Chemistry

www.smu.edu/chemistry

Professor Elfi Kraka, Department Chair

Professors: John Buynak, Werner Horsthemke (Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies), Elfi Kraka, Michael Lattman, Mark Schell, David Son
Associate Professors: Alexander Lippert, Peng Tao, Nicolay Tsarevsky, Brian Zoltowski
Assistant Professors: Doran Bennett, Anindita Das, Devin Matthews, Tomce Runcevski
Professor of Practice: Jennifer O’Brien (Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies)
Senior Lecturers: Andrea Adams, Helen Babbili

General Information

Chemistry plays a key role in solving economic, environmental and societal problems that are intimately connected with the basic question of how to guarantee the sustainability of the earth. The Department of Chemistry prepares students to meet the increasing demand for a scientifically trained workforce. Students planning careers in industry, medicine or academia benefit from the comprehensive curriculum of the B.S. and B.A. programs in chemistry. Undergraduate majors are heavily involved in research, working in teams with faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. Graduates have been accepted into the leading graduate and professional schools in the nation. On average, two-thirds of chemistry graduates seek advanced degrees; other graduates choose employment in industry and research.

Departmental Distinction

A chemistry major pursuing a B.S. degree may elect to graduate with departmental distinction. The student must apply to the department for this designation during the junior year, after at least 22 credit hours of chemistry have been completed with a minimum GPA of 3.500 in those courses. The student will enroll in CHEM 4397  and undertake an independent research project under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. During the senior year, a senior thesis will be written and presented to the department. Upon completion of all degree requirements, approval of the departmental faculty at the completion of these requirements, and provided the student maintains a minimum 3.500 GPA in all chemistry courses, the student will graduate with departmental distinction in chemistry.

Programs

• Chemistry, B.A.
• Chemistry, B.S.

• Chemistry Minor

Courses

• CHEM 1113 - General Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 1114 - General Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 1301 - Chemistry for Liberal Arts
• CHEM 1302 - Preparatory Chemistry
• CHEM 1303 - General Chemistry
• CHEM 1304 - General Chemistry
• CHEM 3117 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 3118 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 3351 - Quantitative Analysis
• CHEM 3371 - Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 3372 - Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 4097 - Undergraduate Research
• CHEM 4313 - Modern Physical Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 4397 - Undergraduate Research
• CHEM 5110 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 5185 - Laboratory Methods in Physical Chemistry
• CHEM 5188 - Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 5192 - Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory
• CHEM 5306 - Introduction to Computational Chemistry
• CHEM 5308 - Special Topics in Chemistry
• CHEM 5310 - Biological Chemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function
• CHEM 5311 - Biological Chemistry: Metabolism
• CHEM 5317 - Introduction to Molecular Modeling and Computer-Assisted Drug Design
• CHEM 5321 - Understanding Chemistry
• CHEM 5322 - Introduction to Nanotechnology
• CHEM 5333 - Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
• CHEM 5344 - Physical Chemistry of Proteins
• CHEM 5383 - Physical Chemistry I
• CHEM 5384 - Physical Chemistry II
• CHEM 5392 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 5393 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 5396 - Advanced Physical Chemistry
• CHEM 5398 - Medicinal Chemistry
• CHEM 5486 - Instrumental Analysis