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.  

Major Requirements (B.S. Degree)

The Chemistry curriculum offers, as new American Chemical Society policies recommend, a set of five foundation courses (200-level courses with labs) that cover the five divisions of chemistry–analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, and physical–followed by a selection of five in-depth courses (300- and 400-level courses). Chemistry 115 or its AP equivalent is a prerequisite for all foundation courses. In-depth courses can fall within a single division (e.g. Analytical, Organic, Physical) or span multiple divisions (e.g. Environmental Chemistry).

Prospective chemistry majors should discuss their interest and course planning with a faculty member as soon as they begin considering the major. Physics and mathematics prerequisites are preferably taken in the first and second years. Requirements for the chemistry major are:

• All five foundation courses:  220, 230, 240, 250, and 260
• Five in-depth courses at the 300-level or higher
  • Two must have a laboratory
  • One must be a 400-level seminar
  • One independent research course (Chemistry 395, 396, 397, 496, 497, or 498) 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, 225, 230, or 235

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, 230, 240, 250, and 260
• 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, 225, 230, or 235

Honors Requirements

Graduation with Honors may be awarded to a chemistry major who meets the general College criteria (3.2 overall average and at least a 3.5 average in chemistry courses), fulfills the requirements for a chemistry degree, and demonstrates outstanding mastery of Chemistry 498-Thesis Research. Honors candidates are supervised by a faculty adviser and evaluated by a faculty committee from the chemistry department. It is expected that in addition to completing a written thesis, Honors candidates will present a colloquium near the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in Chemistry 498.  The department does not award high honors.

American Chemical Society Undergraduate Chemistry Program

Davidson College offers a chemistry degree that is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. Students who complete the basic major with five in-depth chemistry courses, including a research experience that covers at least one semester or summer, meet the requirements for an ACS-certified degree. Annual approval by the ACS ensures that Davidson’s Chemistry Department is operating within the commonly accepted standards and best practices among degree-granting institutions of higher learning.

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/capstone courses and research experiences intended for chemistry majors.

• BIO 395 - Biochemistry Seminar (= CHE 430)
• BIO 303 - Biochemistry
• CHE 106 - The Chemistry of Life
• CHE 115 - Principles of Chemistry
• CHE 220 - Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (=ENV 315)
• CHE 230 - Introduction to Biological Chemistry
• CHE 240 - Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
• CHE 250 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry
• CHE 260 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics
• CHE 320 - Experimental Analytical Chemistry
• CHE 321 - Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry: Mass Spectrometry
• CHE 325 - The Chemistry of Hookah Smoke
• CHE 330 - Experimental Biological Chemistry
• CHE 331 - Topics in Biological Chemistry: Protein Chemistry
• CHE 335 - Research Methods in Biological Chemistry
• CHE 340 - Experimental Inorganic Chemistry
• CHE 341 - Polymer Chemistry
• CHE 345 - Research Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
• CHE 350 - Experimental Organic Chemistry
• CHE 351 - Topics in Organic Chemistry:Pharmacology
• CHE 355 - Group Investigation in Organic Chemistry: Carbohydrates in Materials and Medicine
• CHE 360 - Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy
• CHE 361 - Topics in Physical Chemistry
• CHE 365 - Research Methods in Physical Chemistry
• CHE 371 - Energy
• CHE 372 - Environmental Chemistry
• CHE 374 - Medicinal Chemistry
• CHE 351 - Pharmacology
• CHE 395 - Literature Investigation
• CHE 396 - Laboratory Research I
• CHE 397 - Laboratory Research II
• CHE 410 - Advanced Topics in Chemistry
• CHE 420 - Seminar in Analytical Chemistry
• CHE 430 - Special Topic (=BIO395)
• CHE 440 - Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry: Bioinorganic Chemistry
• CHE 450 - Seminar in Organic Chemistry
• CHE 460 - Seminar in Physical Chemistry
• CHE 496 - Senior Research I
• CHE 497 - Senior Research II
• CHE 498 - Thesis Research
• ENV 315 - Analytical Chemistry I (= CHE 220)
• MAT 113 - Calculus II
• MAT 140 - Multivariable Calculus and Modeling
• PHY 220 - General Physics II
• PHY 230 - General Physics with Calculus II