Chemistry

http://www.uwplatt.edu/chemep/chem

Department Chair: Charles R. Cornett
Office: 201 Ottensman Hall
Phone: 608-342-1651
Contact: Dr. Charles Cornett
Office: 312 Ottensman Hall
Phone: 608-342-1651
E-mail: cornettc@uwplatt.edu
Program Assistant:
Kelly F. Steiger
Professors:
Jesse G. Reinstein
James P. Hamilton
Associate Professors:
Steven A. Steiner
Charles R. Cornett
Tim Zauche
Qiong (June) Li
Assistant Professors:
Chanaka Mendis
Michael Ruane
Lecturers:
Sofia Carlos-Cuellar
Richard Carman
Chemistry Laboratory Manager:
Kari Frederick

Chemistry

Standard Major
American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Major
Biochemistry Emphasis
Criminalistics Emphasis

About the Department and Majors

The Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics offers two distinct majors in Chemistry and Engineering Physics in addition to minors in Chemistry and Physics. Each of these programs are described separately below.

Five chemistry programs are offered to meet the varied needs of our students. They include: the standard chemistry major (Standard Major) the American Chemical Society (ACS) approved major (American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Major) the biochemistry emphasis (Biochemistry Emphasis) the criminalistics emphasis (Criminalistics Emphasis ACS-track; DNA-track); and the chemistry minor.

General Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree

Total for Graduation: 120 credits
General Education: 31 credits

Every student majoring in chemistry must meet the writing certification requirement as established by the department. Details may be obtained from the department chairperson. All chemistry majors are required to have an industrial/research experience in their junior or senior year. This requirement can be satisfied either by CHEMSTRY 4000 Undergraduate Research or CHEMSTRY 4660 Cooperative Field Experience. Students in the Criminalistics Emphasis may satisfy this requirement through CRIMLJUS 4880 Internship.

Statement of Purpose - Chemistry Program

In order to realize the mission of the university and the vision of the college, the Chemistry Program has the mission of providing students with information, theories and applications relating to the properties and interactions of matter, the methods used to obtain such insight and the abilities to critically analyze and synthesize such information. Foremost, the Chemistry Program has a commitment to the preparation of majors in the field of their choice with a strong background in the chemical sciences.

As such, the Chemistry Program will maintain an intellectual environment and educational experiences which will:

  1. provide students majoring in chemistry with high quality preparation for successful professional practice in chemistry or admission to graduate or other professional schools
  2. provide students majoring in other areas which specifically require chemistry as part of their curriculum with a broad-based knowledge of chemistry which meets the needs of their major; and
  3. provide students taking chemistry as part of their liberal studies with a broad-based knowledge of chemistry as well as insight into the nature of the natural sciences.

Expected Student Outcomes

  1. A chemistry graduate will be scientifically literate and possess a broad-based knowledge of chemical principles and techniques.
  2. A chemistry graduate will be able to solve problems through creative and analytical thinking.
  3. A chemistry graduate will be an effective communicator.
  4. A chemistry graduate will be intellectually curious and value lifelong learning.
  5. A chemistry graduate will value ethical character.
  6. A Chemistry Graduate will be able to work independently as well as cooperatively.
  7. Non-majors will apply their knowledge of chemistry content with laboratory practices to their major.
  8. Liberal arts students will discover what patterns, principles and dynamics find expression in empirical data science; assess the character, possibilities and limitations of the scientific method; and engage actively in analysis of directly encountered natural phenomena.

Chemistry Major (38 credits required)

The Chemistry Major is designed to equip the graduates with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes so they can secure meaningful employment in industrial or governmental laboratories, enter graduate and professional schools or teach at the secondary school level.

* not required for the criminalistics emphasis-DNA track

Required Chemistry Courses

Students are encouraged to take the following additional mathematics and substitute physics courses:

Students in secondary education should add to the 36-credit chemistry requirement GEOGRPHY 3330 Environmental Conservation. Students who expect to enter a graduate program in chemistry are advised to elect additional advanced courses in chemistry or elect the ACS-approved major.

Chemistry Major, ACS Approved (46 credits)

The ACS Major is recognized by the American Chemical Society and is designed to give the graduate a stronger focus on chemistry. ACS Majors are required to take MATH 2840 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III. The curriculum includes all courses required for a chemistry major plus:

Plus one additional two-credit course selected from:

Study of a foreign language is recommended for students who plan to pursue graduate studies. In addition, substitution of PHYSICS 2530, 2510, 2640 and 2610 for the minimum physics courses is strongly encouraged for ACS-approved chemistry majors.

Chemistry Major, Biochemistry Emphasis (53-55 credits)

The Biochemistry Emphasis is designed to provide the appropriate chemistry and biology background for the graduate who plans to enter fields such as health, agriculture or safety. The Biochemistry Emphasis includes all courses required for the Chemistry major as well:

Biology Electives (2-4 credits):

Chemistry Major, Criminalistics Emphasis, ACS-Track (63 credits) or DNA-Track (66 credits)

This program gives a chemistry major sufficient background in criminal justice to qualify for criminalistic laboratory work. The curriculum includes all courses required for a chemistry major, plus:

CRIMLJUS 3730 Women and the Law, CRIMLJUS 4030 Criminal Law and CRIMLJUS 4330 Criminal Procedure and Evidence are highly recommended electives. Criminalistics emphasis majors are required to take the following general education courses:

Students electing the Criminalistics Emphasis ACS-track are required to complete all requirements for the ACS-approved Chemistry Major. Students electing the Criminalistics Emphasis DNA-track are required to complete the core Chemistry major, Criminalistics Emphasis courses listed above and:

Chemistry Minor (23-24 credits)

The Chemistry Minor is designed to provide a broader background including a chemistry perspective to students in other majors including those preparing to teach secondary school.

