Mar 28, 2024  
2020/2021 University Catalog 
    
2020/2021 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Curricula by Department

 

OFFICE: Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science 209
TELEPHONE: 619-594-5595 / FAX: 619-594-4634
E-MAIL: cheminfo@sdsu.edu
WEBSITE: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/chemistry

Certified by the American Chemical Society.

Undergraduate Information

Faculty

Emeritus: Carrano, Chatfield, Cobble, Dahms, Grubbs, Jensen, Jones, Joseph, Landis, Lebherz, Mathewson, Metzger, O’Neal, Richardson, Ring, Roeder, Stewart, Stumph, Woodson
Chair: Tong
Professors: Cooksy, Grotjahn, Huxford, Roberts, Tong
Associate Professors: Bergdahl, Cole, Gustafson, Harrison, Holland, Love, Pullman, Purse, Smith, Swairjo, van der Geer
Assistant Professors: Forsberg, Gu, Komperda, Lee, Sohl, Yan

The Major

Through the study of chemistry, students can better understand their environment and develop new materials that provide for a higher quality of life. Chemists are involved in a wide range of careers in research, development and the production of new goods. Basic chemical research provides society with discoveries of new substances and the means to predict their chemical and physical properties. In developmental chemistry, professionals find ways to put them to use. There are careers in methods of production to provide these materials to society in a cost-effective way. In each of these areas, there are subspecialties in analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers five degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Science degree, the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree (with the University of California, San Diego).

There are several options available in the undergraduate program for those wishing either a major or a minor in chemistry. A chemistry major with the Bachelor of Science degree and certificate of the American Chemical Society is designed to qualify students for many types of positions as chemists and for admission to graduate study.

The chemistry major with the Bachelor of Arts degree and certificate of the American Chemical Society is specifically designed to prepare students for careers and graduate work requiring a strong chemistry background. With an appropriate choice of electives, graduates can meet the requirements for admission to medical, dental and pharmaceutical schools. A minor in biology is recommended.

The use of chemistry electives allows a student to focus on a particular area in chemistry such as analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, or physical chemistry.

Impacted Program

The chemistry major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the chemistry major, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete preparation for the major;
  2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
  3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  4. For the chemistry major with an emphasis in integrated teacher education program (ITEP-SS), students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.


Graduate Information

Faculty

William G. Tong, Ph.D., Albert W. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chair of Department
Andrew L. Cooksy, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Douglas B. Grotjahn, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Graduate Admissions and Doctoral Adviser)
Tom Huxford, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
William E. Stumph, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Emeritus
B. Mikael Bergdahl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Thomas E. Cole, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Graduate Admissions Adviser and M.S./M.A. Graduate Adviser)
Jeffrey L. Gustafson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Christopher R. Harrison, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Gregory P. Holland, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
John J. Love, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
David P. Pullman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Undergraduate Adviser)
Byron W. Purse, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Diane K. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Manal A. Swairjo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Peter van der Geer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Erica Forsberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jing Gu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Regis Komperda, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Young Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Christal D. Sohl, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Yong Yan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Associateships

Graduate teaching associateships and graduate nonteaching associateships in chemistry and biochemistry are available to a limited number of qualified students. Graduate teaching associateships can be valuable for applicable degree programs, preparing students for a teaching career. Application forms and additional information may be secured from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry websites at http://www.chemistry.sdsu.edu/forms and http://www.chemistry.sdsu.edu/graduate/degrees.php#GradAdmission.

General Information

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts, the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in chemistry. The Ph.D. degree is offered jointly with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego. Thesis research in all graduate programs is offered in the following areas of chemistry: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical education, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at SDSU provides a substantial inventory of modern chemical instrumentation in support of teaching and research. Included are systems for the performance of nearly all major types of chemical separations; several GC- and two HPLC-mass spectrometric systems; 400, 500, and 600 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers; three FT infrared spectrometers; ultraviolet-visible spectrometric instruments for both atomic and molecular emission and absorption studies; electrochemical instrumentation for potentiometric, voltammetric and coulometric measurements; radiochemical instrumentation; laser systems for spectroscopy, covering UV to mid-IR wavelengths, and x-ray diffractometers for both small and macromolecules. Several groups have inert-atmosphere gloveboxes for conducting research on air- and moisture-sensitive compounds. The departmental computer lab has 25 personal computers (Mac and PC) for general use, and numerous research-grade computers are housed in individual laboratories. Access is also available to accounts on the College of Sciences Molecular Sciences Cluster and at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. In-house support staff includes NMR, analytical instrument technicians, and a well-equipped shop is available for machining, plastic working, welding, and other fabrications needs.

Admission to Graduate Study

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the application fee.

In addition, admissions materials must be submitted electronically. Three letters of reference are required from people who can comment on the applicant’s academic and research abilities. Refer to http://www.chemistry.sdsu.edu/graduate/degrees.php#GradAdmission for requirements for direct and indirect admission to the doctoral program and admission to Master of Science and Master of Arts programs.

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

  1. (Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;
    • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
    • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
  3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

For information about the admissions process, visit the school website at http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/chemistry.

Master’s Degree Programs

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as stated in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . In addition, the student must pass orientation examinations in chemistry. These examinations should be taken during the first year in residence.

Doctoral Program

http://www.chemistry.sdsu.edu/chemistry/

Faculty

The following faculty members of the cooperating institutions participate in the joint doctoral program, being available for direction of research and as departmental members of joint doctoral committees.

San Diego State University:
Graduate Advisers:
Thomas E. Cole (master’s degree programs, Douglas B. Grotjahn (doctoral program)
Graduate Admissions: Thomas E. Cole, Douglas B. Grotjahn
Committee Members: Bergdahl, Cole, Cooksy, Grotjahn, Gustafson, Harrison, Holland, Huxford, Love, Pullman, Purse, Smith, Sohl, Stumph, Tong, van der Geer

University of California, San Diego:
Vice Chair of Graduate Education: Judy Kim
Committee Members: Amaro, Baker, Bertram, Burkart, Cohen, Continetti, Crowell, Dennis, Devaraj, Dixon, Donoghue, Dorrestein, Figueroa, Fox, Galperin, G. Ghosh, P. Ghosh, Gianneschi, Guerrero, Hermann, Hoffmann, Jennings, Joseph, Kim, Komives, Kubiak, Kummel, Lindenberg, Magde, McCammon, Molina, Molinski, Muller, Nakagawa, Nicolaou, O’Connor, Opella, Paesani, Perrin, Prather, Rheingold, Sailor, Sawrey, Sinha, Tauber, Taylor, Tezcan, Theodorakis, Thiemens, Toor, Tor, Trogler, Tsien, Tukey, Viadiu, Wang, Weare, Whitesell, Yang

Programs

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Curricula by Department