Undergraduate Degrees

Graduate Degrees

Courses of Instruction

Seeley G. Mudd 418
(213) 740-7036
FAX: (213) 740-2701
E-mail: chemmail@chem1.usc.edu
URL: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chemistry

Chair: Philip J. Stephens, D. Phil.

Faculty

Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Chair in Organic Chemistry: George A. Olah, Ph.D.

Paul A. Miller Chair in Letters, Arts and Sciences: Curt Wittig, Ph.D.

Harold and Lillian Moulton Endowed Chair in Organic/Polymer Chemistry: Larry R. Dalton, Ph.D.

Professors: Robert Bau, Ph.D.*; Robert A. Beaudet, Ph.D.; David A. Dows, Ph.D.; Thomas C. Flood, Ph.D.; Thieo E. Hogen-Esch, Ph.D.; Bruce Koel, Ph.D.; Charles E. McKenna, Ph.D.; G.K. Surya Prakash, Ph.D.; Christopher A. Reed, Ph.D.*; Hanna Reisler, Ph.D.; Gerald A. Segal, Ph.D.*; Kenneth L. Servis, Ph.D. (Dean, Academic Records and Registrar); Lawrence A. Singer, Ph.D.*; Philip J. Stephens, D. Phil.; Howard S. Taylor, Ph.D.; Arieh Warshel, Ph.D.; William P. Weber, Ph.D.*

Associate Professors: Chi H. Mak, Ph.D.*; Nicos Petasis, Ph.D.; Mark E. Thompson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor: Stephen E. Bradforth, Ph.D.

Emeritus Professors: Arthur W. Adamson, Ph.D.*; Sidney W. Benson, Ph.D.; Anton B. Burg, Ph.D.; Otto Schnepp, Ph.D.; James C. Warf, Ph.D.

*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.

Programs

The Department of Chemistry offers degree programs which provide undergraduate and graduate students with core instruction and excellent research opportunities. Senior research projects are common.

The department regularly revises its curriculum to keep pace with the rapid expansion of knowledge of chemistry. Undergraduate programs leading to the B.S. and B.A. degrees are offered. The B.S. degree is intended for persons preparing for careers in chemistry and satisfies the guidelines for a chemistry degree recommended by the American Chemical Society. The B.A. degree is designed for students who wish a concentration of course work in chemistry, but who have career plans in the health sciences, business or law. In addition, a chemistry minor is available for students who want a broader exposure to the chemical sciences. Graduate programs are offered leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts

Departmental Major Requirements (B.S.)

Required courses, Lower division		Units
CHEM 105aLbL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aLbL	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 225	Linear Algebra and Linear Differential Equations, or
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Waves, and Sound	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Thermodynamics, Electricity, and Magnetism	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics and Modern Physics	4

Required courses, Upper division		Units
CHEM 300L	Analytical Chemistry	4
CHEM 325abL	Organic Chemistry	4-4
CHEM 332L	Physical Chemical Measurements	4
CHEM 430ab	Physical Chemistry	4-4
CHEM 453	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHEM 423L	Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, or
CHEM 465L	Chemical Instrumentation	4

and one course from among CHEM 426, CHEM 435, or CHEM 471, and two advanced electives chosen from among the following: MATH 226, MATH 245, BISC 216L, or any upper division course in chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics, physics or engineering which can satisfy requirements as upper division electives in the major in the department involved.

Chemistry Major Requirements (B.A.)

Required courses, Lower division		Units
CHEM 105aLbL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aLbL	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
MATH 225	Linear Algebra and Linear Differential Equations, or
MATH 226	Calculus III	4
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Waves, and Sound	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Thermodynamics, Electricity, and Magnetism	4
PHYS 153L	Fundamentals of Physics III: Optics Modern Physics	4

Required courses, Upper division		Units
CHEM 300L	Analytical Chemistry	4
CHEM 325abL	Organic Chemistry	4-4
CHEM 430ab	Physical Chemistry	4-4

one course from among:
CHEM 332L	Physical Chemical Measurements	4
CHEM 423L	Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHEM 490x	Directed Research	2-8
CHEM 453	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4

One additional upper division science elective

Physical Sciences Major Requirements (B.S.)

For the lower division, CHEM 105aLbL or 115abL; GEOL 105L; MATH 125 and 126; PHYS 151L and 152L, are required. For the upper division, 32 units of courses (eight courses) applicable to majors in astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences and physics, with at least four units (one course) in each of these four majors.

