All science students at Canisius College need to take two semesters of General Chemistry for Science Majors, CHM111 and CHM112. However, there is a prerequisite for CHM111. The prerequisite course is CHM100, Preparation for Physical Sciences. Students may be waived or test out of CHM100 as described in the next paragraph. Students who successfully complete CHM100 in the fall semester, will be able to take CHM111 (General Chemistry I) in the following spring semester, and CHM112 (General Chemistry II), together with CHM227 (Organic Chemistry I) in the following fall semester. Therefore, they can still graduate on time in four years.
CHM100 is waived by the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for students with a very good record in high school mathematics and chemistry. Students for whom the prerequisite is not waived are registered for CHM100. However, if they believe that their mathematics and chemistry background is very good, sufficient to take CHM111 without CHM100, they may try to test out of CHM100 and into CHM111 by taking the Chemistry Placement Examination. The examination is offered regularly during Orientation Week for the Fall semester, and in the week prior to the Spring semester. For Spring 2012, the exam date is Friday, January 13, from 1-2pm, in HO 202. Bring a calculator for the exam.The exam covers mathematics at the level of MathA Regents (excluding geometry) and chemistry at the level of Chemistry Regents (excluding organic chemistry). Listed below are the websites for “practice” exams in chemistry and in basic math.
Students who pass the Chemistry Placement Examination will be enrolled in CHM111LTL and CHM111 Laboratory. “LTL” stands for “Lecture and Team Learning”. It is a section of General Chemistry that meets six times a week (instead of four times); three times for 50-minutes lecture (L), each lecture followed the next day by 75-minutes problem solving team learning (TL).
If you need more information about the Chemistry Placement Examination please contact Mariusz Kozik, PhD, Chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, by Email kozik@canisius.edu or telephone 716-888-2337.