Stephen F. Austin State University

Chemistry Department

 

The mission of the chemistry department is to educate students in a way that will allow them to graduate as lifelong learners that are well prepared for their chosen careers. The objectives of the Department of Chemistry are: (1) to prepare students for graduate and/or professional schools (i.e. medical); (2) to prepare students for positions in industry, government service, and teaching; (3) to allow science students with non-chemistry majors to relate chemistry to their major science; and (4) to acquaint non-science students with the methods, concepts, and achievements of the science of chemistry.

 

The chemistry curriculum has the approval of the American Chemical Society for training professional chemists. The chemistry program is designed to be flexible which allows students to choose electives best suited for their future career goals. Students completing the Bachelor of Science for professional chemists (American Chemical Society certified degree) can pursue opportunities in various industrial labs across the country, or can continue their education in graduate school.  Students interested in professional schools, chemistry associated industries, secondary education or other options may pursue the Bachelor of Science non-certified degree. This degree is designed to prepare students interested in careers combining the knowledge of chemistry with other areas.

 

The chemistry department’s two undergraduate majors (biochemistry and chemistry) and graduate degree all share common goals and objectives for student outcomes but at different levels of expectation.  Graduates of our programs will:

 

 

·        Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental content in the basic areas of chemistry.

·        Integrate knowledge with critical thinking to solve problems.

·        Perform qualitative/quantitative chemical analyses/syntheses using modern instrumentation.

·        Articulate scientific information through oral communication.

·        Articulate scientific information through written communication.

·        Gain research experience via participation in research projects.

 

Displayed are the course descriptions of chemistry courses taught at SFA.  A curriculum map of a biochemistry/chemistry major is available at the following link: curriculum map.  Each course has course objectives and student learning outcomes associated with it and are linked to the title of each course.  The student learning outcomes are assessed and evaluated yearly.

 

Co-requisite Courses

Courses that are co-requisites must be taken together during the same semester. Separate grades will be awarded for these courses. Withdrawal from one corequisite course requires the dropping of the other course. A student is not required to repeat a corequisite course for which the student has received a passing grade.

 

Course Credit

A minimum grade of C is required in all courses that are prerequisites to a chemistry course.  Unless otherwise indicated, courses are three semester hours credit, three hours lecture per week. 

 

Courses in Chemistry (CHE)

111.           Introductory Chemistry I (CHEM 1305) – Introduction to the principles and concepts of chemical thought. Corequisite: CHE 111L. Prerequisite: Eligibility for MTH 138. (F, Sp, Sum I)

 

111L.         Introductory Laboratory I (CHEM 1105) - one semester hour, two hours lab per week. Introductory laboratory experiments. Co-requisite: CHE 111. Lab fee required. (F, Sp, Sum I)

 

112.           Introductory Chemistry II (CHEM 1307) - Elementary organic and biochemical systems. Prerequisites: CHE 111 and 111L. Co-requisite: CHE 112L. (Sp)

 

112L.         Introductory Laboratory II (CHEM 1107) - one semester hour, two hours lab per week. Introductory organic laboratory experiments. Prerequisites: CHE 111 and 111L. Co-requisite: CHE 112. Lab fee required. (Sp)

 

125.           Introductory Physical Science - four semester hours, three hours lecture, two hours lab per week. Presents introductory concepts in physics and chemistry.  Seamless combination of content and interactive lectures with hands-on laboratory exercises to give both conceptual and kinetic understanding of physical science principles.  Not open to students who have received credit in PHY 125.  May not be used to meet graduation requirements by students majoring/minoring in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Co-requisite: CHE 125L.  (F, Sp)

 

133.           General Chemistry I (CHEM 1311) – Atomic and molecular structures, stoichiometry, gas laws and thermodynamics. Corequisite: CHE 133L. Prerequisite: MTH 138 or concurrent enrollment. (F, Sp, Sum I) 

 

133L.         General Laboratory I (CHEM 1111) - one semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Spectroscopy, quantitative experiments. Co-requisite: CHE 133. Lab fee required. (F, Sp, Sum I)

 

134.           General Chemistry II (CHEM 1312) – Equilibrium, kinetics, redox, descriptive chemistry and radiochemistry. Prerequisites: CHE 133, 133L, and MTH 138. Corequisite: CHE 134L. (F, Sp, Sum II) 

 

134L.         General Laboratory II (CHEM 1112) - one semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Kinetics, spectrophotometry, quantitative/qualitative experiments. Prerequisites: CHE 133 and 133L. Co-requisite: CHE 134. Lab fee required. (F, Sp, Sum II)

 

231.           Quantitative Analysis - four semester hours, three hours lecture, three hours lab per week. Analytical applications of solution chemistry. Prerequisite: CHE 134 and 134L. Lab fee required.  (Sp)

 

241.           Inorganic Chemistry - Fundamental concepts of the descriptive inorganic chemistry of the elements. Prerequisite: CHE 134 and 134L. Co-requisite: CHE 241L.  (F)

 

241L.         Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory - one semester hour, three hours lab per week. Study of syntheses and reactions of inorganic chemistry. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Co-requisite: CHE 241. Required lab fee.  (F)

 

271.           Special Topics in Chemistry - Special studies in chemistry.  May be repeated once on a different topic. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

 

271L.         Special Topics Lab - one semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Special studies in chemistry laboratory techniques. May be repeated once on a different topic. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Required lab fee.

