DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Professors Emeriti: Lawrence C. Nathan, Robert J. Pfeiffer, Michael A. Sweeney
Professors: John C. Gilbert (Department Chair), Patrick E. Hoggard (Fletcher Jones Professor), W. Atom Yee
Associate Professors: Linda S. Brunauer, Michael R. Carrasco, Brian J. McNelis, Amy M. Shachter
Assistant Professors: Thorsteinn Adalsteinsson, Amelia Fuller (Clare Boothe Luce Professor), Steven W. Suljak, Korin E. Wheeler
Senior Lecturer: Steven L. Fedder
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers three baccalaureate degrees: the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, and the Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. The curriculum is accredited by the American Chemical Society, the professional organization for chemistry. The program prepares students for further work in chemistry, either in graduate school or as professional chemists. In addition, a chemistry degree is excellent preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, business, and teaching. A minor in chemistry is also available.
All Bachelor of Science degrees provide graduates with the background necessary to begin a career in chemistry at industrial and governmental laboratories, for admission to institutions offering graduate degrees in chemistry and biochemistry, and to medical and dental schools as well as other professional programs in the health professions. The chemistry major provides equal training in all the disciplines in chemistry, and the biochemistry major combines training in chemistry with additional coursework in cell and molecular biology. The Bachelor of Science-ACS certified degrees meet all recommended standards for chemists and biochemists as mandated by the American Chemical Society.
The Bachelor of Arts degree allows students the most freedom in choosing electives, and therefore is an excellent program for pre-medical or pre-teaching students. Students with a strong interest in the liberal arts or who wish to pursue subjects outside the standard science curriculum will benefit from this degree. The Bachelor of Arts degree can be effectively combined with a pre-law or business curriculum to provide excellent preparation for law or business careers in the technology sector.
Undergraduate research is a critical component of our degrees and most of our majors conduct research in collaboration with chemistry faculty mentors. Research in the department has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, the Dreyfus Foundation, and the Research Corporation. Majors in chemistry, biology, and combined sciences participate in faculty research projects through CHEM 182, 183, and 184. In addition, advanced students have opportunities for part-time employment assisting faculty in laboratory and related teaching activities.
The chemistry and biochemistry curricula are designed to be flexible in the sequence of upper-division coursework so as to allow students to participate in study-abroad programs. Students interested in study abroad should meet with a faculty advisor to plan the junior and senior year courses as early as possible in their academic careers.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees, students majoring in chemistry and biochemistry must complete the following departmental requirements for each degree option:
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 15, 31, 32, 33
- CHEM 102, 111, 141, 151, 152, 154
- Three upper-division chemistry electives
- Four quarters of CHEM 115
- MATH 11, 12, 13
- PHYS 31, 32, 33; or PHYS 11, 12, 13
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry – ACS Certified
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 15, 31, 32, 33
- CHEM 102, 111, 141, 150, 151, 152, 154
- CHEM 183, 184
- Two upper-division chemistry electives
- Four quarters of CHEM 115
- MATH 11, 12, 13
- PHYS 31, 32, 33
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 15, 31, 32, 33
- CHEM 101, 111, 141, 142, 143, 150, 151 or 152
- Two additional upper-division chemistry electives; BIOL 110, 113, 174, or 176 may be taken to satisfy one of these two electives
- Four quarters of CHEM 115
- MATH 11, 12, 13
- PHYS 31, 32, 33; or PHYS 11, 12, 13
- BIOL 21, 24, 25, 175
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry – ACS Certified
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 15, 31, 32, 33
- CHEM 101, 111, 141, 142, 143, 150, 151 or 152, 154
- CHEM 183, 184
- Two additional upper-division chemistry electives; BIOL 110, 113, 174, or 176 may be taken to satisfy one of these two electives
- Four quarters of CHEM 115
- MATH 11, 12, 13
- PHYS 31, 32, 33
- BIOL 21, 24, 25, 175
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 15, 31, 32, 33
- CHEM 101 or 102, 111, 141, 150 or 151 or 152
- Two additional upper-division chemistry electives
- Upper-division lab requirement: 30 hours, which can be satisfied by CHEM 102, 143, 154, or one unit of CHEM 182
- Four quarters of CHEM 115
- MATH 11, 12, 13
- PHYS 31, 32, 33; or PHYS 11, 12, 13
Chemistry electives for all degrees can be fulfilled by taking any upper-division chemistry class of three units or more, including CHEM 183 and 184.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in chemistry:
- CHEM 11, 12, 13, 31, 32, and 33
- Twelve units of upper-division chemistry courses
PREPARATION IN CHEMISTRY FOR ADMISSION TO TEACHER TRAINING CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS
The State of California requires that students seeking a credential to teach chemistry in California secondary schools must pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET), a subject area competency examination. The secondary teaching credential requires the completion of an approved credential program that can be completed as a fifth year of study and student teaching, or through an undergraduate summer program and internship. Students who are contemplating secondary school teaching in chemistry should consult with the coordinator in the Department of Chemistry as early as possible.
