modern instruments, and instrumental techniques.

Credits

5

Offered

Spring semester only

Contact Hours

2 lect., 6 lab hr./wk.

CHEM B9800 Seminar in Biochemistry

Presentation and discussion of current problems in biochemistry. Includes presentations of recent research findings by invited speakers and requires registered students to make at least one presentation based on published work or their own research results.

Credits

1

Contact Hours

1 hr./wk.

CHEM B9901 Thesis Research

Credits

3

CHEM B9901-B9905 Thesis Research

Students choosing thesis research will prepare a thesis under the personal guidance of a faculty advisor. The research must be completed in two years from the initial date of registration for the thesis course, continuing registration until completed.

Credits

10

CHEM B9902 Thesis Research

Credits

3

CHEM V9100 Colloquium

Recent developments and trends in the field of biology. Required of all candidates for the M.S. degree.

Credits

1

Contact Hours

2 hr./wk.

Notes

Colloquium must be taken twice.