Description

The Chemistry/Biochemistry Program gives students a solid foundation in analytical, organic, and physical chemistry, and emphasizes the role that chemistry plays in the global environment. The biochemistry major provides additional insight into the relationship of chemistry to living organisms. Throughout the programs in chemistry and biochemistry, students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in fields in which women are still underrepresented, and they gain the opportunity to explore options such as graduate school, medical school, or employment in the industrial sector.

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may elect to pursue either a B.A. or a B.S. degree in chemistry or biochemistry. A major and a minor are offered in both fields.

Prospective science majors should be aware that most upper-level science courses are offered every other year, and it may not be possible to complete the requirements for the major in one academic year, regardless of the number of credits transferred in. It is suggested that any student transferring in with more than 64 credits who plans to major in chemistry or biochemistry meet with a chemistry faculty member before registering for any courses in order to plan an appropriate program and to determine how long it will take her to complete the degree requirements.

Students should note that NSM 102, Introduction to Scientific Methods and Procedures, serves as a prerequisite for the Fundamentals of Chemistry and the General Physics courses, and it is expected that all students who plan to major in one of the natural sciences will take the NSM 102 course in their first year at Trinity. This requirement may be waived for students passing the college algebra section on the mathematics placement test.

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Major Requirements

Major Requirements: Chemistry (58-60 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I *
CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II
CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHE 234 Organic Chemistry II
CHE 315 Environmental Chemistry 
CHE 316 Environmental Analysis 
CHE 377 Physical Chemistry I 
MAT 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MAT 126 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
PHY 115 General Physics I
PHY 116 General Physics II
PHY 117 General Physics III

THREE approved courses in chemistry or physics at the 300- or 400-level

ONE course in directed research OR an internship: 

CHE 481 Internship 
CHE 491 Directed Research

ONE Senior Seminar

NSM 491 Divisional Seminar (3 credits) 

* Students who do not achieve satisfactory scores on the mathematics placement test must take NSM 102 before taking Chemistry 105.

Recommended Courses

MAT 141 Introduction to Programming 
MAT 227 Multivariable Calculus

Students planning to attend graduate school in chemistry should also take a second semester of Physical Chemistry, along with Instrumental Analysis or Physical Chemistry Laboratory through the Consortium.

Major Requirements: Biochemistry (61-63 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

BIO 152 General Biology II 
BIO 222 Introductory Genetics 
BIO 325 Cellular and Molecular Biology 
BIO 449 General Microbiology 
CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I *
CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II 
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II
CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHE 234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
CHE 377 Physical Chemistry I 
CHE 411 Molecular Biochemistry I
CHE 412 Molecular Biochemistry II
CHE 413 Methods of Biochemistry 
MAT 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MAT 126 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
PHY 115 General Physics I
PHY 116 General Physics II

ONE course in directed research OR an internship: 

CHE 481 Internship 
CHE 491 Directed Research

ONE Senior Seminar

NSM 491 Divisional Seminar (3 credits) 

* Students who do not achieve satisfactory scores on the mathematics placement test must take NSM 102 before taking Chemistry 105.

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Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements: Chemistry (21 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I
CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I 
CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 

EIGHT additional credits in chemistry above the 100-level

Minor Requirements: Biochemistry (21 credits)

ALL of the following courses: 

CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I 
CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I 
CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 
CHE 411 Molecular Biochemistry I
CHE 412 Molecular Biochemistry II
CHE 413 Methods of Biochemistry 

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Program Policies

Advanced Placement: A grade of 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP exam will be accepted in lieu of CHE 105.

CLEP Policy: A satisfactory score on the CLEP exam in general chemistry will be accepted in lieu of CHE 105.

Grades in Major Courses: Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.

Pass/No Pass: The pass/no pass option is not acceptable for courses taken to fulfill major or minor requirements.
Senior Assessment: The senior assessment in chemistry or biochemistry consists of a written report and oral presentation relating to the work done in CHE 481 or 491.

TELL Policy: Because of the importance of the laboratory experience, TELL credits may not be applied toward the chemistry major.

Transfer Credits: All chemistry and biochemistry majors are required to complete successfully a minimum of 15 credits in chemistry at Trinity College. With the approval of the program chair, courses in biology or other relevant areas of study offered at Trinity may be used to satisfy the 15 credit requirement. All chemistry/biochemistry majors must take NSM 491 Divisional Seminar at Trinity (NSM 491 may count toward the 15 credit hours taken at Trinity). Biochemistry majors must take CHE 411, 412 Molecular Biochemistry I and II at Trinity. 

