The following course descriptions are from the Clarke University 2012-2013 Academic Catalog.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: CHEMISTRY
CHEM 103 APPLIED CHEMISTRY: FOCUS 3 hours
In this general education course, students will learn chemical and physical principles by exploring a specific focus area in which chemistry is relevant to societal issues or technological advancements. They will apply the methods of science through experiments and learn to communicate scientific and quantitative information. The focus area will vary from among topics such as art, food and nutrition, the environment, forensic science, the material world, and others. The course develops scientific thinking and helps students understand important interdisciplinary connections. Two hours lecture; two hours laboratory. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course.
CHEM 107 GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY 4 hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the molecular design of life. The course will provide a broad overview of general chemistry principles with a special focus on chemical bonding, solutions and acid-base chemistry; organic chemistry principles with an emphasis on structure and functional group reactivity; and biochemistry principles with a focus on nutrition, structures and drugs. Laboratory work includes basic techniques of qualitative and quantitative measurements and the application of chemical principles. Three hours lecture; two hours laboratory. Prerequisite: High school chemistry or consent. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course.
CHEM 110 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I 4 hours
General Chemistry I is the first semester of a two-semester course intended for science majors and minors. The topics studied include atomic theory, stoichiometry, chemical bonding, thermochemistry, periodicity, solution chemistry and selected topics in descriptive chemistry. The laboratory program includes gravimetric, colorimetric, thermometric and selected volumetric methods of analysis. Students are introduced to spreadsheet and graphical analysis of laboratory data and molecular modeling, and perform a variety of computer-interfaced experiments. Three hours lecture; three hours laboratory. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course. Prerequisites: ACT Math subscore of 23 or higher or successful completion of MATH 090 or equivalent.
CHEM 111 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II 4 hours
A continuation of General Chemistry I. The topics discussed include equilibrium reactions, spontaneity, acids-bases, kinetics, oxidation-reduction and precipitation reactions, the chemistry of complex ions, transition metal chemistry, and radioactivity. The laboratory program extends the use of spreadsheet, graphical analysis and computer interfaced experimentation in acid-base titrations, electrochemistry, volumetric analysis and nuclear chemistry. A brief qualitative analysis scheme is also carried out in the laboratory program. Three hours lecture; three hours laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 110 with grade of C- or higher or consent of the instructor. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course.
CHEM 180 TOPICS IN CHEMISTRY CV
Courses offered periodically in some area of introductory chemistry or contemporary issues in science. These courses include, but are not restricted to, environmental science, world of polymers and microcomputer-based experimentation.
CHEM 221 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 4 hours
In this course, students learn to recognize and name organic functional groups. Students learn about systems to represent organic molecules, stereochemistry, how structure affects physical properties, drawing resonance forms with proper arrow convention, organic acid-base reactions, substitution and elimination reactions and one-step syntheses. In the laboratory, students investigate how structure affects physical properties such as reactivity, boiling point, melting point, optical rotation, and solubility. Students also learn how to perform fundamental techniques such as crystallization, filtration, distillation, refractive index, extraction, thin-layer, column and gas chromatography. Students will also interpret IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra in identification of unknowns. Three hours lecture; four hours laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 111.
CHEM 222 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II 4 hours
The continuation of CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I. In this course, students learn the important reactions and mechanisms in organic chemistry, how to apply stereochemistry to the understanding of the basic organic mechanisms, and to design simple multi-step syntheses. In addition, students learn how to elucidate the structure of organic molecules using nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. In the laboratory, students perform a number of multi-step syntheses and kinetics experiments, and learn how to obtain infrared and NMR spectra. Students perform multi-week projects and report findings in an oral presentation. Three hours lecture; four hours laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 221.
CHEM 233 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 4 hours
In analytical chemistry, students extend their knowledge and understanding of solution chemistry. The topics include acid-base, oxidation-reduction, precipitation, and complexion reactions. The laboratory includes application of these methods including a multi-week research project on water analysis. The reactions are studied using instrumental and computer-interfaced methods of data acquisition and data reduction. Students also extend their knowledge of both graphical and spreadsheet analysis of data. Three hours lecture; four hours laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 111 or consent.
CHEM 310 MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 3 hours
Provides students with insight into the chemistry of pharmaceuticals with in-depth explanation on the molecular mechanisms of drug action. Students will refine their skills in writing organic reaction mechanisms and develop a better understanding of structure/reactivity relationships found in organic molecules. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: CHEM 222.
CHEM 338 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I 4 hours
Involves quantitative and theoretical study of the physical principles underlying the properties and behavior of chemical systems. Includes the study of thermodynamics in which the equilibrium properties of a system and changes in equilibrium properties are examined and kinetics, the study of rate processes. The laboratory emphasizes the statistical treatment of experimental data, thermochemistry, solution and phase equilibria, and chemical kinetics. Three hours lecture; four hours laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 222, MATH 225 and PHYS 110 or PHYS 210.
