Chemistry

Program Directors:
Bruce A. Garetz, Undergraduate
Jin K. Montclare, Graduate
Iwao Teraoka, Graduate

Chemistry is concerned with knowledge of the structures, properties and reactions of matter and evolving theories to explain observations, predict chemical behavior and suggest experiments.

Classical divisions of chemistry are (1) organic chemistry, dealing primarily with compounds of carbon; (2) inorganic chemistry, concerned with all other compounds; (3) analytical chemistry, concerned with quantitative determinations of composition; and (4) physical chemistry, which seeks to understanding matter, including chemical bonds and molecular interactions.

These classical fields have increasingly overlapped, and several interdisciplinary fields are now of great importance: biochemistry, electrochemistry, photochemistry, polymer chemistry, solid-state chemistry and chemical physics.

The department offers a full complement of undergraduate and graduate courses in various aspects of modern chemistry. Graduates are prepared for positions at educational institutions, research institutes, industrial organizations and government laboratories. Staff members conduct and supervise research at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels. This research is combined with teaching so that courses at all levels are taught by chemists who are highly competent in their fields. Undergraduates participating in required research activities are stimulated and well prepared for graduate school or professional positions. The department offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science, a Master of Science in Chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Chemistry.

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the Master of Science program are to advance students’ knowledge and experience beyond the BS level and equip them with the needs of a changing industrial environment.

The goal of the PhD program is to offer candidates an opportunity to learn various aspects of materials chemistry especially associated with polymers and bio-active materials.

Undergraduate Programs

The BS degree requirements are described in the Biomolecular Science  Program section of this catalog. The BS in biomolecular science, with an option in chemistry with an approved selection of electives, is certified by the American Chemistry Society (ACS) to be a rigorous academic program, which is valued by both potential employers and graduate schools. ACS-certified graduates are immediately eligible for society membership.

Graduate Programs

Chemistry, M.S. 
Students are trained to perform at the midmanagerial level of the chemical industry and other organizations involved in chemically related work. Many students continue toward a doctoral degree and are already employed in chemistry-related institutions and will gain the knowledge to move ahead in these organizations. The MS program will allow graduate credit for special learning opportunities involving research as arranged with program advisers.

Materials Chemistry, Ph.D. 
The PhD program in materials chemistry is highly interdisciplinary, exposing students to a wide range of exciting, cutting-edge science. The program’s objective is to educate students through classroom and research experiences in the emerging discipline of materials chemistry.

Students engage in research topics that include chemical and biological synthesis of polymeric materials, structural and physical properties of synthetic and biological macromolecules, the interplay between molecularlevel structure and function and the biological properties of macromolecules.

The program promotes interdisciplinary interactions among the students and faculty whose interests lie at the boundaries of chemistry, biology and engineering. In particular, the faculty specializes in the integration of biotechnology for creating new catalysts, sensors and macromolecules as well as in the detailed characterization and understanding of such polymers and novel super-molecular structures. The Materials Chemistry Program encompasses the Polymer Research Institute, the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing of Macromolecules and more.

Programs

• Chemistry, M.S.