Chemistry Minor Requirements

Required courses, Lower division		Units
CHEM 105aLbL	General Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aLbL	Advanced General Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
MATH 126	Calculus II	4
PHYS 135abL	Physics for the Life Sciences, or
PHYS 151L	Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics, Waves, and Sound	4
PHYS 152L	Fundamentals of Physics II: Thermodynamics, Electricity, and Magnetism	4

Required courses, Upper division		Units
CHEM 300L	Analytical Chemistry	4
CHEM 322abL	Organic Chemistry	4-4

and one more course to be selected from among CHEM 426, 430a or 453

Grade Point Average in Major Subject

A grade of C- or higher is required in each chemistry course specifically listed as a degree requirement. The GPA for all chemistry courses required for a department major or a physical sciences major must be C (2.0) or higher. The GPA for all upper division chemistry courses must also be C (2.0) or higher.

Honors Program

An honors program is available. Please consult with departmental advisors for additional information.

Graduate Degrees

Close contact between students and fac-ulty is a constant feature of the chemistry graduate programs. The emphasis is on individualized programs aiming at in-depth understanding and development of a scientific maturity. Attention is given to career aims, including research and development; secondary, college and university teaching; and the wide variety of industrial testing, operation and management areas.

Admission Requirements

A baccalaureate degree, equivalent to the B.A. with a major in chemistry at USC, is prerequisite to admission to the graduate program in Chemistry. A baccalaureate degree in an appropriate physical science, engineering or mathematics is prerequisite to admission to the doctoral program in chemical physics.

Entering students must take examinations (at the undergraduate level) in physical chemistry and two of the following: organic chemistry, inorganic and analytical chemistry, physics and mathematics; the options depend on each student's objectives. Examinations are scheduled immediately before registration and the results serve as a basis for selecting courses during the first year of graduate study.

Supplemental application must be made to the department on a special form, which includes application for fellowship and teaching assistant appointment and is available on request from the department chair. Materials describing the faculty, research areas and facilities will be sent with the application.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation and the Graduate School for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Master of Arts and Master of Science in Chemistry

The Master of Arts degree is granted on completion of 24 units of graduate course work (not including 590) approved by the guidance committee, and comprehensive final examinations. The Master of Science degree is granted on completion of 24 units of graduate course work, including not more than eight units (normally two registrations) in directed research, approved by the guidance committee, an approved thesis on the results of an original investigation, and a final oral defense of the thesis. The final defense is made while the thesis is in final draft form.

The guidance committee is appointed no later than one month after the student has demonstrated proficiency in the major field of interest, as shown by the background examinations in the case of the M.S. option, or, in the case of the M.A. option, not later than the beginning of the second semester. The guidance committee is chaired by the research director in the case of the M.S. option, or by an appropriate member of the faculty in the case of the M.A. option.

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry

Screening Procedure

Appointment of a guidance committee and registration for research are contingent on passage in a single semester of at least two graduate courses with grades of B or better, and with an overall better than B average in graduate work. Retention in the doctoral program requires at least a B average in the first two semesters of graduate work.

Guidance Committee

The committee is appointed as soon as the student is prepared to undertake research, normally near the beginning of the second semester, and is chaired by the research director. Its function is to guide the student in selection of courses and research and in preparation for the qualifying examination, and to administer that examination.

Course Requirements

Completion, with no grade lower than B (3.0), of a series of graduate courses totaling 24 units, approved by the guidance committee. The committee may require more than 24 units of graduate course work. The overall average for all graduate work must be higher than B. Sixty units of registration, including CHEM 790 and 794, are required for the Ph.D.

Foreign Language Requirement

The department has no formal foreign language requirement. However, an individual guidance committee may require competency in a foreign language if this is relevant to the student's area of research.

Qualifying Examination

The examination requires presentation of two propositions, written answers to questions previously submitted by the committee, and oral defense of both propositions and answers. It is administered by the guidance committee.

Seminar

A research seminar presented within the subdivisional seminar program is required. This usually takes the form of a presentation of research accomplishments just prior to graduation.

Dissertation

An acceptable dissertation based on completion of an original investigation is required. The candidate must defend an approved penultimate draft of the dissertation in an oral examination.

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (Chemical Physics)

Course Requirements

Completion (with no grade lower than B) of CHEM 538a, 538b and a minimum of four additional courses (16 units) selected from chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering with the advisement and approval of the guidance committee. All other requirements and procedures are the same as for the Ph.D. in Chemistry.

Seminars and Research Conference

Seminars are held regularly in chemical physics, inorganic, organic, organometallic and physical chemistry. All students are expected to attend one, and are invited to attend all of these. All students are expected to attend the departmental research conference featuring speakers from all branches of chemistry, who may be local, national or international.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is required for the advanced degrees in chemistry.

NEXT SECTION