DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Maria C. Linder
DEPARTMENT OFFICE
McCarthy Hall 580
DEPARTMENT WEBSITE
http://chemistry.fullerton.edu
PROGRAMS OFFERED
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
Minor in Chemistry
Minor in Biotechnology
Emphasis in Biotechnology
Emphasis in Environmental Chemistry
Master of Science in Chemistry
Emphasis in Geochemistry
SUBJECT MATTER PREPARATION PROGRAM
Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science
FACULTY
Peter de Lijser, Richard Deming, Mark Filowitz, Leslie Gillespie, Barbara Gonzalez, Christina Goode, A. Scott Hewitt, Paula Hudson, Christopher Hyland, Katherine Kantardjieff, Zhuangjie Li, Maria Linder, Christopher Meyer, Franklin Ow, Madeline Rasche, Kereen Monteyne, Harold Rogers, Karn Sorasaenee, Chandra Srinivasan, Jonathan Stoddard, Fu-Ming Tao
ADVISERS
Undergraduate: Richard Deming
Graduate: Peter de Lijser
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry plans its curriculum to provide thorough instruction in the basic principles and concepts of chemistry and biochemistry for students who will (1) advance to graduate work in chemistry or biochemistry; (2) teach in the science programs of secondary schools; (3) seek employment in industry or government; (4) advance to medical, dental, or pharmacy training or (5) pursue a degree or minor in support of a career in other areas such as physics, biology, geology, business or computer science.
The department offers three bachelor’s degrees, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biochemistry.
To qualify for any of these degrees, a student must earn a “C” (2.0) grade or better in all courses required for the major including prerequisites in related sciences or mathematics.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is currently on the approved list of The American Chemical Society (ACS), and students have the opportunity to earn ACS certification of the B.S. degrees offered.
The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry require a minimum of 120 units. These total units include courses for the major, General Education, all University requirements, and free electives.
Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
The following goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a degree in chemistry or biochemistry:
Concepts
Skills and processes
Attitudes
Internships
Internship in Chemistry and Biochemistry (Chemistry 490) provides practical work experience which integrates with the student’s classroom studies.
Recommended Program in General Education
Because of high unit requirements for chemistry degree programs, a student majoring in chemistry is strongly urged to consult with an adviser at the Academic Advisement Center in UH-123 prior to designing his/her general education program. There is a six-unit exemption in general education for B.S. Chemistry degree majors for which the undergraduate Chemistry adviser must be consulted.
Upper-Division Baccalaureate Writing Requirement
Chemistry and biochemistry majors meet the coursework portion of the university’s upper-division writing requirement by passing Chemistry 340, English 301, or English 360 with a grade of “C” or better.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOCHEMISTRY
The Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry is recommended for students planning to go directly into professional biochemistry careers and for students planning to attend graduate school in biochemistry or molecular biology. It is also excellent preparation for medical, dental, pharmacy and health science schools. Students who complete this program and include Inorganic Chemistry 325 (3 units) and Chemistry 411 (3 units) may qualify for certification by the American Chemical Society. The major in biochemistry requires the following courses:
Basic Courses (48 units)
Chemistry 120A,B General Chemistry (10)
Chemistry 210 Computational Tools for Chemical Sciences (1)*
Chemistry 301A,B Organic Chemistry (6)
Chemistry 302 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
OR Chemistry 306A Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
Chemistry 315 Theory of Quantitative Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 316 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (1)
Chemistry 340 Writing for the Chemical Sciences (3)
OR English 301 Advanced College Writing (3)
OR English 360 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)
Chemistry 361A,B Introduction to Physical Chemistry (6)
OR Chemistry 371A,B Physical Chemistry (6)
Chemistry 390 Career Options in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1)
Chemistry 410A Introduction to Computational Genomics (1)
Chemistry 423A,B General Biochemistry (6)
Chemistry 422 Biochemistry Laboratory (2)
Chemistry 477 Advances in Biotechnology (3)
Chemistry 495/499 Senior Research/Independent Study (3)
Related Courses (26 units)
Physics 211, 212 Elementary Physics (6)
Physics 211L, 212L Elementary Physics: Laboratory (2)
Math 150A,B Calculus (8)
Biology 172 Cellular Basis of Life (5)
Biology 273 Genetics and Molecular Biology (5)
Upper-division electives are encouraged. See the department handbook or the department adviser for the approved list of courses.
