Chemistry

Chemistry courses

Director of undergraduate studies: Kurt Zilm, 249 SCL, 432-3956, kurt.zilm@yale.edu [F]; Patrick Vaccaro, 240 SCL, 432-3975, patrick.vaccaro@yale.edu [Sp]

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Professors   †Sidney Altman, Victor Batista, Gary Brudvig, Robert Crabtree, †Craig Crews, R. James Cross, Jr. (Emeritus), Jonathan Ellman, John Faller (Emeritus), †Gary Haller, †Francesco Iachello, Mark Johnson, William Jorgensen, J. Patrick Loria, J. Michael McBride, Scott Miller, Peter Moore (Emeritus), Andrew Phillips, †Lynne Regan, †James Rothman, Martin Saunders, Alanna Schepartz, Charles Schmuttenmaer, †Dieter Söll, †Thomas Steitz, †Scott Strobel, John Tully, Patrick Vaccaro, Frederick Ziegler (Emeritus), Kurt Zilm

Assistant Professors   Richard Baxter, Nilay Hazari, Seth Herzon, David Spiegel, Elsa Yan

Lecturers   Paul Anastas, Christine DiMeglio, N. Ganapathi, Jonathan Parr

*A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department.

The wide range of courses offered by the Department of Chemistry reflects the position of chemistry as the foundation of all the molecular sciences. In addition to graduate work in chemistry, biochemistry, or health-related disciplines, the department's graduates find their broad scientific training useful in fields such as technology policy, business management, and law. Chemistry is an especially appropriate major for students interested in energy research or policy and the environment.

Courses for nonmajors without prerequisites   Two one-term courses with no prerequisites are offered for non–science majors: CHEM 101, Chemistry in the Modern World, and CHEM 103, Chemistry, Energy, and the Environment. They do not satisfy medical school requirements or the general chemistry requirement for any science major.

Introductory courses and placement   The majority of students begin with a general chemistry sequence: either CHEM 112 and 113, Chemistry with Problem Solving I and II; CHEM 114 and 115, Comprehensive General Chemistry I and II; or CHEM 118, Quantitative Foundations of General Chemistry. Any of these courses fulfills the prerequisite for general chemistry in the Chemistry major. A typical student in CHEM 112 may have taken a year of high school chemistry, but has not been exposed to the problem-solving approach used in many university-level science courses. Students in CHEM 114 may have taken one or possibly two years of chemistry in high school and have had some exposure to quantitative problem-solving scientific methods. A little more than half of the students in CHEM 114 last took chemistry as sophomores in high school. Students who have done well in an advanced placement chemistry course or shown other evidence of high achievement in science and mathematics may start in CHEM 115 or 118. For instance, students with a Chemistry Advanced Placement test score of 5 may elect either CHEM 115 or 118.

Students with a sufficiently strong background in chemistry may initiate their studies with courses in organic or physical chemistry after demonstrating proficiency on the department's placement examination. CHEM 124 and 125, Freshman Organic Chemistry I and II, are offered expressly for freshmen. Other courses in organic chemistry, CHEM 220 and 230, are also available to qualified freshmen. Students with a strong background in physics and calculus may be eligible for the physical chemistry courses CHEM 332 and 333.

Placement procedures   The Chemistry department reviews the admission records of all freshmen prior to the beginning of the fall term. Using test scores and information supplied by students in preregistration, the department determines the appropriate general chemistry course for every entering freshman, either CHEM 112, 114, 115, or 118. Students will be able to view their initial placement in late August by following links provided on the Chemistry department Web site.

Freshmen wishing to take CHEM 124, 220, or 332, or those wishing to take a higher-level course than their initially assigned placement, are required to take a placement examination on the first day of registration week in the fall term. Students who feel they have been placed incorrectly at too high a level may discuss changing their placement with a chemistry placement adviser and do not need to take the examination. Students uncertain about their placement are encouraged to sit for the examination, as it provides the best measure of a student's readiness to enter the wide variety of courses offered to freshmen.

Students with placement questions, or those wishing to change their course preference indicated during preregistration, should attend the department's orientation meeting prior to the placement examination. Additional sessions with placement advisers are scheduled throughout the first week of the fall term in 1 SCL at times listed in the Calendar for the Opening Days of College. Students wishing to change their placement should consult an adviser as soon as possible.

Students are advised to review general chemistry before taking the placement examination. Use of an electronic calculator is permitted. Times and places for the examination are published in the Calendar for the Opening Days of College. After the examination, final placements are posted on the Chemistry department Web site. For further information about placement and the examination, consult the Calendar for the Opening Days of College, the Freshman Web site, and the Chemistry department Web site.

Permission keys   Enrollment in any introductory chemistry course requires an electronic permission key. Keys are automatically issued by the department for entering freshmen and are displayed as green key-shaped icons next to the appropriate courses on the online registration page. Students are blocked from enrolling in any chemistry course for which they do not possess a permission key. Students experiencing problems with permission keys should inquire in person at the department office, 1 SCL.

Section registration in laboratory and lecture courses   Information about online registration for laboratory and discussion sections can be found in the description for each laboratory or lecture course in Online Course Information (OCI). Due to the nature of laboratory exercises, it is impractical to preview laboratory courses during the course selection period.

Placement information for upperclassmen   Upperclassmen wishing to take CHEM 114, 115, or 118 should confirm their placement on the Chemistry department Web site and, if needed, obtain permission keys by inquiring at the department office, 1 SCL. Because CHEM 112 and 113 are restricted to freshmen, upperclassmen are placed into either CHEM 114, 115, or 118. Upperclassmen wishing to enroll in CHEM 220 may do so as long as they have satisfied the general chemistry prerequisite.

Information for premedical students   Medical schools currently require one year of organic chemistry and laboratory as well as one year of general chemistry and laboratory. The general chemistry requirement may be satisfied by CHEM 112 and 113, or 114 and 115, or CHEM 328 or 332 followed by 333. Students with advanced placement taking only CHEM 115 or 118 may complete this requirement by taking a course in biochemistry with laboratory. CHEM 252, Introductory Inorganic Chemistry, with laboratory may be substituted for the biochemistry course, but biochemistry is the preferred option. Students should consult with Undergraduate Career Services for the most up-to-date premedical course advice.

Major degree programs   Four degree programs are offered: a B.S., an intensive major leading to a B.S., a B.A., and a combined B.S./M.S. The B.S. degree is intended to prepare students for graduate study while permitting extensive exploration of other disciplines. The B.S. degree with an intensive major provides more focused preparation for a career in chemical research, and requires greater breadth in laboratory courses and electives. Students electing this major program can also satisfy the requirements for a certified degree in chemistry as set forth by the American Chemical Society. The B.A. is intended for students who want solid training in the chemical sciences and who also intend to study other subjects in which chemical training would be an asset, such as technology policy, economics, the environment, or medicine. The combined B.S./M.S. is designed for students whose advanced preparation qualifies them for graduate-level work in their third and fourth years of college.

Degree requirements common to all Chemistry degree programs   Two terms of general chemistry and laboratory, or the equivalent in advanced placement, are prerequisite to all four degree programs. In addition, all degrees require two terms of organic chemistry (CHEM 124 or 220, and 125, <221>, or 230) and laboratory (CHEM <126L> or 222L, and <127L> or 223L), one term of physical chemistry (CHEM 332 or 328), one term of physical chemistry laboratory (CHEM 330L), and one term of inorganic chemistry (CHEM 252 or higher). No chemistry courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the major (including substitutions for advanced courses).

Prerequisites outside the Chemistry department   Each degree program requires a course in physical chemistry. Single-variable calculus and college-level physics are prerequisites for the physical chemistry courses. Students are also encouraged to complete a course in multivariable calculus.

B.S. degree   In addition to the prerequisites and common degree requirements, the B.S. requires completion of a second term of physical chemistry (CHEM 333), an additional half-credit chemistry laboratory elective, and four additional course credits of advanced chemistry lecture or laboratory courses. At least one of the advanced courses must be a lecture course in the Chemistry department. One term of CHEM 490 involving original research may be applied toward the advanced-course requirement.

B.S. degree, intensive major   The requirements for the B.S. degree with an intensive major are the same as those for the regular B.S., except that the laboratory elective requirement is increased to one full course credit, and five, rather than four, credits in advanced chemistry courses are required. The five credits in advanced courses must include two terms of the independent research course CHEM 490.

B.A. degree   The B.A. degree requires completion of the prerequsites, the common degree requirements, and three course credits of advanced chemistry lecture or laboratory courses, one of which may be CHEM 490. At least one of the advanced courses must be a lecture course in the Chemistry department. CHEM 333 can be counted toward this requirement, although not as the sole advanced chemistry lecture course offered.

Combined B.S./M.S. degree program in Chemistry   Exceptionally well-prepared students may complete a course of study leading to the simultaneous award of the B.S. and M.S. degrees after eight terms of enrollment. Formal application for admission to this program must be made by the first day of classes in the sixth term of enrollment. Acceptance into the program requires two-thirds A or A– grades within the major and one-half A or A– grades overall after five terms. Two terms of CHEM 490 must be taken in the fifth and sixth terms with grades of A or A– earned to continue in the program. Subsequent grades are irrelevant as long as normal progress is maintained. The B.S./M.S. degree program requires completion of the intensive major requirements, a physics course at the level of 200 or higher, and eight graduate courses in chemistry (four of which count toward the B.S.). Four terms of research are required, including two terms of research taken in CHEM 990.

Advanced courses   For the purposes of degree requirements, all Chemistry courses numbered 410 or higher count as advanced lecture or laboratory courses, as do CHEM 226L, 251L, and 331L. Most advanced courses are either offered in fall term or have a fall-term course as a prerequisite, so students should not plan to take an isolated spring-term advanced course in any given year.

Substitutions for required courses   Up to two terms of advanced science courses outside Chemistry may be counted as electives, with the written approval of the director of undergraduate studies. Students without advanced placement who complete CHEM 116L and 117L may count one-half course credit of physics laboratory toward the laboratory requirement, with approval of the director of undergraduate studies. CHEM 490 may not in any circumstances be substituted for any of the laboratory requirements. The graduate courses CHEM 562, 564, and 565 may not be counted toward any requirement of the major.

Senior requirement   Senior B.S. candidates and intensive majors prepare a written report and give an oral presentation on their independent project in CHEM 490. Research papers are expected to be fifteen to twenty-five pages in length (double-spaced, twelve-point font, exclusive of figures and bibliography). Students pursuing the B.A. typically do not pursue independent research, but instead attend the senior seminar CHEM 400 or write a senior essay under the guidance of a faculty member as arranged by the instructor of CHEM 490. The senior seminar or essay options may also be elected by B.S. students. The requirements of the senior essay are the same as those for research papers. Students electing the senior essay must secure a faculty sponsor by the middle of the fall term of senior year.

Sequence of courses   Majors are encouraged to begin their programs in the freshman year to provide the greatest flexibility in scheduling. It is possible, however, to complete the B.S. in as little as six terms if a student has advanced placement. One sample B.S. program follows, but many others are possible:

