DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
MISSION STATEMENT
The Department of Chemistry offers lower-level courses appropriate
for general education and upper-level courses for major and minor
programs in chemistry. These courses also serve as foundation
courses for majors in other areas such as biology, mathematics,
and pre-professional programs. Topics and concepts on the fundamental
laws of nature that govern the physical universe and on the methods
of scientific inquiry used to investigate and develop those laws
are the foundations of course content. A basic understanding of
the fundamental laws of nature and a basic understanding of the
process of scientific inquiry are essential parts of a liberal
arts education.
The Chemistry program seeks to offer courses in chemistry that
are taught by full-time faculty members with appropriate advanced
degrees dedicated to science education at the university level.
The courses offered in the department range in level from introductory
courses that expose non-science majors to scientific thought to
advanced courses that cover current and complex topics in modern
chemistry. The laboratory experience is required in appropriate
courses to illustrate the importance of experimentation to the
scientific endeavor. For the majors in chemistry, the opportunity
to undertake undergraduate research is offered. Since part of
research is the interpretation and communication of results, majors
graduating from those programs in the department are expected
to be proficient in oral and written communication, to be familiar
with the scientific literature, and to be aware of the importance
and usage of computers in science.
Those students completing either of the two major tracks offered
by the Department of Chemistry are prepared to enter into any
number of career choices. These include science education at the
secondary level; work in local, regional, and national industries
and with governmental agencies; and entrance into graduate or
professional schools.
The current Chemistry curriculum consists of two tracks. The first
is the track leading to the basic or minimal Chemistry major.
The second track is the curriculum leading to the American Chemical
Society (ACS) certified degree. The ACS-certified degree requires
additional advanced course work in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
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