Chemistry courses available are listed in the Graduate Catalog. Additional courses are listed below. Most students take between seven and nine graduate courses in the course of a Ph.D. program.
Analytical
Available Courses
CHEM 821 Analytical Chemistry
(3 cr) CHEM 823 should be taken concurrently. Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 821 and 827.
Chemical and physical properties applied to quantitative chemical analysis. Solution equilibria, stoichiometry, and instrumental theory and techniques.
CHEM 823 Analytical Chemistry Lab
(2 cr) Lab 6. Prereq: Same as for CHEM 821.
Lab designed to accompany CHEM 421/821. Applications of analytical chemical principles to laboratory problems.
CHEM 824 Applied Problems in Analytical Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 821 or permission.
Selection and execution of analytical methods in the solution of typical academic and industrial chemical problems.
CHEM 825A Ionic Equilibria
(1 cr) Lec 1. Prereq or parallel: CHEM 821 or *824.
Survey of theory of ionic equilibrium systems of importance in chemical analysis.
CHEM 825B Electrochemical Methods
(2 cr) Lec 2. Prereq:CHEM 821 or *824.
Survey of principles and applications of electroanalytical chemistry.
CHEM 825D Mass Spectrometry
(1-2 cr, max 2) Lec 1-2. Prereq: CHEM 821 or *824 or permission.
Survey of the fundamentals (1 cr) and applications (1 cr) of mass spectrometry.
CHEM 825E Data Handling
(1 cr) Lec 1. Prereq or parallel: CHEM 821 or *824.
Application of statistical, graphical and numerical methods for the treatment of analytical chemical data.
CHEM 825G Chromatographic Separations
(2 cr) Lec 2. Prereq: CHEM 821 or *824.
Survey of principles and applications of modern chromatographic analysis.
CHEM 825J Optical Methods of Analysis
(2 cr) Lec 2 h. Prereq: CHEM 821 or *824.
Survey of principles and analytical application of modern optical spectrometric methods.
CHEM 827 Applied Analytical Instrumentation
(4 cr) Lec 2 h.; lab 8 h. Prereq: CHEM 116 or 221 and 251 or equivalent. Credit may not be earned in both CHEM 821 and 827. Chemistry graduate students may not take 827 for credit. Primarily for non-majors who will use analytical chemistry in their professional careers. Introduction to modern instrumentation techniques of chemical analysis in fields related to chemistry. Analysis of organic systems.
CHEM 991A Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry
(1-6 cr) Prereq or parallel: CHEM 821 or *824 or permission.
CHEM 992A Seminar in Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
Biophysical
Available Courses
CHEM 836 Biophysical Chemistry
(BIOC 836) (3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: One semester of physical chemistry or permission. Introductory course covering x-ray diffraction and protein structure, absorption, spectroscopy of biomolecules, linear and circular dichroic spectroscopy of proteins and nucleic acids, fluorescence probes, membrane dynamics, NMR, EPR, and Resonance Raman spectroscopy applied to biological systems. Energetics, enzyme kinetics, relaxation kinetics, allosteric systems, and hydrodynamics.
CHEM 886 Advanced Topics in Biophysical Chemistry
(BIOC, BIOS 886) (3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 871 or 881. Applications of thermodynamics to biochemical phenomena, optical properties of proteins and polynucleotides, and kinetics of rapid reactions.
CHEM 939 Photobiochemistry
(BIOC 939) (2 cr I) Lec 2 h. Prereq: One year biochemistry and physics.
CHEM 992A Seminar in Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 992J: Seminar in Physical, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
Inorganic
Available Courses
CHEM 841 Inorganic Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 252, or 262 and 264. Parallel: CHEM 843, or permission. CHEM 841 and the accompanying laboratory course, CHEM 843, constitute a basic course in inorganic chemistry. CHEM 841 deals with the structure, bonding, properties, and reactions of inorganic compounds with emphasis on the relation ships and trends that are embodied in the periodic table of the elements.
CHEM 843 Inorganic Laboratory
(2 cr) Prereq:CHEM 252, or 262 and 264. Parallel: CHEM 841, or permission. CHEM 843 is to be taken concurrently with CHEM 841. Introduction to typical inorganic chemistry laboratory techniques through the preparation and characterization of inorganic compounds.
