The Graduate School Bulletin
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
435 Science Building
(336) 334-5714
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Homepage
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Faculty
Overview
Requirements for the Master of Science in Biochemistry
Requirements for the Master of Science in Chemistry
CHE Chemistry Courses
Faculty
Professors
J. Phillip Bowen, Ph.D.
Medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, computer-assisted drug design, software development.
Terence A. Nile, Ph.D.
Synthetic organometallic chemistry, cyclopentadiene and polypyridyl chemistry, catalysis, organometallics in organic synthesis.
Patricia H. Reggio, Ph.D.
Physical chemistry, computational chemistry, G protein-coupled receptor modeling (cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors) (Head of Department).
Jerry L. Walsh, Ph.D.
Inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry of transition metal complexes, synthesis, photochemistry, reaction mechanisms.
Associate Professors
R. Bruce Banks, Ph.D.
Bioorganic chemistry, chemical carcinogenesis, xenobiotic metabolism.
Alice E. Haddy, Ph.D.
Biophysical chemistry, electron paramagnetic resonance studies of transition metals in biological systems.
Gregory M. Raner, Ph.D.
Bioinorganic chemistry, enzymology, mechanistic studies and industrial applications of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzymes (Director of Graduate Study).
Assistant Professors
Nadja B. Cech, Ph.D.
Analytical chemistry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, medicinal plant chemistry.
Norman H. Chiu, Ph.D.
Bioanalytical chemistry, interdisciplinary approach to develop and validate specific assays for genomics and proteomics studies.
G. Brent Dawson, Ph.D.
Analytical chemistry, capillary electrophoresis and chromatography for the analysis of biological molecules.
Liam M. Duffy, Ph.D.
Physical chemistry, gas-phase chemical reaction dynamics probed by millimeter wavelength spectroscopy.
Johanna Mazlo, Ph.D.
Biochemistry, x-ray crystallography of biological molecules, molecular modeling, immunotherapy.
Jason Reddick, Ph.D.
Bioorganic chemistry, biochemistry, biosynthesis of polyketides.
Senior Research Professor
Ethan Will Taylor, Ph.D.
Medicinal biochemistry, molecular modeling and bioinformatics, molecular virology, biochemistry of selenium.
Overview
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the Master of Science degree in chemistry and the Master of Science degree in biochemistry. The M.S. degree in chemistry requires a core of advanced coursework in each of the four major areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical), as well as courses in other areas. The M.S. degree in biochemistry requires a core of introductory and advanced biochemistry courses, as well as courses in chemistry and other areas. For each degree, the student must write a research thesis based on original research carried out under the direction of a faculty advisor. In addition, the student gains experience in professional speaking by preparing and presenting two public seminars. The M.S. programs give students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their potential for work in chemistry or biochemistry. They are especially attractive to individuals who have been out of an academic environment for some time or for students who wish to bolster their undergraduate science experience. The successful Master of Science candidate will be prepared for positions of responsibility in industry or government or for further study toward a doctoral degree at another institution.
A Master of Education in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in chemistry education is offered through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Please see the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for specific degree requirements.
Requirements for the Master of Science in Biochemistry
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a graduate program of study leading to a 30 hour Master of Science in biochemistry.
Required Core Courses (12 hours)
CHE 556 Biochemistry I (3)
CHE 557 Biochemistry II (3)
CHE 656 Enzyme Mechanisms (3)
CHE 663 Spectroscopy and Analysis of Biomolecules (3)
Research Techniques (12 hours)
Graduate students must carry out a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and write a thesis on the research (CHE 699). Students may take additional research hours for a total of 12 hours.
CHE 699 Thesis (1-6)
CHE 680 Research Problems in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1-6)
Seminar (2 hours)
All graduate students must present two seminars, the first on a literature topic (CHE 601) and the second on their thesis research (CHE 602), normally given during the last semester of study.
CHE 601 Graduate Seminar I (1)
CHE 602 Graduate Seminar II (1)
Chemistry Core Elective (3 hours)
Students must select one of the chemistry core courses.
CHE 632 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3)
CHE 641 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (3)
CHE 553 Advanced Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE 661 Advanced Physical Chemistry I (3)
Electives
Students must select one elective course at the 500-700 level in biochemistry or from a list of approved (by the Department Graduate Studies Committee) courses in areas related to biochemistry (cell biology, genetics, microbiology, metabolism, biophysics, or other areas). Additional courses needed to bring the total credit hours up to at least 30 should be chosen from graduate level chemistry and biochemistry courses offered by the Department or from the list of approved biochemistry-related courses.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination consists of a research proposal on the student’s thesis research, including a literature review. The proposal must be approved by the student’s thesis committee before the student may enroll in CHE 699 Thesis.
Thesis Defense
Students must defend the completed thesis before the thesis committee.
Requirements for the Master of Science in Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a graduate program of study leading to a 30 hour Master of Science in chemistry.
Required Core Courses (12 hours)
CHE 553 Advanced Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHE 632 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3)
CHE 641 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (3)
CHE 661 Advanced Physical Chemistry I (3)
Research Techniques (12 hours)
Graduate students must carry out a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and write a thesis on the research (CHE 699). Students may take additional research hours for a total of 12 hours.
CHE 699 Thesis (1-6)
CHE 680 Research Problems in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1-6)
Seminar (2 hours)
All graduate students must present two seminars, the first on a literature topic (CHE 601) and the second on their thesis research (CHE 602), normally given during the last semester of study.
CHE 601 Graduate Seminar I (1)
CHE 602 Graduate Seminar II (1)
Electives
Students must select other 500-700 level courses to bring the total credit hours to at least 30. Up to 9 hours may be earned in approved (by Department Graduate Studies Committee and student’s research advisor) graduate courses in biology, mathematics or physics.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination consists of a research proposal on the student’s thesis research, including a literature review. The proposal must be approved by the student’s thesis committee before the student may enroll in CHE 699 Thesis.
Thesis Defense
Students must defend the completed thesis before the thesis committee.
CHE Chemistry Courses
| 531 | Instrumental Analysis (3:3) |
| Pr. 331, 333, 205 or 352 (either may be taken concurrently), PHY 212 or 292 Theory and practice of advanced analytical techniques with emphasis on instrumental methods of analysis. | |
| 533 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (1:0:4) |
| Coreq. 531 Laboratory work to accompany 531. | |
| 536 | Computational Chemistry (3:2:3) |
| Pr. 352, MAT 291, PHY 212 or PHY 292; or permission of instructor Survey of modern computational chemistry methods, including molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics simulations, conformational searching, and computational quantum mechanics. | |
| 553 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I (3:3) |
| Pr. 352 Advanced topics in organic chemistry with special emphasis on reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry. | |
| 555 | Organometallic Chemistry (2:2) |
| Pr. 352 and 442 Theoretical and synthetic aspects of organometallic chemistry and applications to catalysis and synthetic organic chemistry. | |
| 556 | Biochemistry I (3:3) |
| Pr. 352, BIO 111-112 Introductory biochemistry presented from a chemical perspective. Topics include amino acids, proteins and enzymes, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, membranes, and carbohydrate catabolism. | |
| 557 | Biochemistry II (3:3) |
| Pr. 352, BIO 111-112, CHE 556, or permission of instructor Continuation of 556. Enzyme catalytic mechanisms, additional topics in intermediary metabolism, genetic biochemistry, and selected topics in molecular physiology. | |
| 558 | Biochemistry Laboratory (1:0:4) |
| Pr. 556 or its equivalent, 354, 333, or permission of instructor Introduction to biochemical techniques, including isolation, purification and characterization of biological molecules. | |
| 570 | Special Topics in Chemistry (1-3) |
| Study in special areas of chemistry as listed below. Hours per week and credit to be arranged. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits when topic varies. Areas identified as follows: 570a Analytical; 570b Biochemistry; 570c Inorganic; 570d Organic; 570e Physical; 570f Chemical Education. | |
| 589 | Experimental Course |
| This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings. | |
| 601 | Graduate Seminar I (1:1) |
| Pr. 401 or equivalent Oral reports from the current literature of chemistry by the students, as well as attendance at presentations by other students, staff, and guest speakers. | |
| 602 | Graduate Seminar II (1:1) |
| Pr. 601 Oral reports from the literature and the student’s thesis research, as well as attendance at presentations by other students, staff, and guest speakers. | |
| 604 | Advanced Polymer Chemistry (3:3) |
| Pr. 352 Modern concepts of addition, ring opening, and condensation polymerization, and the application of physical instrumentation to the characterization of polymers. | |
| 632 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3:3) |
| Pr. 462 or 406 or equivalent. One semester of instrumental analysis (531) recommended Current research activities in the analytical area, primarily for first-year graduate students. Four areas emphasized: chemical equilibrium, spectroscopy, separations, and electrochemistry. | |
| 641 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (3:3) |
| Pr. 442 Group theory, its applications, and other topics in advanced inorganic chemistry. | |
| 652 | Advanced Organic Chemistry II (3:3) |
| Pr. 553 Advanced topics in organic chemistry with attention on organometallic, small-ring, bicyclic, and heterocyclic compounds, conservation of orbital symmetry, and stereochemistry. | |
| 656 | Enzyme Mechanisms (3:3) |
| Pr. 352 and either 420 or 556, or permission of instructor Detailed look at how enzymes catalyze a broad range of chemical reactions. Particular emphasis on the role of organic cofactors and metal ions in catalysis. | |
| 661 | Advanced Physical Chemistry I (3:3) |
| Pr. 461 and 462 or equivalent (one year of physical chemistry) Selected topics in quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics will be developed with attention to methods of application. | |
| 662 | Advanced Physical Chemistry II (3:3) |
| Pr. 661 Advanced topics in quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. | |
| 663 | Spectroscopy and Analysis of Biomolecules (3:3) |
| Pr. 406 or 461, 420 or 556, or permission of instructor Spectroscopic and structural methods for application to molecules of biochemical relevance. Topics include fluorescence, circular dichroism, chromatography, electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, FTIR, NMR, EPR, X-ray crystallography. | |
| 670 | Advanced Special Topics in Chemistry (1-6) |
| Advanced study in special areas of chemistry as listed below. Hours per week and credit to be arranged. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits when topic varies. Areas identified as follows: 670a Analytical (Pr. 632); 670b Biochemistry (Pr. 556); 670c Inorganic (Pr. 641); 670d Organic (Pr. 553); 670e Physical (Pr. 661). | |
| 680 | Research Problems in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1-6) |
| Pr. permission of instructor and department head Advanced research in specialized areas of chemistry or biochemistry under the direction of a faculty member. Preparation for master’s thesis. May be taken for credit over two or more semesters. | |
| 699 | Thesis (1-6) |
| >Pr. approval of research proposal by thesis committee Research under the direction of a faculty member approved by department head. Preparation of master’s thesis. May be taken for credit over two or more semesters. (Graded on S-U basis) | |
| 711 | Experimental Course |
| This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings. | |
| 801 | Thesis Extension (1-3) (Graded on S-U basis) |
| 803 | Research Extension (1-3) (Graded on S-U basis) |