 

275.           Supervised Problems – one to four semester hours. Individual study and/or laboratory research. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Pass-Fail grading.

 

276.           Supervised Problems - one to four semester hours. Continuation of CHE 275. Individual study and/or laboratory research. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Pass-Fail grading.

 

302.           Fundamental Applications of Chemistry - four semester hours, three hours lecture, two hours lab per week. Presentation of the applications of chemistry and chemical principles to everyday life with an emphasis on hands-on investigations. May not be used to meet graduation requirements by students majoring/minoring in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Prerequisites: CHE 125, PHY 125, or consent of instructor. Required lab fee. (F, Sum II)

 

320.           Chemical Concepts - Review of fundamentals of chemistry as related to teaching. Does not count toward a major or minor in chemistry. Prerequisite: Eight hours of chemistry. (as needed)

 

321.           Applied Chemical Concepts - Fundamentals of laboratory safety and stockroom management/design. Prerequisites: CHE 231. (as needed)

 

330.           Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry – Comprehensive one semester course for students requiring only one semester of organic. Prerequisite: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 330L. (Sp, Sum I)

 

330L.         Fundamentals of Organic Lab - one semester hour, four hours of lab per week. Synthesis and characterization of organic compounds. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L.  Co-requisite: CHE 330. Required lab fee. (Sp, Sum I)

 

331.           Organic Chemistry I – Development of organic chemistry for chemistry majors, minors, and pre-professionals. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 331L. (F, Sum I)

 

331L.         Organic Laboratory I - one semester hour, four hours of lab per week. Synthesis and characterization of organic compounds. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Co-requisite: CHE 331. Required lab fee. (F, Sum I)

 

332.           Organic Chemistry II - Continuation of CHE 331. Prerequisites: CHE 331 and 331L. Co-requisite: CHE 332L. (Sp, Sum II)

 

332L.         Organic Laboratory II - one semester hour, four hours lab per week. Continuation of 331L. Prerequisites: CHE 331 and 331L. Co-requisite: CHE 332. Required lab fee. (Sp, Sum II)

 

337.           Physical Chemistry I - four semester hours, three hours lecture, three hours lab per week. Laws, principles, and theories concerning the structure of matter as related to properties. Prerequisites: CHE 231 and MTH 234. Fall. Required lab fee. (F)

 

338.           Physical Chemistry II - 4 semester hours, 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab per week. Continuation of CHE 337. Prerequisite: CHE 337. Required lab fee. (Sp)

 

420.           Environmental Chemistry - four semester hours, three hours lecture, three hours lab per week. Chemical processes involved in the environment. Prerequisite: CHE 231 and 330 or 331. Required lab fee. (Sp)

 

441.           Advanced Inorganic Chemistry - Reactions and structures of inorganic molecules and ions are studied. Prerequisite: CHE 337. (Sp)

 

442L.         Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 semester hour, 3 hours laboratory per week. The preparation and characterization of inorganic compounds. Prerequisite: CHE 441 or concurrent enrollment. Lab fee required. (Sp)

 

443.           Instrumental Analysis - 4 semester hours, 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab per week. Spectrochemical and electrochemical methods of analysis. Prerequisite: CHE 231 and 337. Required lab fee. (F)

 

452.           Comprehensive Biochemistry I - Structure, function, and chemical aspects of proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates; enzyme kinetics; mechanism/regulation of enzymes; introduction to metabolism; carbohydrate metabolism.  Prerequisite:  CHE 330 or CHE 331. (F, Sp)

 

452L.         Comprehensive Biochemistry I Laboratory - one semester hour, three hours of lab per week.  Purification and characterization of biomolecules. Prerequisites: CHE 330L or 331L and CHE 452 or concurrent enrollment. Required lab fee. (F)

 

453.           Comprehensive Biochemistry II - Continuation of Comprehensive Biochemistry I; study of the structure, function, chemistry, and metabolism of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids; control of metabolic pathways, interrelationships of metabolic pathways; bioenergetics; current issues relating metabolism to medicine and health.  Prerequisite: CHE 452. (Sp)

 

454.           Biochemical Techniques - Three semester hours, one hour lecture, six hours lab per week. A capstone course for the biochemistry major which allows the student to obtain practice in biochemical techniques. Prerequisites: CHE 452L and CHE 453 (or concurrent enrollment).  Lab fee required. (Sp)

