Chemistry (BS)

Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Offered: Bachelor of Science
Minor Offered: Chemistry 

The degree offered is the Bachelor of Science, with programs in chemistry, pre-allopathic medicine, pre-osteopathic medicine, and pre-pharmacy.

The chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society. Upon graduation, students receiving the university’s Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry as described in this catalog meet the American Chemical Society requirements for certification.

CONTRIBUTION OF PROGRAM TO TRUMAN’S LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE MISSION

The mission of the Chemistry program is the development of liberally-educated and critically-thinking chemists capable of functioning as professionals and supplying critical insight and judgment in their first professional experience.

The BS Chemistry degree blends a strong liberal arts component with a professional program. Courses in the Liberal Studies Program develop the necessary knowledge and basic skills for the Chemistry major to be a critical thinker. A year of study in general, organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry provides the fundamentals for being a critically-thinking scientist and chemist.

A lecture component of more than 600 clock hours covers the formal presentation of Chemistry. The laboratory experience of more than 500 clock hours gives the student “hands-on” experience and knowledge of chemistry and the confidence and competence to:

1. Plan and execute experiments through the use of chemical literature.
2. Respond properly to the hazards of chemical manipulations.
3. Keep neat, complete experimental records.
4. Synthesize and characterize inorganic and organic compounds.
5. Perform accurate quantitative measurements.
6. Use and understand modern instruments.
7. Analyze data and assess the reliability of results.
8. Draw reasonable conclusions.
9. Communicate effectively through oral and written reports.

Undergraduate research integrates the components of a chemistry curriculum into a unified structure. Research helps the undergraduate acquire a spirit of inquiry, initiative, independence, sound judgment, patience, persistence, alertness, and reference skills using chemical literature. For the faculty members, research opportunities increase their enthusiasm, professional competence and scholarly productivity.

INTEGRATIVE OR CULMINATING EXPERIENCE

The “community of learning” allows a student to integrate numerous experiences beginning as early as the freshman year and culminating with a variety of possible activities. In the freshman year, the activities may include introduction to research and involvement in science-oriented student organizations. The sophomore student may tutor and increase involvement in research. The junior and senior student may be invited to serve as lab assistants for lower division courses. Upperclass students write résumés, plan post-graduate activities, and continue to have research opportunities.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE CHEMISTRY PROGRAM INCLUDE:

1. “Communities of learning”
2. Seminar courses each year
3. Research
4. Honors program option
5. Senior External Examination

SPECIAL FACILITIES

The Science Division’s organic chemistry laboratory is modern and equipped with IR and NMR instrumentation upon which all students receive “hands-on” experience in the use and interpretation of results. The analytical chemistry lab has computer integrated experiments offering “hands-on” experience with atomic absorption, UV/Visible spectrophotometry, HPLC, GC, and FT-IR. A wide range of standard techniques are introduced to provide each student with the background to succeed in both industry and graduate chemistry work.

The advanced labs for Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Inorganic Chemistry provide a more challenging atmosphere to integrate fundamental techniques. Each lab has components of individual investigation.

The Chemistry discipline has state-of-the-art FT-IR and FTNMR spectrophotometers and an X-ray Diffractometer which allow the student additional “hands-on” experience with computer-interfaced instruments that perform rapid, accurate, and precise chemical analyses. Modern chemical procedures require the student to be computer literate. The Chemistry discipline at Truman not only uses computers in most of the courses but provides a high degree of access to microcomputers for coursework and sophisticated research-quality calculations.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN CHEMISTRY

Any student can graduate with Honors in Chemistry under the following criteria:

1. Must complete the PHYS 195-196 sequence.
2. In 3 out of 5 of the “core” areas (organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, biochemistry) score at or above the 50th percentile on the discipline’s nationally-normed exam.
3. The student must achieve the University’s academic standards for graduating cum laude and one of the following criteria:
   a)The student has obtained a 90th percentile on the MFAT in Chemistry.
   b)The student has successfully progressed on a research project of at least two semesters’ effort and has written a research report according to ACS certification guidelines and has given a research seminar/presentation. The student must register for two credits of research.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: