Chemistry & Biochemistry

Courses & Curriculum

Chemistry & Biochemistry Major Tracks 

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers several tracks that lead to a BS degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry. These tracks include:

• Chemistry Certified by the American Chemical Society Track 
  (Requirements)  (Suggested Schedule)
• Chemistry Health Professions Track 
  (Requirements)  (Suggested Schedule)
• Chemistry Track 
  (Requirements)  (Suggested Schedule)
• Biochemistry Certified by the American Chemical Society Track 
  (Requirements)  (Suggested Schedule)
• Biochemistry Track 
  (Requirements)  (Suggested Schedule)

Advisors in the Department will help you choose the track that best fits your interests and career plans. Students in all program tracks will gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of modern, sophisticated laboratory instrumentation; this helps provide the experience necessary to be competitive in today’s job market or to gain entrance into highly ranked graduate programs.

Biochemistry or Chemistry BS with Business Minor
All Chemistry and Biochemistry BS tracks can be completed with a business minor. This option provides preparation for employment in sales, marketing, or other industrial professions, as well as preparing students for graduate studies in business or administration.  Click here for Biochemistry and here for Chemistry for the required courses and recommended schedules. 

Special Programs

Early Assurance Program with SUNY Buffalo Medical School or Syracuse Medical School:  Qualified students may apply to the State University of New York at Buffalo Medical School or Syracuse University Medical School during their sophomore year.  Those accepted will be admitted into the Medical School freshman class after their graduation from Canisius.

Early Assurance Program with SUNY Buffalo Dental School:  Qualified students may apply to the State University of New York at Buffalo Dental School during their sophomore year.  Those accepted will be admitted into the Dental School freshman class after their graduation from Canisius.

For more information about Early Assurance Programs, please see the Pre-Medical Center web page.

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental:  The Chemistry and Biochemistry BS degrees are excellent preparations for entering into medical and dental schools, and a third of our graduates from this Department are accepted into these programs.  Students applying to medical or dental schools must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT).

Pre-Pharmacy:  Students who are planning to enter pharmacy school after their sophomore year can be listed as Biochemistry or Chemistry Health Professions Track majors, since the first two years of these programs satisfy most pharmacy school admission requirements for students without BS degrees. For students who want to complete a BS degree before starting pharmacy school, we recommend the Health Professions Chemistry BS track, since students in this track can meet all pharmacy school entrance requirements. Students applying to most pharmacy schools must take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).

Other Chemistry and Biochemistry Programs

Chemical Education
Prepares students for careers as high school chemistry teachers (for details see Education Department, Adolescence Education).

Chemistry Minor
Click here for required courses.

Chemistry Curriculum

Recommended Schedules for Major Courses

Chemistry Minor:

In order to earn a minor in chemistry, students must complete the following courses:

• Two semesters of General Chemistry with laboratory: 
            CHM 111/111L or CHM109/110/111L and CHM 112/112L (8 credits)
• Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with laboratory: 
          CHM 227/227L and CHM 228/228L (8 credits)
• One semester of Analytical Chemistry with laboratory: 
        CHM 230/230L or CHM 334/334L or CHM 430/430L (4 credits)
• One semester of Physical Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry:
         CHM 301 or CHM 302 or CHM 244 (3 credits)
• Chemistry Elective: 
           one CHM 300 or 400 level course (3 credits)

Course Descriptions

CHM 104 Energy, Environment, and Society (3 credits)
Designed to provide a better understanding of energy and our environment, including man’s interaction with his environment and the consequences facing society today. (Field 6) Fall

CHM 105 Chemistry: A Human Perspective (3 credits)
Fundamental principles of chemical theory are presented by examining how key ideas came to fruition in the context of the times and individuals involved.  This course is designed to instill an understanding of the sciences upon which important scientific and technological issues facing society today are based. (Field 6) Spring 

CHM 109 General Chemistry Ia with Review (3 credits)
Part I of the CHM109/110 sequence, three lectures and one recitation per week. Reviews some mathematical concepts, emphasizes dimensional analysis, nomenclature, stoichiometry, solutions, basic chemical reactions, and thermochemistry. Completing the CHM 109/110 sequence is equivalent to completing CHM111 and a Free Elective. A minimum grade of C– in CHM109 is a prerequisite for CHM110. Fall

