/Institutions/University-of-Northern-Colorado/json/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-Northern-Colorado/json/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Catalog.json

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chair: Hua Zhao, Ph.D.

Location: Ross Hall 3480

Telephone: 970.351.2559

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/chemistry-biochemistry/

Faculty:  Aaron Apawu, Ph.D.; Corina Brown, Ph.D.; Aichun Dong, Ph.D.; Robert Houser, Ph.D.; Michael D. Mosher, Ph.D.; Richard W. Schwenz, Ph.D.; Jerry P. Suits, Ph.D.; Murielle Watzky, Ph.D.; Melissa Weinrich, Ph.D.; Hua Zhao, Ph.D.

Emeritus Faculty : Clark L. Fields, Ph.D.; Henry W. Heikkinen, Ph.D.; Richard M. Hyslop, 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.; David L. Pringle, Ph.D.; James O. Schreck, Ph.D.; Gordon E. Tomasi, Ph.D.

Course(s) Offered (Prefix):

• CHEM — Chemistry

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 - Licensure: Science (Grades 7-12)
• Minors and Certificate 
  • Chemistry: Liberal Arts Minor
  • Chemistry: Teaching Minor
  • Brewing Laboratory Science Minor
  • Certificate in Brewing Laboratory Science

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 pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, or other 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.

Undergraduate degrees in the program have been approved by the American Chemical Society since 1968. Individuals who elect to follow one of the approved programs 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.

Research opportunities are available to chemistry students. Students work one-on-one with faculty on research projects in any of the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, or 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.