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Chemistry
Departmental Counselor: Laurie Butler, RI 207A, 702-7206, jb4@midway.uchicago.edu
Program of Study
Chemistry is concerned with the preparation, composition, and structure
of matter and with the equilibrium and kinetic laws that govern its transformations.
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees with concentration
in chemistry are designed to provide a broad foundation in the three principal
branches of that science: inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Analytical
chemistry, often regarded as an independent branch, is incorporated into
the program. Both curricula discuss experimental and theoretical work and
emphasize their interdependence. Both degree programs prepare the student
for a career in chemistry. However, the B.S. degree offers a more intensive
program of study. The B.A. degree also offers thorough study in the field
of chemistry, but it provides a wide opportunity for elective freedom and
for the pursuit of interdisciplinary interests in areas such as biochemistry,
biophysics, chemical physics, geochemistry, premedicine, and teaching.
Program Requirements
Program Requirements: B.A. The principal distinction between the
B.A. and B.S. programs is the number of chemistry courses required. A minimum
of seven courses in chemistry beyond the Common Core chemistry sequence
(which should be taken in the first year) is required for the B.A. degree.
Program Requirements: B.S. A minimum of eleven courses in chemistry
beyond the Common Core chemistry sequence (which should be taken in the
first year) is required for the B.S. degree.
Summary of Requirements
General Education Chem 111-112-113 or 121-122-123 (Honors)
Math 131-132, 151-152, or 161-162
Concentration 1 Math 133, or 153, or 163
2 Math 200-201
3 Phys 131-132-133 or higher
Plus the following requirements:
B.A. B.S.
1 Chem 201 3 Chem 2 Chem 201-202 4 Chem
220-221-222 or 220-221-222-223 or
Chem 217-218-219 2 Chem Chem 217-218-219-223 3 Chem
261-262 1 Chem 267 13 261-262-263 1 Chem 267 1
Chem 227 or 268 17
NOTE: Students who wish to substitute Analysis in Rn (Math 203-204-205)
or other 200-level courses in mathematics for Mathematical Methods for Physical
Sciences (Math 200-201) must obtain prior approval from the departmental
counselor and must take all three quarters.
For students entering before 1990, there is an additional B.A. requirement:
Chemistry 202, 223, or 263. For the B.S. degree, one advanced chemistry
course must be taken.
Advanced Placement and Accreditation. Students who have taken the Advanced
Placement (AP) test in chemistry and received a score of 5 are given credit
for Chemistry 111-112-113. The Department of Chemistry also administers
accreditation examinations in basic chemistry (Chemistry 111-112-113), organic
chemistry (Chemistry 220-221-222), physical chemistry (Chemistry 261-262-263),
and inorganic chemistry (Chemistry 201-202). Students may receive credit
for chemistry on the basis of their performance on these examinations. The
examinations in basic chemistry and organic chemistry are offered only at
the beginning of autumn quarter. The other examinations are offered at the
beginning of the quarter in which the course is offered.
Grading. Students concentrating in chemistry must receive letter grades
in all courses meeting the requirements of the degree program. It is the
policy of the Department of Chemistry that instructors do not submit P/N
or P/F grades for undergraduate courses. At the discretion of the
instructor, a student may take an Incomplete in a course in chemistry. In
order to qualify for the B.A. or B.S. degree, a grade point average of 2.0
or better is needed in required chemistry courses, that is, 200-level chemistry
courses in the preceding list.
Honors Program. Students in the chemistry program may be invited, on
the basis of their academic performance, to participate in experimental
or theoretical research (Chemistry 299) under the sponsorship of a faculty
member of the Department of Chemistry. Students usually begin this research
program during the summer following their junior year. However, superior
students may be invited by the departmental counselor to participate in
research earlier in their course of study. Students in this program are
expected to complete their arrangements with the departmental counselor
before the end of their junior year. The B.A. or B.S. degree with special
honors in chemistry is awarded to students with an overall grade point average
of 3.0 or better who have submitted a creditable honors paper describing
their research. The honors paper should be submitted about one month before
graduation and must be approved by the Department of Chemistry and the College.
