Chemistry (CHEMS.BS)

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Natural Sciences

The chemistry curriculum is designed to prepare students for graduate studies, professional school, teaching, or a career in industry. The program emphasizes development of analytical thinking skills, cooperative problem solving, and independent investigation of chemical principles.

Degree Checklist

For a check list of all the courses required for this degree program and a suggested four-year sequence of study, please click on the link below.

General Education Requirements - Total Hours: 40-46

Click here for the General Education Core requirements

Seven hours are fulfilled through the program's major requirements.

Religion Requirements - Total Hours: 12

Specialty Area Requirements*

CHYS 161 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4

Matter and measurement, early atomic theory, nomenclature, stoichiometry, aqueous reactions, thermochemistry, electronic structure, periodic properties, chemical bonding theories, molecular geometry, gases, intermolecular forces, liquids and solids are studied. Requires co-requisite enrollment in CHYS-161L.

Prerequisites

ACT Math score of 24 or above (or SAT equivalent), or completion of MTHS-161 or higher.
CHYS 162 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4

Properties of solutions, reaction rates, chemical kinetics, equilibria, acid/base equilibria, solubility, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, radioactivity and nuclear chemistry, transition metal chemistry are studied. Requires co-requisite enrollment in CHYS-162L.

Prerequisites

CHYS-161 with a grade of C- or better.
CHYS 261 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the classification, structure, reactions, reaction mechanisms, synthesis, and stereochemistry of carbon compounds. 

Prerequisites

CHYS-162 with a grade of C- or better.
CHYS 262 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3

A continuation of CHYS-261. Introduces spectroscopy and explores the reactions, reaction mechanisms, and synthesis of the remaining classes of organic compounds. 

Prerequisites

CHYS-261 with a grade of C- or better.
CHYS 262L - Organic Chemistry Lab I and II Credit Hours: 2

The reinforcement of selected material from CHYS-261 and 262 will be accomplished in the laboratory by the isolation of naturally occurring organic compounds and the synthesis of other organic compounds. 240 minutes of lab per week.

Prerequisites

CHYS-261 with a grade of C- or better.
CHYS 371 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hours: 4

Statistical analysis and data handling, acid-base equilibria in water, stoichiometry, oxidation-reduction system, applications of volumetric titrations, elementary spectrophotometry and potentiometric methods, and principles of gravimetry and separation techniques. Requires co-requisite enrollment in CHYS-371L.

Prerequisites

CHYS-261 and MTHS-135
CHYS 372 - Instrumental Analysis: Spec ID Credit Hours: 4

This course will introduce the student to common laboratory instrumentation and will include theory as well as hands on use, when possible.  Signal noise theory, electromagnetic radiation, basic use of mass spectroscopy (MS), and elemental analysis (EA) are covered. Infra-red spectroscopy (IR), 1H and 13C NMR, and two-dimensional NMR are covered in depth. Students demonstrate proficiency in these instrumentations by identifying a series of organic unknown compounds in the laboratory setting.  Requires co-requisite enrollment in CHYS-372L.

Prerequisites

CHYS-262L
CHYS 465 - Inorganic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3

An upper level introduction to the many aspects of inorganic chemistry. Some topics will be an indepth continuation of general chemistry topics. A study of the metals and their reactivity, simple bonding theories through molecular orbital theory, acid-base/ donor acceptor chemistry, coordination compounds and their structure, bonding and reactivity, main group chemistry, and organometallic chemistry. Requires co-requisite enrollment in CHYS-466.

Prerequisites

CHYS-262.
CHEM 431 - Physical Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3

This course includes the topics of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, nature of chemical bonding, molecular structure, molecular spectroscopy, nuclear chemistry, photochemistry, catalysts and colloids.

Prerequisites

PHYS-282 and MATH-271 (MATH-272 strongly recommended).
CHEM 432 - Physical Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3

This course includes gases and liquids, solid state, first, second, and third Laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, free energy and equilibrium, chemical equilibrium, solutions, colligative properties of solutions, and phase rule.

Prerequisites

CHEM-431 (MATH-273 strongly recommended).
CHYS 491 - Research Design Credit Hours: 1

The reinforcement of experimental and/or theoretical methods related to physical chemistry through the development of an independent research proposal and generation of preliminary data to test the hypotheses / predictions described in the proposal.

Prerequisites

CHYS-262L.
CHYS 492 - Physical Chemistry Research Credit Hours: 2

The reinforcement of selected material from CHYS-471 and 472 will be accomplished in the laboratory by using Infra-red, UV-VIS, NMR, and other instrumentation to analyze thermodynamic variables and quantum level behavior of both inorganic and organic compounds.

Prerequisites

CHYS-491.
CHYS 471 - Survey of Physical Chemistry Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to thermodynamics and equilibrium, kinetics, quantum mechanics, and spectroscopy. Application of physics, calculus, and chemistry to physical chemistry problems.

Prerequisites

PHYS-261 and MTHS-261.
CHYS 472 - Physical Chemistry Credit Hours: 3

An in-depth investigation of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum mechanics, and spectroscopy.

Prerequisites

CHYS-471 (MTHS-361 strongly recommended)

Chemistry Electives: 4

Choose from courses in Chemistry at the 300-level or above

Subtotal Specialty Area Requirements: 41

Collateral Requirements*

BIOS 495 - Science and Scripture Credit Hours: 3

Comparative study of related scientific and theological ideology with emphasis on areas of apparent discrepancy. Through lecture, research papers and guided class discussion, an attempt is made to demonstrate the necessity and possibility of harmonizing scientific and Biblical truth. Not to be counted toward an endorsement for teacher certification in biology. Serves as the biology capstone and does not count as a biology elective.

Prerequisites

THEO-231 and 90 hours minimum.
MTHS 135 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.  The primary emphasis is on the analysis of data sets to facilitate informed decision-making processes.  Topics include sampling methods, summaries of data, descriptive statistics, probability, distributions, correlation, and regression.

Prerequisites

ACT mathematics score of 19 or SAT equivalent, or completion of MTHS-099 with a grade of C or better, or placement by the math placement exam.
MTHS 261 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4

Definition and formulas, rate of change, derivatives, and application of functions. The study and application of indefinite and definite integrals.

Prerequisites

MTHS-161 with a minimum grade of C-, or equivalent course work.
MTHS 262 - Calculus II Credit Hours: 4

Applications of basic integration, advanced methods of integration, sequences and series, parametric equations and polar coordinates.

Prerequisites

MTHS-261 with a minimum grade of C-.
PHYS 261 - General Physics I Credit Hours: 4

A study of the fundamentals of the classical and relativistic motion of electrically-neutral, macroscopic objects, primarily entailing the concepts of energy, momentum, and force.  Requires co-requisite enrollment in PHYS-261L.

Prerequisites

MTHS-261.
PHYS 262 - General Physics II Credit Hours: 4

A study of the fundamentals of the classical motion of electrically-charged, macroscopic objects and the quantized motion of electrically-uncharged, microscopic particles - both entailing the concepts of energy, momentum, and force.  Requires co-requisite enrollment in PHYS-262L and PHYS-262S (Service Learning).

Prerequisites

PHYS-261 with grade of C- or better.

Subtotal Collateral Requirements: 22

Electives - Total Hours: 8-14

Total Hours in Program: 120

* Must earn a grade of C- or better in each course. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300-level or above must be taken at Lee University.