CHEM 346 BIOCHEMISTRY I - BIOMOLECULES 3 hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the biochemical design of life both at the building block level and macromolecular level. Biological structures and interactions are examined, including membranes and supramolecular archetecture. The course will include an in-depth analysis of protein structure and the relationship between form and function. The energetics required to maintain biological order is studied through kinetics and thermodynamics of enzyme catalytic function and regulation, and metabolic pathways involved in glucose metabolism. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: CHEM 221-222
CHEM 347 BIOCHEMICAL METHODS 2 hours
In the first half of this laboratory course, students will learn basic biochemical techniques such as centrifurgation, electrophoresis, biomolecular modeling, bioinformatics, etc. In the second half, they will extract, isolate and characterize a single protein. Four hours laboratory.
CHEM 385 SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION 1 hour
Focuses on communication in science, including methods of presentation such as poster, oral and written formats. Includes both library and online retrieval of scientific information using chemical and biological abstracts and other databases. Analysis of technical writing is included through reading and discussion of current primary scientific literature. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
CHEM 395 INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 0-3 hours
Students may apply and be selected to do research for a semester or a summer internship in one of many programs sponsored by government laboratories, universities and private corporations. Students may also earn cooperative education credit while working at department-approved business facilities. Prerequisite: Consent.
CHEM 435 MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2 hours
The basis of absoption and emission of UV, Vis, and IR radiation by molecular species is covered in this course. This includes basic modes of absoption and emission, qualitative and quanitative uses and potential problems and limitations of the methods. The instruments studied include UV-Vis, FTIR, flourescence, Atomic Absoption, NMR, Mass Spectroscopy. Three hours lecture/laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 222
CHEM 436 CHEMICAL SEPARATION METHODS 2 hours
This course cover the theory, instrumentation and applications of techniques of modern analytical separation and quantification methods. Methods will include gas and liquid chromatography, elctrophoresis, and GC/MS techniques. Three hours lecture/laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 222
CHEM 446 BIOCHEMISTRY II - METABOLISM 3 hours
This course will focus on advanced concepts of metabolism, stressing the regulation and interdependency of pathways. In addition to deepening specific understanding of biosynthetic and degradation pathways and developing the ability to analyze and predict metabolic effects, this course will contain a significant amount of literature review to develop analytical skills in evaluating published research and to promote oral and written communication of scientific information. Focus topics will include biochemical signaling and bioinorganic chemistry associated with specific metabolic processes. Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: CHEM 346
CHEM 480 ADVANCED TOPICS IN CHEMISTRY CV
Courses offered periodically in some area of advanced chemistry such as bioinorganic chemistry, molecular modeling, medicinal chemistry, chemical signaling or topics dealing with contemporary issues in science. Prerequisite: Consent
CHEM 499 CHEMISTRY RESEARCH – CAPSTONE CV 1-2 hours
This Capstone course focuses on a topic in chemistry or biochemistry and expands to include breadth and synthesis of knowledge. It provides a focal point for and closure to the chemistry major within the context of a liberal arts education. General education and major outcomes are integral to course assessment. The Capstone project for students completing the BS degree includes a two-credit laboratory-based project with both experimental laboratory research and library research. Students completing the BA degree will conduct a one-credit library research project on a topic approved by the department. All students submit a written paper and give an oral presentation describing their work. Prerequisites: Ordinarily, a student must have junior/senior standing with a minimum of 42 credit hours in general education completed.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: PHYSICS, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES
PHYS 101 TOPICS IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE 3 hours
Intended to give students an understanding of selected topics from the fields of physics and chemistry. An appreciation of the way scientists secure information to acquire an understanding of the universe is developed in the laboratory portion of the course. Two hours lecture; two hours laboratory. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course.
PHYS 103 EARTH SCIENCE 3 hours
This course offers an examination of Earth and its dynamic systems. It focuses on how our continents, oceans and atmosphere interact and change. Topics include earthquake and volcanic processes, plate tectonics, global current patterns, beach formation, hurricane, tsunami and tornado development. Field trips may be taken. Two hours lecture; two hours laboratory. This course is designated as math/natural sciences division general education course.
PHYS 104 INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY 3 hours
A non-mathematical introduction to the science of astronomy. Students will study the moon, planets, comets, asteroids, the sun and stars. In addition, students will learn how astronomers use telescopes and light to study the universe. While intended for non-science majors, all students are welcome. Two hours lecture; one hour lab. This course is designated as a math/natural sciences division general education course.
PHYS 110-111 ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS 4-4 hours
A laboratory-based, non-calculus introductory physics course. It is intended to provide an understanding of basic knowledge in mechanics of solid state and fluids, thermal physics, heat phenomena, diffusion and sound. The laboratory portion of the course is intended to help students develop a better understanding of phenomena, improve observational skills, learn useful laboratory techniques and improve report-writing ability. Three hours lecture; three hours laboratory/discussion. Prerequisite: MATH 117 or equivalent or consent. These courses are designated as math/natural sciences division general education courses.