Chemistry Minor

TENURED AND TENURED-TRACK FACULTY:
Paul Bonvallet, Chair
Judith Amburgey-Peters
Paul Edmiston
Jennifer Faust
Karl Feierabend
Sara Martin
Mark Snider
Sarah Sobeck

Chemistry is broadly defined as the study of the properties of matter and how matter is transformed. The faculty and staff of the Department of Chemistry work to maintain a student-centered curriculum, a supportive environment, and a vibrant intellectual community for Chemistry majors and non-majors alike. Students are guided to become ethical, productive members of society who apply their scientific knowledge and skills in a broad range of endeavors. Instruction in the discipline integrates learning through coursework, laboratory, and research. Consequently, students develop a variety of skills including laboratory methods, use of instrumentation, information literacy, problem solving, oral and written communication, and research design necessary to succeed in their future endeavors.

The curriculum is influenced by the guidelines from the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS CPT) and is comprised of courses covering the major sub-disciplines of chemistry. Feedback from alumni indicates that their Wooster education has prepared them well for a range of careers and life pursuits. Feedback from graduate and professional schools and employers indicate that students are well prepared in chemistry knowledge, techniques, instrumentation, and have the capabilities necessary to learn, adapt, and lead.

Minor in Chemistry

Consists of six courses:

CHEM 11200 - General Chemistry II (see note below)
CHEM 21100 - Organic Chemistry I
One of the following courses:
CHEM 21500 - Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 31800 - Physical Chemistry I
or
CHEM 31900 - Physical Chemistry II
Three Chemistry courses at the 200-level or above (see note below)

Special Notes

• Most students begin the curriculum with General Chemistry I (CHEM 11100). Those seeking placement into General Chemistry II (CHEM 11200) may do so by either (1) earning a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam, or (2) performing well on the Chemistry Department placement exam. Students who place into CHEM 11200 without Advanced Placement credit do not receive credit for CHEM 11100.

• A student with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry Exam is eligible to receive credit for CHEM 11100 and be placed into CHEM 11200. We still recommend taking the departmental placement exam, as there is the option of waiving this credit and enrolling into CHEM 11100 instead.

• International students with a certificate from a foreign Baccalaureate program may receive either one or two Chemistry course credits. Students who take the Chemistry Department placement exam will be placed into General Chemistry I (CHEM 11200) or Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 21100) depending upon the department placement exam results. If the student places into CHEM 11200, then 1.0 credit will be awarded for CHEM 11100. If the student places into Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 21100), then 2.25 credits will be awarded for the combination of CHEM 11100, CHEM 11200, and CHEM 11200L.

• First-year students rarely begin with Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 21100). Direct entry into this course may occur only with the permission of the instructor or Chair.

• For the major, students who begin in CHEM 11100 are only required to take one elective.

• For the minor, students who begin with CHEM 11100 are only required to take two Chemistry courses at or above the 200-level.

• The MATH 11100 requirement may be fulfilled by the successful completion of both MATH 10700 and 10800.

• Concurrent enrollment in both class and laboratory is required for students taking a course with a laboratory component. Students who do not complete the class or laboratory component of a course with a C- or better must repeat both the class and the laboratory.

• A student may not take CHEM 10100 concurrent with or after CHEM 11200.

• Chemistry majors in pre-professional dual degree programs (such as the Pre-Dental or Pre-Engineering programs, as described in the Pre-Professional and Dual Degree Programs section) must make sufficient progress in three years to complete the major in their fourth year, if necessary. Such students are required to complete the following courses by the end of their junior year: CHEM 11200, 21100, 21200, 21500, 24000, 31800 (or 31900), and 40100 in addition to MATH 11100 (or 10700 and 10800) and PHYS 10700-10800 (or 11100-11200).

• Chemistry majors who plan to attend graduate school are strongly encouraged to pursue an ACS-certified degree. The requirements for an American Chemical Society Certified Degree are summarized below:

(a) Chemistry: CHEM 11200, 21100, 21200, 21500, 24000, 31800, 31900, 40100, 45100, 45200, BIOL 20100, BCMB 33100, MATH 11100, 11200, PHYS 10700-10800 (or 11100, 11200). This differs from the minimal Wooster major by at least two courses: Principles of Biochemistry (BCMB 33100) and its prerequisite Gateway to Molecular & Cellular Biology (BIOL 20100). Biology 11100 (Foundations of Biology) is also required for students who do not place directly into BIOL 20100.

(b) Chemistry/Chemical Physics: CHEM 11200, 21100, 21200, 21500, 24000, 31800, 31900, BIOL 20000, BCMB 33100, MATH 11100, 11200, PHYS 11100, 11200, two Physics courses beyond PHYS 11200, two advanced courses in theoretical chemistry, physics, or math; CHEM or PHYS 40100, 45100, 45200.

• All courses counting towards the Chemistry major or minor must be taken on a letter-grade basis and passed with a C- or better. This policy applies to classroom and laboratory components alike.