Department of Chemistry

Chemistry is the fundamental science of matter, the nature of substances, and the changes occurring in them. Chemical reactions are the basis of all life on earth. Everything we are or do depends in one way or another on chemistry. A major in chemistry prepares you for a variety of careers in industry, education, and public service, or for graduate study and research in chemistry and many related fields.

The department has excellent facilities and special equipment for study and research at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are active research programs in both traditional and emerging areas of chemistry. For example, the department is an integral partner in The PNNL-WSU Nuclear Science and Technology Institute, with participating faculty from nearly all research areas noted below. Students in chemistry at WSU are encouraged to take advantage of its excellent facilities and faculty by beginning research projects as early as possible. Research expands experience beyond the classroom into the realm of new knowledge.

Typical areas for research include:

•  Analytical chemistry research spans fundamental developments in instrumentation, synthetic methodologies, molecular recognition and other strategies used in separations science.  These methodologies are frequently used by our faculty to understand the migration of species through biological and environmental systems.
• Inorganic chemistry has as its center the study of the vast majority of the known elements and especially the transition metals; it includes development of catalysts for organic and inorganic transformations and investigation of the properties of organometallic compounds, investigation of the bioinorganic of metal containing proteins and radiopharmaceuticals, as well as inorganic radiochemical research on separation methods for lanthanides and actinides.
• Materials chemistry brings the knowledge and understanding of chemistry to the study of the structure and properties of materials. It involves the study of chemical reactions and physical processes occurring at surfaces and in solids by both experimental and theoretical means. It includes important phenomena such as energy transfer in light absorbing and emitting materials, electrical and heat transport in solids, and extends to the synthesis of new and improved materials, including nanomaterials.
• Organic chemistry deals with the many compounds of carbon and how these compounds interact in biological systems. It includes the study of medicinal, bioorganic, mechanistic, and synthetic chemistry and how these areas may be used in areas such elucidation of metabolic pathways, drug development in the treatment of diseases, and environmentally benign synthesis of important chemicals.
• Physical chemistry applies the methods and theories of physics to the study of chemical, biological, and nanoscale materials. It involves theoretical studies of chemical bonding using advanced computational methods and the investigation of the structures of solids and surfaces by a variety of instrumental methods including photon spectroscopies, X-ray techniques, and surface characterization.  It also expands our understanding of molecular scale mechanisms for kinetically and thermodynamically driven processes. 

Degrees and Options

The Department of Chemistry is on the approved list of the American Chemical Society and offers courses of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with options in professional chemistry or materials chemistry.  Both of these options lead to a degree for which students will be well prepared for entry into the workforce or to pursue a graduate degree.  The department also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a standard option and a teacher preparation option. In addition, graduate study programs leading to the Master of Science in Chemistry and Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry) are also offered. 

After the beginning of the first year, a student interested in majoring in chemistry should consult with chemistry advisors to arrange a schedule which will permit completion of required courses in proper sequence. Regardless of which degree or option is chosen, a grade of C or better is required in all chemistry courses to fulfill requirements for the chemistry degree.

A student beginning undergraduate work will begin with CHEM 105. Students without high school chemistry will begin their study with CHEM 103 prior to taking CHEM 105. Additionally, if a student has completed one year of Advanced Placement high school chemistry and has scored 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam, credit is granted for the CHEM 105 / 106 sequence. If a student has completed one year of advanced placement high school chemistry and has scored 3 or 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam, credit is granted for CHEM 105. Students who complete an International Baccalaureate program with a high level pass and a grade of 4 or more on the exam are given credit for CHEM 101.

The Department of Chemistry provides major parts of the course work leading to degrees in the School of Molecular Biosciences. Students whose interests span chemistry and biology or chemistry and physics should see the section on the appropriate program in this catalog.

Lab Fees

Charges for expendable laboratory supplies and computing are made in each laboratory course.

Student Learning Outcomes for the B.S.

Students graduating from the Chemistry Department will be able to demonstrate:

1. A thorough knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, chemical dynamics and the chemical and physical properties of substances.
2. A thorough knowledge of the subfields of chemistry, including analytical, inorganic, organic, biochemistry, and physical chemistry.
3. The ability to read, critically evaluate and interpret numerical, chemical and general scientific information.
4. The ability to communicate effectively about chemistry both verbally and in writing.
5. The ability to design experiments and to use appropriate experimental apparatus effectively.

Student Learning Outcomes for the B.A.

1.  A thorough knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, chemical dynamics and the chemical and physical properties of substances.
2. A thorough knowledge of the subfields of chemistry, including analytical, inorganic, organic, biochemistry, and physical chemistry.
3. The ability to read, critically evaluate and interpret numerical, chemical and general scientific information.
4. The ability to communicate effectively about chemistry both verbally and in writing.