Chemistry and Biochemistry

230 Physical Sciences Building
(831) 459-4125
http://chemistry.ucsc.edu

Program Description

Chemistry is central to modern science. Ultimately, most phenomena in biology, medicine, geology, and the environmental sciences can be described in terms of the chemical and physical behavior of atoms and molecules. Because of the wide appeal and utility of chemistry, UCSC offers many lower-division courses, differing in emphasis and style, to meet diverse needs. Students should also note the numerous upper-division course offerings and select those most suitable to their academic interests. The curriculum in chemistry exposes the student to the principal areas of modern chemistry, including organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who plan to end their formal education with a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree, as well as those who wish to go on for an advanced degree. The UCSC chemistry B.A. or B.S. graduate is well prepared to pursue a career in chemistry or an allied field.

Research in chemistry at UCSC is closely interwoven with graduate and undergraduate education. The chemistry and biochemistry program is active at the graduate level, and faculty also encourage undergraduates to become involved in research. Research is done for academic credit in courses 180A-B-C, Senior Research; or in course 199, Tutorial. There are also opportunities for interdisciplinary research spanning, for example, chemistry/physics, chemistry/geology, chemistry/oceanography, chemistry/biology, and chemistry/computer science. At UCSC, it is not uncommon for students to see their own original work published in research journals.

Chemistry and biochemistry faculty and approximately 90 graduate students and 30 postdoctoral fellows are housed in two well-equipped buildings near the Science Library. Standard and specialized spectrophotometric equipment, a number of instruments devoted to structural studies, instrumentation for specialized analytical purposes, and computer facilities used in studies of structure and reactivity are all available. The Science Library has an excellent collection of current journals, in print and electronic form, and reference works, as well as earlier volumes of all the major journals. Additional source material can be readily and rapidly obtained on interlibrary loan.

A degree in chemistry opens the door to a wide variety of academic careers. Some UCSC graduates are working as researchers in industry in areas such as electronic materials, biotechnology, medicinal chemistry, and petrochemicals. Others have entered government service, as research chemists in the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, or law enforcement crime laboratories. Fields such as patent law, commercial development, and scientific writing are open to graduates. Many chemistry majors go on to university graduate programs across the nation to prepare for careers in research, teaching, or a combination of the two. The degree in chemistry also provides a strong disciplinary background in preparation for a career in the important and much needed area of science teaching in high school. A major in chemistry is also an excellent beginning for one of the many opportunities in the health sciences.

The UCSC Chemistry and Biochemistry Department offers both B.S. and B.A. degree programs. The B.S. program has more requirements, and a student in this program earns a degree that meets the requirements of an American Chemical Society certified program. The B.S. degree should be the choice if a student is interested in getting a job in chemistry immediately after receiving their college degree. The B.S. program also provides a good background for graduate work in chemistry. The B.A. program has fewer requirements and should be considered by students who wish to take more science courses outside of chemistry to enter an interdisciplinary area. Examples might be chemical oceanography, geochemistry, chemical physics, environmental chemistry, and health sciences. The B.A. might also be a good choice for students who wish to become high school teachers. However, for either degree, the courses stress the fundamentals of chemistry and allow students to pursue independent research.

Opportunities for Nonmajors

In addition to its regular course offerings for majors, the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department offers several courses for the nonmajor. These include 80A, Chemistry of Nutrition: Concepts and Controversy, and 80H, Introduction to Wines and Wine Chemistry. These courses are taught by chemistry faculty and are designed to present various aspects of chemical science to the nonmajor. A minor in chemistry is also offered for those who wish to have a strong complementary program in chemistry while majoring in another course of study.

Requirements for the B.A. Degree

The requirements for the bachelor of arts in chemistry have been kept to a minimum so that students may tailor their program to their own purposes, for example, to pursue a double major, to study areas of the humanities or social sciences, to complete major requirements late in their college career, or to concentrate study in a specific branch of chemistry. The minimum requirements (including prerequisites) constitute 54 percent of a student's total undergraduate program; consequently, there is ample time to explore and discover other interests within the university. To plan wisely, students are advised to refer to each course description for a detailed listing of prerequisites. Students who decide they want a professional career in chemistry are advised to meet with the chemistry undergraduate staff adviser.