Engineering Physics

http://www.uwplatt.edu/chemep/phys

Professors:
Philip W. Young
W. Doyle St. John
Associate Professor:
Harold T. Evensen
Assistant Professors:
Wei Li
Marlann Patterson
Senior Lecturer:
Jerome J. Wilson
Lecturer:
Terry L. Baker
Physics Laboratory Manager:
Duane Foust

The Engineering Physics (EP) program at UWP is a hybrid of applied physics, electrical engineering (EE) and mechanical engineering (ME). The Engineering Physics curriculum provides students with a fundamental knowledge of physics and the application of physics to engineering problem solving, including design. It includes introductory courses in mechanical and electrical engineering as well as a significant professional engineering concentration tailored to suit the individual's particular interest. The program is designed to address the needs of students seeking innovative careers in high-tech fields, areas where multiple engineering disciplines merge (e.g. electro-mechanical industries), or non-traditional engineering disciplines (e.g. acoustics). The EP program is also structured for those students who have an interest in the physical sciences as well as engineering. The majority of graduates of the EP program have entered industry in such diverse areas as mechanical controls, digital and analog electronics, nuclear instrumentation, software development, manufacturing and building acoustics. Others have chosen to attend graduate school in either engineering or physics programs.

Educational Goals and Objectives

The Engineering Physics program provides Engineering Physics majors with a high quality undergraduate education in liberal studies, mathematics, science and engineering to prepare them a) to apply fundamental physics and engineering principles, mathematics and modern engineering tools to solve engineering problems, b) to be able to approach non-traditional or multi-disciplinary engineering problems, c) as good citizens, and d) for a lifetime of learning.

Graduates of the Engineering Physics (EP) Program must fulfill the following Program Outcomes as part of their education in engineering physics:

  1. Engineering physics graduates from UWP must have demonstrated:
    1. working knowledge of fundamental physics and basic electrical and mechanical engineering principles,
    2. the ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering physics problems,
    3. the ability to apply the design process to engineering physics problems, and
    4. the ability to formulate, conduct, analyze and interpret experiments in engineering physics.
  2. Engineering physics graduates from UWP must have developed professional skills which will allow them to:
    1. communicate their ideas effectively, both orally and in writing,
    2. function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, and
    3. use modern engineering techniques and tools.
  3. Engineering physics graduates must have the educational background to be good citizens as well as good engineers, including:
    1. an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibility to society,
    2. knowledge of contemporary issues related to engineering physics and understanding of the impact of engineering in a global and societal context, and
    3. a desire for lifelong learning to improve themselves as citizens and engineers.

Curricular Goals

The Engineering Physics curriculum is 129 credits including 55 credits of engineering. The EP program provides a balanced curriculum emphasizing physics and engineering principles with design, diverse hands-on experiences to prepare the EP graduate for the demands of laboratory or manufacturing environments and strong communication and team working skills. The engineering credits are divided nearly equally among electrical and mechanical engineering science, engineering physics and a professional engineering concentration. The EE and ME science includes introductory courses that provide the necessary prerequisites for further study in these two areas. The EP core covers nearly all the basic areas of physics with a special emphasis placed on practical problem solving, including design. The professional engineering concentration consists of electives. Here a student may tailor the program to suit individual interests by selecting from a long list of courses in electrical and mechanical engineering as well as some courses in software and industrial engineering. While students are free to choose the electives, we encourage them to select one of the following preconfigured concentrations: controls, electronics/communications, mechanical design, electric power, energy conversion (or thermo-fluid systems), software/digital or biomedical engineering.

General Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree

Total for Graduation: 129 credits
General Education: 31 credits

Engineering Physics Major (98 credits)

Mathematics (15 credits)

Math Electives (3 credits)

Basic Sciences (18 credits)

(Other)

Engineering Science (19-20 credits)

Engineering Physics (20 credits)

Professional Engineering Electives (15-16 credits)

Students may choose any of the 3000/4000 level Electrical Engineering and 3000/4000 level Mechanical Engineering courses, as well as a short list of Software Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Physics courses, for the Professional Engineering electives. Three of these courses must include design and at least one must be 4000 level. While the student is free to choose, the program encourages students to select courses which form a concentration. Such concentrations have been developed and are as follows:


Controls: EE3020, EE3310, EE4310, EE4350
Mechanical Design: ME3040, ME3330, ME3730, two of ME4440, ME4800, ME4840, ME4850
Electronics: EE3020, EE3770, EE3310, EE3410, EE4440
Electrical Power: EE3020, EE3410, EE4430, EE4450
Thermal Design: ME3300, ME3640, three of ME4730, ME4550, ME4600, ME4520, ME4630
Digital: EE3770, EE3780, EE3130, EE4720, EE4750
Biomedical (computing): Biology 2340, IE3430, ME4500, EE3770, EE3780, EE4720
Biomedical (mechanics): Biology 2340, IE3430, ME4500, ME3040, ME4440, ME4430

Grade Requirements:

  1. A "C" or better is required in PHYSICS 2530, 2640, 3140 and ENGRPHYS 4010.
  2. Only one "D" in engineering physics courses may be counted towards graduation.
  3. An average GPA of "C" (i.e. 2.00) must be maintained in all 3000/4000 engineering courses.

Physics Minor (24 credits)

Minor in Physics (Science Emphasis)

Plus at least 12 credits from:

Minor in Physics (Education Emphasis)

Plus at least 6 credits from: