Chemistry Department

Andrew G. Sykes, Chair
Churchill Haines, Room 115
(605) 658-6730
Andrew.Sykes@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/chemistry  

FACULTY

Professors:
Chaoyang Jiang, Analytical, Materials Chemistry
James Hoefelmeyer, Inorganic Chemistry
Grigoriy Sereda, Organic Chemistry
Andrew Sykes, Inorganic Chemistry
Haoran Sun, Organic Chemistry

Associate Professors:

David Hawkinson, Organic Chemistry
Joseph Vitt, Analytical Chemistry
Z. Rick Wang, Inorganic Chemistry

Assistant Professors:

Pere Miro, Computational and Physical Chemistry
Bess Vlaisavljevich, Computational and Physical Chemistry

Lecturer:

Kadarkaraisamy “Kadal” Mariappan, Inorganic Chemistry

Emeritus Professors:

Mary Berry, Physical Chemistry
Miles Koppang, Analytical Chemistry
Stanley May, Physical Chemistry

MAJORS:

American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Degree, B.S.
Biochemistry, B.S.
Chemistry Coordinate Degree, B.S.

MINOR:

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at USD strives to promote the highest level of scholarship in both its undergraduate and graduate programs. We are proud of the demonstrated success of our graduates, which includes high rates of acceptance into top-ranked graduate and professional programs.  Several of our majors have been awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarships and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships to support further study.

Chemistry majors follow one of two paths toward the Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. The first is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and is intended for students interested in employment as a chemist or graduate study in chemistry. The ACS major provides a solid background in chemistry, physics, and math, and prepares the student for work as a professional chemist. The coordinate major is designed for students who anticipate going to medical school or some other professional school, but would like to major in chemistry. The coordinate major provides more flexibility to take non-chemistry courses recommended by professional schools and the chemistry coursework can be completed in three years.  

SCHOLARSHIPS

(For more detailed information, please contact the Chemistry Office or visit our web site. Also see College of Arts & Sciences  for college/school level scholarships.)

• Arthur L. Haines Chemistry Scholarship
• Arthur M. & John M. Pardee Chemistry Prize Scholarship
• Dr. Joseph R. Spies Scholarship
• Dr. M.R. Stoner Scholarship
• Dr. Norman E. Miller Achievement Scholarship
• Dr. Robert Stoner Scholarship
• Helmer A. Hovik USD Scholarship
• John Bryant Dunlap Scholarship
• Louella E. Cable Scholarship
• Robert A. Ackerman Scholarship
• Selma Elizabeth Anderson Scholarship
• Thomas Beukelman Memorial Scholarship

Student Learning Outcomes for Chemistry-American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Chemistry specialization (B.S.)

1. Chemistry majors  will demonstrate appropriate learning of the guiding principles and methodologies of chemistry as assessed by American Chemical Society (ACS) exams 
2. Chemistry majors will demonstrate competence in independently gathering, interpreting and communicating the results of modern chemical research 
3. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them. 
4. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. 
5. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions. 
6. Students will recognize when there is a need for information and identify, locate, evaluate and effectively and responsibly use and convey that information to address the need or problem at hand. 
7. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.

Student Learning Outcomes for Biochemistry (B.S.)

In demonstrating the following discipline-specific core competencies related to study of Biochemistry, students will:

1. Understand the principles and application of biochemistry using a multidisciplinary approach;
2. Analyze and interpret data and scientific literature in addressing research questions related to the field of biochemistry;
3. Conduct experiments to solve scientific questions;
4. Communicate scientific knowledge within an academic context.

In addition, the Biochemistry major will require students to meet specific learning outcomes associated with the following cross-curricular skills, as required by the South Dakota Board of Regents:

1. Inquiry and Analysis
2. Critical and Creative Thinking
3. Information Literacy
4. Problem Solving
5. Integrative Learning

Student Learning Outcomes for Chemistry-Chemistry Coordinate specialization (B.S.)

1. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal. 
2. Students will recognize when there is a need for information and identify, locate, evaluate and effectively and responsibly use and convey that information to address the need or problem at hand. 
3. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions. 
4. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. 
5. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them. 
6. Chemistry majors  will demonstrate appropriate learning of the guiding principles and methodologies of chemistry as assessed by American Chemical Society (ACS) exams 
7. Chemistry majors will demonstrate competence in independently gathering, interpreting and communicating the results of modern chemical research

Programs

• Biochemistry (B.S.)
• Chemistry Minor
• Chemistry-American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Chemistry specialization (B.S.)
• Chemistry-Chemistry Coordinate specialization (B.S.)