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Chemistry and Biochemistry

Professors Lawson and Schlax; Associate Professors Côté (chair) and Koviach-Côté; Assistant Professors Kennedy, Laurita, and O'Loughlin; Visiting Assistant Professors Sommer and Tate

Chemistry deals with phenomena that affect nearly every aspect of our lives and environment. A liberal arts education in this scientific and technological age should include some exposure to the theories, laws, applications, and potential of this science.

The department offers majors in chemistry and biochemistry and a minor in chemistry. The chemistry curriculum is sufficiently flexible to allow students with career interests in areas such as the health professions, law, business, and education to design a suitable major program. Students interested in careers in chemistry or biochemistry will find chemistry electives that provide a background for work in graduate school, industry, or other positions requiring a strong foundation in chemistry. The department and its curriculum are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and an ACS-certified major is offered. More information on the chemistry department and the majors is available on the website (bates.edu/chemistry-biochemistry).

Chemistry

Major Requirements

The chemistry major requirements include core courses, elective courses, and senior research and seminar. Some courses have math or physics prerequisites. Students who major in chemistry may use, at most, one of the following toward their General Education requirements: physics minor, General Education concentrations C006 (Applying Mathematical Methods) or C056 (Physics of the Large and Small). Students may not double major in chemistry and biochemistry. 200-level core courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.

Core Courses

All of the following:
CHEM 107A. Atomic and Molecular Structure/Lab.
CHEM 108A. Chemical Reactivity/Lab.
CHEM 212. Separation Science/Lab.
CHEM 215. Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry/Lab.
CHEM 217. Organic Chemistry I/Lab.
CHEM 218. Organic Chemistry II/Lab.
CHEM 301. Quantum Chemistry.

One of the following:
CHEM 302. Statistical Thermodynamics.
CHEM 310. Biophysical Chemistry.

One of the following:
CHEM s37. Advanced Chemical Measurement Laboratory/Lab.
CHEM s42. Chemical Synthesis and Reactivity/Lab.

Elective Courses

Chemistry majors take two chemistry courses numbered 200 or above (s37 or s42 may be taken if not used to fulfill the core major requirements). When satisfying the elective requirements, two restrictions apply. First, one course may not serve as both a core course and an elective. Second, independent study courses (360 or s50) cannot be used to satisfy elective requirements.

Elective course selections depend upon the goals and interests of the student. All students preparing for graduate study should choose advanced courses in their specific area of interest.

Senior Research and Seminar

The written thesis required of all chemistry majors may be either a laboratory thesis or a non-laboratory thesis. Students conducting a laboratory thesis may register for CHEM 457, 458, or both, while students undertaking a non-laboratory project may register for CHEM 457 or 458. Students pursuing honors must register for both 457 and 458. The senior research and seminar courses include participation in the department's seminar program. Each major is required to deliver one presentation per semester of thesis credit during the senior year and attend at least four seminars presented by visiting scholars in the chemistry department.

Chemistry Major ACS Accreditation

In order to earn an ACS-accredited chemistry major, students must take CHEM 321 (may count as an elective) and both CHEM 457 and 458.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major.

Chemistry Minor Requirements

Students may complete a minor in chemistry by taking seven chemistry courses, at least one of which must be at the 300-level, CHEM s37, CHEM s42. With the exception of EACS 240 (Environmental Geochemistry/Lab), and EASC 340 (Stable Isotope Geochemistry) which may count toward the chemistry minor, only departmentally designated cross-listed courses may be applied toward the minor. Neither EACS 240 or 340 may count as a 300-level chemistry course. This minor is not open to students who have declared a major in chemistry or biochemistry.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the minor.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry encompasses the study of the form and function of the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids found in living organisms. Traditionally, biochemistry has been an interdisciplinary field, drawing on techniques and expertise from physics, medicine, biology, and chemistry. The required courses for the major give a student a solid foundation in basic science, while the array of elective courses allows wide latitude in pursuing an area of individual interest. The thesis provides a final integrating experience. More information on the biochemistry major is available on the website (bates.edu/chemistry-biochemistry).

