The Chemistry Department has overriding goals which have an impact on both our graduate
and undergraduate programs. These include:
· Developing students as successful professionals
· Developing students as effective researchers
· Maintaining and enhancing the overall quality of the program
To meet these goals, we have developed specific expectations (outcomes) for our
undergraduate and graduate programs and for our overall program.
Undergraduate Learning Outcomes:
The Chemistry Department Faculty has identified specific objectives of its undergraduate
curriculum. The following are the program objectives (i.e. what we expect graduates to
accomplish after graduating) and learning outcomes (i.e. what we expect the students to be
able to do) that we would like to see our chemistry majors graduate with:
1. Students should have a working knowledge of the main areas of chemistry: organic,
inorganic, analytical, and physical.
2. Students should possess critical thinking and problem solving abilities.
3. Students should be able to perform and understand chemical research.
4. Students should be able to describe, both in writing and orally, chemical processes and procedures.
5. Students should be able to work in a chemical or related field.
Graduate Outcomes
The Chemistry Department has also identified specific objectives and outcomes for both the
Masters and Ph.D. graduate programs.
M.S. in Chemistry
1. Students should have an advanced level understanding of at least three of the following areas of chemistry - Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. They should have a graduate level understanding of their major area(s) of research.
2. Students should broaden their professional foundations through activities such as teaching, internships, and fellowships
3. Students should be able to communicate scientific results in writing and in oral presentation.
4. Students should acquire the basic tools needed to carry out independent chemical research. Students should become proficient in their specialized area of chemistry and successfully complete an advanced research project.
Ph.D in Chemistry
1. Students should have an advanced level understanding of Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. They should master graduate material in their major area(s) of research. In addition to course work, Ph.D. students are required to pass four cumulative exams covering current topics in chemistry during their first three semesters of graduate study.
2. Students should broaden their professional foundations through activities such as teaching, internships, fellowships, and grant applications.
3. Students should be able to communicate the results of their scientific research in writing and in oral presentation. In addition to the final department seminar required of all graduate students, Ph.D. students are required to make an additional presentation at a department seminar or professional meeting.
4. Students should acquire the tools to become fully independent chemical researchers. They should be able to synthesize advanced material from the different areas of chemistry and formulate and carry out a research project that can lead to publication(s) in a refereed journal.
Program Enhancement
To maintain and improve both the undergraduate and graduate programs, the department aims
to:
1. Continue to be competitive by attracting high quality students;
2. Provide effective mentoring that encourages students to graduate in a timely manner;
3. Place graduates in positions in industry and academics
4. Maintain a nationally recognized faculty that is large enough and appropriately distributed across chemistry disciplines to offer students a wide range of fields and expertise.
