May 26, 2024  
2019-2020 Academic Catalog 
    
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2019-2020 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

Course Numbering System

The following lists include all courses normally offered at Albion College. However, not all courses are offered every year. When possible, courses offered in alternate years are designated. For details, students should consult the Class Schedule for each semester, available online at: www.albion.edu/registrar. The College reserves the right to add or withdraw courses without prior announcement, as conditions may require.

Unless otherwise stated, 100 level courses are intended for freshmen, 200 level for sophomores, 300 and 400 level for juniors and seniors.

A list of courses which meet the core and category requirements, organized by departments, is available online at www.albion.edu/registrar.

Further information may be obtained at the Registrar’s Office in the Ferguson Student, Technology, and Administrative Services Building.
 

Chemistry
  

  • CHEM 101: Chemistry That Matters

    (1 Unit)
    As citizens and consumers, we face the question of how we can live responsibly and safely in an environment in which we are literally surrounded by synthetic chemicals. For that reason, chemistry does matter to all of us. This course is concerned with materials which we encounter every day, including foods and food additives, cleaning supplies, fuels, building supplies, pesticides and radioactive materials (e.g., radon). The emphasis is upon what these materials are, how they work, how they can be used safely, and what their impact is on the environment. Chemical principles are introduced as needed. Hands-on microscale demonstrations are used frequently in the classroom. Non-laboratory. Lecture and discussion. Intended for non-science majors. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 107: Chemistry for the Non-Science Major

    (1 Unit)
    An introduction to the methodology of science and the basic principles of chemistry. General chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry topics are briefly surveyed. Few mathematical skills are required. Lecture and laboratory. Not intended for the chemistry or science major. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 152: Principles of Chemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Basic principles of stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetics. Thematic content will be used to explain how the foundational principles of chemistry can be used to explain the world around us. Topical applications and issues will vary with instructor. Bieler, Harris, Lewis, McCaffrey, Metz, Rohlman, Streu.
  

  • CHEM 154: Organic Structure and Reactivity

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite:  CHEM 152
    This course builds on the atomic and molecular foundation developed in CHEM 152. Student are introduced to reactivity and mechanistic details of organic acid/base chemistry as well as model organic reactions. Quantitative reaction concepts necessary for organic chemistry are emphasized including: stoichiometry, thermochemistry, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, and dynamic equilibrium. Lecture and laboratory. Harris, McCaffrey, Streu
  

  • CHEM 187: Selected Topics

    (1/4 Unit)
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 188: Selected Topics

    (1/2 Unit)
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 189: Selected Topics

    (1 Unit)
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 200: Chemistry and Social Problems

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing.
    An examination of selected, important social problems which have a technological basis. Discussions focus upon the economic, political and ethical dimensions of the problems, as well as the science and technology involved, and include problems such as the greenhouse effect and global warming, chlorofluorocarbons and the stratospheric ozone layer, chemical and radioactive waste disposal, and the use of pesticides. Risk/benefit analysis and the connection between chemical exposure and biological harm are important features of the discussions. Laboratory work involves the analysis of water samples for trace metals and organic contaminants, using state of the art instrumentation, and will include attempts to assess the validity of the analytical results. Intended for non-science majors as well as science majors. Lewis.
  

  • CHEM 206: Chemical Analysis

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 154.
    Laboratory course emphasizing the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data, using both traditional and instrumental techniques. Bieler, Lewis, Metz.
  

  • CHEM 212: Organic Reactions and Mechanism

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 154.
    A continued survey of the mechanisms and reactions of organic molecules focusing on aromatic and carbonyl compounds, and the application of organic reactions toward organic synthesis. Laboratory involves team-designed organic syntheses of biologically relevant molecules and/or synthetic methodology. Harris, McCaffrey.
  

