Registration Information for Chemistry Majors

The following elective courses will be available from the Chemistry Department during the upcoming registration period.  These courses offer a variety of popular features such as research experience, biological perspectives on chemical systems, credit or potential credit toward the biomolecular science concentration (student should seek pre-approval for non-listed courses), and ORC or WRI credit.  Note that two of these courses are only offered on an occasional basis (Chem 396 and Chem 391).

Interim:

Chem 252, Organometallic Chemistry (Prof. Marlier):  Students study the structure, bonding, and reactions of compounds containing metal-carbon bonds. Special topics include applications of organometallic chemistry to the synthesis of organic compounds, homogeneous catalysis, and biochemistry. Examples illustrate organometallic chemistry as a bridge between organic and inorganic chemistry. Students use bibliographic and electronic searching software to prepare research papers based on the current literature. Offered during Interim. Prerequisite: CHEM 247.

Chem 360, Medicinal Chemistry (Prof. Hanson):  In this course students gain an appreciation for the drug development process, including how natural products are isolated and utilized as starting points for drug development, how molecular structure relates to biological activity, and how research into the mechanism of disease leads to the targeted development of drugs. Offered alternate years during Interim. Also counts toward biomolecular science concentration. Prerequisite: CHEM 248.

Chem 396, Directed Undergraduate Research (Prof. Schwinefus): This course provides a research experience in the area of unique nucleic acid folding.  Specifically, the research will explore the folding energetics of bulged RNA and G-quadruplexes that are necessary for biological function, but have been implicated in many diseases and cancers.  As a research project, students work in the lab with other students on these projects under faculty supervision.  Students and professor will meet as a group to discuss primary literature pertinent to the research project as well as research progress.  From Prof. Schwinefus:  "Interim is a great time to immerse yourself in a research project when you do not have other courses demanding a significant portion of your time.  If you would like to join this course, please let me know."  If you are not sure, Prof. Schwinefus welcomes a conversation with you about this course.  


Spring:

Chem 386: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Prof. Marlier): This course examines how modern theories of chemical bonding are applied to an understanding of the chemistry of the elements of the periodic table. Students explore chemical structures and spectra on the basis of molecular symmetry and group theory. Topics covered include inorganic reactions, chemical periodicity, acid-base systems, coordination compounds, organometallic compounds, nonmetal chemistry, and cluster compounds. This course is particularly recommended to graduate-school bound chemistry students.  Offered annually in the spring semester. Prerequisite: CHEM 248.

Chem 391: Biophysical Chemistry (Prof. Schwinefus):  This course offers ORC GE credit.  Its format is rather unique (see bullets below) and serves as a nice capstone to physical chemistry or upper level chemistry courses.  Past students have really enjoyed the research project during the course.

• Chem 391 carries an ORC GE credit!

• Each student will have a semester long research project of their choice (as approved by Prof. Schwinefus and limited by instrumentation and expense) in the area of biophysical chemistry.  This project will start early in the semester and culminate with a poster presentation on Reading Day aimed at chemistry and biology faculty and students.

• The times listed for the course in SIS are merely placeholders.  Prof. Schwinefus plans on having the class meet once a week for an hour for research presentations.  These oral presentations will evolve during the semester from initial presentations that answer the "Why?" question of research and background theory, to data talks, and finally to presentations that encapsulate the work done during the semester.  Prof. Schwinefus anticipates that students will be presenting every two weeks with a presentation time of 10 minutes.  In this course, students become the instructors as they explain their small slice of biophysical chemistry to their peers.

• During the remainder of the week, students will be working in lab on their projects under the supervision of Prof. Schwinefus.

• Students and professor will meet one-on-one for instructional use of instrumentation, trouble-shooting projects, explanation of necessary background theory, and evaluation of the oral presentations. 

• Evaluation of student performance will include progress on the research project and oral presentations.  There will be no homework sets or exams.

• Prerequisite:  permission of instructor

           As always, Prof. Schwinefus welcomes your inquiries!