Sample Program. Below is a suggested schedule for completing a B.A.
or B.S. degree in chemistry.
First year Chem 111-112-113 or 121-122-123
Math 151-152-153 or equivalent
Second year Chem 220-221-222 or Chem 217-218-219
Math 200-201; Stat 240 and/or Math 202 are strongly recommended
Physics or biological sciences sequence (three quarters)
Third year Chem 261-262-267 (if physics is taken in the second year)
Chem 201
Chem 202; 223 or 263 (for B.S.)
Fourth year Chem 261-262-267 (if physics is taken in the third year)
Chem 223 or 263 (for B.S.)
Chem 227 or 268 (for B.S.)
Joint Degree Programs. Students who achieve advanced standing through
their performance on placement examinations or accreditation examinations
may consider the formulation of a four-year degree program that leads to
the concurrent award of the B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry. Special
programs of this kind are developed for qualified students. In addition,
students who are interested in biochemistry may consider programs leading
to a B.A. in chemistry and an M.S. in biochemistry. Consult the departmental
counselor for further information.
Faculty
R. STEPHEN BERRY, James Franck Distinguished Service Professor, Department
of Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and the College; Irving B. Harris
Graduate School of Public Policy Studies
BRICE BOSNICH, Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
JEREMY K. BURDETT, Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute,
and the College; Chairman, Department of Chemistry
LAURIE J. BUTLER, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck
Institute, and the College
ROBERT N. CLAYTON, Enrico Fermi Distinguished Service Professor, Departments
of Chemistry and the Geophysical Sciences, Enrico Fermi Institute, and the
College
PHILIP E. EATON, Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
GRAHAM R. FLEMING, Arthur Holly Compton Distinguished Service Professor,
Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and the College
KARL F. FREED, Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute,
and the College
JOSEF FRIED, Louis Block Professor Emeritus, Departments of Chemistry and
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Ben May Institute
ROBERT GOMER, Carl William Eisendrath Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus,
Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and the College
PHILIPPE M. GUYOT-SIONNEST, Assistant Professor, Departments of Chemistry
and Physics, James Franck Institute, and the College
JACK HALPERN, Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Department
of Chemistry
ROBERT HASELKORN, Fanny L. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor, Departments
of Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
and Chemistry, and the College; Director, Center for Photochemistry &
Photobiology
GREGORY L. HILLHOUSE, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and the
College
DONALD H. LEVY, Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor, Department of Chemistry,
James Franck Institute, and the College
JOHN C. LIGHT, Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute,
and the College
DAVID G. LYNN, Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
MILAN MRKSICH, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
JAMES R. NORRIS, JR., Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College;
Senior Chemist, Argonne National Laboratory
TAKESHI OKA, Robert A. Millikan Distinguished Service Professor, Departments
of Chemistry and Astronomy & Astrophysics, Enrico Fermi Institute, and
the College
DAVID W. OXTOBY, Mellon Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck
Institute, and the College; Dean, Division of Physical Sciences
JOSEPH A. PICCIRILLI, Assistant Professor, Departments of Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology and Chemistry and the College
VIRESH RAWAL, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
STUART A. RICE, Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor, Department
of Chemistry, James Franck Institute, and the College
ALAN SCHRIESHEIM, Professor, Department of Chemistry
STEVEN J. SIBENER, Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute,
and the College
LAWRENCE R. SITA, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
MICHAEL A. WEISS, Professor, Departments
of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medicine, and Chemistry, and the
College
WILLIAM D. WULFF, Professor, Department of Chemistry and the College
NIEN-CHU C. YANG, Gustavas F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor,
Department of Chemistry, Center for East Asian Studies, and the College
LUPING YU, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute,
and the College
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