LOWER-DIVISION COURSES
Note: No course offered by the Department of Chemistry is subject to challenge, i.e., to fulfillment by a special examination.
1. Chemistry and the Environment
A survey of the role of chemistry in major environmental issues such as global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, photochemical smog, persistent organic pollutants, fossil fuel, nuclear and renewable energy, recycling and environmental fate of pollutants. Laboratory 3 hours every other week. (4 units)
2. Chemistry in the Modern World
Some of the most fundamental principles of chemistry are presented along with many examples of the role of chemistry in consumer, environmental, and human health applications. (4 units)
5. Chemistry: An Experimental Science
A survey of modern chemical applications, including applications to health, the environment, and consumer issues, and an introduction to the scientific method of inquiry. Laboratory 3 hours every other week. (4 units)
11. General Chemistry I
Topics include chemical properties and reactions, thermochemistry, stoichiometry, quantitative problem-solving, and an introduction to ionic and covalent chemical bonding. Laboratory 3 hours per week. (5 units)
11H. General Chemistry I Honors
Accelerated treatment of CHEM 11 material and presentation of other topics not normally covered in general chemistry. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: Grade of at least “3” on the Chemistry advanced placement test and permission of instructor or participation in University Honors Program. (5 units)
12. General Chemistry II
Subjects include properties of solids, liquids, and gases, properties of solutions, chemical kinetics, properties of acids and bases, and an introduction to chemical equilibria. Several lectures deal with special topics chosen at the discretion of the instructor. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 11 with a grade of C– or better. (5 units)
12H. General Chemistry II Honors
Accelerated treatment of CHEM 12 material and presentation of other topics not normally covered in general chemistry. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: Strong performance in CHEM 11H or CHEM 11 and permission of instructor or participation in University Honors Program. (5 units)
13. General Chemistry III
Topics include aqueous equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and statistical tools required for data analysis. The laboratory introduces quantitative analysis methods such as titration, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. Laboratory 4 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 12 with a grade of C– or better. (5 units)
15. Introduction to Research
This course introduces students to opportunities for undergraduate research in the department. Departmental faculty present their current research. Also, an overview of typical tools used in pursuing scientific research projects is provided. Students interested in the chemistry major/minor should ordinarily take this course before the end of their sophomore year. (1 unit)
19. Chemistry for Teachers
This laboratory-based course is designed to teach the fundamental concepts of chemistry and is geared toward students who are interested in becoming elementary or middle school teachers. The course focuses on the following concepts: nature of matter, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and chemical reactions. While learning these core concepts, students will experience what it means to do science by developing their experimentation skills as they participate in a classroom scientific community. Laboratory 3 hours per week. (4 units)
31. Organic Chemistry I
Topics include organic structure and conformations, stereochemistry, structure-reactivity relationships, and the chemistry of alkyl halides and alkenes. Special emphasis is placed on understanding reaction mechanisms. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 13 with a grade of C- or better. (5 units)
32. Organic Chemistry II
Topics include spectroscopy and the chemistry of alkynes, ethers, alcohols, and carbonyl compounds. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 31 with a grade of C- or better. (5 units)
33. Organic Chemistry III
Topics include carbonyl condensation reactions, aromatic substitutions, amines, carbohydrates, and peptide and protein synthesis. Other advanced topics may include pericyclic reactions and natural product synthesis. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 32 with a grade of C- or better. (5 units)
99. Independent Laboratory
Laboratory course, primarily for transfer students to make up lower-division laboratory as needed for equivalency with CHEM 11, 12, 13, 31, 32, and/or 33. Prerequisite: Approval of department chair. (1 unit)
UPPER-DIVISION COURSES
Note: No course offered by the Department of Chemistry is subject to challenge, i.e., to fulfillment by a special examination.
