Chemistry

Chemistry 

Why Major in the Chemical Sciences?

Chemistry is the science of matter and how all matter interacts. It is an exciting science that relates theory with experience in the laboratory?and certainly the only major where you get to blow things up?not that that is a good reason to major in chemistry!

What Will I Learn as a Chemistry Major at UC?

A wide range of courses taken including calculus, biology, and physics.
The ability to take in information and make logical predictions about outcomes based on the information.
Hands on experience with state of the art equipment and the latest software available.
Communication skills in the form of writing journal articles and giving "talks."
Broader experiences that possibly lead to dual-degrees in chemistry and biology or chemistry and environmental science.

The New Information and Science Center

The University of Charleston has a new seven-story science and library building containing state of the art Chemistry laboratories. Hands-on experiments will utilize a variety of analytical and research instruments.

An Environmentally Aware Campus

The UC community has also joined in the efforts of making the campus more environmentally aware with recycling bins for paper, glass, and aluminum products. Due to an overwhelming concern by UC students, paper products have replaced all Styrofoam products on campus.

Research Interests

The Chemistry Program consists of interdisciplinary areas of study in chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental chemistry. It is supported by faculty research interests in these areas, including:

Synthetic and mechanistic organic chemistry studies - The C-H bond activation by inorganic cations and related organic functionalization leading to industrial applications.

Bioinorganic chemistry study - Ligand binding to heme proteins and mechanistic study of electron relay in respiration.

Analytical and environmental chemistry studies - Analytical methods for inorganic and organic species in aqueous systems; and the Kanawha River Project facilitated by a mobile lab.

Chemical education research - New models for bonding in main group molecules essential for undergraduate chemistry curriculum.

ACS Affiliates

The University of Charleston Chapter of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (briefly called ACS Affiliates) has been formed recently. According to the ACS (American Chemical Society) guidelines, the members of the ACS Affiliates should be undergraduate students who are majored in chemical sciences or closely related fields and have substantial interests in the ACS activities. What does the ACS Affiliates do? This student organization will help everybody study chemistry more effectively, have everybody exposed to frontier of the field of chemistry by participating in local, regional, and national ACS activities, and facilitate everybody in career development via ACS information. In addition, this organization can help students contact and communicate with university faculty and other professionals. It also helps students establish friendship each other and enhance interests and happiness in their campus life.

Chi Beta Phi

Chi Beta Phi is a National Science Honorary Fraternity, chartered in 1916. The coeducational fraternity is made up of chapters located at institutions throughout the eastern United States. The purpose of Chi Beta Phi is to aid in the dissemination of scientific information, promote interest in the sciences, and recognize scholarly achievement and outstanding contributions in the fields of science.

The Epsilon Chapter at the University of Charleston was established in 1923. The chapter invites speakers to the university several times a year to address various areas of scientific endeavor. Students research papers can be submitted for publication in The Record, the official publication of Chi Beta Phi.

The fraternity commonly holds several socials such as picnics and holiday parties and recognizes the achievements of many members. A few of the awards annually presented by the chapter include the National Key Award, Outstanding Rising Science Student Award, and the Chi Beta Phi Science Medal which is given to the graduating senior in science with the highest cumulative GPA.

Courses Recommended for Students Majoring in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Charleston is designed to help you acquire a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Freshman Year
General Chemistry
Math 121 or higher
General Biological Science

Sophomore Year
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Calculus
Chemistry Elective
 
Junior Year
Analytical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Undergraduate Research 

Senior Year
Physical Chemistry
Electives
Undergraduate Research

Faculty and Areas of Specialization

E. Neale Blackwood, Ed.D.
West Virginia University
Mathematics and Physics
nealeblackwood@ucwv.edu

Phillip C. Clem, Ph.D.
Indiana State University
Mammalian Ecology
philclem@ucwv.edu

Xiaoping Sun, Ph.D.
University of New Brunswick
Chemistry
xiaopingsun@ucwv.edu

Jennifer Hoffman, M.S.
Marshall University
Mathematics
jenniferhoffman@ucwv.edu

Dr. John Robinson
Chair of the Department of Natural Science and Mathematics
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.A. Malone College
M.D. Medical College of Ohio
johnrobinson@ucwv.edu

Dr. Mark Watson
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S. Marshall University
M.S. Marshall University
Ph.D. University of Georgia
markwatson@ucwv.edu

For more information about the UC Chemistry Degree Program see the UC catalog (under Morris Harvey Division of Arts & Sciences) or call (304) 357-4870. Send questions and comments to Dr. Xioping Sun.