CHEM 845 Modern Inorganic Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 841, 843, and 882 or permission. Topics in inorganic chemistry such as bioinorganics, catalysis, organometallic, materials and solid state chemistry. Theoretical principles and practical applications, and on correlating the physical and chemical properties of the chemical elements and inorganic chemical compounds.
CHEM 992J: Seminar in Physical, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 942 Physical Inorganic Chemistry
(2-3 cr) Prereq: CHEM *845. Advanced study of the physical aspects of inorganic chemistry with emphasis on spectroscopic and kinetic properties of inorganic compounds.
CHEM 943 Solid-State Chemistry
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM *845 and *885. Advanced course dealing with the structure, bonding, properties, and reactions of inorganic solid materials.
CHEM 945 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM *845. Chemistry of the metallic compounds.
CHEM 946 Organometallic
(1-6 cr) The chemistry of compounds that occupy the boundary between inorganic and organic chemistry.
CHEM 991B. Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
(1-6 cr, max 6) Prereq: CHEM *845 and permission
Physical
Available Courses
CHEM 871 Physical Chemistry
(4 cr) Lec 3 h.; rec 1 h. Prereq: CHEM 114 and 116; or CHEM 221 with a grade of C or better; 1 yr college physics, 1 yr calculus. Conceptual and mathematical foundations of classical and statistical thermodynamics. Applications of thermodynamics to phase and chemical equilibria. The thermodynamics of solutions of small molecules and of polymers. Biological applications of thermodynamics. Introduction to chemical and biochemical spectroscopy.
CHEM 881 Physical Chemistry
(4 cr) Lec 3 h., rec 1 h. Prereq: CHEM 114 and 116 (CHEM 116 for 2 cr), or CHEM 221 with a grade of C or better, MATH 208, PHYS/ASTR 212 and (recommended) 222. Students having credit in CHEM 871 may not receive credit in CHEM 881. CHEM 881 and 882 with accompanying lab 884 form a continuous basic course in physical chemistry for students interested in chemistry as a profession. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and their application to the study of solids, liquids, gases, solutions, phase equilibria, and chemical equilibria.
CHEM 882 Physical Chemistry
(4 cr) Lec 3 h.; rec 1 h. Prereq: CHEM 881. Students having credit in CHEM 871 may not receive credit in CHEM 882.This course should be accompanied by CHEM 884. Continuation of CHEM 881. Statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and their applications to the study of solids, liquids, gases, solutions, and chemical equilibrium. Chemical kinetics.
CHEM 884 Physical Chemical Measurements
(2 cr) Lab 9 h. Prereq: CHEM 881. Parallel with CHEM 882.
CHEM 884A. Physical Chemical Measurements
(3 cr) Lab 6 h. Prereq: CHEM 881. Parallel with CHEM 882.
CHEM 885 Survey of Modern Physical Chemistry
(3 cr). A one-semester survey course in modern physical chemistry, covering chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, quantum chemistry, molecular structure and spectroscopy.
CHEM 972 Quantum Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM *885. Basic principles of quantum mechanics applied to problems in molecular structure and chemical bonding.
CHEM 982 Thermodynamics
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM *885 or permission. Principles of thermodynamics, with applications to chemical systems and processes, and illustrations from current literature.
CHEM 983 Statistical Thermodynamics
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM *885 or 982. Application of equilibrium statistical mechanics to problems of chemical interest. Calculation of thermodynamic functions from molecular structure data. Molecular theories of gases, liquids, and solutions.
CHEM 984 Kinetics
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM 882 or 885 or 972 or permission. A quantitative treatment of the principal methods of light, electron and neutron scattering. (The course number is expected to be changed to 987B beginning Fall 2009)
CHEM 988 Radiochemical Techniques
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM *885 or 982 or permission. Concepts and equations; successive, competing, and reversible reactions; equilibrium, collision, and activated-complex theories; reaction mechanism; heterogeneous reactions; current literature.
CHEM 991J Advanced Quantum Computational Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 or permission. Hartree-Fock theory, configuration interaction, coupled cluster, perturbation theory, density functional theory, solvation models, force field, with an emphasis on performing quantum chemical calculations and interpreting the results.
CHEM 991J Computational Chemistry of Materials
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 and 482/882 or permission. Classical computer simulation methods including molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo; quantum computer simulation methods: periodic density-functional theory, pseudopotentials, electronic structure calculations, Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics, with emphasis on properties of nanostructured materials.
CHEM 987A Molecular Spectroscopy
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM 882 or 885 or 972 or permission. A quantitative treatment of the principal methods of electronic, optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. (The course number is expected to be changed to 987A beginning Fall 2009)
CHEM 991J Nanomaterials Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 or permission. Synthesis, characterization and applications of nanostructures and nanomaterials, with emphasis on reactions smechanisms and growth kinetics.
CHEM 987B Scattering
(2 cr) Lec 1, lab 4. Prereq: CHEM 987 or permission. Radiochemical experiments illustrating the applications of radioisotopes to various chemical problems, with emphasis on radiation safety and safe handling of radioisotopes.
CHEM 991J Special Topics in Physical Chemistry
(1-6 cr) Prereq: CHEM 881 and 882 or CHEM *885 or permission.
CHEM 992J Seminar in Physical, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
Research and Professional Development
Available Courses
CHEM 898A Introduction to Research
(1 cr) CHEM 898A is taken by new graduate students in the first fall semester of studies. It is an introduction course to the chemistry departmental graduate program.
CHEM 898 Special Problems
(1-24 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Need description: Research problems for new students. Students whose programs of studies (Ph.D. candidates) or memorandum of courses (M.S. candidates) have been approved should instead register for CHEM 999 (Ph.D. candidates) or CHEM 899 (M.S. candidates). ***
CHEM 899 Masters Thesis
(6-10 cr) Prereq: Admission to master degree program and permission of major advisor.
CHEM 999 Doctoral Dissertation
(1-24 cr, max 55) Prereq: Admission to doctoral degree program and permission of supervisory committee chair.
JOUR 444/844 Science Writing
The goal of JOUR 444/844 is to prepare students in science, journalism and engineering to write clearly and engagingly about science and technology.
Prerequisites: JOUR 444/844 is open to all majors but is particularly designed for upper-level students majoring in science, journalism and engineering. Minimum GPA of 2.75.
Biochemistry/Chemical Biology
Available Courses
CHEM 831 Biochemistry
(BIOC, BIOS 831) (3 cr I, II, III) Lec 3 h. Prereq: CHEM 252 or 262. For course description, see BIOC 831.
CHEM 832 Biochemistry II
(BIOC, BIOS 832) (3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: BIOC 831. For course description, see BIOC 832.
CHEM 833 Biochemistry Lab
(BIOC, BIOS 833) (2 cr I,II) Lab 7 h. Prereq: BIOC 831 or concurrent enrollment. For course description, see BIOC 833.
CHEM 834 Plant Biochemistry
(AGRO, BIOC, BIOS 834) (3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: BIOC 831 or permission. For course description, see BIOC 834.
CHEM 835 Chemical Biology
(3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: Chem 252 or 262, and Chem 221. Fundamentals of chemical biology with an emphasis on the underlying principles of biomolecular structures, macromolecular-small molecule interactions, including mechanistic aspects of enzymes and cofactors, use of modified enzymes to alter biochemical pathways, and the use of chemical tools for understanding biological processes.
CHEM 839 Graduate Survey in Biochemistry
(BIOC, BIOS *839) (3 cr I) Lec 3 h. Prereq: Permission. For course description, see BIOC *839.
CHEM 848. Metals in Biochemistry
(BIOC *848) (3 cr) Prereq:3 h. biochemistry and 3 h. inorganic chemistry. Role of metals in biochemical reactions such as photosynthesis, oxygen binding, nitrogen fixation and carbon metabolism with particular emphasis on recent developments in these areas. The structure-function relationship of metals, either attached to proteins or as part of a prosthetic group, in oxidation- reduction (electron transfer) and acid-base reactions. Physical methods employed in the study of metals in biology such as optical, vibrational and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and EPR, NMR and Mossbauer spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography, and kinetics.