101. Bioinorganic Chemistry
Structure, properties, and reactivity of metal complexes and the function of metal ions in biological processes. Prerequisite: CHEM 32. (5 units)
102. Inorganic Chemistry
Introduction to inorganic chemistry with emphasis on the nonmetals. Laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 13. (5 units)
111. Instrumental Analysis
Principles and use of instrumentation. Focus on electronics, spectroscopic methods, mass spectrometry, and chemical separations. Laboratory 4 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 13. Co-requisite: CHEM 32. (5 units)
115. Chemistry Seminar
Active areas of research in university, industrial, and government laboratories, presented by guest speakers. May be repeated for credit. P/NP. (0.5 units)
130. Organic Syntheses
Modern synthetic methods applied to the preparation of structurally complex target compounds, such as bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Extensive discussion of synthetic planning, known as retrosynthetic analysis, emphasizing the standard bond-forming methods learned in CHEM 31–33. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisite: CHEM 33. (5 units)
131. Bioorganic Chemistry
Chemical synthesis of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, and reaction mechanisms of biological cofactors. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisite: CHEM 33. (5 units)
141. Biochemistry I
An introduction to structure/function relationships of biologically important molecules, enzymology, membrane biochemistry, and selected aspects of the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates. Co-requisite: CHEM 33. (5 units)
142. Biochemistry II
Includes a study of various aspects of the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids as well as nucleic acid structure and function, protein synthesis and subcellular sorting, and more advanced molecular physiology, including membrane biochemistry, signal transduction, and hormone action. Prerequisite: CHEM 141. (5 units)
143. Biochemical Techniques
A laboratory course emphasizing fundamental theory and practice in biochemical laboratory techniques, including preparation and handling of reagents; isolation, purification, and characterization of biomolecules; enzyme kinetics; spectrophotometric assays; and electrophoretic and immunological techniques. Laboratory 8 hours per week. Prerequisites: CHEM 141 and consent of instructor. (3 units)
150. Biophysical Chemistry
Introduction to the physical behavior of biomolecules. Topics include transport properties, reaction kinetics, sedimentation, binding dynamics, molecular motion, and electron transfer. Prerequisites: MATH 13 and CHEM 33 or consent of instructor. (5 units)
151. Spectroscopy
Fundamentals of quantum mechanics, including wave functions and probability; rotational, vibrational, and electronic transitions; atomic and molecular electronic structure; and magnetic resonance. Prerequisites: MATH 13 and CHEM 33. (5 units)
152. Chemical Thermodynamics
Fundamental laws of thermodynamics, and applications to ideal and real gas equations of state, ideal and real solutions, phase equilibria, and electrochemistry. Prerequisites: MATH 13 and CHEM 33. (5 units)
154. Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Experimental applications of thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy, and other aspects of physical chemistry. Laboratory 8 hours per week. Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in or have completed CHEM 151 or CHEM 152. (3 units)
182. Undergraduate Research
Experimental research project supervised by chemistry faculty. Each unit requires a minimum of 30 hours of laboratory work. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (1–3 units)
183. Senior Research Experience
Individual research under the supervision of chemistry faculty, culminating in a comprehensive progress report. Laboratory at least 9 hours per week. Prerequisites: Senior standing in chemistry and consent of instructor. (3 units)
184. Capstone Research Experience
Continuation of individual research under the supervision of a chemistry faculty mentor, culminating in a thesis and oral presentation. Laboratory at least 9 hours per week. Prerequisites: CHEM 182 or CHEM 183 and consent of instructor. (3 units)
190. Special Topics in Chemistry
Special Topics courses may be offered as 2–5 unit courses covering advanced topics in any of the five areas of study in chemistry. These courses may be offered as once-a-week seminars or follow more traditional course schedules. The course units will vary based on the number of course meetings per quarter and the course workload. Possible topics are organic mechanisms, transition metals in organic synthesis, materials, nanotechnology, photochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, electrochemistry, molecular physiology, and membrane biochemistry. This course may be repeated for credit if the topics vary. (2–5 units)
