Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry provides a solid foundation in the basic areas of chemistry (analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and biochemical) for a student preparing for graduate or professional school, an industrial career or a career in chemical education.
The departmental curriculum is intended to foster an increasing sense of independence in the student. Students build a firm understanding of chemical principles in general chemistry (first year) and organic chemistry (second year). In the junior and senior years, students take classes from each member of the department who specialize in different areas of chemistry, resulting in chemistry graduates who are well-prepared for graduate school or an industrial career in the sciences.
Although all majors in the department provide students with pathways to outstanding careers, the Biochemistry major is a popular choice for those students interested in medical school, pharmacy school, or various types of biomedical graduate programs. Students complete a rigorous schedule of chemistry, biology and general education courses in order to satisfy the prerequisites of their desired pre-professional program. Students generally apply to medical or pharmacy schools after their third or fourth year at Bridgewater, but planning should begin as soon as possible to ensure all criteria are successfully met. Interested students should contact the chair of the Department of Chemistry.
Programs
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Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science - Major -
Chemistry, Bachelor of Science - Major -
Endorsement in Chemistry (6-12), Teacher Licensure
General Education Requirement
The following courses satisfy Bridgewater College’s general education requirement for natural and physical sciences:
GEOL/CHEM-102 Earth and its Environment
CHEM-161 General Chemistry I
GEOL-130 Physical Geology
Chemistry Course Prerequisites
MATH-110 or MATH-118 is a prerequisite for CHEM-125.
MATH-110 is a prerequisite for any CHEM course numbered above 125.
MATH-130 or MATH-131 is a prerequisite for all CHEM courses numbered 350 or above
Courses
BCHM-355: Biochemistry I
Introduction to the major biomolecular compound classes, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, along with a survey of enzyme kinetics and the overall regulation of key metabolic pathways. Three lectures per week.
BCHM-356: Biochemistry I With Lab
Introduction to the major biomolecular compound classes, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, along with a survey of enzyme kinetics and the overall regulation of key metabolic pathways. Three lectures and one lab per week.
BCHM-455: Biochemistry II
A continuation of the topics covered in Biochemistry I, with special attention paid to the classic chemical reactions at work in biological systems. The intersection of biochemical principles with such applications as drug discovery and computational modeling will be emphasized as a mechanism for understanding the fundamental relationship between structure and function. Three lectures per week.
CHEM-100: Murder They Wrote
CHEM-102 / GEOL-102: Earth Science
The history of the earth and its place in the universe, geologic processes, environmental problems and weather. Three hours of lecture and one two-hour lab per week. Field trips may be taken during lab. FILA general education: natural and physical sciences. (Cross-listed as GEOL-102)
CHEM-110: Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry
CHEM-121: Energy & the Environment
CHEM-122: Science & Pseudoscience
CHEM-125: Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry
Basic principles of structure, composition and reactions of matter. Designed as a survey course for health science majors. Does not satisfy requirements for majors in Biology or Chemistry. Three hours of lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week. Credit may not be received for both CHEM-125 and CHEM-161.
CHEM-161: General Chemistry I
Principles of chemistry including stoichiometry, states of matter, atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, periodicity, and the kinetic molecular theory of gases. Three hours of lecture and one four hour lab per week. FILA general education: natural and physical sciences. Credit may not be received for both CHEM-125 and CHEM-161.
CHEM-162: General Chemistry II
Principles of chemistry including intermolecular forces, thermodynamics, equilibria, acid-base chemistry, electrochemistry, kinetics, and solubility. Three hours of lecture and one four hour lab per week.
CHEM-306: Organic Chemistry II
Continuation of organic chemistry started in CHEM-305, including reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, synthesis, and identification of organic molecules. Three hours of lecture and one four-hour lab per week.
CHEM-308: Organic Spectroscopy
CHEM-310: Organic Chemistry II & Spectroscopy
A continuation of organic chemistry started in CHEM-305, including a study of the interpretation of infrared spectroscopy, proton and carbon NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The lab will be an introduction to chemical research that includes research methods and techniques through a series of experiments. Credit may not be received for both CHEM-306 and CHEM-310, or for both CHEM-308 and CHEM-310.
CHEM-350: Introduction to Quantum and Statistical Mechanics
This course is an introduction to quantum theory and statistical mechanics with an emphasis on their application to spectroscopy and thermodynamic properties. Students will be introduced to and perform relevant calculations. The results of these calculations will then be used to introduce and develop the theory behind various spectroscopic techniques as well as develop the relationships between statistical mechanics and thermodynamic properties. Students will also gain hands-on experience working with several spectroscopic instruments. Three year cycle.
CHEM-360: Advanced Organic Chemistry
Molecular orbital theory, reaction kinetics, and organic name reactions. Three hours of lecture per week. Three year cycle.
