Chemistry
(CHM)
For information, please contact
Karl R. Lindfors,
Chairperson, 774-3981, 268 Dow Science Complex
Department
Website
Why Study Chemistry?
Chemistry at CMU
Chemistry Major
Chemistry-Physics
Major
Chemistry Minor - B.A., B.A.A.,
B.S.
Chemistry Minor - B.S.
in Ed., Secondary
Chemistry
Minor for the Biology/Medical Technology Major
The Faculty
CHM Course
Descriptions
Why Study Chemistry?
The study of chemistry provides a wide variety of
opportunities for students with career interests in the
sciences or related professional areas and for students in
nonscience areas who wish to obtain some understanding of
the impact of the chemical sciences on modern society. As
appropriate, a student may prepare for graduate work in
chemistry; prepare for graduate work in a related area such
as pharmacology, polymer science, chemical engineering,
molecular biology, business or computer science; prepare for
entry into an industrial chemistry position in research and
development, technical service chemical marketing, technical
writing, patent preparation, product formulation, quality
assurance, analysis, or other areas; prepare for entry into
a professional program in medicine, dentistry, veterinary
medicine, pharmacy, optometry, medical technology or the
law; prepare to become a teacher of chemistry or the
sciences; or earn a general liberal arts undergraduate
degree with a major in chemistry. Many minor programs in
chemistry also are available for students needing a
concentration in chemistry to support a particular major or
degree. In addition, a variety of service courses are
provided for other degree programs within the university.
Chemistry
at CMU
The Department of Chemistry offers a variety of courses at
the freshman level to permit the selection of a beginning
course that is most appropriate for each student. Although
the principal guide in the selection of a beginning
chemistry course is the student’s curriculum and interest
in chemistry, other considerations include previous
chemistry and mathematics experience.
Students for whom chemistry is a major, minor or degree
requirement and/or demonstrate an aptitude for chemistry are
encouraged to enroll in CHM 161 (5), Principles of
Chemistry, an Honors offering. Other students for whom
chemistry is a major, minor, or degree requirement are
encouraged to enroll in CHM 131 (4), Introduction to
Chemistry.
Students with minimal chemistry background may wish to
enroll in CHM 120 (4) Survey of Chemistry. This course may
satisfy some degree requirements or may also serve as
preparation for CHM 131.
Students who have had no previous chemistry background and
who desire some experience in chemistry as part of a liberal
arts education may wish to enroll in CHM 111 (3) Interaction
of Chemistry and Society, which satisfies Group IIA of
University Program requirements, or CHM 101 (3) Armchair
Chemistry which satisfies the Group IIB requirement
including laboratory, as do CHM 161 and CHM 131. CHM 120
meets the Group IIB requirement but does not include a
laboratory. Students taking CHM 111 or 120 desiring to
satisfy the Group II laboratory requirement may concurrently
enroll in CHM 127 (1) Introductory Chemistry Laboratory.
To properly acquaint the upper-level undergraduate student
with the broader world of chemistry, the Department of
Chemistry maintains an excellent departmental seminar
program. All majors are encouraged to participate in this
program and, in addition, to earn at least one credit in CHM
583 (1-4) Seminar in Chemistry.
Students planning a major or minor program in chemistry
should contact the appropriate departmental advisor by the
end of the freshman year. Chemistry courses and their
mathematics and physics prerequisites should be scheduled in
the proper sequence to avoid later conflict. Students
planning to enter graduate school or the chemical industry
are strongly encouraged to complete the requirements for the
American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major in
chemistry.
CMU is accredited by the ACS to award degrees certified by
the society. This accreditation is a result of rigorous
examination by the society of our faculty, programs,
library, and laboratory facilities.
All transfer students who wish to complete major or minor
programs in chemistry must demonstrate proficiency by
completing appropriate course work at Central Michigan
University as determined by the departmental major or minor advisor.
A variety of scholarships are available in chemistry
including a merit-based Dow Chemical Company Foundation
Scholarship of approximately $4000 per year is available for
outstanding high school students who plan to complete the
American Chemical Society certified major in chemistry.
Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis are not allowed on
the major or minor.
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Chemistry Major
B.A.,
B.S., B.S. in Ed. degrees, Secondary and Secondary Special
Education Emphases
Required
Courses (32-37 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I AND
CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II OR
CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 331 (3) Inorganic Chemistry
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 351 (3) Physical Chemistry I
CHM 352 (3) Physical Chemistry II
CHM 357 (2) Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
CHM 425 (3) Introductory Biochemistry*
CHM 491 (1-3) Independent Study
Electives
(3-8 hours): sufficient 500-level advanced courses to
meet the minimum credit hour requirement. Certain electives
are required for American Chemical Society certification.
Electives are to be selected in consultation with and
approved by a chemistry major advisor.
Notes: 11 credit hours must be in laboratory courses.
(One credit hour each of CHM 131, 132, 211 and 331, and two
credit hours of CHM 161 count as laboratory credit hours). *
CHM 521 (3) and CHM 522 (3) may be substituted for CHM 425
(3). Students are urged to consult their major/preprofessional
advisor before enrolling for biochemistry courses.
Mathematics and Physics: The following courses are
required for students desiring American Chemical Society
certification: MTH 136 and 137 (or 132, 133, and 223) and
233; PHY 145, 146, 175, and 176. Students with inadequate
high school preparation may find it necessary to complete
additional MTH courses. These MTH and PHY courses are also
recommended for students who do not desire ACS
certification. The MTH and PHY courses must be completed
prior to enrolling in Physical Chemistry.
Additional
Requirements for B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Emphasis:
1. CHM 505 (3) Teaching Chemistry-Physics in the Secondary
School, taken concurrently with CHM 507 (1) Field Experience
in Teaching Chemistry in the High School.
2. The student must have completed at least 30 hours of his
or her chemistry major, in addition to CHM 505 (3) and CHM
507 (1), before approval for student teaching can be given.
The student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.7
in those 33 hours of chemistry courses. Transfer chemistry
credit will be accepted from regionally accredited
institutions, but at least six of the hours must be CMU
classes with a minimum grade point average of 2.7. At least
12 of the required chemistry credit hours must have been
received within 10 years of application for student
teaching.
3. In order for a student to be approved for student
teaching in chemistry, two CMU chemistry faculty must, at
the student’s request, provide completed department
student evaluation forms.
4. Each student must demonstrate competence in chemistry by
passing an American Chemical Society standardized chemistry
examination at a specific level in order to be approved for
student teaching.
5. The department recommends that students planning to teach
chemistry in secondary schools major in chemistry.
Total: 40 semester hours
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Chemistry-Physics
Major
B.S.
in Ed. degree, Secondary and Secondary Special Education
Emphases
This is an interdepartmental major. Please check the
Interdepartmental and Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors
section.
Minors
Chemistry
Minor
B.A.,
B.A.A., B.S. degrees
Required
Courses (17-20 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I AND
CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II OR
CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Electives
(3-6 hours): selected in consultation with and approved
by a chemistry minor advisor.
Note: five credit hours must be in laboratory
courses.
Total: 23 semester hours
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Chemistry Minor
B.S.
in Ed. degree, Secondary and Secondary Special Education
Emphases
Required
Courses (20-23 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I AND
CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II OR
CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 505 (3) Teaching Chemistry/Physics in the Secondary
School
Electives
(0-3 hours): selected in consultation with and approved
by a chemistry minor advisor.
Note: Five credit hours must be in laboratory courses.
Additional
Requirements:
1. The student must have completed at least 20 hours of his
or her chemistry minor, in addition to CHM 505 (3), before
approval for student teaching can be given. The student must
have a minimum grade point average of 2.7 in those 23 hours
of chemistry courses. Transfer chemistry credit will be
accepted from regionally accredited institutions, but at
least six hours must be CMU classes with a minimum grade
point average of 2.7. At least 12 of the required chemistry
credit hours must have been received within 10 years of
application for student teaching.
2. In order for a student to be approved for student
teaching in chemistry, two CMU chemistry faculty must, at
the student's request, provide completed department student
evaluation forms.
3. Each student must demonstrate competency in chemistry by
passing an American Chemical Society standardized chemistry
examination at a specific level in order to be approved for
student teaching.
Total:
23 semester hours
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Chemistry Minor
for the Biology/Medical Technology Major
B.A.,
B.S. degrees
Required
Courses (24-27 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I AND
CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II OR
CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 425 (3) Introductory Biochemistry
CHM 523 (4) Clinical Chemistry
Total: 24-27 semester hours
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The faculty:
Edmund W. Benson, Bradley D. Falman, Bob A. Howell,
Anton W. Jensen, George A. Kaminski, Robert E. Kohrman, Estelle L. Lebeau, Glenn
S. Lewandos, Karl R. Lindfors, Kenneth R. Magnell, Sharyl
Majorski-Briggs (Laboratory Coordinator), Dillip K.
Mohanty, Ajit Sharma, Philip J. Squattrito,
Mary M. J. Tecklenburg, Calvin D. Tormanen
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