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Course Descriptions

CHE 101 Chemistry in a Changing World
Focuses on chemistry in the news, including the energy crisis, global warming, acid rain, radioactivity, food, and drugs. These topics are used to introduce the concepts of chemistry and biochemistry to the non-science major. It is recommended that this course be taken after completion of the Area I math requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. 
4 credits
FLC Area IV
Core III 

CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I
Introduces some of the general principles of chemistry. Topics include stoichiometry and chemical reactions; the structure and properties of atoms and molecules; chemical bonding; thermochemistry; and acid base chemistry. This course emphasizes active student involvement; many concepts are introduced via direct experimentation. Computers are used extensively. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course.
4 credits
Prerequisites: NSM 102; MAT 123 (may be taken concurrently)
FLC Area IV 
Core III 

CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II
Continues the study of basic chemical principles, focusing on thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course.
4 credits
Prerequisite: CHE 105 with a minimum grade of "C"

CHE 231, 232 Organic Chemistry I & II
Investigates the properties and reactions of carbon compounds, emphasizing the application of modern chemical theories to the elucidation of structure and mechanism. Will ordinarily be taken with the laboratory (CHE 233, 234).
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHE 105 with a minimum grade of " C " or permission of the instructor; CHE 231 with a minimum grade of " C " is a prerequisite for CHE 232 

CHE 233, 234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I & II
Illustrates modern techniques of purification, identification, and synthesis of organic compounds and the application to structural and synthetic problems. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course.
2 credits

CHE 291 Independent Study
Allows the student to engage in an independent research project at an introductory level.
credits arranged
Prerequisite: Permission of a chemistry faculty member 

CHE 315 Environmental Chemistry
Explores the causes and solutions of a variety of environmental problems, including changes in the ozone layer, air pollution, global warming, toxic organic compounds, water contamination and purification, heavy metals and soil chemistry, and energy production. Will ordinarily be taken concurrently with CHE 316.
3 credits
Prerequisite: CHE 231 (may be taken concurrently) 

CHE 316 Chemical Analysis
Introduces methods of chemical analysis as applied to problems in environmental chemistry. Will ordinarily be taken concurrently with CHE 315. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course.
2 credits
Prerequisite: CHE 231 (may be taken concurrently) 

CHE 350 Advanced Organic Chemistry
Explores selected topics in organic chemistry, such as reactive intermediates, reactions of carbonyls compounds, retrosynthesis, photochemistry, and the chemistry of amines. Utilizing the chemical literature will also be emphasized.
3 credits

CHE 377 Physical Chemistry I
Examines the principles of chemical thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, and atomic structure, with an emphasis on applications to biological systems. Introduces some of the theory behind spectroscopic techniques. 
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHE 105 and 106 with grades of " C " or higher, or permission of instructor; MAT 125, MAT 126; PHY 115 (may be taken concurrently); MAT 227 recommended 

CHE 411 Molecular Biochemistry I
Explores the molecular basis of biological processes, with special emphasis on the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids and the interplay between these important classes of macromolecules. Topics are introduced using the current scientific literature in areas such as HIV and cancer. 
3 credits
Prerequisite: CHE 231 (may be taken concurrently) 

CHE 412 Molecular Biochemistry II
Continues the study of biochemistry, including reaction mechanisms, metabolic pathways and energetics. The course concludes with an examination of related topics of current interest. 
3 credits
Prerequisite: CHE 411 or permission of instructor 

CHE 413 Methods of Biochemistry
Introduces the theory and application of some of the methods and techniques of modern biochemistry, including spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrophoresis. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course.
2 credits 
Prerequisite: CHE 411 or permission of the instructor 

CHE 415 Topics in Biochemistry
Examines the scientific literature in areas of current interest in the biomedical sciences.
3 credits

CHE 481 Internship
Provides practical experience in an area related to chemistry (such as in a museum, government laboratory, etc.).
credits arranged

CHE 491 Directed Research
Offers the student the opportunity to develop research skills while conducting a research project carried out under the supervision of a faculty member, or at one of the research institutions in the area with permission of the program chair.
credits arranged

NOTE: Descriptions for courses listed as NSM (natural sciences and mathematics) appear in the interdisciplinary courses section of this catalog.

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