CHM 110 General Chemistry Ib with Review (4 credits)
Part II of the CHM109/110 sequence, three lectures, one recitation per week, and a 3-hour laboratory co-requisite (CHM 111L). Emphasizes  atomic and molecular structure, periodic properties, gas laws, and states of matter. Completing the CHM 109/110 sequence is equivalent to completing CHM111 and a Free Elective. A minimum grade of C– in CHM110 is a prerequisite for both CHM112 (General Chemistry II) and CHM227 (Organic Chemistry I). Prerequisites: C– in CHM109. Spring

CHM 111 General Chemistry I (4 credits with lab)
General Chemistry (I) for science majors, three lectures, one recitation and one lab per week.  The course emphasizes nomenclature, stoichiometry, solutions, thermochemistry, atomic and molecular structure, periodic properties, and states of matter. Prerequisite: permission by department. A minimum of C- in CHM 111 is a prerequisite for CHM 112 (General Chemistry II) and CHM227 (Organic Chemistry I). Field 6. Fall, with one section offered in the Spring

CHM 112 General Chemistry II (4 credits with lab)
General Chemistry II for science majors, three lectures, one recitation and one lab per week. Continuation of General Chemistry I with emphasis on kinetics, chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and main group elements.  Prerequisites: A minimum of C- in CHM 111 or CHM 110. Field 6. Spring, with one section offered in the Fall.

CHM 227-228 Organic Chemistry (8 credits)
Fundamental treatment of organic chemistry. Mechanisms, structure and synthetic methods. Laboratory covers techniques of separation, purification, analysis and organic synthesis. Three lectures, one laboratory and one recitation per week. Prerequisites: CHM 110 or CHM 111. Fall - Spring

CHM 230 Analytical Chemistry (4 credits)
Principles and methodology of modern analytical chemistry presented with particular emphasis on chromatographic, spectrophotometric and electroanalytical techniques. Three lectures, one laboratory and one recitation per week. Prerequisites: CHM 112 with a minimum grade of C-. Spring 

CHM 232 Analytical Environmental Chemistry (4 credits)
First-level analytical course. Environmental applications. Sampling techniques and statistical analysis of data. Soil chemistry, aquatic chemistry and atmospheric chemistry. Trace analysis with electroanalytical, liquid and gas chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion selective electrodes. Three lectures, one laboratory and one recitation per week. Prerequisites: CHM 111-112. Spring 2014

CHM 244 Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
Periodic classification of the elements, electronic configuration of atoms, nature of chemical bonding, symmetry and group theory, coordination compounds and other aspects of modern inorganic chemistry. Prerequisite: CHM 112 with a minimum grade of C. Fall

CHM 301 Classical Physical Chemistry (3 credits)
Principles of thermodynamics with applications to phase and chemical equilibria. Kinetic theory of gases and chemical kinetics. Three lectures and one recitation per week. Prerequisites: CHM 112 with a minimum grade of C, MAT 111, PHY 201-202 or 223-224, or equivalent courses. Fall

CHM 301L Classical Physical Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
Selected experiments demonstrating principles of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisites: CHM 230 Lab, CHM 301 or concurrent registration in CHM 301. Fall

CHM 302 Modern Physical Chemistry (3 credits)
Introduction to quantum chemistry with applications to the structure of atoms and molecules. Molecular spectroscopy. Three lectures and one recitation per week. Prerequisites: CHM 112 with a minimum grade of C, CHM 244, MAT 111-112, PHY 201-202 or 223-224, or equivalent courses. Spring

CHM 302L Modern Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
Selected spectroscopic experiments with applications to molecular structure. One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisites: CHM 302 or concurrent registration in CHM 302 and CHM 230L or CHM 301L or CHM 334L or CHM 430L with the minimum grade of C-. Spring

CHM 334 Spectrometric Analysis (4 credits)
Spectrometric methods for the elucidation of chemical structures. Includes nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. Emphasis on organic compounds. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: CHM 227-228. Fall

CHM 338 Intermediate Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Important basic concepts in organic chemistry are reviewed at a higher level than is possible in an introductory course. New concepts are presented in the area of reaction mechanisms, physical organic chemistry, and in the use of retrosynthetic analysis to plan multi-step organic syntheses. Prerequisites: CHM 227-228. Fall 2013

CHM 344 Metal Ions in Biological Systems (3 credits)
Chemical processes in biological systems, which include participation of metal ions, are covered. The course begins with the principles of coordination chemistry and structural biochemistry. The rest of the course is organized according to the functions performed by the metal centers: gene expression and signal transduction, digestion, bioenergetics and electron transfer, oxygen transport, liver functions and anticancer drugs. Prerequisites: BIO 111, CHM 227-228 and CHM 244. Spring 2014

