Seeley G. Mudd 418
(213) 740-7036
FAX: (213) 740-2701
E-mail: chemmail@chem1.usc.edu
URL: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chemistryChair: 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 Chair in Chemistry: Larry R. Dalton, Ph.D.
George A. and Judith A. Olah Nobel Laureate Chair in Hydrocarbon Chemistry: G.K. Surya Prakash, 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 E. Koel, Ph.D.; Charles E. McKenna, 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.
Adjunct Professors: Karl O. Christe, Ph.D.; Peter J. Stang, 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. 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
In addition to the general education requirements, the following courses are required.
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 and Thermodynamics 4 PHYS 152L Fundamentals of Physics II: 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 426 Advanced Organic Chemistry 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 Two advanced electives chosen from among the following: MATH 226, MATH 245, 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 and Thermodynamics 4 PHYS 152L Fundamentals of Physics II: 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 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 and Thermodynamics 4 PHYS 152L Fundamentals of Physics II: 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 faculty is a constant feature of the chemistry graduate programs. The emphasis is on individualized programs aiming at in-depth understanding and development of 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.
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 section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue 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 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 538 and a minimum of five additional courses (20 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 physical, inorganic and organic 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.
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