Chemistry & Biochemistry Course Descriptions

For a complete listing of Chemistry courses available at Kutztown University, click here.

CHM 20 Introduction to Chemistry (3 credits - Lecture and Lab)
An introduction to the principles of chemistry, including atomic theory, chemical reactions, chemical bonding, kinetic theory, stoichiometry, organic compounds, and nuclear reactions. The traditional topics will be related to contemporary problems. A laboratory course intended for the general education of non-science majors. This course does not satisfy major, concomitant or specialization requirements for Secondary Education Science and/or Liberal Arts Science majors.

CHM/ENV 35 – Powering Our Future: Energy, Climate Change, and Society (3 credits - Lecture)  This course introduces our past, present, and future sources of energy and their advantages and limitations.   Society’s non-sustainable pattern of energy use from both a supply and environmental perspective will be discussed including the impacts of climate change.  The technical, environmental, political, and societal problems associated with the eventual conversion to renewable energy resources will be investigated. A global perspective for the delicate interplay between energy and society will be gained.  This course does not satisfy major, minor, or specialization requirements for Secondary Education and/or Liberal Arts Science Majors.

CHM   51 - Introduction to Forensic Science (3 credits - Lecture)
This course provides an introduction to the application of science to criminal investigations. It is an opportunity to learn some fundamental scientific principles as they are applied to the examination of physical evidence from crime scenes. Case studies will be presented which reflect the application of particular forensic techniques. This course does not satisfy major, concomitant, or specialization requirements for Secondary Education and/or Liberal Arts and Science majors.

CHM  100 - General Chemistry I (4 credits -Lecture and Lab)
CHM  102 - General Chemistry II (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisites: CHM 100 or permission of the instructor
First semester (100-101) The Structure and Behavior of Matter. Emphasis is on chemical arithmetic, chemical nomenclature, atomic theory and structure, periodic classification of elements, gas laws, valence, oxidation, reduction and equation writing. Possession of a hand held electronic calculator is required. Second semester (102-103) continues the first; acids, bases, ionization, equilibrium, and rates of reaction are also studied and applied.

CHM  204/205 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisites: Prerequisite: CHM 100/101 and CHM 102/103 or equivalent
This is a one semester introductory course that covers the fundamental concepts and principles important in understanding the structures of organic compounds and their reactivity. The laboratory portion includes the development of basic laboratory skills necessary to isolate, synthesize and characterize organic compounds and study their behavior. This course will concentrate on the areas of organic chemistry most relevant to biology and environmental science. Not equivalent to CHM214/215 (A course grade of "B" or better will allow this course to be used as a prerequisite for CHM 216/217). Does NOT satisfy course requirements for chemistry or biochemistry major or minor.

CHM  214VL - Organic Chemistry I (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 100/101 and CHM 102/103 or equivalent
CHM  216WI - Organic Chemistry II (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM100, 102, 214
Concepts and principles of fundamental group chemistry are used in the study of reactions of organic compounds. Naming, preparation of and properties of compounds are stressed. The correlation of theory is demonstrated as laboratory skills are developed.

CHM/ENV  220QLWI - Environmental Analysis (3 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 102
Qualitative and quantitative methods of analytical chemistry are explored by utilizing a "hands-on" approach applied to a variety of environmental samples. The course focuses on the basic components of each analytical technique or instrument, their range of environmental applications, their advantages and limitations, and the physical and chemical phenomena which form the basis of the analytical method. Basic sampling plans and designs are also discussed due to their complementary nature.

CHM  230QLWI - Analytical Chemistry I (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 100/101 and CHM 102/103 or equivalent
Analytical chemistry involves methods and techniques for determining the structure and composition of matter. Students in Analytical Chemistry I will attack problems of a chemical nature by learning a series of techniques that allow them to identify and quantify various components in samples. Some of the techniques involve chemical fundamentals such as stoichiometry, acid-base equilibria, and careful measurement techniques while others involve sophisticated chemical instrumentation. The lecture portion of the course will uncover the theory underlying these techniques, while the laboratory will provide an opportunity for students to address real-world analytical problems, develop their measurement skills, and gain valuable experience using analytical techniques commonly encountered in research and industry. The methods covered in this class include: gravimetric analysis, volumetric analysis (acid-base titrations), UV/Vis spectrophotometry, potentiometry, and gas and liquid chromatography.