 

455.           Advanced Organic Chemistry - Continuation of CHE 331-332, emphasizing spectroscopic methods and advanced topics. Prerequisite: CHE 332. (F)

 

470.           Seminar - one semester hour. Written and oral reports. Individual instruction. May be repeated for a total of four credit hours. Prerequisite: CHE 337. (Sp)

 

471.           Advanced Special Topics – One to four semester hours. Special studies in chemistry. May be repeated once on a different topic. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

 

471L.         Advanced Special Topics Lab - one semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Special studies in chemistry laboratory techniques.  May be repeated once on a different topic. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Lab fee required.

 

475.           Advanced Supervised Problems – one to four semester hours. May be repeated for a total of four hours credit. Undergraduate only. Individual study and/or laboratory research. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Pass-Fail grading.

 

476.           Advanced Supervised Problems – one to four semester hours. May be repeated for a total of four hours credit. Undergraduates only. Individual study and/or laboratory research. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Pass-Fail grading.

 

480.           Industrial Internship - Practical work in an industrial setting for a minimum of eight weeks under the joint guidance of a practicing chemist and SFA faculty member.  May be repeated for credit if content differs.  Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair and instructor.  Pass-Fail grading.

 

481.           Laboratory Internship - three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Teaching experience in undergraduate chemistry laboratory, including maintenance, laboratory preparation, grading, and assistant of students in laboratory experience under the direct supervision of faculty mentor.  May be repeated for credit if content differs.  Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair and instructor.  Pass-Fail grading.

 

505.           Advanced Chemical Concepts - Particular emphasis on those concepts which are of value in the teaching of all levels of science and chemistry. Prerequisite: CHE 320 or equivalent.  (as needed)

 

506.           Topics in Chemical Concepts. The course will examine one or more topics that are currently of interest in teaching chemical concepts. May be repeated under different topics. Prerequisite: CHE 505 or permission of the instructor.

 

511.           Advanced Organic Chemistry - Mechanisms and structural considerations of organic reactions are presented. Prerequisite: CHE 338. 

 

516.           Topics in Organic Chemistry - Topics may include recent developments in organic synthesis, organometallics, heterocyclics, phase transfer catalysis, and physical organic chemistry. May be repeated under different topics. 

 

521.           Advanced Analytical Chemistry - An in-depth study of classical and instrumental methods of analysis commonly encountered in analytical chemistry. 

 

526.           Topics in Analytical Chemistry - A study of one or more topics currently of interest in analytical chemistry. May be repeated under different topics. 

 

531.           Advanced Inorganic Chemistry - An advanced survey of the major principles of inorganic chemistry. 

 

536.           Topics in Inorganic Chemistry - Topics of current interest in inorganic chemistry will be treated. May be repeated under different topics. 

 

541.           Advanced Physical Chemistry - A survey of selected principles of physical chemistry at an advanced level. 

 

546.           Topics in Physical Chemistry - Advanced topics in physical chemistry to fit needs/interests of students. May be repeated under different topics. 

 

551.           Advanced Biochemistry. In-depth study of the structure and function of DNA replication and repair; transcripyion; regulation of gene expression; genetic manipulation; ethical/medical/health issues relating to genetic manipulation. Prerequisite: CHE 453 a minimum grade of C.

 

555.           Proteins and Nucleic Acids. Molecular basis for eukaryotic inheritance; structure and function; chromosomal organization; DNA replication and repair, transcription and translation; the genetic code, regulation of gene expression, genetic differentiation; genetic manipulation. Prerequisites: BIO 341 and CHE 453.

 

556.           Topics in Biochemistry. Topics covered will relate to current developments and discoveries in the field of biochemistry.  May be repeated under a different topic. Prerequisite: CHE 452 with a minimum grade of C. 

 

572.           Advanced Environmental Chemistry I. Chemical processes involved in the environment. Prerequisite: CHE 231 and 330 or 331.

 

575.           Advanced Graduate Studies – one - three semester hours, three hours lab per week required for each semester hour of credit. Special problems in chemistry. Individual instruction. Prerequisite: Four semesters of chemistry or equivalent.  Lab fee required.

 

576.           Advanced Graduate Studies – one - three semester hours. A continuation of CHE 575. Prerequisite: CHE 575. Lab fee required.

 

581.           A and B. Supervised Instruction of Laboratory Courses -Required of all graduate assistants for at least two semesters. Does not count towards basic degree requirements. Pass-Fail grading. 

 

589.*         Thesis Research - Research for the thesis. Individual research under the direction of graduate faculty member. Prerequisite: CHE 338.

 

590.*         Thesis Writing - three, six or nine semester hours. Organization and writing of thesis based on graduate research. Prerequisite: CHE 589.