Chemistry

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Nathan Lien, Ph.D., Chair

The department of chemistry sees its focus as providing students with the liberal arts background and comprehensive chemical education necessary to succeed in graduate or professional school or in entry level careers in the chemical sciences. Chemistry, a basic science, contributes to the general objectives of a liberal arts education both through its content and through the skills and dispositions that it imparts to students. The fundamental principles of chemistry constitute some of the most important underlying concepts for understanding the physical and biological behavior of nature. Hence, some knowledge of chemistry is a prime requisite for anyone who is to be considered liberally educated.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has received specialized accreditation for its biochemistry degree through the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB); (6120 Executive Blvd, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone (240) 283-6600; www.asbmb.org).

The Chemistry Department is approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) (ACS Approval Program Office, American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Phone (202) 872-4589; www.acs.org), which allows the Department to award ACS-certified degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. To earn an ACS Certified degree, a student must complete coursework that expands the depth and breadth of the regular degree requirements; please see the respective degree requirements for the required coursework.

General Department Goals

The program will:

• Increase the students’ understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts of chemistry and biochemistry including atomic, molecular, and supramolecular structure; stoichiometry; structure and reactivity; thermodynamics; kinetics; solution behavior; and information storage and flow.

• Strengthen the students’ ability to describe, explain, and interpret physical phenomena, effects, and changes in terms of chemical and biochemical principles and concepts.

• Strengthen students’ ability to solve problems by applying fundamental chemical and biochemical principles, collecting and organizing data, completing relevant calculations, and interpreting numerical results.

• Provide the opportunity for students to design and conduct original chemical and/or biochemical research and to effectively communicate results through written and oral means.

The department believes that active learning, self-directed learning, and group learning are all valid approaches to accomplish the above goals. As a consequence, the courses designed by the department rely heavily on active-learning methods, laboratory projects and research, with constant emphasis on written and oral communication. Our general belief is that students learn better by doing.

Students can be involved in the activities of the department, especially through the Saint Mary’s University Chemistry Club and the Student Chapter of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).  The ASBMB Student Chapter was more recently established in 2015.  Together they sponsor speakers, field trips, fund raisers, educational program, outreach, and social events.  The student members are also involved in promoting National Chemistry Week in the fall of each year.

Programs

• Biochemistry Major, B.A.
• Chemistry Major, B.A.

• Chemistry Minor

Return to: Undergraduate Departments and Programs