  • CHEM 214: Inorganic Chemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 154
    A systematic introduction to the study of the synthesis, reactions, structures and properties of compounds of the elements. Topics include bonding theories, acid-base chemistry, oxidation and reduction chemistry, coordination chemistry and the applications and reactions of these complexes, and solid state chemistry. Lecture and laboratory Bieler, Lewis, McCaffrey, Metz
  

  • CHEM 278: Biochemistry/Chemistry Research

    (.25 Units)
    Must have selected a reserch advisor and project before beginning this course.
    This is an introduction to laboratory-based scholarship in the chemical sciences. Students will participate in a weekly seminar, where they will learn how to navigate and read chemical literature, how to prepare and deliver research-based presentations, and how to prepare posters to present research results. In addition to this seminar, students will also work in at least one afternoon a week in a research laboratory. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 279: Biochemisty/Chemistry Research

    (.5 Unit)
    Must have selected a research advisor and project before beginning this course.
    This is an introduction to laboratory-based scholarship in the chemical sciences. Students will participate in a weekly seminar, where they will learn how to navigate and read chemical literature, how to prepare and deliver research-based presentations, and how to prepare posters to present research results. In addition to this seminar, students will also typically work two afternoon per week in a research laboratory. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 287: Selected Topics

    (1/4 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 288: Selected Topics

    (1/2 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 289: Selected Topics

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 301: Chemical Energetics and Kinetics

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 206, CHEM 212 or CHEM 214 and MATH 141  or equivalent.
    An exploration of the basic thermodynamic and kinetic principles that govern the outcome of all chemical reactions and physical processes. Primary emphasis is placed upon macroscopic chemical thermodynamics with applications to solutions, colligative properties and phase equilibria. Additional topics include kinetic molecular theory; the experimental basis for determining reaction rates, rate laws and rate constants; the relationship of rate laws to reaction mechanisms; and the effect of temperature change on the rate constant. Bieler, Lewis.
  

  • CHEM 321: Advanced Synthesis Laboratory

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 206   and CHEM 212  or CHEM 214.
    An exploration of advanced methods of chemical synthesis techniques in both organic and inorganic chemistry. Emphasis is placed on analysis of the synthetic products for purity and qualitative identification, using FT-NMR, FTIR, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy. Further identification and analysis is done using HPLC, GC/MS, gas chromatography and LC/MS. Two four-hour laboratories per week. Harris, McCaffrey.
  

  • CHEM 323: Advanced Laboratory: Biochemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 206 , CHEM 337 .
    The study of biochemical laboratory techniques, including enzyme purification and kinetics; gel exclusion, ion exchange; agarose gel electrophoresis; isolation of nucleic acids; and a special student-designed project. Rohlman, Streu.
  

  • CHEM 327: Advanced Physical and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 206  and CHEM 301 . Prerequisite or corequisite: CHEM 340 .
    An exploration of various areas of physical chemistry and advanced problems in analytical chemistry including thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and quantum mechanics. In carrying out these experiments, students use UV/Vis, fluorescence, ICP, IR, and x-ray fluorescence spectrometers and gain experience with electroanalytical methods, vacuum lines, lasers and x-ray diffraction. Two four-hour laboratories per week. Bieler, Lewis, Metz.
  

  • CHEM 337: Biochemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 152; BIOL 300  or CHEM 212 ; or permission of instructor.
    An in-depth study of biochemical structure, catalysis, metabolism and cellular regulation. Understanding living systems through molecular and chemical models. Areas of emphasis include macromolecular structure, enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, metabolic mechanisms and regulation, genomics, and proteomics. Same as BIOL 337 . Rohlman, Streu.
  

  • CHEM 340: Quantum Chemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
    Normally a student is expected to have completed CHEM 121 , CHEM 123 , CHEM 211 , CHEM 212 , CHEM 206  and CHEM 301  as well as two units of calculus and two units of physics. The microscopic or molecular basis for chemistry. Among the topics covered are the use of Schrodinger wave mechanics to examine the energies of atoms and molecules, including structure and chemical bonds; comparison of calculated energies with experimental values obtained from atomic and molecular spectroscopy; and the use of statistical mechanics to calculate thermodynamic variables and equilibrium constants. Bieler, Lewis.
  

