Chemistry Department

James D. Hoefelmeyer, Chair
Churchill Haines, Room 115
(605) 658-6730
James.Hoefelmeyer@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/chemistry

FACULTY

Professors:

James Hoefelmeyer, Inorganic Chemistry
Chaoyang Jiang, Analytical and Materials Chemistry
Grigoriy A. Sereda, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
Haoran Sun, Organic Chemistry
Andrew G. Sykes, Inorganic Chemistry
Zhenqiang “Rick” Wang, Inorganic Chemistry

Associate Professors:

David C. Hawkinson, Organic Chemistry
Pere Miró, Computational and Physical Chemistry
Joseph E. Vitt, Analytical Chemistry

Assistant Professor:

Xu “Steven” Wu, Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry

Senior Lecturer:

Kadarkaraisamy “Kadal” Mariappan, Inorganic Chemistry

Emeritus Professors:

Mary T. Berry, Physical Chemistry
Miles D. Koppang, Analytical Chemistry
P. Stanley May, Physical Chemistry
M. Robert Stoner, Organic Chemistry

MAJORS:

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

MINOR:

Chemistry

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Led by an internationally recognized, award-winning faculty, students in the department of chemistry learn experimental and theoretical approaches to understanding chemical and biochemical processes. Coursework and laboratory experiences build critical competencies, while research experiences bring students to the forefront of the discipline. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and two options for a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. The Chemistry Coordinate option, with its reduced coursework requirement, allows students to take coursework outside the department as may be required to fulfill a double-major or requirements for graduate programs at the interface of chemistry such as pharmacy, dentistry, or medicine. The American Chemical Society approved option is highly focused in chemistry with foundational and in-depth coursework in five subdisciplines of chemistry: biochemistry, analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical. Our program has a tradition of cultivating nationally competitive scholars, and our graduates have high acceptance into prestigious graduate or professional programs and find employment in exciting and rewarding careers in chemistry.

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 M. & John M. Pardee Chemistry Prize
Arthur M. & John M. Pardee Chemistry Scholarship
Dr. Joseph R. Spies Chemistry Scholarship
Dr. M. Robert Stoner Chemistry Scholarship
Helmer A. Hovik Chemistry Scholarship
John Bryant Dunlap Chemistry Scholarship
Robert A. Ackerman Chemistry Scholarship
Thomas Beukelman Chemistry Scholarship

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

Students will demonstrate appropriate learning of the guiding principles and methodologies of chemistry as assessed by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Students will gain foundational and in-depth theoretical training in five sub-disciplines in chemistry: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, physical, and organic.
Students will connect theory to experiment using accepted scientific theories to explain data and analyses, develop or select appropriate models for systems, and understand the limitations of models and theories.
Students will construct scientific explanations and arguments, including explanations of results, use evidence to support the interpretation of results, and use mathematics and computational tools.
Students will record, organize, and analyze data through effective laboratory notebooks, analyze data using appropriate statistical methods and software, understand uncertainties in experimental measurements, and assess experimental errors and draw appropriate conclusions.
Students will learn to work safely, including adherence to a written chemical hygiene plan, training in the use of emergency equipment and personal protective equipment, use of engineered controls, proper disposal techniques, understanding hazards associated with chemicals, using safety data sheets and standard operating procedures.
Students will gain communication skills, including technical writing, use of visual representations, and oral presentation.
Students will gain information retrieval, evaluation, and management skills including effective methods for searching the chemical literature, use of chemical identifiers to locate physical and chemical properties in handbooks and databases, and read, analyze, interpret, and cite the chemical literature.
Students will learn to interact effectively in a group to solve scientific problems.
Students will complete a well-defined project grounded in the chemical literature and contribute new knowledge to the discipline and report their findings.

Student Learning Outcomes for Biochemistry (B.S.)

Students will gain foundational and in-depth theoretical training in biochemistry with a strong basis in micro- and molecular biology combined with analytical, organic, and physical chemistry.
Students will connect theory to experiment using accepted scientific theories to explain data and analyses, develop or select appropriate models for systems, and understand the limitations of models and theories.
Students will construct scientific explanations and arguments, including explanations of results, use evidence to support the interpretation of results, and use mathematics and computational tools.
Students will record, organize, and analyze data through effective laboratory notebooks, analyze data using appropriate statistical methods and software, understand uncertainties in experimental measurements, and assess experimental errors and draw appropriate conclusions.
Students will learn to work safely, including adherence to a written biological and chemical hygiene plan, training in the use of emergency equipment and personal protective equipment, use of engineered controls, proper disposal techniques, understanding hazards associated with biological and chemical hazards, using safety data sheets and standard operating procedures.
Students will gain communication skills, including technical writing, use of visual representations, and oral presentation.
Students will gain information retrieval, evaluation, and management skills including effective methods for searching the scientific literature, and read, analyze, interpret, and cite the scientific literature.
Students will learn to interact effectively in a group to solve scientific problems.
Students will complete a well-defined project grounded in the chemical literature and contribute new knowledge to the discipline and report their findings.

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

Students will gain foundational and in-depth theoretical training in five sub-disciplines in chemistry: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, physical, and organic.
Students will connect theory to experiment using accepted scientific theories to explain data and analyses, develop or select appropriate models for systems, and understand the limitations of models and theories.
Students will construct scientific explanations and arguments, including explanations of results, use evidence to support the interpretation of results, and use mathematics and computational tools.
Students will record, organize, and analyze data through effective laboratory notebooks, analyze data using appropriate statistical methods and software, understand uncertainties in experimental measurements, and assess experimental errors and draw appropriate conclusions.
Students will learn to work safely, including adherence to a written chemical hygiene plan, training in the use of emergency equipment and personal protective equipment, use of engineered controls, proper disposal techniques, understanding hazards associated with chemicals, using safety data sheets and standard operating procedures.
Students will gain communication skills, including technical writing, use of visual representations, and oral presentation.
Students will gain information retrieval, evaluation, and management skills including effective methods for searching the chemical literature, use of chemical identifiers to locate physical and chemical properties in handbooks and databases, and read, analyze, interpret, and cite the chemical literature.
Students will learn to interact effectively in a group to solve scientific problems.
Students will complete a well-defined project grounded in the chemical literature and contribute new knowledge to the discipline and report their findings.