Lower-Division Requirements

Chemistry 1B/M and 1C/N

Mathematics 11A-B and 22 or 19A-B and 22

Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N; or 6A/L, 6B/M,
and 6C/N

Upper-Division Requirements

Chemistry 108A/L and 108B/M; or 112A/L, 112B/M, and 112C/N

Chemistry 151A/L, 163A, 163B, 164A, 164B, and one of the following: 146A, 146B, 146C

Elective(s). At least two if 108A/L and 108B/M are taken; or at least one from the following list if 112A/L, 112B/M, and 112C/N are taken:

Chemistry 103 (can be used as elective only if Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A, 100B, and 100C are not taken as electives)
Chemistry 122, 143, 151B, 156C, 163C, and graduate-level lecture courses in       chemistry
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A, 100B, 100C
Computer Science 12A or 60N, or BME 60
Environmental Toxicology 101
Ocean Sciences 120
Physics 110A-B, 116A-B-C

Comprehensive Requirement. The Comprehensive Requirement is a part of all UCSC degrees. In the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, there are two options for satisfying this requirement:

• Senior thesis. A senior research project based on original experimental or theoretical research (courses 180A-B-C). At the conclusion of the project, the student submits a satisfactory formal research paper to the faculty sponsor. Students arrange for a faculty sponsor by consulting with a relevant faculty member within the chemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major program. In some cases, faculty outside these major programs (for example, in biology, ocean sciences, or Earth sciences) may be an appropriate sponsor. Students who select a sponsor outside the chemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major programs should have the title and description of the proposed thesis reviewed by the undergraduate adviser in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students, usually working in the laboratory of the faculty sponsor, acquire experimental and/or theoretical research experience and skills in the laboratory as well as instruction in the writing of a research paper. Students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress and be in good academic standing while they take 180 courses. Students who achieve excellence in both research and thesis may be awarded honors in the Senior Comprehensive Requirement upon graduation.

• Senior essay. An essay based on literature research (course 199). After agreeing in advance on an appropriate topic of interest and a format, the student submits a satisfactory essay on the topic. Students arrange for a faculty sponsor by consulting with a relevant faculty member within the chemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major program. In some cases, faculty outside these major programs (for example, in biology, ocean sciences, or Earth sciences) may be an appropriate sponsor. Students who select a sponsor outside the chemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major programs should have the title and description of the proposed essay reviewed by the undergraduate adviser in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students acquire experience and skills in scientific literature research as well as in the writing of a research paper.

Chemistry Major B.A. Planner

The following is the recommended academic plan for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the B.A. degree.

Requirements for the B.S. Degree

The bachelor of science major program is designed for students who intend to pursue a professional career in chemistry. It is rigorous and broadly based, appropriate to that purpose. The course requirements for the B.S. major are as follows; please refer to each course description for a detailed listing of prerequisites.

Lower-Division Requirements

Chemistry 1B/M and 1C/N

Mathematics 19A-B, 22

Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N; or 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N

Upper-Division Requirements

Chemistry 112A/L, 112B/M, and 112C/N; or 108A/L, 108B/M, and 143

Chemistry 103

Chemistry 151A/L, 163A, 163B, 163C, 164A, 164B, and one of the following: 146A, 146B, 146C

Electives. At least two from the following list (to receive certification from the American Chemical Society, you must complete Chemistry 122 as one of the two electives):

Chemistry 122, 143 (if not taken for the organic chemistry requirement), 151B, graduate-level lecture courses in chemistry (5 credits or two 3-credit lecture courses)   
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A, 100B, 100C (can substitute for Chemistry 103)

Environmental Toxicology 101

Computer Science 12A or 60N, or BME 60

Ocean Sciences 120

    
Physics 110A-B, 116A-B-C

Comprehensive Requirement: Same as for the B.A. (see above)

B.S. Degree with Biochemistry Emphasis. The biochemistry pathway is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in biochemistry or in a related field such as biotechnology, and it provides an exceptionally rigorous chemistry emphasis.

Chemistry 1B/M and 1C/N

Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N; or 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N

Chemistry 112A/L, 112B/M, and 112C/N; or 108A/L, 108B/M, and 143

Chemistry 151A/L, 163A, 163B, 163C

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 100A, 100B, 100C, 110

Biology 20A, 20B, 20L

Comprehensive Requirement: same as for the B.A. (see above)

Chemistry Major B.S. Planner

The following is the recommended academic plan for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the B.S. degree.

B.S. Degree with Environmental Chemistry Concentration

A concentration within the biology, chemistry, and Earth sciences degree programs, collectively identified as the environmental sciences program, is offered. Students will develop a core competence suitable for pursuing graduate work in the environmental chemistry area or in graduate environmental sciences programs.

Lower-Division Requirements

Biology 20A and 20B

Chemistry 1B/M and 1C/N

Earth Sciences 20/L, 10/L, or 5/L

Environmental Studies 25

Mathematics 11A-B and 22; or 19A-B and 22

Physics 5A/L, 5B/M, and 5C/N; or 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N

Upper-Division Requirements

Environmental Toxicology 101, Source of Pollutants

Chemistry 103, Biochemical Structures, Reactions, and Energetics

Chemistry 108A/L, 108B/M, Organic Chemistry

Chemistry 122, Principles of Instrumental Analysis

Chemistry 151A/L, Chemistry of Metals/Inorganic Lab

Chemistry 163A, Quantum Mechanics and Basic Spectroscopy; and 163B, Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory; and 146A or 146B or 146C, Advanced Laboratory

Chemistry 164A, Physical Chemistry Laboratory I: Data Analysis

Chemistry 1604B, Physical Chemistry Laboratory II

Earth Sciences 110B/M, Earth as a Chemical System/Laboratory

Ocean Sciences 120, Aquatic Chemistry: Principles and Applications; or 220, Chemical Oceanography

Comprehensive Requirement (choose one of the following):

Senior thesis: 180A, 180B, 180C, Senior Research

Senior essay: 199, Tutorial

Environmental Chemistry Planner

The following is the recommended academic plan for students who wish to pursue the environmental chemistry concentration.

Senior Research (courses 180A-B-C) offers an opportunity to participate in the process whereby knowledge is discovered; it is recommended to students, regardless of their ultimate career interest. Students should note, however, that the time demands of Senior Research are greater than those of the usual course.

Requirements for the Minor

The course requirements for the minor, including electives, are the same as for the B.A. degree, with the exclusion of courses 151A/151L, 164A, 164B, 146A, 146B, 146C. The minor has no senior comprehensive requirement.

Advising and Chemistry Curriculum Guide

The chemistry and biochemistry adviser provides counsel to undergraduate majors. Students are encouraged to pick up a declaration of major form at their college office and declare their major at an early date so that advising and planning can commence. To assist with this advising, the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department has prepared a curriculum guide. Copies are available at the office.

Prerequisites

Students who wish to obtain permission to take a course without having completed the listed prerequisites must make prior arrangements with the instructor. Courses are designed for students who have met all the prerequisites; those who have not are at a disadvantage.

High School Preparation

Prospective chemistry majors are encouraged to get a solid foundation in high school mathematics; familiarity with algebra, logarithms, trigonometry, and analytic geometry is particularly recommended. High school study of chemistry is not necessary to major in chemistry. Students without high school chemistry start their program with course 1A, whereas those with some preparation start in courses 1B and 1M. Experience shows that starting with course 1A does not cause any impediment to progress in the major.

Transfer Students

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department encourages the admission of students from community colleges. Students who intend to transfer from other institutions, particularly community colleges, are urged to develop a strong background in general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, and physics. If the institution offers a physics course based on calculus as well as a non-calculus-based course, the student should take the calculus-based course. Prospective transfer students should consult with a community college adviser regarding details of course transferability, and soon after arrival at UCSC, they should meet with a UCSC adviser to clarify their transfer credit status.

Program for Students of the Health Sciences

Students intending to enter medical, dental, or another health science professional school can satisfy entrance requirements with a major program in chemistry supplemented with further courses, especially in biology, as specified by the particular school. Students are urged to contact the Health Career Resource office. A brochure about preparing for careers in the health sciences is available from that office on request.

Biochemistry Program

Please see the biochemistry and molecular biology program description and major requirements.

American Chemical Society Certification

The American Chemical Society (ACS) recognizes certain undergraduate programs, including those of UCSC, to be of such quality as to entitle graduates to become ACS members immediately upon graduation. Graduates must be individually certified to the ACS by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department chair if they have satisfactorily completed an approved program of study. ACS certification standards are rigorous; a graduate who has met them carries a distinction that is well recognized in the profession. Broadly speaking, ACS certification requirements are satisfied by completing a B.S. major in chemistry (not including concentrations in biochemistry or environmental chemistry) at UCSC, including course 122 as an elective. A year of study in a major modern foreign language (preferably German) is recommended. More information is available from the chemistry undergraduate adviser.

Graduate Programs

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department offers three graduate degrees: the Ph.D., a thesis M.S., and a coursework M.S. The Ph.D. and thesis M.S. programs are designed to help students develop into independent scholars while pursuing the excitement of scientific research in a personal, supportive environment. Both the Ph.D. and the research M.S. programs prepare students for careers in academia, industry, government laboratories, and other settings requiring an advanced education in chemistry and related disciplines. The coursework M.S. does not require research and is suited to teachers and others wishing to update or broaden their chemical expertise. Approximately 90 graduate students are currently enrolled in the graduate program.