Related Courses (25 units)
Physics 225, 226, 227 Fundamental Physics (7)
Physics 225L, 226L Fundamental Physics Laboratory (2)
Math 150A,B Calculus (8)
Math 250A Multivariate Calculus (4)
Math 250B Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4)
Note: For students planning to pursue a graduate degree, Physics 227L (1 unit) is highly recommended.
Career Breadth (9)
Note: Career Breadth requirements is satisfied by taking 9 units of upper-division coursework directly related to the student’s career plans in chemistry and approved by the undergraduate adviser.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CHEMISTRY
The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry degree is offered for students who are planning careers that require a sound background in fundamental chemistry, but not at the depth of the B.S. degree. The B.A. is particularly suited for those who plan to go into areas such as secondary education, technical sales, science writing, chemical patent law and forensic sciences. The B.A. in Chemistry requires 45 units of Chemistry courses, and 16 units of related courses.
Basic Courses (45 units)
Chemistry 120A,B General Chemistry (10)
Chemistry 210 Computational Tools for Chemical Sciences (1)*
Chemistry 301A,B Organic Chemistry (6)
Chemistry 306 A,B Organic Chemistry Laboratory (4)
Chemistry 315 Theory of Quantitative Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 316 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (1)
Chemistry 325 Inorganic Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 340 Writing for the Chemical Sciences (3)
OR English 301 Advanced College Writing (3)
OR English 360 Scientific and Technical Writing (3)
Chemistry 361A, B Introduction to Physical Chemistry (6)
Chemistry 390 Career Options in Chemistry (1)
Chemistry 410C Introduction to Computational Chemistry (1)
Chemistry 411 A,B,C or G Instrumental Analysis (1)
Chemistry 421 Biological Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 495/499 Senior Research/Independent Study (2)
Related Courses (16 units)
Physics 211, 212 Elementary Physics (6)
Physics 211L, 212L Elementary Physics Laboratory (2)
Math 150A,B Calculus (8)
Chemistry/Pre MBA Program
A student may combine a B.A. in chemistry with a minor in Business Administration to qualify to enroll in and complete an MBA degree at CSUF in one additional year (33 units), provided all entrance requirements for the MBA program have been met. See your department adviser for details.
MINOR IN CHEMISTRY
The Minor in Chemistry requires a minimum of 24 acceptable units of chemistry, including general chemistry (Chemistry 120A,B) plus 14 units of upper-division chemistry courses. These courses must be completed with an overall grade-point average of 2.0. A list of approved upper-division chemistry classes is available from the department office.
The Minor in Chemistry is appropriate for students majoring in Biological Science, Geological Science, or Physics. It is also appropriate for students who have an interest in art restoration, environmental science, forensic science, industrial administration, medical technology, patent or environmental law, or science writing. Students with an interest in these or other areas should consult the chemistry department about courses for the minor which are most appropriate for their interests.
EMPHASIS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
This emphasis is appropriate for students majoring in biochemistry and interested in gaining employment in nearly any area of the medical and agricultural biotechnology industries, working in academic research laboratories, or pursuing postgraduate degrees in molecular biology or biochemistry.
Required Courses (12 units)
Chemistry 472A,B Advances in Biotechnology Lab (6)
Chemistry 477 Advances in Biotechnology (3)
Biology 412 Principles of Gene Manipulation (3)
EMPHASIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
This emphasis provides a concentration in chemistry with respect to the environment. The coursework addresses issues of concern such as EPA analysis protocols and other analytical methods, the interactions of chemicals with the air, water, and soil environments, how chemicals interact with living systems, chemical hazards, safe handling and disposal of chemicals, and an introduction to the regulatory framework. Interested students should consult their academic adviser for specific course requirements. The emphasis provides training for individuals interested in becoming environmental scientists and for those interested in graduate programs in this area.
