Chemistry

Web: gmu.edu/departments/chemistry
Phone: (703) 993-1070

• Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
• Chemistry, B.A.
• Concentration in Biochemistry
• Chemistry, B.S.
• Concentration in Biochemistry
• Writing-Intensive Requirement
• Honors Program in Chemistry
• Minor in Chemistry
• Certificate in Environmental Chemistry
• Premedical, Predental, and Preveterinary Students
• Chemistry Club
• Teacher Licensure
• Graduate Program
  • Chemistry, M.S.
    • Admission Requirements
    • Degree Requirements
  • Chemistry, Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree

Faculty

Professors: Blaisten-Barojas (School of Computational Sciences), Cozzens, Davies, Foster (chair), Mose, Mushrush, Stalick

Associate professors: Chen, Davis (associate chair), Honeychuck, Hussam, Roberts, Schreifels, Slayden

Assistant professors: Born, Hatton, Kort

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated CHEM in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Chemistry, B.A.

This program, when coordinated with the necessary courses in education, meets requirements for teacher licensure (see below). It also meets requirements for entrance to medical and other professional schools.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, students majoring in chemistry must complete the following. (Through the course work below, chemistry majors satisfy the university-wide general education requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

1. Thirty-seven credits of chemistry: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331, 332, 336, 337, and five credits of electives in chemistry

2. Eleven credits of math: MATH 113, 114, and 213

3. Eight to twelve credits of physics: PHYS 243­246 (8 credits) or PHYS 160, 260-263 (12 credits)

Concentration in Biochemistry

This program is intended for the student who is interested in studying chemistry at its interface with the biological sciences. Students interested in health science careers can obtain an exceptionally good science background through this concentration.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, students majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry must complete the following. (Through the course work below, majors satisfy the university-wide general education requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

1. Thirty-seven credits of chemistry: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 333, 334, 446, 463, 465

2. Eleven credits of math and statistics: MATH 113, MATH 114, and STAT 250

3. Eight credits of physics: PHYS 243­246

4. Four credits of biology BIOL 213

Chemistry, B.S.

This program is approved by the American Chemical Society; students completing this program are certified to the society. Students planning professional careers in chemistry should choose this degree.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for the B.S. degree, students majoring in chemistry must complete the following. (Through the course work below, chemistry majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

1. Fifty-two credits of chemistry: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331, 332, 336, 337, 350, 422, 423, 441, 445, 463, and three credits of electives in chemistry

2. Fourteen credits of math: MATH 113, 114, 213, 214

3. Eight to twelve credits of physics: PHYS 243­246 (8 credits) or PHYS 160, 260­263 (12 credits)

Concentration in Biochemistry

Students planning professional careers in biochemistry, biological chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or other biomedically related fields with a chemistry emphasis should choose this program instead of the traditional B.S. in Chemistry. The program also meets the requirements for entrance to medical and other professional schools.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for the B.S. degree, students majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry must present the following. (Through the course work below, they satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

1. Fifty-two credits of chemistry courses: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331, 332, 336, 337, 350, 422, 423, 441, 446, 463, 465

2. Fourteen credits of math: MATH 113, 114, 213, 214

3. Eight to twelve credits of physics: PHYS 243­246 or PHYS 160, 260­263

4. Four credits of biology: BIOL 213

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in chemistry fulfill this requirement by successfully completing CHEM 336 and 337.

Honors Program in Chemistry

Chemistry majors who have completed the prerequisites for CHEM 455 and 456 Honors Research in Chemistry and have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.000 in mathematics and science courses are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. To graduate with honors in chemistry, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.000 in mathematics and science courses and successfully complete the two semesters of CHEM 455 and 456 with a minimum GPA of 3.500.

Minor in Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers a minor in chemistry. The program requires 16 credits of chemistry at the 300 level or above.

Certificate in Environmental Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers an undergraduate certificate program in environmental chemistry. The program consists of 35 credits of course work that deals directly with environmental studies. To receive the certificate a student must hold a baccalaureate degree in any major or be receiving one from George Mason at the time they receive the certificate. Substitutions from the following list of required courses are allowed but require permission from the environmental chemistry certificate director: BIOL 377; CHEM 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331 or 333, 505, 554; EVPP 301, 454; STAT 344. To optimize employment and graduate school opportunities, students are encouraged to take additional courses in natural science, computer science, and environmental law.

Premedical, Predental, and Preveterinary Students

Students planning medical, dental, or veterinary careers may meet the requirements of these professional schools by majoring in chemistry. Such students should consult with the premedical advisor for chemistry.

Chemistry Club

The Chemistry Club provides a social and informational network for students. It serves the Department of Chemistry by sponsoring informational programs and allowing students to work at university events.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the Professional Licensure section in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, e-mail gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information.

Graduate Program

The Department of Chemistry offers an M.S. in Chemistry with a research project (thesis option) or an all-course-work program (nonthesis option). The Ph.D. in all branches of chemistry is available through the Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy, while an area of concentration in computational chemistry is available through the Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics program offered in conjunction with the School of Computational Sciences.

Chemistry, M.S.

The M.S. in Chemistry provides advanced training for recent college graduates, professionals in teaching, and technical workers in research organizations who have an interest in chemistry.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to degree status, a student must have a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field from an accredited institution and must meet the general admission requirements for graduate study.

Admission is based on a departmental evaluation of the applicant's background as evidenced by transcripts and letters of recommendation. A resume must be submitted by each applicant who received the bachelor's degree more than five years before the date of application. Each student must present evidence of computer literacy before completing 12 graduate credits.

Degree Requirements

Students may elect to complete a thesis or a project. The thesis option is for students planning to pursue a doctoral degree or to begin or continue a career in chemical research. The nonthesis option is for those seeking to go on to professional school, teach chemistry in secondary schools, or pursue other careers in which advanced work in chemistry is necessary or advantageous.

A student in the thesis option is required to complete 30 credits of graduate work, including 6 credits of thesis CHEM 799. The thesis is based on research that must be preapproved by the thesis or advisory committee, appointed during the first semester of registration in CHEM 799. A student who selects the thesis-option must defend the thesis at an oral exam (following submission of the first approved draft of the thesis) and present an exit seminar. A student in the nonthesis option is required to complete 32 credits of graduate work and pass qualifying exams in four areas of chemistry.

All students must complete 12 credits in core courses in chemistry (physical chemistry and one in each of three different areas chosen from analytical, biological, environmental, inorganic, and organic chemistry) and at least 3 credits of Graduate Seminar CHEM 690. Minimum credits for each option are as follows:

Core courses (CHEM 513, 521, 614, 624, 633, 646, 651, 663, and 732) may also be taken as electives beyond the 12-credit requirement. CHEM 500 and 501 may not be applied toward the M.S. degree. CHEM 502 through 510 may be applied toward the M.S. degree only with prior written approval of the department.

Chemistry, Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree

The five-year Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree program leads to a research-based M.S. degree following satisfactory completion of 144 credits. It allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to research to obtain a B.S. and a M.S. degree within five academic years plus the summer of the last year. On completion of this program, a student will be exceptionally well prepared for entry into a professional school or a Ph.D. program in chemistry or a related discipline. Well-prepared students can enter this program after completion of 90 credits and can enroll in graduate courses when they have successfully completed the prerequisites. This flexibility makes it possible for students to complete some of their graduate classes during their junior and senior years. Consult the department for details on the program.