Chemistry

Phone: (845) 257-3790
Location: Coykendall Science Building Room 105
Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers undergraduate liberal arts programs leading to Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Chemistry. Within these programs, students may choose from three concentrations:

1. general chemistry
2. American Chemical Society (ACS)-approved chemistry, and
3. biochemistry emphasis.

The general chemistry and ACS-approved chemistry curricula share the same core courses that provide theoretical and hands-on education in the major areas of chemistry. Students are able to combine a general chemistry major with pre-law, business, or teaching programs. This concentration, with selected courses in biology, can prepare students for medical school entrance requirements. Preparation for a non-laboratory career in chemistry could include management or marketing courses offered by the Business program at New Paltz.

The American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training includes New Paltz's Department of Chemistry on its list of approved departments. This approval is equivalent to professional accreditation of the liberal arts curriculum. The ACS-approved curriculum builds on the general chemistry core and requires additional advanced courses. A student who obtains an ACS-approved degree is eligible for employment as a chemist in industry or government. The ACS-approved program also prepares students for graduate study and for professional training in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. Course offerings allow chemistry majors to obtain a broad background in several areas of chemistry.

The biochemistry emphasis is designed for the student interested in biochemistry or health-related sciences requiring a substantial background in chemistry. This program provides excellent preparation for health professional training, as well as for graduate study in clinical chemistry, physiology, and medicinal chemistry. Students take core courses in chemistry and biology and complete the year-long biochemistry sequence.

In addition to these major programs, a minor in Chemistry is available.

Prospective chemistry majors should consult with the department chair as soon as possible after admission to SUNY New Paltz and plan to take MAT251 Calculus I , CHE201 General Chemistry I and CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab in the fall semester of their freshman year.

The Departments of Chemistry and Biology also offer an interdisciplinary major in Biochemistry leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.

Minimum grade requirements:

• A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from CHE201 General Chemistry I to CHE202 General Chemistry II , from CHE202 General Chemistry II to CHE318 Organic Chemistry I , and from CHE318 Organic Chemistry I to CHE319 Organic Chemistry II .
• A minimum grade of C- in CHE319 Organic Chemistry II is required to enroll in BCM461 Biochemistry 1.
• A minimum grade of C- is required to advance from BIO201 General Biology I to BIO202 General Biology II and from BIO202 General Biology II to BIO320 Genetics .
• A minimum grade of C- in MAT251 Calculus I is required to enroll in MAT252 Calculus II and in PHY201 General Physics 1.

Chemistry (BA, BS) Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete a degree in Chemistry will be able to:

• Demonstrate a qualitative understanding of both atomic and molecular structure including shell structure, chemical bonding and the shapes of molecules.
• Understand trends in the periodic table, such as size and reactivity.
• Apply their knowledge of the concepts of quantitative chemical analysis and its relationship to experimental measurements and analyze the associated experimental error from each measurement.
• Derive mathematical relationships that are used to explain the chemical and physical processes of both macroscopic and molecular systems.
• Gain understanding of the chemical and physical properties of biomolecules.
• Extend and apply knowledge learned from courses in chemistry to areas outside the field.
• Demonstrate experience in chemistry research, having worked with a faculty mentor.
• Demonstrate experience in and knowledge of modern chemical instrumentation and laboratory techniques.
• Perform experiments following standard and more open-ended protocols.
• Search and interpret articles from scientific journals.
• Develop proficiency at writing scientific reports and/or delivering oral presentations based on experimental results and/or scientific subjects.

Faculty

Dhar, Preeti
Professor
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Office: CSB 318
Phone: (845) 257-3797
E-mail: dharp@newpaltz.edu

Ferguson, Megan
Associate Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
Office: CSB 217
Phone: (845) 257-6935
E-mail: fergusom@newpaltz.edu

Folmer-Andersen, Frantz
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Office: CSB 317
Phone: (845) 257-3796
E-mail: andersef@newpaltz.edu

McBrayer, Dominic
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Office: CSB 315
Phone: (845) 257-3793
E-mail: mcbrayed@newpaltz.edu

Mentore, Gissel
Lecturer
Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Office: CSB 151
Phone: (845) 257-6961
E-mail: mentoreg@newpaltz.edu

Pilek, Matthew
Lecturer
M.A.T., SUNY New Paltz
Office: CSB 319B
Phone: (845) 257-3751
E-mail: pilekm@newpaltz.edu

St. John, Pamela
Professor and Chair
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Office: CSB 215
Phone: (845) 257-3794
E-mail: stjohnp@newpaltz.edu

Wilklow-Marnell, Miles
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Rochester
Office: CSB 316
Phone: (845) 257-3779
E-mail: marnellm@newpaltz.edu