Department of Chemistry

260 SCIENCE BUILDING
(248) 370-2320
Fax: (248) 370-2321

Department Website: oakland.edu/chemistry

Chairperson: Arthur W. Bull

Distinguished professor emeritus: Paul Tomboulian

Professors emeriti: Gottfried Brieger, Denis M. Callewaert, Dagmar Cronn, Julien Gendell, Kenneth M. Harmon, Steven R. Miller, Kathleen Moore, R. Craig Taylor

Distinguished professor: Michael D. Sevilla

Professors: Sitaramayya Ari, Maria Szczesniak Bryant, Arthur W. Bull, Roman Dembinski, Joel W. Russell, John V.Seeley, Xiangqun Zeng

Associate professors: Ferman Chavez, Nessan Joseph Kerrigan, Linda Schweitzer

Assistant professors: Edith Chopin, Greg A.N. Felton, Sanela Martic, David Szlag, Evan Trivedi, Marta Wloch

Adjunct professors: David Becker, Grzegorz Chalasinski, Anna C. Ettinger, Om Goel, Gholam-Abbas Nazri, D. David Newlin, Fazlul Sarkar, Joseph R. Stetter

Adjunct associate professors: Klaus Friedrich, Ghassan Saed, Stacy K. Seeley

Adjunct assistant professors: Janet Bennett, Gerald G. Compton, Naomi Eliezer, Jennifer Tillinger

Visiting assistant professor: Charlene Hayden

Lecturers: Marcella Colling, Douglas Herzog, Gaylon Jolley, James Leidel, Thomas Ott, Hari Prasad, Mark Richardson, Wendy Wilson

Chief adviser: Jennifer Tillinger

Oakland University’s chemistry programs offer students the laboratories and equipment typically found at larger universities while retaining strong emphasis on the undergraduate education and informal student-faculty relations characteristic of smaller liberal arts colleges. Additionally, research opportunities are available to qualified undergraduates.

The Department of Chemistry provides highly professional chemistry programs, as well as the liberal arts dedication to developing the highest intellectual and creative potential of its students. The department offers programs of study leading to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in biomedical sciences with specialization in health and environmental chemistry.

High school students intending to major in chemistry should refer to the Admissions section of the catalog for specific preparation requirements.

Planning a Program in Chemistry

Curricula leading to a major in chemistry are quite structured, since knowledge is developed cumulatively in a four-year sequence. This leads to a fairly prescribed order of course presentation with a number of specific course requirements. Students interested in pursuing a program of study in chemistry should consult with a departmental adviser and file a program plan as early as possible in their college career.

Admission to Major Standing

To be eligible for a degree in chemistry, students should be admitted to major standing by the department at least three semesters before graduation. Students must consult with the chemistry department chief adviser and file an application for admission to major standing, which includes a curriculum plan, during the term in which they first take a 300-400 level chemistry course. This procedure is designed to ensure that an appropriate plan of study is completed by graduation.

Applications for major standing in chemistry will be approved after completion of CHM 144 /147 , CHM 145 /148 , CHM 220 , CHM 234 -CHM 235 , CHM 237 , PHY 151 /110 and MTH 154 with a grade point average of 2.00 or better.

Coursework more than 10 years old is subject to reevaluation by the department. An examination may be required to demonstrate proficiency in areas covered by such courses.

American Chemical Society Certification

The Department of Chemistry’s faculty members, facilities and curriculum meet the criteria of the American Chemical Society. This allows the department to certify chemistry students as eligible for society membership. Certification is granted to students who have successfully completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in chemistry.

Research

The Department of Chemistry offers exceptional opportunities year-round for interested and qualified students to participate in faculty research. Course credit for research may be earned in CHM 290 , CHM 490 and CHM 491 . In addition, employment opportunities or fellowships are often available. Such research experience is of particular value to students preparing for graduate study or industrial employment.

Students should feel free to discuss research opportunities with members of the chemistry faculty. Specific arrangements with an individual faculty member must be made before enrollment in CHM 290 , CHM 490 or CHM 491 .

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors may be awarded to graduating seniors in chemistry who have been recommended for honors by their research advisers and have completed all required science courses with high grades.

Advanced Courses in Chemistry

Students pursuing a major in chemistry, B.S. program, take 8 credits of advanced courses in areas of interest. In addition to the courses listed in this catalog, the following advanced courses are open to qualified undergraduates: CHM 521 and 522, Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Topics in Analytical Chemistry; CHM 534 and 535, Advanced Organic Chemistry and Topics in Organic Chemistry; CHM 540, Symmetry in Chemistry; CHM 541 and 542, Advanced Physical Chemistry and Topics in Physical Chemistry; CHM 553 and 554, Advanced Biochemistry and Topics in Biochemistry; and CHM 563 and 564, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and Topics in Inorganic Chemistry. See the on-line Oakland University Graduate course listings for course descriptions.

Biochemistry Program

In cooperation with the Department of Biological Sciences, the Department of Chemistry offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biochemistry. Courses used to fulfill the requirements for a major in biochemistry may not be used simultaneously to fulfill the requirements for a major or minor in chemistry.

Pre-Medical Studies Concentration: Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry and Veterinary Medicine

Pre-Medical Studies: Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry and Veterinary Medicine Concentration

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biochemistry provides students with all the requirements for a pre-medical studies concentration. The Bachelor of Science degree and the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in chemistry provide students with all the requirements for a pre-medical studies concentration with the exception of five courses in biology/biochemistry that must be completed. Students interested in a medical career should refer to the pre-medical studies concentration in medicine, dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine (Other Academic Options ) and consult with the chemistry or biochemistry adviser and with the pre-medical studies adviser.

Course Offerings

The department offers selected courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty. Specific offerings for each term may be found in the Schedule of Classes: sail.oakland.edu

The various introductory chemistry courses (CHM 104 , CHM 143 , CHM 144 /147 and CHM 145 /148 ) are for students in different majors with different levels of mathematical and physical science preparation. Students who do not place in MTH 062 or a higher MTH course are advised to complete MTH 061 prior to enrolling in any chemistry course. Students must consult with the chemistry department adviser or their major adviser before enrolling in CHM 104 or CHM 143 .

CHM 104 is designed primarily for pre-nursing students. Computer science and engineering students may enroll in CHM 143 or CHM 144 /147 . Science majors (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, environmental health, physics) and students majoring in the health sciences should enroll in CHM 144 /147 .

CHM 144 /147 and CHM 145 /148 are prerequisite to all higher chemistry courses except CHM 201 and CHM 300 . Credit will be allowed for only one of each of the following series of courses: CHM 104 , CHM 143 , CHM 144 /147 . Credit will not be allowed in major and minor programs in chemistry, biology or physics for CHM 201 and CHM 300 , except for CHM 300 , which is allowed for the STEP majors in biology and chemistry.

Schedule of classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes: sail.oakland.edu.