Within the Ph.D. program students have the flexibility to design a course of study focused on personal research interests, and at the same time are expected to maintain the high intellectual standards associated with the doctoral degree. Research options include biochemistry, physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and bioorganic chemistry. Collaborative research efforts are encouraged, both intra- and inter-departmentally. The interdisciplinary Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering emphasizes bioinformatics, nanotechnology, and computational approaches to chemistry. Biochemists join geneticists, computer scientists, and biologists in the Center for the Molecular Biology of RNA. Productive interactions have also developed between Chemistry and Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, and the School of Engineering.

Before beginning course work, Ph.D. students take attainment exams to confirm their level of preparation in four areas: organic, inorganic, physical, and biochemistry. First-year students take 292 and 296, and select an adviser and research committee in spring quarter. In the first two years, students enroll in core courses and electives related to their specialization. Core courses are 200A, B, and C for biochemistry and biophysical chemistry; 234 and 256A, B, or C for inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry; the 240 series for organic chemistry; and 261, 262, and 263 for physical chemistry. Organic studies students must pass four cumulative exams based on assigned reading in current research journals. The Ph.D. candidate's research committee meets formally with the student to evaluate research progress at least once a year. Students are expected to finish all Ph.D. requirements in five to six years.

M.S. students and Ph.D. students who have not advanced to candidacy attend a weekly seminar (291A, B, C, or D). Speakers from UCSC, other universities, and research labs expose students to advances at the frontiers of chemical research, offering the opportunity for personal contact with leading scientists.

Teaching assistantships provide both financial support and the opportunity to put into practice the required pedagogical training offered in 296 (presentation techniques, discussion strategies, lab teaching skills, lab safety procedures, time management). Advanced doctoral students can also be supported as graduate student researchers.

Ph.D. Requirements

1.  Pass all four attainment exams and meet any deficiencies as directed by spring of first year.

2.  Take 292 and 296 in fall of first year.

3.  Take 291A, B, C, or D, Research Seminar, every quarter until advanced to candidacy.

4.  Organic studies students must pass four out of 12 "cumulative exams" based on reading lists of current published organic research.

5.  Select adviser and nominate Research Committee in spring of first year.

6.  Present second-year seminar on a topic of current interest in published research outside own research area.

7.  TA at least three quarters in the first two years, before attempting the Ph.D. oral qualifying exam.

8.  Pass six lecture courses: at least four at 200 level, at least four in Chemistry and Biochemistry; on departmental approval, up to two courses may be at upper-division undergraduate level.

9.  In the fall of the third year, pass the Ph.D. oral qualifying exam before an examining committee consisting of three Research Committee members plus one outside member approved by the Graduate Dean. Candidate presents (a) a summary of current research results and possible future direction, and (b) an original research proposal on a chemistry or biochemistry topic either related or unrelated to the candidate's current thesis research.

10. Nominate Dissertation Reading Committee (DRC).

11. Submit research prospectus (outline of dissertation chapters) in spring of fourth year and meet with DRC to review research progress.

12. Submit updated research prospectus (outline of dissertation chapters) to DRC in winter of fifth year.

13. Present dissertation seminar.

The average time to degree is five and one-quarter years. Ph.D. candidates are expected to complete research and write the dissertation within nine quarters after advancing to candidacy following a successful Ph.D. oral qualifying exam. Financial support is no longer available after 18 quarters in the graduate program.

For both Ph.D. and M.S. students, the standard course load is three courses per quarter, or a total of 15 units per quarter.

M.S. Requirements: Research Thesis Path

1.  Pass all four attainment exams in the first year.

2.  Take 292.

3.  Take 296 if enrolled as teaching assistant at the time.

4.  Take 291A, B, C, or D each quarter.

5.  Select adviser and nominate Research Committee in the first year.

6.  Pass at least five Chemistry and Biochemistry lecture courses, of which at least three must be graduate level (200).

7.  Conduct original laboratory research.

8.  Capstone requirement: write thesis based on original research.

M.S. Requirements: Coursework Path

1.  Pass all four attainment exams in the first year.

2.  Take 296 if enrolled as teaching assistant at any time.

3.  Take 291A, B, C, or D each quarter.

4.  Pass nine courses. Of these, seven must be lecture courses (at least four at 200 level) from three of the four sub-disciplines.

5.  Capstone requirement: present seminar on a topic of current interest in published research.

Materials Fee

Chemistry students should be aware of the materials fee required for some courses. The fee is billed to the student's account for specific laboratory materials purchased by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry through the university. Fees generally range from $15 to $50 per course. Students may incur additional expense, purchasing individual supplies.