Courses & Requirements
Requirements for the Chemistry Major
The chemistry program at Agnes Scott College is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). We therefore offer two options for a chemistry major:
1. The standard chemistry major
2. The ACS-approved chemistry major, which has additional requirements above the standard chemistry major, and which is designed as a thorough preparation for graduate work in chemistry or for a career as a chemist.
Courses Required in the Discipline
Introductory Courses
CHE-110: General Chemistry I (3.00)
This course delves into the world of atoms and molecules in order to study the structure of matter and the changes it undergoes. The course will provide an introduction to the field of chemistry. Topics include atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, acids and bases, enthalpy, and equilibrium. In addition, contemporary problems and applications of these topics may be explored. Examples may include atomic and molecular structure relevant to the design of new material such as memory metals; stoichiometry as a means of achieving green chemistry; acids and bases in the context of biochemical and environmental reactions; enthalpy in the context of energy generating fuels; and equilibrium and its role in energy storing batteries.
Course requisites: Take CHE-110L
CHE-110L: General Chemistry I Laboratory (1.00)
This lab course focuses on the experimental methods in basic scientific measurements, elementary reactions and analysis arranged around a theme such as forensics or the environment.
Course requisites: CHE-110 prereq or coreq for CHE-110L
CHE-120: General Chemistry II (3.00)
This foundation course focuses on introductory aspects of inorganic and physical chemistry. Topics may include fundamental chemical reactions, trends in reactivity of main group and transition metals, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, gas laws, the laws of thermodynamics, properties of liquids and solution behavior, electrochemistry, reaction rates, molecular collision theory and reaction mechanisms. To illustrate the role of chemistry in fundamental physical and chemical behaviors, examples are chosen from a variety of areas including environmental, medical, and forensic applications. Prerequisite: CHE-110; CHE-110L (minimum grade of C- in each) Corequisite: CHE-120L
Course requisites: CHE-110 and CHE-110L, minimum grade C- Take CHE-120L
CHE-120L: General Chemistry II Lab (1.00)
Labs introduce students to the analysis and interpretation of observations. This course will also illustrate fundamental principles of chemistry including: reactivity of main group and transition metals; solution behavior; gas laws; heat capacity and enthalpy changes; electrochemistry; and kinetics of reactions. Course requisites: CHE-110 CHE-110L; Take CHE-120
Course requisites: CHE-110 CHE-110L; Take CHE-120
Foundation Courses
CHE-230: Analytical Chemistry I (4.00)
This foundational course centers on quantitative chemical analysis. Students will study chemical equilibria including acid base chemistry, buffers, and solubility as well as various methods used to measure chemical species in solution such as titrimetry, electrochemistry, absorption, spectroscopy, and chromatography.
Course requisites: CHE-110 (CHE-120 recommended).
CHE-240: Organic Chemistry I (3.00)
The systematic study of the chemistry of organic compounds with emphasis on theories of structure and reactivity. Specific topics include basic organic molecular structure and bonding, isomerism, stereochemistry, molecular energetics, substitution and elimination reactions, and reactions of biologically relevant functional groups.
Course requisites: CHE-110 (CHE-120 recommended); Take CHE-240L
CHE-240L: Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1.00)
Introduction to fundamental experimental techniques of carbon based molecules, including organic synthesis, purification and separation techniques, and theory and interpretation of infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Course requisites: Course requisites: CHE-110 CHE-110L; Take CHE-240
CHE-260: Physical Chemistry I (4.00)
This course is a continuation of the introduction to physical chemistry that began in CHE-220. Topics will include general principles of thermodynamics and equilibria, kinetics and solution dynamics, and an introduction to quantum mechanics as applied in chemistry and biochemistry. More specifically, students will study such topics as the dependence of Gibbs energy on temperature and pressure, mixtures and solutions, theories of reaction rates, the Schrodinger equation, molecular orbital theory, and a brief introduction to symmetry.
