Goals of the Department

The Department of Chemistry at Randolph- Macon College has three broad goals, all of which are met in the context of a liberal-arts college and in which effort is made to integrate the departmental goals with those of a liberal education. The first goal is to offer a pre-professional curriculum for chemistry majors that will prepare them well for later graduate study in chemistry, for employment in the chemical industry, for secondary-school chemistry teaching, or for professional training in medicine and the other health sciences. Whenever possible, the goals of the department are congruent with those of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society.

The second goal of the Department of Chemistry is to serve effectively the needs of other science departments by offering courses which provide a foundation for more advanced course work in those departments and for professional training in those other disciplines.

The third goal of the department is to provide effective instruction in introductory chemistry to students who are not science majors but who wish either to enroll in an introductory chemistry sequence as an elective or to partially satisfy the collegiate laboratory science requirement.

Degree Requirements

The collegiate requirement in laboratory science may be satisfied by completion of either Chemistry for the Citizen (CHEM 111), General Chemistry (CHEM 121), Chemistry and Crime (CHEM 125), Science in the Movies (CHEM 150 same as PHYS 150), or Chemistry of Winemaking (CHEM 160) when combined with one semester of a life science or an interdisciplinary science.

Students who have taken the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in Chemistry and have obtained a grade of four or five will receive credit for General Chemistry (CHEM 121-122) without enrolling in these courses.

Students who minor in chemistry must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours beyond Chemistry 121-122 with a grade of C- or better. Students may choose from the following courses: Organic Chemistry (CHEM 221 and 222), Physical Chemistry (CHEM 311 and 312), Quanititative Chemical Analysis (CHEM 321), Instrumental Methods of Analysis (CHEM 322), Advanced Experimental Chemistry (CHEM 401), Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 402), Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 405), or Biochemistry (CHEM 407 and 408). A minor must also include laboratory experiences in at least two different areas of chemistry beyond 121-122. Labs may be chosen from 341L, 342L, 441L, or 442L.

Students who wish to gain certification by the State of Virginia to teach secondary-school chemistry may do so by completing the Endorsement in Chemistry, which includes a minor in secondary-school education. The Chemistry Endorsement includes a sequence of courses in the Education Department as well as a core of courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students interested in secondary-school chemistry teaching should consult with the Chemistry Department chair as soon as possible to discuss their program under the Chemistry Endorsement.

A major in chemistry consists of a minimum of 32 semester hours beyond Chemistry 121-122 and their affiliated laboratories including 221-222, 311-312, 321, 322, 325, 341L or 342L, 415, 441L-442L, and two other chemistry courses at the 300 or 400 level, only one of which may be Chemistry 407 or 408. A grade of C- or better must be earned in each of these courses. Physics 151-152, and Mathematics 132 or 142 are also required. Mathematics 307 is recommended.

The chemistry department and its program are approved by the American Chemical Society, and students can graduate with an A.C.S. approved degree upon completion of the following lecture courses and their respective laboratory courses with grades of C- or better: CHEM 121-122, CHEM 221-222, CHEM 311-312, CHEM 321, CHEM 322, CHEM 325, CHEM 341-342, CHEM. 405-407, CHEM 415, CHEM 441-442, and CHEM 497-498. In special cases and with departmental permission, CHEM 400-401 may be substituted for CHEM 497-498.

A chemistry degree can be enhanced by choosing a particular Area of Emphasis

The following table compares the various degree requirements: