Chemistry

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

Certified by the American Chemical Society.

Chair: Andrew L. Cooksy, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.A., Harvard University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)

Undergraduate Adviser: David P. Pullman, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (A.B., Princeton University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University)

Graduate Admissions and Adviser (Doctoral): Douglas B. Grotjahn, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.A., Reed College; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)

Graduate Adviser (Masters): Thomas E. Cole, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Purdue University; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Tom Huxford, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego)

William G. Tong, Albert W. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Interim Vice Provost (B.S., Mandalay University, Myanmar; Ph.D., Iowa State University)

B. Mikael Bergdahl, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden)

Jeffrey L. Gustafson, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., San Diego State University; Ph.D., Yale University)

Christopher R. Harrison, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Concordia University, Canada; Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada)

Gregory P. Holland, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D., University of Wyoming)

John J. Love, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., State University of New York; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego)

Byron W. Purse, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., University of Regina, Canada; Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute)

Diane K. Smith, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Lewis and Clark College; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Manal A. Swairjo, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Kuwait University; Ph.D., Boston University)

Peter van der Geer, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Ph.D., University of Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Erica Forsberg, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Ph.D., McMaster University, Canada)

Rees Garmann, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S. University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles)

Jing Gu, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Wuhan University, China; Ph.D., Tulane University)

Regis Komperda, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., M.S., University of Illinois; Ph.D., Catholic University of America)

Youngkwang Lee, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., M.S., Kookmin University, South Korea; Ph.D., Seoul National University, South Korea)

Christal D. Sohl, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., University of Oklahoma; Ph.D., Vanderbilt University)

Yong Yan, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., Wuhan University, China; Ph.D., Tulane University)
 
Lecturers:

Theresa Carlson, B.S.

Karen Peterson, B.S., Ph.D.

Emeritus Faculty:

Carl J. Carrano, Ph.D., 2003-2017, Chair of Department; Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Dale A. Chatfield, Ph.D., 1978-2012, Chair of Department; Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

James W. Cobble, Ph.D., 1973-2002, Vice President for Research and Dean, Graduate Division; Professor of Chemistry

Stephen A. Dahms, Ph.D., 1978-2006, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Edward J. Grubbs, Ph.D., 1961-1997, Professor of Chemistry 

Walter D. Jones, Ph.D., 1962-1991, Professor of Chemistry

Vincent J. Landis, Ph.D., 1954-1997, Professor of Chemistry

Herbert G. Lebherz, Ph.D., 1976-1996, Professor of Chemistry

James H. Mathewson, Ph.D., 1964-1992, Professor of Chemistry

Robert P. Metzger, Ph.D., 1968-2009, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

H. Edward O’Neal, Ph.D., 1961-1994, Professor of Chemistry [Senate Distinguished Professor]

William H. Richardson, Ph.D., 1963-1994, Professor of Chemistry [Senate Distinguished Professor]

Morey A. Ring, Ph.D., 1962-1995, Professor of Chemistry

Stephen B. W. Roeder, Ph.D., 1968-2010, Dean of College of Sciences; Chair of Department; Chair of Physics; Professor of Chemistry

Charles J. Stewart, Ph.D., 1955-1992, Chair of Department; Professor of Chemistry

William E. Stumph, Ph.D., 1983-2012, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

John H. Woodson, Ph.D., 1961-1998, Professor of Chemistry

Undergraduate Information

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. Chemical education is also a research focus in our department, striving to understand how our students learn and how we may improve our teaching methods.

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 for those pursuing careers in the health professions.

The use of chemistry electives allows a student to focus on a particular area in chemistry such as analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical education, 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

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://chemistry.sdsu.edu/forms and http://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 with probes for solid-state as well as liquid samples; 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 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, 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://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 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.

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, Forsberg, Garmann, Grotjahn, Gu, Gustafson, Harrison, Holland, Huxford, Komperda, Lee, Love, Pullman, Purse, Smith, Sohl, Swairjo, Tong, van der Geer, Yan

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

• Chemical Physics, B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences
• Chemistry Minor
• Chemistry, B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences
• Chemistry, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Chemistry, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Certificate of the American Chemical Society
• Chemistry, B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences and Certificate of the American Chemical Society
• Chemistry, Emphasis in Biochemistry, B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences and Certificate of the American Chemical Society
• Chemistry, Emphasis in Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP-SS), B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences
• Chemistry, M.A.
• Chemistry, M.S.
• Chemistry, Ph.D.

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