Program Overview

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Chemistry (CHEM)

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.

Course Descriptions

CHEM 501. Independent Study

• Prerequisite(s): Minimum GPA of 3.0 overall; minimum GPA of 3.5 in department and at least 18 semester hours credit in the department.
• Description: Independent research conducted with the approval and supervision of a faculty member.
• Note: Credit may not be applied to an advanced degree in Chemistry.

CHEM 503. Special Topics in Chemistry

• Description: An examination of one or more specified areas of Chemistry. Details announced each semester.

CHEM 515. Inorganic Chemistry

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342; concurrent enrollment in CHEM 441 or CHEM 465.
• Description: Descriptive and theoretical chemistry of the elements.
• Note: Credit may not be applied to an advanced degree in Chemistry.

CHEM 527. Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds - WR

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342 and CHEM 344.
• Fee: An additional $60.00 is charged for this course.
• Description: An introductory spectroscopy course designed to provide a realistic experience in organic structure determination using the principal methods of spectral characterization.
• Note: Approved for the Arts and Sciences upper-level requirement in written communication (WR).

CHEM 528. Contemporary Methods of Organic Synthesis and Analysis - CUE

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342, CHEM 344, and (CHEM 425 or CHEM 527).
• Fee: An additional $60.00 is charged for this course.
• Description: A discovery-based approach to the solution of problems encountered in organic chemical synthesis and analysis.
• Note: Credit may not be applied to an advanced degree in Chemistry.
• Course Attribute(s): CUE - This course fulfills the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) requirement for certain degree programs.

CHEM 529. Contemporary Methods of Inorganic Synthesis and Analysis - WR

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Fee: An additional $60.00 is charged for this course.
• Description: Prerequisites or corequisites: CHEM 515. A discovery-based approach to the solution of problems encountered in inorganic chemical synthesis and analysis.
• Note: Credit may not be applied to an advanced degree in Chemistry.

CHEM 532. Chemistry Education for Secondary Teachers

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342
• Description: In-depth examination of chemistry content for secondary teachers as aligned with national and state standards.
• Note: Does not count toward a degree in Chemistry except by departmental permission.

CHEM 545. Biochemistry I

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342.
• Description: Chemistry of amino acids, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides and nucleic acids; methods of analysis and laboratory synthesis; enzyme properties, kinetics, ligand binding.
• Note: Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 545 and CHEM 645, or in both CHEM 545 and CHEM 445.
• Note: Credit may not be applied toward an advanced degree in Chemistry.

CHEM 546. Biochemistry Laboratory

• Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 445 or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 545.
• Fee: An additional $60.00 is charged for this course.
• Description: Application of contemporary laboratory methods of biochemistry including uv/vis spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography centrifugation, gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, FTIR, and recombinant DNA techniques.

CHEM 547. Biochemistry II

• Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 545.
• Description: Cellular metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and biomembrane phenomena; RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis.
• Note: Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 547 and CHEM 647, or in both CHEM 547 and CHEM 445.
• Note: Credit may not be applied to an advanced degree in chemistry.

CHEM 550. Group Theory and its Chemical Applications

• Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 441 or CHEM 465
• Description: Elementary group theory; the use of group theory to treat symmetry; application to atomic structure, molecular structure, spectroscopy, and reaction mechanisms.

CHEM 555. Theory and Application of Computational Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 441 or CHEM 465 or PHYS 300.
• Description: Theory and Application of Computational Chemistry will be a combined elective undergraduate and graduate level course. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge such that they can examine chemical problems computationally and where required, use computational tools to benefit their own research.

CHEM 557. Bio-Organic Phenomena

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342 (or equivalent).
• Description: Completion of CHEM 445, CHEM 545, or equivalent is strongly recommended. Special topics in the biological chemistry area: e.g., chemical carcinogenesis; diet and cancer, food chemistry and polypeptides; proteins; carbohydrates; enzymes; hormone chemistry.

CHEM 591. Chemistry for Teachers I

• Prerequisite(s): For graduate education majors; must have experience in teaching chemistry principles in elementary, middle, or secondary schools.
• Description: Teaching pre-college chemistry with emphasis on curriculum content, laboratory procedures, and process skills.