CHEM 992A Seminar in Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 992E Seminar in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 932 Proteins
(BIOC, BIOS 932) (3 cr) Lec 3 h. Prereq: BIOC 832 or *839, or permission.
CHEM 933 Enzymes
(BIOC, BIOS 933) (3 cr) Lec 3 h. Prereq:BIOC 832 or *839, or permission. For course description, see BIOC 933.
CHEM 934 Nucleic Acids
(BIOC, BIOS 934) (3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: BIOC 832 or *839 or permission. Offered even-numbered calendar years.
CHEM 935 Intermediary Metabolism
(BIOC, BIOS 935) (3 cr I) Lec 3 h. Prereq: BIOC 832 or *839 or permission. Offered even-numbered calendar years.
CHEM 936 Molecular Biology Methods
(2-3 cr I) Lec 3 h. Prereqs: CHEM 431/831, or CHEM 835, or with instructor permission. The fundamentals of molecular biology and biotechnology and applications. The fundamentals include methods for DNA cloning, sequencing, annotation, recombination, mutagenesis, and expression. The applications include the production of molecular diagnostics and therapeutic agents etc. with a focus on the molecular biotechnology of microbial systems.
CHEM 937A Advanced Topics in Plant Biochemistry
Photo-synthesis and Related Processes (BIOC 937A) (3 cr) Lec 3 h. Prereq: Permission. Offered every fourth semester.
Chemical Education
Available Courses
CHEM 898 Teaching Methods in Chemistry
(1 cr) Sec 3. This course explores teaching strategies specific to chemistry at the college level, and promotes the development of skills for facilitating active, student-centered learning in both lecture and laboratory settings. It is required for first-time teaching assistants.
CHEM 898 Evidence-based Teaching Methods for the Postsecondary Classroom
(3 cr) Sec 2. The overarching goal of the course is to provide graduate students interested in pursuing an academic career with training in teaching at the postsecondary level. Specifically, the course is intended to introduce graduate students to instructional practices that have been empirically demonstrated to enhance students’ learning and attitudes toward science and their associated learning theories. Moreover, the course is intended to provide students with opportunity to develop, implement, and receive feedback on a unit and lecture of their choice as well as develop a teaching philosophy grounded in research on how people learn.
CHEM 898 Practicum in Chemistry Teaching
(3 cr) Sec 4. The course is intended to train TAs in student-centered teaching by requiring them to implement strategies in real context while receive constant feedback and support. This course will build on the knowledge gained in the prior two courses. In particular, students will be asked to develop and implement instructional strategies in the setting in which they teach (laboratory or recitation). They will be trained on observing and providing feedback on the instructional practices of other TAs. They will also be asked to develop and implement strategies to overcome weaknesses identified during observation.
Organic
Available Courses
CHEM 835 Chemical Biology
(3 cr II) Lec 3 h. Prereq: Chem 252 or 262, and Chem 221. Fundamentals of chemical biology with an emphasis on the underlying principles of biomolecular structures, macromolecular-small molecule interactions, including mechanistic aspects of enzymes and cofactors, use of modified enzymes to alter biochemical pathways, and the use of chemical tools for understanding biological processes.
CHEM 855 Theoretical Organic Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq:CHEM 252 or 262 or equivalent. Survey of modern concepts of structure/bonding, acidity/ basicity, stereochemistry, and reaction mechanisms. Introduction to the fundamental tools used to investigate reaction mechanism (transition state theory, elementary Hückel theory, linear free energy relationships, rate laws and kinetic isotope effects). Mechanistic examples emphasize the major classes of organic reactions, particularly concerted, carbanionic and carbocationic. Development of reasoning skills.
CHEM 861 Advanced Organic Spectroscopy
(4 cr) Prereq: CHEM 252 and/or 254, or 262 and/or 264, or equivalent or permission. CHEM 861 may be taken only once towards the degree. Use of advanced spectroscopic techniques (e.g., NMR, ESR, IR and mass spectrometry) and molecular modeling in the elucidation of organic structures.
CHEM 863 Advanced Organic Preparations
(1-5 cr, max 5) Lab 3-15. Prereq: CHEM 252 and/or 254, or 262 and/or 264, or equivalent or permission. Laboratory work in organic chemistry preparatory to research. Preparation of a number of typical organic compounds.
