Course Descriptions

Chemistry Courses

CHE   1000   PREPARATION FOR PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY
Two hours.   A review and practice in those basic principles and mathematical skills needed by students planning to take CHE 1111 and CHE 1112. Coursework includes active learning exercises and collaborative problem solving.  

CHE   1011   CHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES I
Four hours.   A review and study of chemical concepts that includes atomic structure, chemical reactions, chemical bonding, acidity and basicity and oxidation-reduction reactions. The laboratory portion will contain experiments that reinforce the principles introduced in the classroom.   Gen Ed: NW

CHE   1012   CHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES II
Four hours.   Prerequisite: CHE1011. A study of organic compounds that includes structure, properties, and reactions of functional groups followed by an examination of the role these molecules play in biological structures and processes. Concepts presented correlate to other sciences such as ecology, agriculture, biochemistry and medicine.   Gen Ed: NW

CHE   1111   PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY I
Four hours.   Prerequisites: CHE 1000 or one year of high school chemistry. Quantitative treatment of the principles of chemistry including stoichiometry, states of matter, energy, atomic structure, periodicity, ionic compounds, and molecular structure.   Gen Ed: NW

CHE   1112   PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY II
Four hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 1111. The topics covered in this course will include: intermolecular forces, kinetics, equilibrium, acid, bases, buffers, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and introduction to basic organic chemistry.   Gen Ed: NW

CHE   2015   PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
Four hours.   A survey and study of chemical concepts that includes atomic structure, chemical reactivity, chemical bonding, and acid/base chemistry. Special emphasis is placed upon the study of organic compounds that includes structure, properties, and reactions of functional groups followed by an examination of the role these molecules play in biological structures and processes.  

CHE   2221   ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
Four hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 1012 or CHE 1112. Detailed study of carbon compounds approached through the study of structure, functional groups, reactions, and mechanisms. In the laboratory, emphasis is placed upon illustrating chemical reactivity through experimentation and molecular characterization utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation.  

CHE   2222   ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
Four hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 2221. Continuation of the study of carbon compounds approached through the study of structure, functional groups, reactions, and mechanisms. In the laboratory, emphasis is placed upon synthesis illustrating chemical reactivity and molecular characterization utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation.  

CHE   2235   ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Two hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 1112. Principles of analytical chemistry will be covered with an emphasis on quantitative measurements and statistical data analysis. Topics may include gravimetric analysis, volumetric, and potentiometric methods of analysis with a focus on acid-base, reduction-oxidation, and complexometric chemistry.  

CHE   2255   DESCRIPTIVE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Two hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 1112. Fundamental topics in inorganic chemistry will be explored, among them: atomic theory and periodicity, the structure of simple solids, main group elements, and structure and bonding of coordination compounds. The laboratory component of the course will give students experience with various laboratory techniques used in the synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds.  

CHE   2275   FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
Four hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 1012 or CHE 1112. This course will focus on the applications of chemistry to forensic science. Through the use of case studies such as the Kennedy assassination, Napoleon’s death, the shroud of Turin, etc., the topics of trace evidence (soils, glass, and heavy metals poisons); toxicology and pharmacology (analysis of alcohol, poisons and drugs) will be explored. Students will gain experience with analytical and instrumental methods used in investigating crimes, with an emphasis on the measurement accuracy and traceability required in criminalistics.  

CHE   3320   APPLIED PHYSICAL, ANALYTICAL, AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Four hours.   Pre-requisite: CHE 3341. The objective of this course is to integrate the theory and application of methods in physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and inorganic chemistry, with an emphasis on inorganic synthesis and the characterization of the inorganic products using spectroscopy, thermodynamics and kinetics.  

CHE   3335   INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS
Two hours.   Pre-requisite: CHE 2235. The objective of this course is to apply the principles of quantitative chemical analysis to instrumental techniques. Electrochemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic techniques will be covered in theory and in practice through a combination of lecture and hands-on experimentation. However, as there is no laboratory component to this course, lectures will, when appropriate, integrate use of instrumentation as engagement within the classroom.  

CHE   3341   PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I
Four hours.   Prerequisites: CHE 2222 and PHY 2120 and MAT 2312 and successful completion of coursework that satisfies Effective Communication SLOs A and B. The topics covered in this class include foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular structure and the chemical bond, atomic and molecular spectroscopy.   Gen Ed: EC-C

CHE   3342   PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II
Two hours.   Pre-requisite: CHE 3341. The topics covered in this class include properties of gases, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, phase and chemical equilibria, solutions, kinetics and reaction dynamics.  

CHE   3361   BIOCHEMISTRY I
Four hours.   Same as BIO 3361. Prerequisite: CHE 2222. Biochemistry is the study of the molecules and chemical reactions of living systems. Topics covered in Biochemistry I include water, structure and function of biomolecules, enzymes, bioenergetics, major metabolic pathways, and metabolic regulation.  

CHE   3362   BIOCHEMISTRY II: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Four hours.   Same as BIO 3362. Prerequisite: BIO 3361 or CHE 3361. Students will consider important topics in molecular genetics, including structure, function and manipulation of DNA, and selected topics in metabolism and signaling.  

CHE   4410   INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS
Two hours.   Prerequisite: Senior standing. This course will encompass the exploration of a scientific research topic under the supervision of a professor having expertise in that area. It will consist of library and laboratory investigations that will culminate in the dissemination of the research methods and findings at scientific and scholarly meetings and a written research report.  

CHE   4425   SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMISTRY
Four hours.   Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. This course allows for an upper level examination of current or advanced topics in chemistry.  

CHE   4455   ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Two hours.   Prerequisite: CHE 2221 and CHE 3341. This course will cover coordination chemistry and reaction mechanisms, group theory and symmetry as applied to the understanding of bonding and spectroscopy of inorganic compounds, fundamentals of organometallic reactions, catalysis, and special topics in bioinorganic and material science.  

CHE   4960   INTERNSHIP IN CHEMISTRY
Two hours.   Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of the instructor advisor. A full- or part-time work-study appointment in a clinical, commercial, governmental, or industrial laboratory supervised jointly by an on-site supervisor and Department of Chemistry faculty member.  

CHE   4999   SENIOR RESEARCH
Two hours.   Prerequisite: Senior standing. A capstone course that will engage the student in the exploration of a scientific research topic under the supervision of a professor having expertise in the areas of interest. It will consist of library and laboratory investigations that will culminate in a written research report and the dissemination of the research methods and findings at a scientific or scholarly meeting.  

 

Physics Courses

PHY   2010   GENERAL PHYSICS I (Algebra Based)
Four hours.   Prerequisite: High school mathematics through pre-calculus or permission of the instructor. Algebra-based physics. Topics include mechanics, fluids, vibrations, waves, and sound.   Gen Ed: NW

PHY   2020   GENERAL PHYSICS II (Algebra Based)
Four hours.   Prerequisite: PHY2010. Algebra-based physics. Topics include heat, kinetic theory of gases, electric fields, AC-DC circuits, magnetism and light.   Gen Ed: NW

PHY   2110   GENERAL PHYSICS I (Calculus Based)
Four hours.   Pre- or corequisite: MAT 2505 or MAT 2311. Calculus-based physics. Topics include introduction to Newtonian mechanics, fluids, harmonic oscillators, vibrations and sound.   Gen Ed: NW

PHY   2120   GENERAL PHYSICS II (Calculus Based)
Four hours.   Pre- or corequisite: PHY 2110. Calculus-based physics. Topics include temperature and heat, kinetic theory of gases, electro-magnetism, AC-DC circuits, Maxwell’s equations and optics.   Gen Ed: NW