Options in Chemistry for the First Year Students

 

1. Chem 57: a two semester course similar to the mainstream general chemistry courses taught in most universities. Chem 5 is for students with typical high school chemistry backgrounds, or those with little previous study in chemistry and physics. Some familiarity with very elementary concepts of high school science is assumed, however, including scientific notation, units conversion, algebra (particularly "word problems"), and some simple chemical ideas like atoms, molecules, ions, protons, neutrons and electrons. A sheet describing our assumptions in more detail will be provided. Students recommended for placement in Math Ar or Math X should consider deferring Chem 5 until after successful completion of one of those courses.)

2. Chem 10: an accelerated one semester honors course for students with very strong high school backgrounds in chemistry, physics and math. A good background in math is necessary, but not sufficient, for success in this course, since considerable knowledge of high school chemistry is assumed.

3. Organic chemistry: students with exceptional backgrounds in chemistry may skip all the introductory chemistry courses* and proceed directly to organic chemistry. There are two organic sequences; both are acceptable for the chemistry concentration, for other concentrations and for medical schools.

  • Chem 1727 (taught in the fall and spring); this sequence is oriented strongly toward bigorganic chemistry, and is particularly appropriate for the biologically inclined and for premeds (or "future physicians").
  • Chem 2030 (taught in the spring and the following fall); this sequence includes much theoretical organic chemistry, with emphasis on synthesis, reaction mechanisms, frontier molecular orbital theory, reactivities, etc. It is particularly appropriate for chemistry concentrators.
  • A student who desires a strong background in both bigorganic and theoretical organic chemistry may take either sequence, followed by the semester of the other sequence; e.g. Chem 20 and 30 followed by 27.

* Note: Medical schools generally do not accept AP credits, except in math. If you skip general chemistry, you will probably have to take more advanced chemistry courses to satisfy medical school requirements. '

Sept 09, 1997