Outcomes

Chemical Sciences Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from the Chemical Sciences programs will have demonstrated:

1. Fundamental knowledge and skills: Students are able to describe the major concepts and theoretical principles in chemistry. They can identify the central ideas underlying the principal subfields of chemistry— analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry—as well as the broader interdisciplinary subfields of biological, environmental and materials chemistry. Students are able to operate modern chemical instrumentation, perform chemical syntheses and carry out other essential chemical experiments with strict adherence to sound laboratory techniques as well as good safety and hygiene practices. They know how to use modern web-based methods to effectively search the scientific literature.
2. Scientific methodology: Students have developed the ability to integrate the aforementioned fundamental knowledge and skills into scientific inquiries. They can formulate well-defined and quantitative questions, develop testable hypotheses, design and execute experiments, analyze and interpret the results and reach appropriate conclusions. They are also able to critically analyze the work of other scientists and assess its correctness, importance, and relevance.
3. Communication and teamwork skills: Students are able to write organized and concise reports and present technical information using electronic media, posters and oral presentations. They have developed the communication and teamwork skills that allow them to work effectively both as leaders and as team members in a group.
4. Citizenship, ethics, role of chemistry in society: Students have an appreciation for the role of chemistry in the global society as well as the central role chemistry plays in other scientific disciplines such as biology, medicine, environmental science, and engineering sciences. They conduct themselves ethically and responsibly in science-related professions.

CHEM 1 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 1 students will be able to:

• Derive the names and formulas of compounds based upon the IUPAC system of inorganic nomenclature for binary compounds and oxyacids
• Determine empirical and molecular formulas from experimental data
• Analyze heat flow in physical processes, and expand the concept of heat energy in chemical reactions
• Classify reaction types
• Balance chemical equations and use stoichiometric relationships to calculate reactant and or product mole and or mass quantities with applications to limiting reagents and percent yield
• Calculate concentrations, in various units, of reactants and or products of aqueous phase reactions with applications to limiting reactants
• Calculate the relationships between volume, pressure, moles and temperature of compounds in the gas phase with emphasis on stoichiometry and applications to limiting reactants and percent yield
• Explain the basic concepts of chemical bonding based upon simple atomic structure, and be able to make predictions about compound formation
• Apply the principles of solubility, acid base neutralization reactions and net ionic equations to aqueous systems including an introduction to pH

CHEM 2 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 2 students will be able to:

• Determine molecular formulas from data, balance chemical equations, predict formation of precipitates, and use stoichiometric relationships to calculate amount reactant/product with applications to limiting reagent and percent yield concepts
• Analyze the energy associated with chemical reactions, perform simple chemical thermodynamic calculations, and be able to apply these concepts to the first law of thermodynamics, stoichiometric relationships, calorimetry and Hess’s law
• Explain the basic concepts of quantum theory and the basic theories of chemical bonding, and be able to make predictions about atomic and molecular properties
• Relate the physical properties of gases, liquids, and solids to their structure and underlying intermolecular interactions
• Perform basic chemistry laboratory techniques, use common laboratory instruments, record data and observations accurately, and describe sources of error and uncertainty in experimental data

CHEM 10 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 10 students will be able to:

• Qualitatively describe the properties of solutions and calculate quantitative changes in physical properties due to the colligative properties of bulk matter
• Solve quantitative problems involving chemical kinetics and the rates of chemical reactions, and relate their implications toward reaction mechanisms
• Use the principles of chemical equilibrium to calculate solution composition and pH of acids, bases, and buffer solutions
• Determine whether a reaction is at equilibrium, calculate equilibrium constants and equilibrium concentrations, and apply the principles of equilibrium and reaction kinetics to gas phase systems
• Perform basic chemistry laboratory techniques using common laboratory equipment, record data and observations accurately, and describe the sources of error and uncertainty in experimental data

CHEM 8 Course Learning Outcomes

CHEM 100 Course Learning Outcomes

CHEM 111 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 111 students will be able to:

• Understand the relationships between protein structure, dynamics and function
• Demonstrate the impact of the Theory of Evolution on the field of biochemistry
• Explain strategies used by enzymes to favor desired chemical outcomes
• Comprehend how energy is stored and harnessed
• Describe the experimental techniques used by biochemists

CHEM 112 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 112 students will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and describe how quantum mechanics and classical mechanics differ
• Apply the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics to solve model problems
• Map the structure and spectroscopy of chemical systems onto the most appropriate simple models
• Determine which approximate methods are best suited to solve real problems
• Analyze experiments that probe the quantum mechanical nature of matter to gain insight into the structure and dynamics of atoms, molecules, and materials

CHEM 113 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 113 students will be able to:

CHEM 115 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 115 students will be able to:

• Determine how similar experimental values are to each other, both to compare analytical methods and also to compare results, and identify what errors might lead to differences in values
• Calculate species’ concentrations and activities in an aqueous solution
• Identify the most useful technique and instrument for a given analytical problem
• Identify the different parts of common analytical instruments and explain how they work

CHEM 120 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 120 students will be able to:

CHEM 122 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 122 students will be able to:

• Explain the major metabolic pathways and how they are interconnected
• Demonstrate the importance of the Theory of Evolution to our current understanding of metabolism
• Illustrate the different ways metabolic pathways are regulated, including reciprocal regulation
• Understand the relationship between the structure and function of metabolic enzymes
• Explain how proteins and nucleic acids are isolated and studied in the laboratory

CHEM 130 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 130 students will be able to:

CHEM 131 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 131 students will be able to:

CHEM 160 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 160 students will be able to:

CHEM 181 Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of CHEM 181 students will be able to: