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Chemistry

Steven G. Mayer, Ph.D., chair

Faculty: R.S. Bard, Cantrell, Daoud-Kinzie, Hall, Hoffman, Hutcheson, S.G. Mayer, Morton, Taylor, Urnezius, Valente, Walters, Wood

Chemistry majors at the University of Portland have unique opportunities to serve the university and their community and to grow in their pursuit of knowledge and application of experimental techniques. The University of Portland’s American Chemical Society-certified chemistry program fosters active learning through hands-on experimentation and cultivates independent and critical thinking skills. The department maintains a large array of state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation used for teaching and faculty-student research. The chemistry department is currently made up of nine full-time faculty members, all of whom are active scholars in their respective subdisciplines. There are three options available to students pursuing a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. Each of the options provides a solid preparation for professional practice in chemistry and a variety of related areas and for entrance to graduate school. Each option requires 120 total credit hours.

Learning Outcomes for Chemistry Majors

Chemistry graduates of the University of Portland should:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of Chemistry in at least four of the five traditional sub-disciplines (analytical, organic, physical, inorganic, and biochemistry).
    1. Demonstrate and understanding of the fundamental theories of chemistry.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and applications of chemistry.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of important laboratory techniques, methods, and instrumentation.
  2. Obtain and use data from the chemical literature.
    1. be able to perform a literature search.
    2. be able to critically read the literature and extract useful information.
    3. be able to find the primary literature for a specific topic.
  3. Work effectively and with a safety-conscious attitude.
    1. be able to use modern instruments to elucidate chemical systems.
    2. be able to properly use personal protection (e.g. goggles, gloves, lab coat).
    3. be able to safely handle common laboratory equipment.
    4. be able to design experiments with proper safety features.
    5. be able to access material safety and disposal information.
  4. Ask questions, conduct experiments, and interpret results according to established scientific theory.
    1. use fundamental knowledge of chemistry to form hypotheses.
    2. create and use specialized equipment to prepare the appropriate conditions for the chemistry of interest.
    3. identify meaningful results from a data set.
  5. Effectively communicate orally and in writing.
    1. develop an effective presentation style.
    2. effectively use figures and data to communicate ideas and results.

Scholarship Requirements

A grade of C- or better in the first semester is required for continuation to the second semester of all sequence science courses (for example: CHM 207-208 or CHM 325-326). A grade of C or higher is required in CHM 208 to continue into CHM 325. An average G.P.A. of 2.0 must be maintained in all science, mathematics, and engineering courses required for the major.