CHM  310 - Biochemistry I (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 214/215 and CHM 216/217 or permission of the Instructor
Biochemistry involves the study of the chemical components of living creatures-from viruses to mammals-to explain how and why chemical reactions happen.  Students will learn in detail the molecular components of cells(proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) and study the concepts of protein dynamics (kinetics, specificity, and regulation).  The laboratory will cover selected techniques of modern protein biochemistry.

CHM  312 - Biochemistry II (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM310 or BIO346 &350
This course covers important topics that are not discussed in the first semester of biochemistry.  Students will study details of cellular metabolism and its regulation and learn about the information transfer mechanisms in living cells.  The laboratory will include studies of biochemical properties of lipids, carbohydrates, and RNA, and an independent research project.

CHM  314 - Physical Chemistry I (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM102, PHY102 & MAT181 or permission of the instructor.
CHM  316 - Physical Chemistry II (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 314 & MAT182 or permission of the instructor.
A study of the law of thermodynamics and their application to solutions and phase equilibria; chemical kinetics; electrochemistry; and an introduction to quantum chemistry (atomic and molecular structure); and statistical mechanics.

CHM  318 - Advanced Biochemistry (3 credits - Lecture)
Prerequisite: CHM 310
The course is designed to study the various biochemical processes of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation in higher plants and in photo-synthesis bacteria. Also included is the effect of changing environmental conditions on photosynthesis.

CHM  320 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
Prerequisite: CHM 100, CHM 102, CHM 214, CHM 216 and CHM 230.
The application of physio-chemical principles to understanding structure and reactivity in main group and transition elements. Valence Bond, Crystal Field, VSEPR, and LCAO-MO will be applied to describe the bonding in coordination compounds. Organometallic and bio-inorganic chemistry will be treated, as will boranes, cluster and ring systems, and inorganic polymers. The laboratory will involve both synthetic and analytic techniques and interpretation of results.

CHM  326 - Advanced Organic Chemistry-Mechanisms (3 credits - Lecture)
Prerequisite: CHM 214/215 and CHM 216/217 or permission of the Instructor
The study of mechanisms of organic reactions is emphasized. Modern theory viewpoints are applied to problems in organic chemistry.

CHM  327 - Organometallic Chemistry (3 credits - Lecture)
Prerequisite: CHM216
The purpose of this course is to examine the structure, bonding, synthesis and reactivity of organometallic complexes associated with organic chemistry reactions. This course will describe the types and properties of ligands utilized in organometallic chemistry and explore the application of organometallic transition metal complexes in the synthesis and reaction mechanisms of synthetic organic chemistry and catalysis.

CHM  336 - Advanced Physical Chemistry (3 credits - Lecture)
Prerequisite: CHM 314 and CHM 316
A course designed to treat some selected topics in physical chemistry in greater detail than is done in the introductory course.

CHM  340 - Analytical Chemistry II (4 credits - Lecture and Lab)
CHM 230/231 or ENV 220/221
Analytical Chemistry II continues to develop students' abilities to determine what components are present in various samples and to what extent. Students build upon the foundation laid in Analytical Chemistry I to master a diverse array of analytical techniques. Detailed investigations of oxidation-reduction and complexation equilibria are applied to volumetric analyses. Instrumental techniques within the areas of  Spectroscopy (Infrared, Atomic Absorption and Emission, Mass Spectrometry, and NMR), Chromatography (HPLC, GC/MS, and Ion Chromatography), and Electrochemistry (Potentiometry and Voltammetry) will be highlighted. The lecture explores the theory underlying the techniques, while the laboratory provides students with an opportunity to work with state-of-the-art chemical instrumentation to analyze a wide variety of samples.

CHM  351 - Selected Topics in Chemistry (1-3 credits)
CHM  352 - Selected Topics in Chemistry (1-3 credits)
CHM  353 - Selected Topics in Chemistry (1-3 credits)
Through individualized instruction or in small group seminars, the student will study a timely or specialized topic in chemistry. The most appropriate media of instruction will be chosen to meet the specific goals of student and instructor, and these may include faculty and guest lectures, discussion, problem sets, completion of a review paper, student oral presentations, field trips, and student projects which do not fall into the category of laboratory research. Prior to registration, the student must arrange for a faculty supervisor and obtain the permission of the Department Chairperson. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit.

CHM  370 - Research in Chemistry I (1-3 credits - Independent Study)
Prerequisite: Instructor Consent Required
This course involves laboratory and library research on a topic of a chemical nature. The work will be supervised by a faculty member and the research topic will be acceptable to both the supervising faculty member and the student.

CHM  371 - Research in Chemistry II (1-3 credits - Independent Study)
Prerequisite: CHM 370 and the consent of the instructor. 
This course allows a student to continue working on a project which was started in CHM 370 or to investigate a new topic. The work will be supervised by a faculty member and the research topic will be acceptable to both the supervising faculty member and the student. (The combined credit total toward the major program for CHM 370 and CHM 371 will not exceed 4 semester hours. Any additional credit hours count toward free electives.)

CHM  372 - Research in Chemistry III (1-3 credits - Independent Study)
Prerequisite: CHM 371 and consent of instructor
This course allows a student to continue working on a project which was started in CHM 370, CHM 371, or to investigate a new topic. The work will be supervised by a faculty member and the research topic will be acceptable to both the supervising faculty member and the student. (The combined credit total toward the major program for CHM 370 and CHM 371, and CHM 372 will not exceed 4 semester hours. Any additional credit hours count toward free electives.)

CHM  373 - Research in Chemistry IV (1-3 credits - Independent Study)
Prerequisite: CHM 372 and consent of instructor
This course allows a student to continue working on a project which was started in CHM 370, CHM 371, CHM 372, or to investigate a new topic. The work will be supervised by a faculty member and the research topic will be acceptable to both the supervising faculty member and the student. (The combined credit total toward the major program for CHM 370 and CHM 371, CHM 372, and CHM373 will not exceed 4 semester hours. Any additional credit hours count toward free electives.)

CHM  380 - Senior Seminar in Chemistry (2 credits - Lecture)
This course consists of readings and discussions in the area of the individual student's interest in preparation for the comprehensive examination in Chemistry. Required of all Liberal Arts students majoring in chemistry.

CHM  390 - Internship in Chemistry (1-4 credits - Internship)
Prerequisite: Department Consent Required
Supervised, practical work experience in laboratory and/or field situations. Students interested in developing an individualized vocationally oriented program which may assist in future career options may structure a work-study experience with the cooperating agency or organization. A proposal outlining the work-study experience should be submitted to the student's supervising faculty member and the department chairperson. Clock hours will be determined by the cooperating agency or organization. Semester hour credit will be based upon the proposal and scheduled clock hours, but a maximum of 4 credits may be applied toward Arts and Sciences electives. Additional credit cannot be applied to the 128 credit hour graduation requirements.

CHM  395 - Honors Independent Study/Thesis (3 credits)

CHM  398 - Honors Supplementary Research (1-3 credits - Independent Study)
Supplementary research conducted by an Honors student in an upper-division (or 300 or 400-level) course in which the student is enrolled. The research is related to a topic in the course, but in addition to the standard requirements of the course, the research should exhibit advanced inquiry or investigation into the topic. The Honors student earns 1, 2, or 3 credits in addition to the credits for the course itself. The number of additional credits depends on the amount and intensity of the supplementary research. Each department in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences has a specific course number which uses the departmental prefix, but all courses will use a common number (398). The course title will read "Honors Supplementary Research" and will have a variable credit value from 1 to 3 credits, e.g. ENG 398 Honors Supplementary Research.

CHM  470 - Selected Topics In Chemistry (1-3 credits - Lecture)
Prerequisite: CHM 100, CHM 102 and CHM 214 or Permission of the Instructor
This course provides students with an opportunity for in-depth study at an advanced level of topics that are of current interest in the field of chemistry. The format of the course will vary to best address the educational goals as they relate to the selected topic. This course may be repeated for up to 6 credits provided the same topic is not repeated.