Chemistry Dept. Changes Courses, Tutorial System

The Faculty of Chemistry has approved extensive curriculum changes in the department, including provisions for an optional sophomore tutorial. In addition, students who have passed the chemistry Advanced Placement (AP) exam will be recommended to enter Chem 20 directly.

Pre-med students who, in the past, planned to take two years of chemistry, may now take three semesters instead if they have a sufficient background.

The present year-long courses, Nat Sci 3 and Chem 6, and the two-year sequence of Chem 11 and Chem 12, will be abolished and replaced by four one semester courses, Nat Sci 3a, Nat Sci 30, Chem 10, and Chem 40a. Chem 20, Chem 60, and Chem 61 will be taught as they are now but at a slightly higher level.

Sophomore Tutorial

"Chem 11, 12 sequence was a five-year experiment to increase the level of teaching. It has been a great success and has caused the level [of difficulty] to rise in other courses so that it is no longer needed. To maintain the close contact with professors it offered students; we are starting a sophomore tutorial," William P. Reinhardt, assistant professor of Chemistry, said.

Presently, students may begin studying chemistry by taking Nat Sci 3, an introductory course requiring little or no background; Chem 6, which is taught at a higher level; or Chem 11, which is designed for students who have passed the AP exam.

Next year, a student with no previous chemistry will enter the Fall introductory course, Nat Sci 3a, and then in the spring, can follow with either Nat Sci 30, which analyzes the chemical aspects of pollution and ecology, or Chem 40a, which presents quantitative chemistry. He then takes Chem 20.

Students with strong preparation in chemistry can take Chem 10 in the spring and Chem 20 the next year or if they passed the AP exam, start immediately with Chem 20.

"Students now take either Nat Sci 3 or Chem 6 before taking Chem 20. The department felt students who take Nat Sci 3 were not as well prepared for Chem 20 as were students from Chem 6. These course changes are designed to correct this disparity," said Reinhardt.

Pre-Med Students

Because many medical schools require two years of college chemistry, the premed student who takes the semester course Chem 10 and then Chem 20, may face difficulties. Leonard K. Nash, the professor of Chemistry who will teach Chem 10 next year, said that this difficulty is easily solved.

"When I taught Chem 2, a high level semester course, most medical schools accepted the course unquestionably. I see no reason for things to have changed. In any case, I will be willing to communicate with any medical school on the student's behalf on this matter," said Nash.

A completely new series of seminar-type classes will replace the present courses at the graduate level of physical chemistry.