CHEM 620. Optical Spectrochemical Methods of Analysis

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 527.
• Description: Principles, instrumentation, and applications of atomic and molecular spectroscopic techniques used in the IR, VIS, and UV spectral regions.

CHEM 621. Electroanalytical Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 527.
• Description: Principles of modern voltammetric and potentiometric methods of chemical analysis including fundamental theory, instrumentation, and applications.

CHEM 622. Analytical Separations

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 527.
• Description: Survey of major instrumental separation methods in chemistry and biochemistry with an emphasis on modern chromatographic techniques.

CHEM 625. Advanced Analytical Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 527.
• Description: A survey of theoretical and practical aspects of modern methods of analysis.

CHEM 626. Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 528 and CHEM 529, or consent of instructor.
• Description: Recent developments in selected areas of Analytical Chemistry.

CHEM 628. Special Topics in Synthesis and Analysis

• Prerequisite(s): Completion of, or coregistration in, CHEM 528, or consent of instructor.
• Description: Current topics in high resolution NMR, mass spectrometry and organic synthesis.

CHEM 630. Advanced Topics in Chemical Analysis

• Prerequisite(s): Completion of, or co-registration in, CHEM 529, or consent of instructor.
• Description: A discovery-based approach to the solution of advanced problems in chemical analysis with an emphasis on separations, electrochemistry and X-ray crystallography.

CHEM 632. Chemical Education

• Prerequisite(s): BS, BA, or minor in Chemistry, or consent of instructor.
• Description: In-depth examination of learning theories and chemistry content. Lesson plans, teaching philosophies, and research projects framed by learning theories will be developed.

CHEM 645. Advanced Biochemistry I

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 342.
• Description: Chemistry of amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleotides and nucleic acids; methods of analysis and laboratory synthesis; enzyme properties, kinetics, ligand binding.
• Note: Lectures concurrent with CHEM 545; one added lecture hour each week covers advanced topics.
• Note: Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 545 and CHEM 645.

CHEM 647. Advanced Biochemistry II

• Description: Cellular metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleotides; biomembrane phenomena; RNA, DNA and protein synthesis. Lectures concurrent with CHEM 547; one added lecture hour each week covers advanced topics.
• Note: Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 547 and CHEM 647.

CHEM 648. Systems Biochemistry: Principles and Practices

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 647, BIOC 645, or consent of instructor.
• Description: Integration of global metabolic functions with protein and gene-level regulations. Analytical approaches to enable such integration.

CHEM 651. Independent Study

• Description: Credit according to achievement; limited to 3 hours per semester

CHEM 652. Independent Study

• Description: Credit according to achievement; limited to 3 hours per semester

CHEM 653. Main Group Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 515.
• Description: Survey of the descriptive chemistry of the main group elements and topics of current interest in main group chemistry such as bonding theories, reaction mechanisms, electronic materials, and catalytic materials.

CHEM 654. Advanced Coordination Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 515.
• Description: Survey of structure, bonding, and reactivity of the transition metal complexes. Covers topics such as organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry, group theory, and magnetism.

CHEM 655. Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 515.
• Description: Current problems in inorganic chemistry.

CHEM 656. Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 515.
• Description: Current problems in inorganic chemistry.

CHEM 659. Materials Chemistry and Methods

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 515 or equivalent course in organic chemistry.
• Description: Course content will include a range of characterization methods and properties of materials. The main properties of interest are structural properties, magnetism and change transport. Basic principles as well as methods of investigation and characterization of these properties will be discussed.

CHEM 660. Advanced Physical Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): One year of physical chemistry, one semester of atomic and molecular physics.
• Description: Introduction to quantum chemistry.

CHEM 661. Chemical Thermodynamics

• Prerequisite(s): One year of physical chemistry.
• Description: Advanced discussion of the principles of thermodynamics including an introduction to statistical thermodynamics; applications to chemical systems.

CHEM 665. Special Topics in Physical Chemistry

• Description: An examination of one or more specified areas of Physical Chemistry. Topics vary; details announced each semester.

CHEM 666. Special Topics in Physical Chemistry

• Description: An examination of one or more specified areas of Physical Chemistry. Topics vary; details announced each semester.

CHEM 667. Reaction Kinetics

• Prerequisite(s): One year of physical chemistry.
• Description: Theory of the rate of chemical reactions; methods of studying reaction rates; reaction energetics; reactions in solution; chain reactions and inference of mechanism from rate studies.

CHEM 668. Electrochemistry

• Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
• Description: A thermodynamic and kinetic study of electrochemical phenomena, including electrical conductivity, electrophoresis, electrode potentials, and electrode processes.

CHEM 670. Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds and Alkaloids

• Prerequisite(s): One year each of organic and physical chemistry.
• Description: Structures, reactivities, activities, and synthesis of heterocyclic systems including natural products and their uses in medicine.

CHEM 671. Advanced Polymer Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): One year each of organic and physical chemistry.
• Description: Polymer characterization, physical properties and structure. Conformational changes, elasticity, relaxation phenomena, size and chain distributions; application of microscopy, spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, and diffraction to polymers; liquid crystals.

CHEM 672. Quantum Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 561 or CHEM 660.
• Description: Principles of quantum theory with applications to chemistry; and advanced treatment of atomic and molecular structure including Slater-Condon methods for atoms and LCAO-MO-SCF methods for molecules; introduction to ab initio methods.

CHEM 675. Special Topics in Organic Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): One year of organic chemistry.
• Description: Current problems in organic chemistry; organometallic chemistry; free radical reactions; carbohydrates and nucleosides; peptides.

CHEM 677. Mechanisms and Theory in Organic Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): Two semesters of undergraduate organic chemistry.
• Description: This course focuses on the mechanism and theory of classical and contemporary organic reactions, including acid and base catalysis, pericyclic reactions, metal-mediated reactions and radical and photochemical reactions.

CHEM 678. Advanced Organic Chemistry: General Survey

• Prerequisite(s): One year each of organic and physical chemistry.
• Description: First semester (CHEM 678): an introduction to advanced physical organic chemistry, linear free energy relationship, kinetics, isotope effects and spectroscopic techniques as used in the interpretation of reaction mechanisms. Second semester (CHEM 679): an introduction to advanced organic chemistry emphasizing reactions and synthesis, and including spectral applications.

CHEM 679. Advanced Organic Synthesis

• Prerequisite(s): One year each of organic and physical chemistry.
• Description: An introduction to advanced organic chemistry emphasizing modern synthesis reagents, reactions and their mechanisms.

CHEM 681. Modern Biochemistry I

• Prerequisite(s): One year each of organic and physical chemistry or consent of instructor.
• Description: Chemistry and physical properties of proteins, other biopolymers; enzymatic reaction mechanisms and kinetics; bioenergetics.

CHEM 682. Modern Biochemistry II

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 681 or consent of instructor.
• Description: Carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and nucleic acid metabolism; endocrine control of metabolism and physiological activities.

CHEM 684. Biophysical Chemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 462 (or equivalent) and CHEM 545/CHEM 645, or consent of instructor.
• Description: Basis theory and practical applications of modern biophysical methods; spectroscopy, hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, kinetics, and computational methods applied to protein and nucleic acid systems.

CHEM 685. Special Topics in Biochemistry

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 547, or CHEM 647, or consent of instructor.
• Description: Recent developments in selected areas of Biochemistry.

CHEM 687. Molecular Spectroscopy

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 561 or CHEM 660.
• Description: Molecular structure and interactions as determined by spectroscopic investigation. Rotational, vibrational and electronic spectroscopy as determined by ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave and radio frequency methods. Fundamental theory and experimental methods.

CHEM 688. X-Ray Crystallography and Its Application to Molecular Structure

• Prerequisite(s): CHEM 561 or CHEM 660.
• Description: Crystal structure analysis. Topics include: symmetry, space groups, data collection, structure solution and refinement, structural analysis and presentation of scientific results.

CHEM 691. Research

• Prerequisite(s): 30 semester hours of undergraduate chemistry.
• Description: Individual research with faculty member.

CHEM 692. Research

• Prerequisite(s): 30 semester hours of undergraduate chemistry.
• Description: Individual research with faculty member.

CHEM 695. Seminar

• Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
• Description: Required of all graduate students during residency. Students present one literature and one research seminar by the end of the 3rd semester; participate/attend in department seminar.
• Note: Maximum credit allowed is 3 semester hours.