Requirements (18-19 units)
Three of the following (9 units):
Chemistry 435 Chemistry of Hazardous Materials (3)
Chemistry 436 Atmospheric Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 437 Environmental Water Chemistry (3)
Chemistry 438 Environmental Biochemistry (3)
Three of the following one-unit mini-courses (3 units):
Chemistry 411A Optical Spectroscopy (1)
Chemistry 411C Separations (1)
Chemistry 411G Mass Spectrometry (1)
Math 338 Statistics Applied to the Natural Sciences (4 units)
(This course can be substituted for chemical and biochemical computation courses in meeting requirements for the major.)
Senior Research (Chemistry 495) (2-3 units)
(Topic must be environmentally related.)
The Environmental Chemistry Emphasis may be integrated with the B.S. in Chemistry with no additional required units by using the above courses to meet career breadth and elective requirements. The environmental chemistry courses also can be used to satisfy requirements for the minor in chemistry.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY
The degree is designed to qualify students for more advanced work in chemistry, to provide preparation that will lead to responsible positions in industrial or government research and development laboratories, and to provide preparation for the effective teaching of chemistry in high schools and community colleges.
The program provides fundamental courses at a level and depth commensurate with those taken during the first year of a doctoral program and provides an introduction to research and research methods.
Admission
Students must meet the university requirements for admittance to the university. This normally requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a grade-point average of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester units attempted. (See the section of this catalog on Graduate Admissions for a complete statement and procedures.) In addition to university requirements, in order to achieve conditionally classified standing in the chemistry program, a student must meet the following requirements:
Application Deadlines
The deadlines for completing online applications are March 1 for the fall semester and Oct. 1 for the spring semester (see http://www.csumentor.edu). Mailed applications need to be postmarked by the same deadlines. However, deadlines may be changed based upon enrollment projections.
Placement Examinations
All incoming students are required to pass an analytical writing exam. Any student failing to pass will be required to take a remedial writing class. Each student is required to take and pass placement examinations or take and pass the appropriate courses with a grade of “B” (3.0) or better. Graduate students in one of the chemistry options must demonstrate competency by passing four placement examinations in the following five areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and/or biochemistry. Graduate students in the biochemistry option must demonstrate competency in the following areas of chemistry: analytical, organic, biochemistry, as well as either physical or biology.
A student may take each placement examination two times within the first year of enrolling in the graduate program. A student who does not pass the placement examinations within the first year must demonstrate competency by passing with a grade of “B” (3.0) or better the appropriate courses within two years after first enrolling.
The appropriate courses are Chemistry 301B for organic, 315 for analytical, 325 for inorganic, 361A,B for physical (biochemistry option), 371A,B for physical (chemistry option), 423A,B for biochemistry and Biology 273 for biology.
Classified Standing
In order to proceed from conditionally classified to classified standing, a student must meet the following requirements:
Study Plan
Three alternatives are available for the study plan. The student can complete either a laboratory thesis (preferred) a library thesis, or project.
The degree program consists of 30 units of graduate committee-approved coursework completed with a minimum grade of “B” in all coursework exclusive of Chemistry 505A,B and 599. Each student prepares a study plan in consultation with the graduate program adviser. The study plan must be approved by the student’s research director, the department, and the Office of Graduate Studies. All chemistry courses on the study plan must be 400 level or above.
Study plans may contain no more than 2 units of Chemistry 505A,B, and no more than 6 units of Chemistry 599 (3 units for students electing the library thesis alternative).
A specialization in geochemistry is also available. Consult the chemistry graduate adviser for more information. For further details or advisement concerning the M.S. program, contact the graduate adviser.
CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY COURSES
Courses are designated as CHEM in the class schedule.
* Students who pass Multivariable Calculus (Math 250A, 4 units) are exempt from Chemistry 210.
