Education at Aquinas College

Chemistry Major for Education

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Chemistry major/minor requirements:
Consult the Chemistry department for course and major expectations. Students are encouraged to complete an Integrated Science major in conjunction with a Chemistry major.

Courses

  • CY111 General Chemistry (4) NL

    A first college course in chemistry designed primarily for science majors. Topics include atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, properties of gases, solids, and liquids, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry. Three (3) hours of lecture and one 3-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: CY100 or high school chemistry; math placement score of 18 or higher, co-registration in MS114, or completion of MS114 with a C or better. High school physics strongly recommended.

  • CY211 Organic Chemistry (4)

    This is the first semester of a year-long course in organic chemistry for science majors. Topics include bonding, reaction mechanisms, structure, stereochemistry, and synthesis and reactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives. The correlation of molecular structure to physical properties and instrumentation is introduced. Three (3) hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisite: CY112, with a grade of C- or better, or its equivalent. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

  • CY215 Quantitative Analysis (4) QR

    A first course in chemical analysis. Topics include gravimetric and volumetric methods, statistical applications, ionic equilibria, chromatography, and spectroscopy. Two (2) hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: CY112 (or equivalent) with a grade of C– or better. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

  • CY311/312 Physical Chemistry I and II (4/4)

    A two-semester course in the theoretical principles of chemistry. Topics include thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, phase equilibria, electrochemistry, kinetics, and quantum chemistry. Three (3) hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week each semester. CY 311 offered fall of even-numbered years, CY 312 offered spring of odd-numbered years. Prerequisites for CY311: CY112 and MS122 with grades of C- or better. PC213 is also required but may be taken as a co-enrollment. Prerequisites for CY312: CY311 with a grade of C- or better. PC214 is also required but may be taken as a co-enrollment. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

  • CY346 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (4) WI

    An introduction to instrumental methods both theoretical and practical. Topics include spectroscopic methods (UV/Visible, IR, Raman, AA, AE, NMR), electrochemical methods (potentiometry and voltammetry), chromatographic methods (GC and HPLC), radiomethods, and thermal methods. Two (2) hours of lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: CY215 with a grade of C- or better. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

  • CY400/401 Undergraduate Seminar/Research (1/2) SC

    A two-semester introduction to chemical research. The first semester will focus on development of an individual research topic, writing a proposal, and safety considerations, and may include beginning laboratory work. Chemical Abstracts and other data-retrieval systems will be used to locate information on the theory and method needed for the project. The second semester will consist of laboratory work and will conclude with a seminar and written report on the results of the project. CY400 will be offered each fall. CY401 will be offered each spring. Prerequisites: senior status and approval of department chairperson. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.