CHEM 865 Organic Reactions
(3 cr) Lec 3. Prereq: CHEM *855 or permission. Modern reactions and methodology for organic synthesis. Carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions; alkene synthesis; oxidation; reductions; functional group interconversion; use of protecting groups; organometallic reagents; and free radical based transformations.
CHEM 936 Molecular Biology Methods
(2-3 cr I) Lec 3 h. Prereqs: CHEM 431/831, or CHEM 835, or with instructor permission. The fundamentals of molecular biology and biotechnology and applications. The fundamentals include methods for DNA cloning, sequencing, annotation, recombination, mutagenesis, and expression. The applications include the production of molecular diagnostics and therapeutic agents etc. with a focus on the molecular biotechnology of microbial systems.
CHEM 952 Stereochemistry
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM *855. Types of stereoisomerism in organic compounds. Steric strain and certain other steric effects in reactions of organic substances.
CHEM 953 Mechanisms of Organic Reactions
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM *855. Classes of reaction mechanisms and the methods whereby mechanisms may be studied. Kinetic and equilibrium studies; isotopic labeling; activation parameters; linear free energy relationships; stereochemistry; NMR and other spectroscopic methods as applied to reaction mechanisms, including direct observation of reactive intermediates; interpreting the results of semi-empirical calculations of reaction pathways; and studies of acid and base catalysis mechanisms.
CHEM 954 Physical Organic Chemistry
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM *855 or permission. Elementary aspects of molecular orbital (MO) theory. Selected concepts in molecular symmetry and topology. Applications of MO calculations to reaction mechanisms and elucidation of electronic structure for organic molecules: calculations vs. experiment. Introduction to selected interdisciplinary topics.
CHEM 963 Metals in Synthesis
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM 865 or permission. Use of organometallic reagents and catalysts in organic synthesis.
CHEM 964 Bioorganic Chemistry
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM *855 or permission. Organic chemistry of biological systems with particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of action of enzymes and their associated cofactors.
CHEM 965 Advanced Synthesis
(2-4 cr) Prereq: CHEM 865 or permission. Strategy and execution of organic synthesis. Retrosynthetic analysis; total synthesis of natural and unnatural products; methods for asymmetric synthesis; and applications of pericyclic reactions.
CHEM 991E. Special Topics in Organic Chemistry
(2-4 cr, max 4) Prereq: CHEM *855. Topics of special interest in modern organic chemistry.
CHEM 992E Seminar in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
Materials
Available Courses
CHEM 991J Nanomaterials Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 or permission. Synthesis, characterization and applications of nanostructures and nanomaterials, with emphasis on reactions smechanisms and growth kinetics.
CHEM 991J Advanced Quantum Computational Chemistry
(3 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 or permission. Hartree-Fock theory, configuration interaction, coupled cluster, perturbation theory, density functional theory, solvation models, force field, with an emphasis on performing quantum chemical calculations and interpreting the results.
CHEM 991J Computational Chemistry of Materials
(2 cr) Prereq: CHEM 481/881 and 482/882 or permission. Classical computer simulation methods including molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo; quantum computer simulation methods: periodic density-functional theory, pseudopotentials, electronic structure calculations, Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics, with emphasis on properties of nanostructured materials.
CHEM 992J: Seminar in Physical, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
ELEC 996 Nanotechnology (3 cr)
ENGM 848 Advance Mechanics of Materials (3 cr)
PHYS 822 Physics and Chemistry of Solids (3 cr II)
PHYS 927 Introduction to Solid State Physics (3 cr)
METL 862 X-ray Diffraction (3 cr)
METL 864 Thin Films and Surface (3 cr)
METL 871 Electron Microscopy of Materials (3 cr II)
Seminars
Available Courses
CHEM 990 Departmental Colloquium
Required of all full-time graduate students. Monthly lectures on current topics of chemical interest presented by guest speakers from other universities, government, and industry. Time for informal discussions with the guest lecturer is available to those who wish it. (1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 992A Seminar in Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 992E Seminar in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)
CHEM 992J: Seminar in Physical, Inorganic, and Materials Chemistry
(1 credit/semester; may be taken P/NP or for grade)