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Department of Chemistry

Michael A. Janusa, Chair

Chemistry 104B
(936) 468-3606
Fax: (936) 468-7634
janusama@sfasu.edu
www.sfasu.edu/chemistry

Faculty

Professors
Wayne C. Boring, Anthony J. Duben, Michael A. Janusa, Richard H. Langley, John T. Moore

Associate Professors
Alyx S. Frantzen, Michele R. Harris

Assistant Professors
Russell J. Franks, Chunmei Li, Kefa K. Onchoke

Areas of Study & Degrees

B.S. Biochemistry
Pre-Professional Programs:

B.S. Chemistry
Degree Tracks:

Minor:

Objectives

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 full 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.

Student Organization

Chemistry Club

Definition of Major and Minor

A minimum of 120 semester hours of course work is required for a B.S. degree in biochemistry or 130 semester hours for a B.S. degree in chemistry. Of these hours, 33 core chemistry hours are required which include: CHE 133, 134, 231, 331, 332, 337, 443, 452/452L and 470. Each degree has additional hours of required courses; these hours are classified as Major or Minor under Suggested Curriculum Sequence section. General education courses, PHY 241 and 242, and mathematics courses through MTH 234 also are required. A maximum of four hours of CHE 475/476 may be counted toward the major.

A minor in chemistry consists of a minimum of 18 hours of chemistry course work. The hours for a minor must include: CHE 133, 134, 231, 331 and two advanced hours in chemistry. A maximum of 2 semester hours of CHE 475/476 can be counted for a minor.

CHE 111, 112, 125, 302, 320 and 330 cannot be counted as hours of chemistry for a major or minor in chemistry.

American Chemical Society Certified B.S. Degree

An American Chemical Society certified B.S. degree in chemistry consists of completing one of the chemistry tracks and completion of a satisfactory supervised research project (CHE 475 or 476). Biochemistry degree requires one or two additional courses beyond the curriculum for a certified degree.

Certification for Physical Science (Chemistry-Physics) Teaching (Grades 8-12)

Students who wish to qualify for teaching certificates should consult the Teacher Certification section of this bulletin.

Graduate Study in Chemistry

The Overlap Graduate Degree Program permits qualified undergraduates to pursue a limited amount of graduate study (usually 12 credit hours or less) concurrently with undergraduate study. The Department of Chemistry offers a thesis and non-thesis master’s degree (thesis option highly recommended). Thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 21 of the required 30 semester hours in chemistry (including CHE 589 and 590). The non-thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 27 of the required 36 semester hours in chemistry. Both options require a minimum of one graduate course in each area of chemistry. For more information and eligibility requirements, consult the Graduate Bulletin or the Overlap Program in the Academic Programs & Policies section of this bulletin.

Curriculum for Biochemistry/Chemistry Majors Bachelor of Science Degree

(Suggested Sequence)

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry or chemistry. All students must complete a major and minor ( or second major), take the appropriate core curriculum requirements and have the required semester hours for graduation.

The biochemistry degree combines the fundamentals of the B.S. degree in chemistry with advanced courses in biochemistry and the life sciences. The biochemistry degree is designed for students interested in biochemistry-related careers or life-health sciences (i.e. medical). Biochemistry majors are required to minor in biology (24 hours).

Chemistry majors may design an interdisciplinary educational experience by selecting one of the suggested areas of interest or design their own with the approval of an adviser: biochemistry/pre-medical, biotechnology, computer science, environmental chemistry, forensic, general chemist, mathematics, physicis, professional chemist, statistics. Note that courses listed in suggested areas are recommended and may be substituted with adviser approval. The chemistry degree is designed to be flexible allowing you to design a degree program that is appropriate for your career goals. The chemistry degree has 33 hours of electives which gives you the opportunity to select courses best suited for your career.

Each interdisciplinary experience has minor/electives in any area of interest leading to a minor (or second major) of which 11 hours must be approved advanced hours (six advanced hours in minor is required.)

Degree Tracks:

***Biochemistry - Major: BIO electives (6), CHE 453, 454, 275 or 475, advanced CHE electives (4). Minor: BIO minor (18).

Chemistry - Major: CHE 241, 338, 441/442L, degree track advanced electives (5). Additional electives (10). Minor: degree track minor (18).

