2018-2019 Catalog

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Major Requirements

COURSEWORK

Chemistry Foundation

CHEM 120Foundations of General Chemistry

4 units
And
CHEM 150Molecular Symmetry and Structure

1 unit
Or
CHEM 130Advanced Placement General Chemistry

4 units
 
CHEM 220Organic Chemistry I

4 units
CHEM 221Organic Chemistry II

4 units
CHEM 240Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry

4 units
CHEM 300Physical Chemistry I

4 units
CHEM 305Physical Chemistry II

4 units
CHEM 340Inorganic Chemistry

4 units

Directed Research

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

CHEM 295Directed Research

2 units
CHEM 395Directed Research

4 units

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

CHEM 280Instrumental and Separation Techiniques in Organic Chemistry

2 units
CHEM 330Biocatalysis and Biotechnology

2 units
CHEM 332Instrumental Chemistry

4 units
CHEM 340Inorganic Chemistry

4 units
CHEM 350Biochemistry

4 units
CHEM 355Bioinformatics

2 units
CHEM 360Physical Organic Chemistry

2 units
CHEM 370Organometallic Chemistry

2 units
CHEM 380Organic Synthesis

2 units
PHYS 368Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

4 units

Mathematics Component

All chemistry majors must also complete Calculus 2 (MATH 120 or MATH 128).

Physics Component

Students must select one option as indicated below:

Option 1 - 

PHYS 110Introductory Mechanics

4 units
PHYS 120Introductory Electricity and Magnetism

4 units

Option 2 -

PHYS 115General Physics I

4 units
PHYS 125General Physics II

4 units

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.

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.

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.