Programs of study with special emphasis   The flexibility of the degree requirements makes it possible for a student's program of study to emphasize a particular area of specialization in chemistry. For example, a program specializing in chemical biology includes CHEM 421, Chemical Biology, and two biochemistry electives chosen from MCDB 300, MB&B 300, 301, or selected graduate courses. An inorganic chemistry specialization requires CHEM 450, Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 452, Organometallic Chemistry, and CHEM 457, Modern Coordination Chemistry. A program with emphasis in physical chemistry and chemical physics requires three electives chosen from CHEM 430, Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, CHEM 440, Molecules and Radiation I, CHEM 442, Molecules and Radiation II, CHEM 470, Introductory Quantum Chemistry, or a graduate course in quantum mechanics. Students interested in synthetic organic chemistry complete three electives chosen from CHEM 418, Advanced Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 423, Synthetic Methods in Organic Chemistry, CHEM 425, Spectroscopic Methods of Structure Determination, or selected graduate courses. An emphasis in biophysical chemistry includes a course in either chemical biology or biochemistry, as well as two electives chosen from graduate courses in biophysics or biochemistry. Students may design programs with other areas of emphasis in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. For a list of graduate courses appropriate for a particular specialization, consult the director of undergraduate studies.

Approval of major programs of study   All Chemistry majors in the sophomore, junior, and senior years must have their programs approved by the director of undergraduate studies. A program tailored to each major's goals is created and recorded on a Chemistry Course of Study form kept in the student's file in the department office. Majors who have a current course of study form on file may have their schedules signed by the director of undergraduate studies or any of the advisers to the major. A current list of advisers to the major may be obtained in the department office, 1 SCL.

Special restrictions on lecture courses   Completion of the first term of the general, organic, or physical chemistry sequences CHEM 112 and 113, 124 and 125, 220 and 230, and 332 and 333 with a passing grade is a prerequisite for registration in the subsequent term. Completion of CHEM 114 with a passing grade is a prerequisite for registration in CHEM 115 unless the student's assigned placement is in 115.

Students receive credit for only one chemistry sequence of any given type. For example, a student who has completed CHEM 112 and 113 may not subsequently enroll in CHEM 114 or 118; a student who has completed CHEM 124 and 125 may not subsequently enroll in CHEM 220 or 230. Similarly, students may not enroll in a course that is a prerequisite to a course they have already taken. Thus, for example, a student who has completed an organic chemistry laboratory cannot subsequently enroll in a general chemistry laboratory.

Special restrictions on laboratory courses   Chemistry courses may be taken without the accompanying laboratory, although the department does not recommend it. However, the appropriate lecture course is a prerequisite or corequisite for each laboratory course. This restriction can be waived only by the director of undergraduate studies.

Year or Term Abroad   Participation in the Year or Term Abroad program is available for qualified majors at Sussex University (U.K.). Interested students should consult the Chemistry Year Abroad coordinator, Robert Crabtree. In most instances, Chemistry majors find their course of study easier to schedule if they choose to study abroad in a spring term. For general information about the Year or Term Abroad, see under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

Prerequisites   CHEM 112 and 113, or 114 and 115, or 118; CHEM 116L and 117L, or 119L; MATH 112, 115 (MATH 120 or ENAS 151 suggested); PHYS 180 and 181, or 200 and 201 (170, 171 acceptable); or equivalents in advanced placement

Number of courses   B.A.—at least 10 term courses, totaling 9 course credits; B.S.—at least 13 term courses, totaling 11½ course credits; B.S., intensive major—at least 14 term courses, totaling 13 course credits

Specific courses required   All degrees—2 terms of organic chem (CHEM 124 or 220, and CHEM 125, <221>, or 230); 2 terms of organic chem lab (CHEM <126L> or 222L, and <127L> or 223L); physical chem I (CHEM 332 or 328); 1 term of inorganic chem (CHEM 252, 450, 452, or 457); physical chem lab I (CHEM 330L); B.S.—CHEM 333; B.S., intensive major—CHEM 333, two terms of CHEM 490

Distribution of courses   B.A.—3 course credits in advanced lectures or labs; B.S.—addtl lab for ½ course credit; 4 course credits in advanced lectures or labs; B.S., intensive major—addtl labs for 1 course credit; 5 course credits in advanced lectures or labs

Substitution permitted   Up to 2 relevant advanced science courses in other depts for advanced chem courses with DUS permission

Senior requirement   CHEM 490, 400, or senior essay