The following are courses that I have taken as a Chemistry major (American Chemical Society Certified):
I. Introduction courses:
CHE-150 INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY
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.
INTRODUCTION TO BASIC CHEMICAL LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
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.
II. Inorganic Chemistry:
CHE-220 FOUNDATIONS OF INORGANIC AND PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
This foundation course focuses on introductory aspects of inorganic and physical chemistry. Topics may include fundamental chemical reactions, nuclear structure and radioactivity, molecular shapes, trends as seen in the periodic table, equilibrium, gas laws, molecular collision theory, the laws of thermodynamics, phases, reaction rates 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.
CHE-220L FOUNDATIONS OF INORGANIC AND PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LAB
Labs introduce students to the analysis and interpretation of observations. This course will also illustrate fundamental principals of chemistry including: reactivity of main group and transition metals; bonding and its relation to behavior; solution behavior; gas laws; heat capacity and enthalpy changes; and kinetics of reactions.
CHE-270 FOUNDATIONS OF INORGANIC AND BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY
This foundation course in inorganic chemistry examines the behavior of the elements in an effort to identify and explain patterns on the periodic table. The course focuses on the approximately 28 elements with known roles in biochemical systems including iron, copper, zinc, Na+/K+ , Mg+2, and Ca+2. Topics include the toxicity of environmental pollutants and the often surprising toxicity of nutritionally required elements such as iron and copper. Recent discoveries and case studies are used to explain biochemical selectivity in a wide variety of systems; plant, animal and archaea.
CHE-370 MODERN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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).
CHE-375 MODERN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
This in-depth lab course focuses on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of inorganic and organometallic compounds and the correlation of structures with contemporary crystal field and ligand field theories. Target molecules will include examples of cluster structures such as organotransition metal metallocarboranes and their precursors along with traditional transition metal complexes. Synthesis techniques will focus on oxygen-free and microscale reactions. Students will prepare publication ready lab reports that include budgetary and safety discussions.
III. Analytical Chemistry:
CHE-230 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY I
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.
CHE-330 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY II
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.
CHE-335 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
This laboratory course is a hands-on experimental experience 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. Students will also gain experience obtaining and preparing samples, analyzing and interpreting data, and drawing valid conclusions based on experimental results.
III. Organic Chemistry:
CHE-240 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
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.
CHE-240L ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
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.
CHE-340 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
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.
CHE-340L ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY
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.
IV. Physical Chemistry:
CHE-260 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I
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.
CHE-365 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
This is an in-depth laboratory based course that will allow students to study key experimental physical chemistry concepts, gain experience with equipment and instrumentation used in physical chemistry research, and increase their understanding of fundamental physical chemistry topics through hands on experiments. Topics will span the fields of thermodynamics, kinetics and quantum mechanics and students will use a variety of scientific instruments and equipment. A significant amount of time will also be spent on data analysis and calculations.
IV. Biochemistry:
CHE-300 INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY
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.
V. Advanced and Graduate-level Courses:
CHE-410 DIRECTED READING
Directed reading courses are open to qualified juniors and seniors to pursue reading outside a program’s listed courses.
CHE-440 DIRECTED RESEARCH
Directed research courses are open to junior and senior majors to work with a faculty member on a project related to particular field of intellectual or artistic interest.
CHE-450 INTERNSHIP
For juniors and seniors who want a more-focused academic component to accompany their internship, the independently designed 450 may be an option.
CHE-4803 NANOSCIENCE – Science and Technology on the Nanoscale (Georgia Institute of Technology)
This course is mainly designed for graduate students and juniors/seniors in the school of chemistry and biochemistry. It covers the basic principles and recent advances in representative areas of nanoscale science and technology. The selected topics should also be appropriate for graduate and undergraduate students from other academic units, including physics, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The focus will be placed on the chemistry and physics of materials, structures, and surfaces with characteristic feature sizes below 100 nm: for example, when does size matter? how do we engineer the properties of material, structures, and surfaces by controlling the feature size? what is the ultimate limit for size control? how do we synthesize nanomaterials, fabricate nanostructures, and generate nanoscale patterns? what are the scientific and technical challenges in these areas? what are the unique opportunities of nanomaterials in catalysis, electronics, photonics, energy conversion, and biomedicine?