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Chemistry

Overview

The curriculum of the Chemistry Department is designed to provide the student with a deep and comprehensive understanding of the principles of chemistry, including the laboratory experience necessary for basic research, teaching, and industrial research and development. Each student is expected to carry out laboratory research, working side-by-side with a faculty member on a novel problem at the vanguard of the chemical sciences. Research facilities and instrumentation are excellent and qualified students may begin research as early as their first year. Faculty research grants augmented with support from major corporations and foundations have enabled the department to offer research stipends to qualified students each summer.

To the student preparing for medicine or related professions, training is offered in the fundamental and applied branches of chemistry. In addition, chemistry offers to the liberal arts student an appreciation and understanding of the discoveries, methods, and place of this subject in our society.

The program for majors also prepares students for entrance into the School of Engineering at Columbia University and the Applied Chemistry Program of the California Institute of Technology under the Combined Plan Program. Students interested in engineering should consult the Combined Plan Program for details.

American Chemical Society Membership

The Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society for the professional education of chemists. Completion of the suggested graduate school option admits students to full membership in the American Chemical Society upon graduation. Outlines of suggested four-year programs with emphasis in environmental chemistry, biochemistry, chemical physics, engineering, pre-medicine, and teaching may be obtained from the department chair.

Major Requirements

COURSEWORK

Chemistry Foundation

CHEM 120	Foundations of General Chemistry	4 units
And
CHEM 150	Molecular Symmetry and Structure	1 unit
Or
CHEM 130	Advanced Placement General Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 220	Organic Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry II	4 units
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 300	Physical Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 305	Physical Chemistry II	4 units
CHEM 340	Inorganic Chemistry	4 units

Directed Research

Students pursuing the Chemistry major must complete a minimum of four units of directed research.

CHEM 295	Directed Research	2 units
CHEM 395	Directed Research	4 units

Choose one additional CHEM course (must include a lab component)

CHEM 280	Instrumental and Separation Techiniques in Organic Chemistry	2 units
CHEM 330	Biocatalysis and Biotechnology	2 units
CHEM 332	Instrumental Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 340	Inorganic Chemistry	4 units
CHEM 350	Biochemistry	4 units
CHEM 355	Bioinformatics	2 units
CHEM 360	Physical Organic Chemistry	2 units
CHEM 370	Organometallic Chemistry	2 units
CHEM 380	Organic Synthesis	2 units
PHYS 368	Nanoscience and Nanotechnology	4 units

Mathematics Component

 

Calculus 2

Scientific Modeling and Integral Calculus

4 units

Physics Component

Students must select one option as indicated below:

Option 1 - 

PHYS 110	Introductory Mechanics	4 units
PHYS 230	Introductory Electricity and Magnetism	4 units

Option 2 -

PHYS 115	General Physics I	4 units
PHYS 125	General Physics II	4 units

In order to graduate with American Chemical Society certification, it is necessary to take both CHEM 332 and CHEM 350.

CHEM 120 (or CHEM 130), CHEM 220, CHEM 221, and CHEM 240 satisfy the general and organic chemistry distribution requirements for the health professions.

Second-Stage Writing Requirement

Students majoring in Chemistry will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement either by submitting a portfolio of four special reports, drawn from CHEM 240, CHEM 300L, CHEM 305L, CHEM 340 (or appropriate course work) in the fall semester of their senior year, or successfully completing CHEM 204 with a grade of C or better. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and consult the department chair for additional information.

Comprehensive Requirement

The student will satisfactorily present a seminar during the senior year on an area of current research in the field of chemistry to an audience of Occidental students, faculty, and guests. The student will also take a comprehensive examination in Chemistry. A student with an overall grade point average of 3.25 can earn distinction with a 75th percentile rank on the examination.

College Honors

Senior chemistry students with an overall grade point average of 3.25 are permitted to present a written thesis on their research for College Honors consideration at graduation. See the Honors Program and consult the department chair for additional information.

Minor Requirements

Introduction to Chemistry:

Option 1:

CHEM 130

Advanced Placement General Chemistry

4 units

Option 2:

CHEM 120	Foundations of General Chemistry	4 units
And
CHEM 150	Molecular Symmetry and Structure	1 unit

Organic Chemistry:

CHEM 220	Organic Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry II	4 units
CHEM 240	Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry	4 units

Electives:

Students must enroll in a minimum of eight units of Chemistry electives in order to complete the minor. CHEM 100, CHEM 104, CHEM 195, CHEM 295, CHEM 395 and CHEM 397 may not be included as electives.

Transfer Credit Policies

The Chemistry Department policy on transfer credit conforms to College policy. AP, IB or A-level examinations in chemistry will not substitute for an Occidental course, place students into advanced courses, or allow a wider opportunity for choice of electives in the department. Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry examination, or with a score of 6 or 7 on the IB Chemistry examination should enroll in CHEM 130. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.

Courses

Chemistry Courses

Faculty

Regular Faculty

Michael Hill, chair

Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor of Chemistry 

B.A., Macalester College; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Jeffrey Cannon

Associate Professor

A.B., Occidental College; Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Chris Craney

Professor 

B.S., University of Puget Sound; M.S., D.A., Washington State University

Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub

Associate Professor

B.S., Ecole Normale Superieure; M.S., Ph.D., Paul Sabatier University

Raul Navarro

Assistant Professor

B.S., Yale University; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Eileen Spain

Carl F. Braun Professor of Chemistry

B.S., Sonoma State University; Ph.D., University of Utah; H.B.Sc., University of Toronto; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Andrew K. Udit

Associate Professor 

H.B.Sc., University of Toronto; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

On Special Appointment 

Douglas Duquette

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.A., M.A., Harvard University; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Mike Gray

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz; M.S., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara 

Natalie Muren

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.A., Willamette University; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

John Phillips

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.S., University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison 

Arvin Sookezian

Non-Tenure Track Instructor

Weidong Wang

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.S., Jilin University; Ph.D., Rochester University

Keiko Yokoyama

Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor

B.E., Tokyo University; M.E., Ph.D., Tokyo University

Anne Yu

Non-Tenure Track Instructor

B.A., Pomona College; M.S., University of California, Los Angeles