Major Requirements

The biochemistry major requires thirteen or fourteen courses, from both the chemistry and biology departments, including a one- or two-semester thesis. Some courses have math and/or physics prerequisites. Students may not double major in biochemistry and biology, chemistry, or neuroscience.

Required Courses

One of the following:
BIO 190. Organismal Biology/Lab,
BIO 195. Lab-Based Biological Inquiry.

Either of the following:
BIO 202. Cellular Basic of Life and BIO 204. Biological Research: Molecules to Ecosystems.
Bio 242. Cellular and Molecular Biology.

One of the following:
BIO 328. Developmental Biology/Lab.
BIO 331. Molecular Biology/Lab.
BI/NS 305. Gene Editing in Biology and Neuroscience.

Both of the following:
CHEM 107A. Atomic and Molecular Structure/Lab.
CHEM 108A. Chemical Reactivity/Lab.

One of the following:
CHEM 302. Statistical Thermodynamics.
CHEM 310. Biophysical Chemistry.

All of the following:
CHEM 217. Organic Chemistry I/Lab.
CHEM 218. Organic Chemistry II//Lab.
CHEM 321. Biological Chemistry I/Lab.
CHEM 322. Biological Chemistry II/Lab.

Elective Courses

Students who take BIO 242 choose at least two, one of which must be a biology course and come from the list below. Students who take BIO 202 and BIO 204 choose one elective from the list below. It is strongly recommended that students considering graduate programs in biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines select a chemistry elective. One course may not serve as both an elective and core course. Students cannot count BIO 244 and NRSC 205 toward the major.

BIO 244. Biostatistics
NRSC 205. Statistical Methods.
BIO 305. Gene Editing in Biology and Neuroscience.
BI/NS 308. Neurobiology/Lab.
BIO 315. Microbiology/Lab.
Bio 326. Cancer Biology/Lab.
BIO 328. Developmental Biology/Lab.
BIO 331. Molecular Biology/Lab.
BI/ES 333. The Genetics of Conservation Biology/Lab.
BIO 337. Animal Physiology/Lab.
BIO 351. Immunology/Lab.
BIO 380. Plant Physiology/Lab.
BIO 477. Seminar and Research in Microbiology/Lab.
BIO s40. Experimental Developmental and Molecular Biology/Lab.
BIO s44. Experimental Neuro/Physiology/Lab.
Any 200- or 300 level chemistry course, including BI/CH 304, CH/NS 320,
CHEM s37, and CHEM s42.

Research and Seminar

The written thesis required of all biochemistry majors may be either a laboratory or non-laboratory thesis. Students conducting a laboratory thesis may register for BIOC 457, 458, or both, while students undertaking a non-laboratory project may register for either BIOC 457 or 458. Students pursuing honors must register for both BIOC 457 and 458. The senior thesis advisor may be a faculty member in either the chemistry or the biology department. Each biochemistry major is required to make one formal thesis research presentation for each semester of thesis completed, and each senior is also required to attend at least four seminars presented by visiting scholars in either the chemistry or biology department.

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Pass/fail grading may not be elected for courses applied toward the major.

Advanced Placement

Students receiving scores of four or five on the Chemistry AP examination, a grade of A or B on the A-level Chemistry examinations, or a grade of six or seven on the IB HL program examination may receive credit for CHEM 107A and/or 108A. These credits may be used toward a major or minor in chemistry or the major in biochemistry, and may be used as a prerequisite for any course that requires CHEM 107A or 108A. Their suitability as a prerequisite for a medical school is determined by the requirements of each individual medical school program.

B.S. Requirements

In addition to CHEM 107A and CHEM 108A, MATH 106 or MATH 206 and PHYS 108 or PHYS s31 are required.

General Education

Students may satisfy the [W2] requirement by completing CHEM 301.

Courses
Short Term Courses