CHEM-365: Computational Chemistry
Designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles and techniques of computational chemistry. Approaches to be discussed include molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory, among others. Discussion will focus on supporting, not replacing, the work of traditional synthetic chemists, and particular attention will be paid to the strengths/limitations of each technique for one or more specific purposes. Students will learn to model molecular systems and to critically analyze a potential energy surface, identifying local and global minima and the transition states between them. The application of these tools in ligand design and drug discovery will be a key component. Offered alternate years.
CHEM-370: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Physical properties, electronic structure, and reactivity of transition metal compounds. Three hours of lecture and one four-hour lab per week. Offered alternate years.
CHEM-380: Instrumental Analysis
Exposure to methods of quantitation, signal-to- noise enhancement, instrumental design and function, methods of spectroscopy, chromatography, electroanalytical analysis, and mass spectrometry. Three hours of lecture and one four-hour lab per week.
CHEM-415: Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
Thermodynamics, equilibrium, chemical structures and reaction rates as applied to biological systems and macromolecules. Three of lecture per week. Offered alternate years.
CHEM-427: Physical Chemistry of Solutions with Laboratory
Physical states of chemical systems- thermodynamics, equilibria, reaction rates, electrochemistry, and photochemistry- with lab examination of reactions in multicomponent systems. Three hours of lecture and four hours of lab work per week. Credit may not be received for both CHEM-425 and CHEM-427. Offered alternate years.
CHEM-435: Advanced Physical Chemistry
Atomic structure and chemical bonding, based on applications of Schroedinger's Equation to structures of chemical interest. Three hours of lecture per week. Offered as needed.
CHEM-450: Special Topics
Devoted to a subject taken from a field of chemistry not otherwise covered in the curriculum. If a different topic is offered, the course may be repeated for credit.
CHEM-451: Advanced Chemical Techniques I
The first semester of a year long project in collaboration with a member of the chemistry faculty. One hour lecture and a minimum of eight hours of lab per week.
CHEM-452: Advanced Chemical Techniques II
A continuation of the year long project in collaboration with a member of the chemistry faculty started in CHEM-451. One hour lecture and a minimum of eight hours of lab per week.
CHEM-460: Capstone Seminar
A capstone course in which students learn about the history of chemistry, norms in science, professional ethics, and careers in chemistry. Two 1-hour lectures per week.
CHEM-461: Independent Laboratory Research
An open-ended laboratory research project with a member of the Chemistry faculty. A minimum of five hours of laboratory work per week. May be repeated as necessary for credit.
CHEM-462: Independent Laboratory Research
An open-ended laboratory research project with a member of the Chemistry faculty. A minimum of ten hours of laboratory work per week. May be repeated as necessary for credit.
CHEM-480X: Internship
Provides an opportunity for a student to gain field experience in an area related to the student's program of study or career goals. The learning objectives for internships include connecting academic knowledge and problem-solving processes to experiences and problems in professional settings. Supervision of an intern is provided by an appropriate faculty member and by a site supervisor of the agency or business in which the student is an intern. A student who wishes to engage in an internship must consult with the appropriate faculty member at least eight weeks in advance of the start of the term in which the internship is to be completed. A description of the internship, signed by the student and the faculty sponsor, must be filed with the director of internships by the first day of the semester prior to the start of the internship. Approval of each application for an internship is made by the director of internships based upon approved policies and guidelines. Internships are graded on an S or U basis. Students must complete 120 hours of internship-related work as well as weekly journal entries and a final reflective paper completed in accordance with approved requirements. A student may enroll in an internship program for 3 credits per semester, and internship credit may be earned in subsequent semesters subject to the limitations that no more than two internships may be pursued in any one agency or business and a maximum of 9 credits in internships may be applied toward graduation. FILA general education: experiential learning.
CHEM-490: Independent Study
CHEM-491: Research
CHEM-499: Honors Project
GEOL-102 / CHEM-102: Earth Science
The history of the earth and its place in the universe, geologic processes, environmental problems and weather. Three hours of lecture and one two-hour lab per week. Field trips may be taken during lab. FILA general education: natural and physical sciences. (Cross-listed as CHEM-102)
GEOL-130: Physical Geology
This course is an overview of the history of the earth and its structure, earth materials, the rock cycle, internal processes (the tectonic cycle, volcanoes, and earthquakes), external processes (the hydrologic cycle, weathering, and soils), and environmental concerns (groundwater, surface water, pollution, and remediation) with fairly detailed coverage of the processes. Three hours of lecture and one two-hour lab per week. Field trips may be taken during lab. FILA general education: natural and physical sciences.
GEOL-330: Soil and Hydrogeology
This course is a study of the environment on the Earth's surface, the boundary between the solid and liquid, and interactions between rock and water. This will include weathering and the formation of soil, and the flow of water at the surface and below ground level. Lab activities will include sampling and analysis of soil, surface water, and groundwater. Offered alternate years.