  • CHEM 350: Advanced Organic Chemistry

    (1/2 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 154, CHEM 212 .
    Reinforces and extends the concepts introduced in CHEM 154, CHEM 212  and introduces new concepts, reactions and molecular theories. Taught with one of two emphases: (1) the synthetic course extends understanding of organic reactions, introduces the most current synthetic organic methods and asks students to use their knowledge to propose syntheses of complex molecules; (2) the physical/mechanistic course includes topics such as aromaticity and models used to explain thermal and photochemical concerted reactions such as frontier orbital theory, Huckel-Mobius transition state theory and the conservation of orbital symmetry. Students in both courses are taught to read and understand the chemical literature, then write about and orally present the novel chemistry they have learned. Harris, McCaffrey.
  

  • CHEM 351: Biophysical Chemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 301 , CHEM 337 .
    Examination of the physical chemistry of macromolecules in living systems. A study of thermodynamics, kinetics, ligand binding and spectroscopy related to the understanding of macromolecular structure and function. Rohlman, Streu
  

  • CHEM 352: Medicinal Chemistry

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite:  CHEM 337
    This course is designed for upper-level science students with an interest in drug design. Lecture topics will include the common classes of drug targets, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, drug design and development, chemical approaches to drug discovery, specific medicinal chemistry approaches to antimicrobials, chemotherapeutics, analgesics, and drugs targeting the nervous system. Historical as well as current literature will be presented in both lecture and discussion formats. Students will be expected to become familiar with reading and understanding primary research papers in medicinal chemistry. Streu.
  

  • CHEM 353: Spectroscopy

    (1/2 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 340 .
    General principles and theories of light absorption and emission at the molecular level, including the application of symmetry and group theory. Detailed applications to IR, Raman, microwave, UV-visible and radiofrequency spectroscopy (NMR, EPR). Additional topics chosen from X-ray crystallography, mass spectroscopy, photochemistry and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Bieler, Lewis, Metz.
  

  • CHEM 356: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

    (1/2 Unit)
    Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
    Normally a student is expected to have completed CHEM 340 . An advanced-level discussion of periodic properties, chemical bonding, and acidbase concepts with an emphasis upon the bonding and properties of transition metal complexes. McCaffrey, Metz.
  

  • CHEM 378: Biochemistry/Chemistry Research

    (.25 Unit)
    Must have selected a research advisor and project before beginning this course.
    Laboratory-based scholarship in the chemical sciences for intermediate to advanced students. Students will participate in a weekly seminar, where they will learn how to navigate and read chemical literature, how to prepare and deliver research-based presentations, and how to prepare posters to present research results. In addition to this seminar, students will also typically work one afternoon a week in research laboratories. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 379: Biochemistry/Chemistry Research

    (.5 Unit)
    Must have selected a research advisor and project before beginning this course.
    Laboratory-based scholarship in the chemical sciences for intermediate to advanced students. Students will participate in a weekly seminar, where they will learn how to navigate and read chemical literature, how to prepare and deliver research-based presentations, and how to prepare posters to present research results. In addition to this seminar, students will also typically work two or more afternoons a week in research laboratories. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 387: Selected Topics

    (1/4 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 388: Selected Topics

    (1/2 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 389: Selected Topics

    (1 Unit)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 121 .
    An examination of subjects or areas not included in other courses. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 391: Internship

    (1/2 Unit)
    Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 392: Internship

    (1 Unit)
    Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Staff.
  

  • CHEM 401: Seminar

    (1/2 Unit)
    Staff.
  

  • CHEM 402: Seminar

    (1 Unit)
    Staff.
  

  • CHEM 411: Directed Study

    (1/2 Unit)
    Staff.
  

  • CHEM 412: Directed Study

    (1 Unit)
    Staff.