**MTH 233 is the entry-level course for this major. All prerequisites for MTH 233 must be met.

*Core Requirements

Communication Skills – three semester hours from:

Visual and Performing Arts – three semester hours from:

Social/Behavioral Science – three semester hours from:

Corequisite Courses

Courses that are corequisites 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.

111L.

 

Introductory Laboratory I (CHEM 1105) – One semester hour, two hours lab per week. Introductory laboratory experiments. Corequisite: CHE 111. Lab fee required.

112.

 

Introductory Chemistry II (CHEM 1307) – Elementary organic and biochemical systems. Prerequisites: CHE 111 and 111L. Corequisite: CHE 112L.

112L.

 

Introductory Laboratory II (CHEM 1107) – One semester hour, two hours lab per week. Introductory organic laboratory experiments. Prerequisites: CHE 111 and 111L. Corequisite: CHE 112. Lab fee required.

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. Corequisite: CHE 125L.

133.

 

General Chemistry I (CHEM 1311) – Atomic and molecular structures, stoichiometry, gas laws and thermodynamics. Corequisite: CHE 133L. Prerequisite: Eligibility for MTH 138.

133L.

 

General Laboratory I (CHEM 1111) – One semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Spectroscopy, quantitative experiments. Corequisite: CHE 133. Lab fee required.

134.

 

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

134L.

 

General Laboratory II (CHEM 1112) – One semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. Kinetics, spectrophotometry, quantitative/qualitative experiments. Prerequisites: CHE 133 and 133L. Corequisite: CHE 134. Lab fee required.

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.

241.

 

Inorganic Chemistry – Fundamental concepts of the descriptive inorganic chemistry of the elements. Prerequisite: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 241L.

241L.

 

Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory – One semester hour, three hours lab per week. Study of syntheses and reactions of inorganic chemistry. Prerequisite: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 241. Required lab fee.

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.This course will not count toward a major or minor in chemistry. Prerequisites: CHE 111, CHE 125 or PHY 125 or consent of instructor. Required lab fee.

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.

321.

 

Applied Chemical Concepts – Continuation of CHE 320 with emphasis on fundamentals of laboratory safety and stockroom management. Prerequisite: CHE 320 or consent of instructor.

330.

 

Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry – Comprehensive one semester course for students requiring only one semester of organic. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 330L.

330L.

 

Fundamentals of Organic Lab – One semester hour, three hours of lab per week. Synthesis and characterization of organic compounds. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 330. Required lab fee.

331.

 

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

331L.

 

Organic Laboratory I – One semester hour, four hours of lab per week. Synthesis and characterization of organic compounds. Prerequisites: CHE 134 and 134L. Corequisite: CHE 331. Required lab fee.

332.

 

Organic Chemistry II – Continuation of CHE 331. Prerequisites: CHE 331 and 331L. Corequisite: CHE 332L.

332L.

 

Organic Laboratory II – One semester hour, four hours lab per week. Continuation of 331L. Prerequisites: CHE 331 and 331L. Corequisite: CHE 332. Required lab fee.

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.

338.

 

Physical Chemistry II – Four semester hours, three hours lecture, three hours lab per week. Continuation of CHE 337. Prerequisite: CHE 337. Required lab fee.

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.

441.

 

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry – Reactions and structures of inorganic molecules and ions are studied. Prerequisite: CHE 338.

442L.

 

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory – One semester hour, three hours laboratory per week. The preparation and characterization of inorganic compounds. Prerequisite: CHE 441 or concurrent enrollment. Lab fee required.

443.

 

Instrumental Analysis – Four semester hours, three hours lecture, three hours lab per week. Spectrochemical and electrochemical methods of analysis. Prerequisite: 338 or concurrent enrollment. Required lab fee.

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 331.

452L.

 

Comprehensive Biochemistry I Laboratory – One semester hour, three hours of lab per week. Purification and characterization of biomolecules. Prerequisite: CHE 330L or 331L and CHE 452 or concurrent enrollment. Required lab fee.

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.

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.

455.

 

Advanced Organic Chemistry – Continuation of CHE 331-332, emphasizing spectroscopic methods and advanced topics. Prerequisite: CHE 332.

470.

 

Seminar – One semester hour. Written and oral reports. Individual instruction. May be repeated for a total of four credit hours. Prerequisite: 24 hours of chemistry.

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 InternshipPractical 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.

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