Chemistry Department

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The Chemistry Department offers a major in chemistry (with optional American Chemical Society [ACS] certification), a minor in chemistry, and it co-administers the biochemistry major with the biological sciences department. The department also serves as a home department for students enrolled in dual-degree programs (with Johns Hopkins University) in chemical and biomolecular engineering, environmental engineering, and materials science engineering.

A major in chemistry prepares students for careers in chemistry, graduate work, or for entrance into professional schools. Students with an ACS-certified degree in chemistry have a sound basis for industrial, educational, governmental, and hospital careers in chemistry. They are prepared for graduate work in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, and related fields. They may also move into law, medical, dental, pharmacy, and other professional schools

Preparation for veterinary, medical, or dental school may be obtained through a chemistry major. Students planning to apply for admission to veterinary, medical, or dental school should notify the director of premedical studies by the end of the sophomore year.

The Department of Chemistry is on the approved list of the American Chemical Society. Course offerings, faculty, library, equipment, and budget of the department meet the national standards of the society.

Prospective majors should select CHE 111  and CHE 112  (or CHE 112H ), and CHE 151  and CHE 152  (or CHE 152H ) in the first year.

Department Faculty

Professors

Esther J. Gibbs (inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry), Judith R. Levine (biochemistry/molecular biology), Scott P. Sibley (physical/inorganic chemistry)

Associate Professors

Ruquia B. Ahmed-Schofield (organic chemistry), George E. Greco(organic/organometallic/inorganic/medicinal chemistry)

Assistant Professors

Pamela Douglass, chair (physical chemistry), Kevin P. Schultz (organic chemistry)

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow

          Ingeborg Iping Petterson (bioanalytical chemistry)

Dual-Degree Programs in Biomedical, Chemical and Biomolecular, Environmental, and Materials Science Engineering

Goucher College has established a dual-degree program (also known as 3-2 engineering program at Goucher) through which students earn both a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goucher and a bachelor of science degree from the G.W.C. Whiting School of Engineering of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) or the Fu foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University. The dual-degree program enables students to explore the liberal arts and sciences, while developing professional knowledge and experience in chemical, biomolecular, environmental, or materials science engineering. A more comprehensive description of the science and engineering dual-degree programs can be found in the Science and Engineering Section of this catalogue. Consult the program director for additional information.

Premedical, Preveterinary, and Predental Studies

The course work needed to apply to medical, dental, and veterinary schools includes one year of biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physics, one semester of biochemistry, and coursework in psychology and sociology. Several medical schools require one or two semesters of calculus or a semester of statistics. Competitive medical school applicants usually have taken additional science courses. Thus, most students interested in applying to medical school will major in either biology or chemistry, as the overlap between the premed requirements and the science major requirements is substantial. A more comprehensive explanation can be found under the Premedical Studies section of this catalogue.

Majors planning to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary schools should consult George Delahunty, director of premedical studies, for assistance in program planning.

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