The Chemistry Major

The Walsh University Division of Math & Sciences provides coursework, laboratory training and research experience to properly prepare our students with a major in Chemistry. The structure of the major includes studies in various specialized areas of chemistry like organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and analytical chemistry. Our Chemistry Faculty (100% Ph.D.) includes scientists who are both excellent teachers and competent researchers. The Chemistry major involves 35 semester hours of required coursework and labs in Chemistry along with supporting courses in  Physics and Mathematics. A typical sequence of Chemistry courses is shown below:

Year 1

CHEM 101	Principles of Chemistry I	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 101L	Principles of Chemistry I Lab	(1 sem hr, one 3-hour lab per week)
CHEM 102	Principles of Chemistry II	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 102L	Principles of Chemistry II Lab	(1 sem hr, one 3-hour lab per week)

Year 2

CHEM 201	Organic Chemistry I	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 201L	Organic Chemistry I Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)
CHEM 202	Organic Chemistry II	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 202L	Organic Chemistry II Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)

Year 3

CHEM 301	Quantitative Analysis	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 301L	Quantitative Analysis Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)
CHEM 302	Instrumental Analysis	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 302L	Instrumental Analysis Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)
CHEM 305	Inorganic Chemistry	(3 sem hrs)

Year 4

CHEM 401	Physical Chemistry I	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 401L	Physical Chemistry I Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)
CHEM 402	Physical Chemistry II	(3 sem hrs)
CHEM 402L	Physical Chemistry II Lab	(1 sem hr, one 4-hour lab per week)

Electives include CHEM 307 Biochemistry and lab, CHEM 405 (topics in chemistry which includes a variety of specialized courses such as Advanced Chromatography, Symmetry & Group Theory, Advanced Organic Chemistry, etc...) offered as faculty wish to present the courses; CHEM 407 Molecular Pharmacology, CHEM 390 Internship and CHEM 411-412: Introduction to Research.  These electives provide a wide range of opportunities to learn specialized topics and to refine advanced knowledge for graduate programs.  In addition, all Chemistry majors take Physics 101-102 with labs and courses in Mathematics including Calculus I, II and III.

Goals of the Major:
Students will be properly prepared to enter graduate programs (MS or Ph.D.) in Chemistry or related fields, to directly enter the workforce and perform common laboratory work in R&D or QC, or to enter professional schools for ongoing training in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, etc...

Students will become familiar with and understand applications of central chemical theories including: atom theory (quantum mechanics), acid-base theory, chemical thermodynamic theory, kinetic molecular theory, bonding theory, and others.

Students will learn how to perform fundamental chemical calculations such as those involved in stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, solution preparation and dilutions, titrations, etc...

Students will learn to write Lewis structures, write chemical reactions, show chemical mechanisms, understand molecular geometry, write formulas, etc...

Students will learn how to collect and manage chemical laboratory data including preparing solutions, properly measuring volume, time, mass and length with proper significant figures.In addition, basic techniques of heating, cooling, mixing, titrating, etc... will be learned along with graphing data, presenting tables, basic statistics and proper safety procedures.

Students will have been exposed to and have the opportunity to learn techniques in Spectroscopy, FT-NMR, FT-IR, Chromatography (GC, HPLC, TLC and Column), Electrophoresis, Bioinformatics, Computer-based Chemical Modeling, Organic Synthesis and Product Isolation, and various others.

Students will learn how to read and understand the current chemical literature, write laboratory papers in publication format, present poster sessions and critique ideas for their merit.

Our Chemistry Faculty:
Dr. Michael Dunphy, Professor of Biochemistry, Division Chair Math & Sciences
Dr. Tom Freeland, Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Molecular Biology
Dr. Neil G. Walsh, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry
Dr. Mary Rohrdanz, Assistant Professor of Theoretical Physical Chemistry
Dr. Amy J. Heston, Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry
Dr. Peter Tandler, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry

Please contact Dr. Dunphy (mdunphy@walsh.edu) to talk about how we can help you become a Chemistry major at Walsh University and start you toward a great career in the sciences.