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 Accreditation

Discover the excellence of our chemistry programs at Occidental College, where we are proud to hold accreditation from the American Chemical Society (ACS). Our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in chemical education is reflected in our rigorous curriculum. With the ACS approval program, we ensure that our students receive an education of the utmost quality, empowering them to excel in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of chemistry. In order to earn ACS accreditation upon graduation, students are required to complete the essential courses for their Major along with an additional BioChem Class (Chem 350).

Requirements

Major

Chemistry Foundation

Directed Research

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

Additional Elective

Students must complete one additional elective selected from:

Mathematics Component

Physics Component

Students must select:

Honors in the Major

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

Minor

Introduction to Chemistry

Organic Chemistry:

Electives:

Students must enroll in a minimum of eight units of Chemistry electives in order to complete the minor. Four of these units must be at the 300-level or above. No more than four units can be directed research (CHEM 195, CHEM 295, CHEM 395).

CHEM 100 and CHEM 104 may not be included as electives.

Second-Stage Writing

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.

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.

Advising Information

First-year students interested in chemistry are encouraged to enroll in one chemistry course (see Placement Information below) and one additional lab-based science or math course during their first semester. Students are encouraged to complete their calculus requirements as early as possible. Chemistry faculty are eager to discuss class schedules and other opportunities with students at any time.

Placement Information

Most students who are interested in majoring in Chemistry should take the Chemistry Placement Exam during the summer prior to their first year. Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP exam have the option of enrolling in CHEM 130 without taking the placement test, but are encouraged to contact the department chair if they have questions about this placement.

Most students who are interested in majoring in Chemistry should also take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if any of the following are true:

• You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam; 
• You received an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;
• You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university. 

An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5, or an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above, fulfills the major’s Calculus 1 requirement. An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement. Students should make sure that their official score reports are sent to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

Sample 4-Year Plans

Students who Place into CHEM 100

Students who Place into CHEM 120 or CHEM 130

Curricular Notes

• CHEM 150 is not required for students who take CHEM 130.

• An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 1 requirement. 

• An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement.

• CHEM 240 at anytime after CHEM 120/130 have been completed

• While not required for the major, MATH 212 and MATH 214 are strongly recommended prior to taking CHEM 305.

Chemistry Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Chemistry:

• Junior transfer students

  • Should have completed the equivalent of Occidental’s CHEM 120, CHEM 240, CHEM 220, CHEM 221, and Calculus 2 prior to transferring. If starting in the spring, a junior transfer student should also have completed the one year Physics sequence prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least three of the Culture, Fine Arts and Language Core requirements before transferring

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year:

  • Should have completed the equivalent of Occidental’s CHEM 120, ideally Calculus 2, and either CHEM 240 or CHEM 220 prior to transferring.

  • Should have completed at least one Core requirement in Culture/Art/Language

• Sophomore transfer students

  • Should have completed CHEM 120 and ideally Calculus 2 prior to transferring.

General advice for transfer students wanting to major in Chemistry:

• No online Chemistry Lab courses will transfer into Occidental and count toward the major

• The Senior Seminar is the only course that must be taken at Occidental

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Junior transfer students must take CHEM 300 in their first semester.

• Transfer students starting mid way through their sophomore year must take CHEM 240 or CHEM 221, and, if they have not already completed it, Calculus 2.

• Sophomore students must take CHEM 220, CHEM 240, or CHEM 221. Sophomore students starting in the spring semester are advised to take Calculus 2 in addition if they have not already completed it.

Courses

Chemistry Courses

Faculty

Tenure and Tenure Track Faculty

Emmanuelle Despagnet-Ayoub, chair
Professor

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

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

Michael Hill

Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor of Chemistry 

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

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

Professor 

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

Non-Tenure Track Faculty 

Douglas Duquette; designated transfer adviser 

Resident Associate Professor

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

Sarah Murphy

John Phillips

Visiting Assistant Professor

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

Anne Yu

Resident Senior Instructor

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