Overview

The B.S in Chemistry at LAU provides students with a broad-based education that includes exposure to
the core areas of chemistry (analytical, physical, organic and inorganic), and recently emerging
technologies in both a classroom setting and in the laboratory within the context of the liberal arts and
sciences curriculum. The program encompasses the latest methodologies and applications in the study
of chemistry and provides students with access to advanced instrumental techniques, particularly
through the integration of information technology solutions for chemical applications.

Ultimately, students will graduate as well-rounded individuals with a broad knowledge in the chemical
field and hence will be well prepared for local, national and international job markets in the sectors of
education, industry and health. Moreover, the program prepares students for postgraduate study in
scientific fields such as chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical sciences, and medicine.

The B.S. in Chemistry satisfies the premedical requirements and is thus suitable for students wishing to
apply for the MCAT exam to gain admission into medical school.

Mission

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry parallels the mission of the university in its commitment to
academic excellence within the framework of the liberal arts tradition. In its design, the program
challenges undergraduates intellectually, experimentally and interactively. The program nurtures
students into individuals prepared to embrace professional and ethical responsibilities.

Curriculum

A total of 94 credits are required to graduate, distributed as follows:

• Chemistry Core Requirements (42 credits)

• Chemistry Elective Courses (6 credits)

• Elective Laboratory Courses (2 credits)

• Mathematics Requirements (6 credits)

• Physics Requirements (7 credits)

• Computer Skills Requirements (1 credit)

• Liberal Arts Core Curriculum (6 credits)

• Liberal Arts Electives (21 credits)

• Free Electives (3 credits)

CHEMISTRY CORE REQUIREMENTS (34 CREDITS)

• CHM201 Chemical Principles (3 cr.)

• CHM203 Qualitative Analysis (1 cr.)

• CHM204 Quantitative Analysis (2 cr.)

 • CHM301 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)

• CHM302 Instrumental Analysis (3 cr.)

• CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)

• CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)

• CHM313 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)

• CHM314 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)

• CHM330 Physical Chemistry I (4 cr.)

• CHM332 Physical Chemistry II (3 cr.)

• CHM334 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (2 cr.)

• CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.)

• CHM422 Inorganic Chemistry II (3 cr.)

• CHM423 Synthesis and Identification of Inorganic Compounds (2 cr.)

• CHM425 Computational Chemistry (2 cr.)

• CHM499P Senior Study or CHM499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)

CHEMISTRY ELECTIVE COURSES (6 CREDITS)

• BCH301 Introduction to Biochemistry (4 cr.)

• CHM340 Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)

• CHM402 Chemistry of Materials (3 cr.)

• CHM403 Polymer Science (3 cr.)

• CHM404 Forensic Chemistry (3 cr.)

• CHM405 Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.)

• CHM488 Topics in Chemistry (3 cr.)

ELECTIVE LABORATORY COURSE (2 CREDITS)

• CHM406 Forensic Chemistry Lab (2 cr.)

• CHM412 Synthesis & Identification of Organic Compounds (2 cr.)

• CHM424 Synthesis & Identification of Nanomaterials (2 cr.)

MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS (6 CREDITS)

Students must take:

• MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)

And choose one course (3 cr.) from:

• MTH301 Linear Algebra (3 cr.)

• MTH303 Numerical Methods (3 cr.)

• MTH304 Differential Equation (3 cr.)

• MTH305 Probability & Statistics (3 cr.)

PHYSICS REQUIREMENTS (7 CREDITS)

Students must take:

• PHY201 Electricity & Magnetism (4 cr.)

And choose one course (3 cr.) from:

• PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)

• PHY321 Introduction to Modern Physics (3 cr.)

LAS REQUIREMENTS (27 CREDITS)

FREE ELECTIVES (3 CREDITS)

Chemistry Courses

CHM101 GENERAL CHEMISTRY [3–3, 4 cr.]

This freshman-level course is an introductory course that includes theoretical and applied basic concepts
of atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gases, aqueous solution,
chemical kinetics, and chemical equilibrium.

CHM200 ESSENTIALS OF CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This is a one semester course for health science students that introduces basic concepts of general,
organic and biochemistry, and basic nuclear chemistry. The course includes basic: stoichiometric
chemical calculations, bonding concepts, solution chemistry, acid-base and redox reactions, basic nuclear
reactions, properties of organic compounds, structure and reactivity of hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers,
carbonyls, carboxylic acids, amines, carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, enzymes and biochemical energy.

CHM201 CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers the principles and theories of atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry,
mass spectrometry, properties of gases, basic thermodynamics, kinetic molecular theory, solids and
liquids, solutions, and ionic and chemical equilibrium.

Prerequisite: CHM101 General Chemistry or equivalent

CHM202 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to the principles and methods of quantitative analysis of acid-base titration
and complexometric methods of analysis. Precipitation methods, potentiometric methods, solvent
extraction, chromatography and polarography, spectroscopic analytical methods, and atomic elemental
analysis are covered.

Prerequisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM203 QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is an introduction to experimental chemistry including stoichiometric application, properties

of gases, colligative properties of solution and detailed qualitative chemical analyses of various matrices.

CHM204 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is an introduction to experimental chemistry that involves gravimetric, volumetric, and
spectrophotometric methods, and techniques used in quantitative chemical analysis.

Pre- or Co-requisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM205 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course incorporates the principles of stoichiometry, properties of gases, chemical equilibrium,
aqueous equilibrium (acids and bases, buffers, titrations), thermodynamics (energy, enthalpy,
thermochemistry, spontaneity, entropy, free energy), atomic structure, chemical bonding, rates of
reactions, liquids and solutions.

Prerequisite: CHM101 General Chemistry, or equivalent

CHM209 ESSENTIALS OF CHEMISTRY FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE [3–0, 3 cr.]

The course includes basic: stoichiometric chemical calculations, bonding concepts, solution chemistry,
acid-base and redox reactions, properties of organic compounds, structure and reactivity of
hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, carbonyls, carboxylic acids, amines, carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids
enzymes and biochemical energy. The course includes a short laboratory component that complements
the theoretical course material.

CHM301 ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces the fundamental principles and practices of analytical chemistry. The focus is on
the development of a quantitative understanding of homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria
phenomena. Equilibria includes acid-base of simple and complex systems, complex ions, solubility
products, and the effect of electrolytes. In addition, the course covers fundamentals and applications of
titration, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics.

Prerequisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM302 INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS [2–2, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to a variety of analytical methods of analysis covering theoretical concepts
of instrumentation as well as research and hands-on applications. Topics include emission and
absorption spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrochemistry, various mass
spectrometry and chromatography techniques.

Prerequisites: CHM301 Analytical Chemistry and CHM204 Quantitative Analysis

CHM310 BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is for pre-health professionals. Material covered includes electronic structure and bonding,
acid-base reactions in organic chemistry, nomenclature, physical properties, reactions and reactivity of
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, alcohols, amines, ethers, epoxides, and aromatic compounds.
The central role of carbonyl compounds, their reactions, and the chemistry of biomolecules are also
covered.

Prerequisite: CHM200 Essentials of Chemistry or CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM311 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of organic chemistry with an emphasis on the
relation between structure and properties. It also includes nomenclature, properties and reactions of
aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkyl halides and alcohols with an emphasis on mechanistic and stereochemical
aspects of organic reactions and their application in organic synthesis. The concept of aromaticity is
introduced.

Perquisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles or CHM205 Fundamentals of Chemistry

CHM312 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course covers in depth organic structure determination by spectroscopic methods, nomenclature,
properties, reactions, and synthesis of aromatic hydrocarbons, organometallics, alcohols, thiols, ethers,
sulfides, carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives), and amines.
Emphasis is placed on reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and the design of multi-step synthesis.

Prerequisite: CHM311 Organic Chemistry I, or PHY311 Organic Materials I

CHM313 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I LAB [0–3, 1 cr.]

This laboratory course is designed to provide students with the basic skills for conducting organic
reactions. The following techniques are learned: melting point determination, boiling point
determination, simple, fractional and steam distillation, gravity, and vacuum filtration, drying solids and
liquids, extraction, evaporation, reflux, recrystallization, thin-layer and column chromatography, and
polarimetry. Students are introduced to ChemDraw software and molecular modeling.

Pre- or Co-requisite: CHM311 Organic Chemistry I or PHY311 Organic Materials I

CHM314 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II LAB [0–3, 1 cr.]

This course is an advanced organic chemistry lab course that utilizes the techniques learned in CHM313,
in order to synthesize and study the properties and reactivities of functional groups. Experiments
conducted include nitration of aromatic compounds, Suzuki coupling, aldol condensation, Diels-Alder
reaction and Friedel Crafts acylation. The synthesis of dyes and natural products are also investigated in
addition to conducting quantum chemical calculations using Gaussian software.

Pre- or Co-requisite: CHM312 Organic Chemistry II or PHY312 Organic Materials II

CHM330 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I [4–0, 4 cr.]

This course covers the basic principles of chemical thermodynamics and chemical dynamics including
heat, work and energy, the three laws of thermodynamics and their application to chemical systems and
thermodynamic solutions, physical transformations and phase diagrams of pure substances, simple
mixtures, kinetic theory of gases, rate law, mechanism, Bodenstein approximation, fast reactions,
photochemistry, and reaction rate theories.

Prerequisites: MTH201 Calculus III and CHM201 Chemical Principles

Note: MTH304 Differential Equations is strongly recommended.

CHM332 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II [3–0, 3 cr.]

This is a course that covers quantum theory, postulates, particle in a box, Schrödinger equation of
hydrogen, harmonic oscillator and vibrational spectroscopy, rigid rotor and rotational spectroscopy, H+2
and H2, atomic and molecular orbitals, approximation methods, many electron atoms, atomic and
molecular spectra, and applications in spectroscopy.

Prerequisites: CHM201 Chemical Principles and MTH201 Calculus III

Note: MTH304 Differential Equations is strongly recommended.

CHM334 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY [0–4, 2 cr.]

This is a laboratory course that covers principles and experimental techniques in thermochemistry,
kinetics, quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, and electrochemistry.

Pre- or Co-requisites: CHM301 Analytical Chemistry and CHM330 Physical Chemistry I

CHM340 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is a study of natural and non-natural chemical substances in the environment and their
chemical transformations. It involves chemistry of energy resources, atmosphere, hydrosphere,
biosphere, and lithosphere (natural and polluted environment). The principles of chemical reactions,
chemical equilibrium and reaction kinetics are applied in this course. Other covered topics are waste
treatment and chemical processes. Parallel with these is learning the methods of environmental
chemical analysis.

Prerequisite: Junior standing

CHM402 CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to the materials of emerging technologies including metals, alloys, and
inter-metallics, ceramics, polymers, composites, nanomaterials and biomaterials, semiconductors,
superconductors and dielectrics, as well as the design, preparation, processing, and array of
characterization methods for material performance.

Prerequisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM403 POLYMER SCIENCE [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to polymer science involving classification of polymers, preparative

methods of polymerization, characterization, mechanical properties, fabrication techniques,
thermodynamics and kinetics of polymers, commercial importance, and applications. Pre-requisite:
CHM312 Organic Chemistry II

CHM404 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY [32–0, 3 cr.]

This course is a general overview of the fundamental principles, methods, and instrumentation involved
in the forensic analysis of physical evidence such as hair, fiber, bodily fluids, glass, paint, soil, fingerprints,
and documents.

Prerequisite: CHM202 Analytical Chemistry or CHM301 Analytical Chemistry

CHM405 STATISTICAL MECHANICS [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course involves probability laws and distribution, statistical mechanics, postulates, fundamental
equations, statistical mechanics calculations, Bose-Einstein statistics, transition state theory, as well as
isotope effect from a statistical perspective.

Prerequisite: CHM330 Physical Chemistry I

CHM406 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY LAB [0–4, 2 cr.]

This lab is a direct application of the forensic principles that are covered in the course. Physical and
biological evidence will be subjected to various extraction methods, spot and color tests, followed by
instrumental analysis for the purposes of qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Pre- or Corequisite: CHM404 Forensic Chemistry

CHM412 SYNTHESIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is an experimental chemistry course that explores synthetic transformations, separation, and
identification of organic compounds by wet chemical techniques, spectroscopic tools, elemental analysis,
and NMR.

Prerequisite: CHM314 Organic Chemistry II Lab

CHM420 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY [4–0, 4 cr.]

This course is a study of hydrogen-like orbitals, multi-electron atoms, ionic bonding and crystals,
symmetry point groups, symmetry-adapted orbitals, Berry pseudo-rotation, fluxional molecules, acids
and bases, chemistry of the main group elements, coordination compounds and organometallic
compounds.

Prerequisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM421 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY I [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course outlines the fundamental concepts in Inorganic Chemistry with emphasis on coordination
compounds. Topics include atomic theory, chemical bonding and molecular orbital theory, group theory
and symmetry, acids and bases in Inorganic Chemistry.

Prerequisite: CHM201 Chemical Principles

CHM422 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY II [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an application to modern Inorganic Chemistry. Topics include physical methods in Inorganic
Chemistry, metallic elements in the periodic table, structure of ionic solids or crystals, reactions of
coordination compounds, organometallics reactions, catalysis and spectroscopy.

Prerequisite: CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry I

CHM423 SYNTHESIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is an experimental chemistry course that explores a wide variety of synthetic methodologies
and characterization techniques of inorganic compounds such as main group, transition metals and
organometallics. Several characterization techniques are used to analyze the synthesized products such
as conventional spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and thermal analysis. The special laboratory skills
of air-free manipulation of chemicals will also be introduced.

Prerequisite: CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry I

CHM424 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOMATERIALS [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is an experimental course that explores a wide variety of synthetic and characterization
techniques for nanomaterials using advanced instrumental techniques such as thermogravimetric
analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Pre- or Corequisites: CHM402 Chemistry of Materials, CHM330 Physical Chemistry I

CHM425 COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY [0–4, 2 cr.]

This course is a hands-on computer laboratory course that covers the practical aspects of computational
chemistry as applied in chemical structure and chemical dynamics calculations. Methods cover
molecular mechanics, semi-empirical, ab-initio, molecular dynamics, and statistical mechanics.
Calculations range from optimizations (ground, excited, and transition state) and conformational
searching to structure-property relationships.

Prerequisite: Junior standing

CHM499 SENIOR STUDY [3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is designed to teach research methods. It includes work on a short, novel research topic, and
the presentation of the findings in a research paper.

Prerequisites: Senior standing and ENG202 Advanced Academic English or concurrently