Course requisites: CHE-120 & CHE-120L; MAT-119 or equivalent
CHE-300: Introduction to Biochemistry/Lab (4.00)
Fundamentals of biochemistry, including structure and function of biomolecules, enzyme kinetics, bioenergetics, catabolic and anabolic pathways and regulation of biochemical processes. Fundamental biochemical laboratory techniques including spectroscopy, enzymology, chromatographic separations, and protein detection methods. Cross-listed with BIO-300.
Course requisites: CHE-240 & 240L (BIO-110/L & 111/L also prereqs for BIO mjrs)
CHE-300L: Biochemistry I Laboratory (1.00)
BY SPECIAL PERMISSION ONLY. Since CHE-300 is a standard 4-credit course combining lecture and lab, this lab-only section of CHE-300L lab allows a student with special permission to take the 1-credit lab alone. The lab experience description is: fundamental biochemical laboratory methods including the study of acid-base properties of amino acids and proteins, spectro- photometric characterization, chromatographic separation techniques and electrophoresis.
Course requisites: CHE-300
CHE-370: Inorganic Chemistry (4.00)
This in-depth course introduces current theories of bonding, group theory and molecular symmetry, molecular and solid state structures, magnetism, stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms involving both main group elements and transition metals. Classes of molecules will include main group, metal, and hybrid clusters and the emerging field of molecular super-atoms. Descriptions of the bonding in such molecules will include Wade's Rules for clusters and molecular orbital descriptions of exotic molecules (e.g. the interstellar CH5 + and interstitial structures (e.g. He@C60).
Course requisites: CHE-120 CHE-120L CHE-260
In-depth Courses
CHE-340/340L required, plus either CHE-330 or CHE-360. Additional in-depth courses may be taken as electives. Note, Both CHE-330 and CHE-360 courses are required for the ACS approved Chemistry Major
CHE-330: Analytical Chemistry II (4.00)
Advanced study of chemical instrumental analysis with an emphasis on understanding the major instrumental methods chemists use to study chemical phenomena. Techniques include absorption and emission spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemistry.
Course requisites: CHE-230
CHE-340: Organic Chemistry II (3.00)
This course is a continuation of CHE-240 and it continues the systematic study of the principal functional groups in organic compounds. Specific topics include the theory and chemical reactivity of conjugated and aromatic systems, the fundamentals of organic synthesis, and reactions of biologically relevant functional groups.
Course requisites: CHE-240 CHE-240L; Take CHE-340L
CHE-340L: Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1.00)
Project based synthesis based laboratories including functional group analyses and reactions. Use of advanced instrumentation including nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy and GC-MS are required for analysis of project results.
Course requisites: CHE-240 CHE-240L; Take CHE-340
CHE-350: Medicinal Organic Chemistry (4.00)
Drug discovery and development is the study of how biological targets for new drugs are selected, and how appropriate drugs for those targets are identified and brought to market. It is an interdisciplinary subject that draws from biology, chemistry and biochemistry to help us understand the interaction of a drug with a biological target, how the drug reaches its target in the body, and how it is eliminated once its function is achieved. Since a biologically active drug results from many years of experimental work in drug design and development, structure-activity relationships and drug structure optimization are topics also discussed in this course.
Course requisites: CHE-240 and 240L
CHE-360: Physical Chemistry II (4.00)
An advanced course that builds on concepts learned in the foundational physical chemistry course (CHE-260). Topics covered will include quantum mechanics, spectroscopy and materials science.
Course requisites: MAT119 or equivalent; CHE-260 or PHY-210
CHE-385: Advanced Biochem & Molecular Biology (4.00)
Advanced, project-based interdisciplinary course involving laboratory research and analysis of primary literature in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. Cross-listed with BIO-385.
Course requisites: BIO-216 or CHE-300 (both are recommended)
In-depth Laboratory
One of the following courses is required. Note, the second in-depth laboratory course is required for the ACS approved Chemistry Major
CHE-420: Organometallic Synthesis and Analysis (4.00)
This is an in-depth lab course that focuses on synthesizing inorganic and organometallic compounds and their characterization with various spectroscopic techniques. The synthesis focus will include organic molecules to use as ligands for transition metal complexes and organic synthesis using metal catalysts. These reactions may be air-sensitive and done on a microscale. Furthermore, purification techniques will be employed, followed by spectroscopic analysis methods. Students will prepare publication-ready lab reports, including the necessary safety considerations and citing current peer-reviewed articles.
