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  • Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing

    The Environmental Chemistry Program

    The Saint Vincent College Chemistry Department seeks to provide students with a solid foundation in chemistry set in the broad context of the liberal arts. We provide our graduates with knowledge of chemical principles, laboratory skills, communication skills, and research experience so that they can pursue a variety of career possibilities in chemistry, biochemistry and environmental chemistry.

    • Students in our department get hands-on instruction with instrumentation and equipment that is widely used in the chemical industry, government labs, and graduate schools. In addition, the department has recently acquired an inert atmosphere glovebox, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and an ion chromatograph.
       
    • 100% of our seniors who have applied to graduate school have been accepted. 56% of our seniors who apply to a health profession school are accepted (national avg is about 44%) 48% of our students who are looking for jobs are employed as of the time they graduate.
       
    • Many of our students participate in summer internships either in industry (PPG, Johnson-Matthey, R.J. Lee Group) or at larger research universities (U., of Pittsburgh, U. of Montana)
       
    • The Saint Vincent College chemistry club is a Student Affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society and has received awards of commendation from ACS for its service to the community, educational outreach, and social events for the past 11 years.
       
    • The chemistry department participated in the CLP Emerging Scholars program this past summer where 5 students who had just completed their first year conducted chemical research with 2 faculty members.
       
    • Students graduating with a degree in environmental chemistry will have an understanding of chemical principles in organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry that allows them to apply those principles to advanced topics. Students in biochemistry and environmental chemistry will be able to apply principles specific to their disciplines to advanced topics.
    • Students will be able to perform a variety of modern chemical laboratory techniques and run modern instrumentation. Students in environmental chemistry and biochemistry will be able to perform laboratory techniques specific to their discipline.
    • Students will be able to communicate in both oral and written forms that are appropriate to the modern practice of chemistry. Students should be able to apply the Six Principles of Good Writing to their chemistry writing.
    • Students in their junior and senior years in chemistry will be able to design, develop, conduct, and report on an independent research project.
    • Students will develop higher order thinking skills of synthesis, analysis, and applications.

    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Chemistry 

    Environmental Chemistry Major Requirements (73 credits):
    BL 150,152 General Biology I and II - 6 credits
    CH 101-102 General Chemistry I, II* - 6 credits
    CH 103-104 General Chemistry Laboratory I, II* - 2 credits
    ES 150 Earth Systems Science - 3 credits
    ES 152 Earth Systems Science Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 216 Quantitative Analysis-  3 credits
    CH 218 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 221-222 Organic Chemistry I, II - 6 credits
    CH 223-224 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, II - 2 credits
    CH 228 Introduction to Biochemistry - 3 credits
    CH 231-232 Physical Chemistry I, II - 6 credits
    CH 233 Physical Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 242 Instrumental Analysis - 2 credits
    CH 276 Advanced Environmental Chemistry -23 credits
    CH 277 Methods of Environmental Analysis - 2 credits
    CH 282 Advanced Physical Methods - 2 credits
    CH 301 Research Laboratory - 2 credits
    CH 300, 302 Research Seminar I, II - 2 credits
    MA 111-113 Calculus I, II, III* - 12 credits
    PH 111-112 General Physics I, II - 6 credits
    PH 113-114 General Physics Laboratory I, II - 2 credits

    *General Chemistry I & II with Laboratory fulfill the Natural Science core requirement. Calculus I fulfills the Mathematics core requirement.

    Recommended Core Curriculum courses:
    SO 161 Environmental Administration - 3 credits
    BA 350 Statistics I - 3 credits
    EC 200 Environmental Economics - 3 credits
    PS 390 Environmental Law - 3 credits
    BA 365 Land Use Policy and Planning - 3 credits
    EL 111 Green Writing: Literature and the Environment - 3 credits

    Electives (3 credits)
     

    Fall
    CH 101 General Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 103 General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    MA 111 Calculus I - 4 credits
    EL 102 Language & Rhetoric - 3 credits
    Modern and Classical Language - 3 credits
    Total Fall 14 credits

    Spring
    CH 102 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
    CH 104 General Chemistry II Laboratory - 1 credit
    MA 112 Calculus II - 4 credits
    ES 150 Earth Systems Science - 3 credits
    ES 152 Earth Systems Science Laboratory - 1 credit
    TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
    Modern and Classical Language - 3 credits
    Total Spring 18  credits

    Total Freshman Year 32 credits 

    All students will take one three (3) credit course designated as a Freshman Seminar which will satisfy a Core Curriculum requirement.