Chemistry and Biochemistry
Location: Ross Hall 3480
Telephone: 970.351.2559
Faculty: Jack Barbera, Ph.D.; Aichun Dong, Ph.D.; Richard M. Hyslop, Ph.D.; Peter Karnilaw, M.A.;Robin T. Macaluso, Ph.D.; Michael D. Mosher, Ph.D.; Kimberly A. Opperman Pacheco, Ph.D.; David L. Pringle, Ph.D.; Richard W. Schwenz, Ph.D.; Youngjin Song, Ph.D.; Jerry P. Suits, Ph.D.
Emeritus Faculty : Clark L. Fields, Ph.D.; Henry W. Heikkinen, Ph.D.; Marlynn R. James, Ph.D.; Loretta L. Jones, Ph.D.; William G. Koch, Ph.D.; Roger A. Kovar, Ph.D.; Marcus K. Meilahn, Ph.D.; James O. Schreck, Ph.D.; Gordon E. Tomasi, Ph.D.
Course(s) Offered (Prefix):
Program(s) Offered:
Chemistry B.S.
Biochemistry Emphasis (ACS Certified)
Chemistry Emphasis (ACS Certified)
Forensic Science Emphasis
Industrial Chemistry Emphasis
Pre-Health Emphasis
Secondary Teaching Emphasis
Chemistry: Liberal Arts Minor
Chemistry: Teaching Minor
The goal of the Chemistry program is to provide a high-quality education in chemistry for the following groups of students:
- Those who wish to become practicing chemists or to pursue professional programs that may build on a strong background in chemistry, such as health-related careers.
- Those whose career choices require a background in chemistry, such as nursing, dietetics and nutrition, biology.
- Those who elect to study chemistry as a part of their Liberal Arts Core program.
- Those with a background in chemistry who wish to undertake advanced or graduate studies.
The chemistry faculty is committed to the attainment of this goal and has set excellence in instruction as its highest priority. Relatively small classes and dedicated teachers help accomplish this goal. Students and faculty have the opportunity to know each other very well. This facilitates obtaining help on an individual basis when it is needed for coursework and for program planning.
We are proud of the fact that our undergraduate degree has been approved by the American Chemical Society since 1968 and that our recently revised program was accepted. Individuals who elect to follow the approved program receive certification upon graduation.
Although the Chemistry program has no formal division, the areas of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry and chemical education are well represented in the backgrounds of our faculty. This enables us to offer a well-balanced program.
The experimental aspects of chemistry are included as an integral part of all chemistry emphases and are undertaken in laboratory facilities. Modern chemical instrumentation is available for student use. Students are taught how to operate these instruments and how to interpret and apply the results.
Access to microcomputers and to terminals of the large campus computers makes use of computers within chemistry courses possible.
Research opportunities are available to chemistry students in all programs. Students can work with faculty who are involved in research selected from the basic areas of chemistry and chemical education.
At the undergraduate level, students are required to work on independent research in their junior and senior years and to present their results in seminars and at the regional and national meetings of the American Chemical Society and the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science.
At the graduate level, all degree programs require research. The results of a graduate student's efforts are reported in a written report and may be presented at meetings and submitted for publication.