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 partially satisfied by completion of Chemistry for the Citizen (CHEM 111), Drugs and the Body (CHEM 117), 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).

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 4 credit hours beyond Chemistry 221-222 (Organic chemistry) with a grade of C- or better. Students may choose from the following courses: Physical Chemistry (CHEM 311), Quanititative Chemical Analysis (CHEM 321),  Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 402), Forensic Chemistry (CHEM 403), 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 CHEM 222.

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.

The requirements for a major in chemistry have been designed to meet the educational needs of students interested in careers in chemistry, medicine, K-12 education, forensic science, business, and law. An American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major is recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in science and engineering, or who wish to enter the chemical work force directly after graduation.

Chemistry majors can select among four different programs of emphasis: general emphasis, biochemistry emphasis, research emphasis (ACS-certified chemistry major), or the forensic science emphasis.  Regardless of emphasis, every chemistry major needs to complete the core requirements with a C- or better.

Core requirements:

• CHEM 121-122 (General Chemistry) OR CHEM 200 (Basic Inorganic Chemistry)
• CHEM 200 (Quantitative Chemical Analysis)
  
• CHEM 221-222 (Organic Chemistry I and II)
• CHEM 311 (Physical Chemistry I)
• CHEM 407 (Biochemistry I)
  
• CHEM 340 (Introduction to Research)
• CHEM 495 (Advanced Chemistry Laboratory) OR CHEM 496-498 (Senior Project)
• PHYS 151-152 (Introductory Physics)
• MATH 131-132 or MATH 141-142 (Calculus I and II)
  

Majors must then choose an area of emphasis. The requirements are shown in the table below: