Chemistry

Introductory Chemistry Program

Students who have earned AP credit for Chemistry 115 may begin their study of chemistry with Chemistry 220, 240, or 250. Students with AP credit for both Chemistry 115 and Mathematics 111 or 112 may begin their study with Chemistry 260. Other students should begin with either Chemistry 110 or 115. Chemistry 110 is designed for students who have not completed at least one year of high school chemistry, or who have taken high school chemistry but need a more thorough introduction to the subject. Chemistry 115 is recommended for students who have a good background from high school chemistry.

Major Requirements

Prospective majors are encouraged to discuss their interest and course planning with a faculty member as soon as they begin considering a chemistry major. The prerequisites for advanced courses require careful planning to obtain a feasible schedule.  Required courses for the chemistry major are the following:
For Class of 2015

• Chemistry courses: 201 (115 is prerequisite), 202, 215, 261/361, 351, 352, 371, 391, and 401/440; one additional 300- or 400-level course.
• Supporting and prerequisite courses:  Chemistry 115 or AP equivalent; Mathematics 113, 140, or AP equivalent; Physics 220 or 230
• Attendance at 10 sessions of the chemistry colloquium during junior and senior years

For Classes 2016 and later

• All five foundation courses:  220/215, 230/261, 240/401, 250/201, and 260/351
• Five in-depth courses at the 300-level or higher
  Two must have a laboratory
  One must be a 400-level seminar
  Chemistry 496 may count as a non-laboratory in-depth course
  One science course taken outside the chemistry department may count as a non-laboratory in-depth course with prior approval from the department chair
• Supporting and prerequisite courses:  Chemistry 115 or AP equivalent; Mathematics 113, 140, or AP equivalent; Physics 220 or 230
• Attendance at 10 sessions of the chemistry colloquium during junior and senior years

EMPHASIS IN BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

Students primarily interested in biological chemistry are advised to take the following courses, which fully satisfy the requirements for a chemistry major:

• All five foundation chemistry courses:  220/215, 230/261, 240/401, 250/201, and 260/351
• Five in-depth courses at the 300-level or higher
  Chemistry 330 and 430
  Biology 201 or 208 (accepted in place of a non-laboratory in-depth chemistry course with prior approval from the department chair)
  Two additional in-depth electives, one of which must have a laboratory
• Supporting and prerequisite courses:  Chemistry 115 or AP equivalent; Mathematics 113, 140, or AP equivalent; Physics 220 or 230
• Attendance at 10 sessions of the chemistry colloquium during junior and senior years

Honors Requirements

Graduation with honors requires fulfillment of the basic major plus the completion of a Chemistry 497 research experience.

American Chemical Society Undergraduate Chemistry Program

The American Chemical Society recommends a specific program for all chemistry majors who plan to study chemistry in graduate school or to seek employment as professional chemists. Students who complete the basic major with five in-depth chemistry courses, including at least one semester or summer of independent research, fulfill the American Chemical Society requirements. Students who use summer research to fulfill this requirement must submit a written report of their work to the department chair.

Minor Requirements

The chemistry minor requires the completion of five chemistry courses at the 200 level or higher. Only one course may be taken at an institution other than Davidson and requires prior approval from the department chair. None of the courses counted toward the minor may be taken Pass/Fail. Students must attend at least six sessions of the chemistry colloquium during junior and senior years.

Chemistry Courses

Chemistry courses at the 100 level may be taken with no prerequisites. The 200-level courses provide an introduction to the five divisions of chemistry and have at least one chemistry prerequisite. Laboratory fees are charged in all 100- and 200-level courses. In-depth courses in the five divisions are designated with 300-level numbers, and all have 200-level prerequisites. Courses numbered in the 400’s are senior-level seminar courses and research experiences intended for chemistry majors.

• CHE 105 - Chemistry and Society
• CHE 106 - Chemistry of Art and Artifacts
• CHE 110 - Fundamentals of Chemistry
• CHE 115 - Principles of Chemistry
• CHE 220 - Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
• CHE 230 - Introduction to Biological Chemistry
• CHE 240 - Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
• CHE 250 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry
• CHE 260 - Introduction to Physical Chemistry
• CHE 320 - Experimental Analytical Chemistry
• CHE 330 - Experimental Biological Chemistry
• CHE 350 - Experimental Organic Chemistry
• CHE 360 - Experimental Physical Chemistry
• CHE 371 - Energy
• CHE 372 - Environmental Chemistry
• CHE 373 - Forensic Chemistry
• CHE 374 - Medicinal Chemistry
• CHE 375 - Immunology and Immunopharmacology
• CHE 377 - Toxicology
• CHE 391 - Experimental Physical Chemistry
• CHE 395 - Literature Investigation
• CHE 396 - Laboratory Research I
• CHE 397 - Laboratory Research II
• CHE 420 - Seminar in Analytical Chemistry
• CHE 430 - Seminar in Biological Chemistry
• CHE 440 - Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry
• CHE 450 - Seminar in Organic Chemistry
• CHE 460 - Seminar in Physical Chemistry
• CHE 496 - Senior Research I
• CHE 497 - Senior Research II