Course requisites: CHE-340 (pre-req); CHE-370 (pre- or co-req)
CHE-430: Analytical and Physical Experimental Methods (4.00)
This hands-on laboratory course is an in-depth experimental experience. Key physical and analytical chemistry concepts, methods, equipment, and instrumentation are utilized and studied. The experience includes investigating an original chemical analysis problem using a number of instrumental methods. The problems may be chemical, environmental, or biochemical in nature depending on student interests. Students will identify a scientific question, and formulate an experimental design and conduct experiments utilizing two or more departmental instruments such as the NMR, FTIR, GC, GC-MS, HPLC, FAAS. Experiments will also be carried out such that students gain increased insight into, and greater understanding of, fundamental physical chemistry topics in the fields of thermodynamics, kinetics, and quantum mechanics. A significant amount of time will be spent on data analysis and calculations. Students will also gain experience obtaining and preparing samples, analyzing and interpreting data, and drawing valid conclusions based on experimental results.
Course requisites: CHE-230 CHE-260
Research Requirement
Students who wish to pursue the ACS approved chemistry major must undertake chemistry laboratory research (no more than 25% in computational chemistry). At the conclusion of a laboratory research experience with a specific research advisor, students should provide the chair of the chemistry department with a well-written, comprehensive, and well-documented research report. If a research experience is carried out for credit (e.g. occurs during the semester), a total of 4 credits of work must be done in CHE-440 and/or CHE-450 experiences. If a research experience is not carried out for credit (e.g. occurs during the summer), then it must consist of at least 130 hours of laboratory research and students should sign up for a 1 credit CHE440 in the spring semester following (or during) the experience, in order to write the detailed written report. In the latter scenario, the department chair will ask the registrar to override the requirement of a 4-credit CHE440
CHE-440: Directed Research (4.00)
Directed research courses are open to junior and senior majors to work with a faculty member on a project related to a particular field of intellectual or artistic interest, or to non-majors who demonstrate sufficient preparation in the discipline. Applications are available in the Office of Academic Advising and must be returned to the assistant dean of the college for approval. A 440 course carries 4 semester hours of credit.
CHE-450: Credit Internship (4.00)
For juniors and seniors who want a more-focused academic component to accompany their internship, the independently designed 450 may be an option. Students must identify a faculty sponsor and complete detailed paperwork for approval from the Office of Internship and Career Development.
Courses Required Outside of the Discipline
- Mathematics 119 (or equivalent)
- Physics 102 (non-caluculus-based) or Physics 202 (calculus-based)
Note, Physics 103 (non-calculus-based) or Physics 203 (calculus-based) are required for the ACS approved Chemistry Major
MAT-119: Calculus II (4.00)
Continuation of 118. Topics include the integral and its applications, techniques of integration, improper integrals and an introduction to series and differential equations.
Course requisites: 118 with a minimum grade of C-
PHY-102: Elements of Physics I Lecture--Post-Bacc (3.00)
ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS I (3-credit lecture). Quantitative discussion of physical phenomena. Knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is required. Credit cannot be received for both PHY-102 and PHY-202. Corequisite PHY-102L (1-credit lab).
Course requisites: PHY-102 lecture & PHY-102L lab must be taken together.
PHY-202: Intro Physics I/Lab: Mechanics (4.00)
A calculus-based course with laboratory covering Newtonian mechanics, oscillations, and other classical physics topics. Credit cannot be received for both PHY-102 and 202. 3 LEC, 1 LAB.
Course requisites: Prereq MAT-118; Pre- or coreq MAT-119 Corequisite MAT-119
Requirements for the Chemistry Minor
Minimum of 16 credits beyond 110 and 110L. Students majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology cannot minor in chemistry.