CHM 381-480-481 Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar (1 credit each)
CHM 381 Scientific Literature and Communication
CHM 480 Communicating Concepts in Chemistry
CHM 481 Communicating Research Literature
Student-faculty seminar for majors. To be taken for three semesters. Prerequisite: CHM 228 and Junior standing. Spring - Fall - Spring

CHM 401 Modern Synthetic Methods (3 credits)
Structure-reactivity relationships in organometallic chemistry and the application of organometallic compounds in organic synthesis, including industrial catalysis. Prerequisites: CHM 228,CHM 244 and CHM 334. Spring 2015

CHM 401L Modern Synthetic Methods Laboratory (1 credit)
Designed to illustrate some of the most important synthetic and physical techniques used by modern synthetic chemists. Prerequisite: CHM 401 or concurrent registration in CHM 401. Spring 2015

CHM 402 Advanced Physical Chemistry  (3 credits)
Introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Applications of group theory to chemical bonding and molecular spectroscopy. Angular momentum coupling in atomic and molecular spectroscopy. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: MAT 111-112, PHY 202-202 or 223-224, CHM 244 and CHM 302 (or co-requisite). Spring 2014

CHM 420 Materials Chemistry  (3 credits)
A survey of topics and applications in modern materials chemistry including solid state materials, semiconductors, polymers, nanomaterials, and introductions to mechanical properties, device fabrication, and structure-activity relationships. Prerequisites: CHM 228 and CHM 244. Fall

CHM 430 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (4 credits)
Advanced instrumental methods of analysis including spectroscopy, chromatography and various electrochemical techniques. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: CHM 112. Spring

CHM 450 Research in Chemistry (3 credits)
Independent research under the direction of a member of the chemistry faculty. Students are required to spend 9 hours per week conducting research.  Research and consultation times to be arranged after approval of department chair. Fall/Spring

CHM 451 Research in Chemistry (4 credits) 
Independent research under the direction of the chemistry faculty. Students are required to spend 12 hours per week conducting research.  Research and consultation times to be arranged after approval of department chair. Fall/Spring

CHM 455 Medicinal Chemistry (3 credits)
Chemical principles are used to explain the interaction of drugs with biological targets. Strategies used in the design and development of medicines are discussed. Prerequisites: CHM 227-228 and BCH 301. Spring 2013

CHM 490 Internships in Chemistry & Biochemistry  (3 credits)
Internships in chemical or biochemical industry under the direction of company and faculty supervisors. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair. For information about internships, please see the department webpage at: http://www.canisius.edu/chemistry/courses.asp. Fall/Spring

CHM 498-499 Independent Study (1-4 credits) 
Independent study under the direction of the chemistry staff. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair. Fall/Spring

Biochemistry Courses

BCH 301 Introduction to Biochemistry (3 credits)
Structure and function of biological molecules. Topics include proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, enzyme kinetics, ligand binding, recombinant DNA technology, and cell membrane structure and support. Prerequisites: CHM 228 with a minimum grade of C-. Fall

BCH 301L Introduction to Biochemistry Lab (1 credit)
One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisite: BCH 301 or concurrent registration in BCH 301. Fall

BCH 302 Cellular Biochemistry (3 credits)
The more biological aspects of biochemistry. Topics include signal transduction, bioenergetics, metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and metabolic control, emphasizing hormones.  Prerequisite: BCH 301 with a minimum grade of C-. Spring

BCH 403 Molecular Biology  (3 credits)
Biochemical processes at the cellular and molecular level. Topics include DNA structure in chromosomes, replication, repair, and recombination, DNA transcription, RNA structure and function, protein translation and regulation of these processes. Prequisite: BCH 301 with a minimum of C-. Spring

BCH 403L Molecular Biology Lab (1 credit)
One four-hour lab per week. Prerequisites: BCH 301L and BCH 403 or concurrent registration in BCH 403. Spring

BCH 450 Research in Biochemistry (3 credits) 
Independent research under the direction of the biochemistry faculty.  Students are required to spend 9 hours per week conducting research.  Research and consultation times to be arranged after approval of department chair. Fall/Spring

BCH 451 Research in Biochemistry (4 credits) 
Independent research under the direction of the biochemistry faculty.  Students are required to spend 12 hours per week conducting research.  Research and consultation times to be arranged after approval of department chair. Fall/Spring