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Chemistry
Chemistry
is the study of matter. Chemists not only study the nature of all substances
that exist, they also create many new substances. Some study the composition,
properties, and structure of compounds, and others delight in investigating
the reactions in which substances are converted into others. Knowledge
of the changes in structure and energy during these reactions, and of
how various factors affect the rate of reactions, help chemists to develop
theories and techniques to meet the new challenges of our time. Chemists
usually specialize in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical or Biochemistry.
The SDSU undergraduate program covers the fundamentals of each of these
areas with an emphasis in laboratory study and practical applications
of chemistry.
Chemistry is a great career choice because it is fascinating, it contributes to society, and it is readily employable. Production, research, teaching and administration each appeal to many chemists. There are exciting and rewarding chemical careers in evaluating environmental problems, in developing new pharmaceuticals, in finding alternative energy sources, in creating new processes and products, in studying the nature of matter, identifying and characterizing natural products, and in tracing the processes in living cells to name just a few possibilities. Chemistry is referred to as the central science because it intimately overlaps with other sciences, such as astronomy, biology, geology, mathematics, physics, and psychology. Every level of industry and every level of government require chemists, and many chemists go into business for themselves.
Program Overview
The Department of Chemistry offers a variety of degree programs to meet the goals of its undergraduate and graduate students.
The
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry, with the certificate
of the American Chemical Society, is the core curriculum. It is designed
to prepare the student for the broadest range of opportunities in employment
or graduate studies. A modification of the B.S. degree leads to an Emphasis
in Biochemistry, which is often selected by students preparing for pharmaceutical
or medical careers, as well as aspiring biochemists. This major requires
some biochemistry and biology courses in lieu of some classical chemistry
courses.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Chemistry, with the certificate of the American Chemical Society, meets the needs of other students. The B.A. degree requires a foreign language, greater subject matter breadth, and less upper-division chemistry than the B.S. It is a true liberal arts education.
A second Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Chemistry is designed for students in a pre-medical, pre-dental or pre-veterinary program. A student in this program is expected to minor in biology.
The department offers a B.S. Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, which prepares students for the Single Subject Teaching Credential.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemical Physics is offered for students who wish more mathematics and physics. Individual master plans for each student are filed with the evaluations office.
Graduate Programs. The Chemistry
Department office will be pleased to provide applications and detailed
information about the Masters and Doctoral programs offered by the department.
The Ph.D. degree is offered jointly with the Chemistry Department of the
University of California at San Diego.
Special Features
The
SDSU Chemistry curriculum offers an unusual amount of hands-on laboratory
experience. Laboratories provide hours of small class instruction
with experienced instructors. Students learn a wide range of current techniques,
use sophisticated instrumentation, and gain experience through group problem
solving. As a result, our graduates are sought out by graduate schools,
government laboratories, and industry.
SDSU has an active chemistry student organization, Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (S.A.A.C.S.). These students enhance the social and educational programs of the department. They offer counseling and tutoring services; sponsor barbecues, potlucks and banquets; coordinate field trips, and have fund- raisers. S.A.A.C.S. provides the best way to network with students and faculty.
Most students crown their training with a senior project in which they work in the research laboratory of a faculty member of their choice. Senior projects often lead to presentations at chemistry meetings and publications in respected chemistry journals.
Faculty Highlights
Areas of expertise include analytical chemistry (i.e., gas chromatography, laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and electrochemistry); biochemistry and molecular biology (i.e., enzyme functions, recombinant DNA, and membrane structures); inorganic chemistry (i.e., the synthesis and reactions of organo-metallic compounds); organic chemistry (i.e., developing novel synthetic techniques for fluorocarbons and unique organometallic compounds, and studies of natural products); and physical chemistry (i.e., scanning tunneling electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance).
Dr. Dale Chatfield's lab has developed analytical methods for collecting and identifying organic compounds in parotid saliva, breath and breath condensates at the sub-pars per billion level using simple and noninvasive techniques. Certain compounds in these media are known biomarker compounds for pulmonary inflammatory response that occurs in asthma, influenza, allergies and oxidative stress. Biomarkers of nicotine are being measured to determine tobacco use in support of tobacco research studies. Their procedures are being applied to workplace environments to monitor exposure to toxic chemical vapors and medical diagnostics.
Dr.
Andy Cooksy's laboratory continues to measure the dynamical properties
of short-lived intermediate molecules that appear in chemistry of combustion
systems, the upper atmosphere, and interstellar space. Laboratory spectroscopy
and computational quantum mechanics combine to form a powerful tool for
the measurement and prediction of these properties. This research has
been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Petroleum
Research Fund, the Exxon Education Foundation, Compaq Corporation, and
the San Diego Supercomputing Center.
Dr. John Love and his students are continuing to make progress in their endeavor to develop an antitoxin for anthrax. The method they use is best described as "computer-assisted protein-based drug design." The goal is to generate antibody-like-proteins that bind to, as well as inactivate, proteins expressed by pathogenic organisms. Instead of generating the antibody in a living organism, computer algorithms are used to first dock a "designer" protein to the pathogenic target protein and then repack its side-chains at the interface of the two molecules. The designer protein is then generated using recombinant DNA technology and molecular biology techniques. The overall process is enhanced with the use of a bacterial two-hybrid system that screens a large combinatorial library for mutants that bind the pathogenic target protein with high affinity.
Student Perspective
"During my freshman year, Dr. Douglas Grotjahn
took me under his wing and adopted me as an undergraduate research assistant
in his organic chemistry lab. Being a freshman in a research lab was a
difficult task due to the lack of experience and knowledge I had at the
time. I had only taken one course of organic chemistry and had not been
exposed to doing research. With this in mind, I started my first research
lab experience with a nauseating doubtful feeling, but soon enough, that
all changed. With this experience, not only did I learn valuable research
techniques, but most importantly, I learned analytical thinking skills,
a greater respect for science, and direction for my career."
- Jason Dinoso
Career Opportunities
A wide variety of career opportunities are open to chemistry graduates. As expected, many chemistry students are employed by chemical and petrochemical corporations. Locally, many of our students are employed by biotechnology, pharmaceutical and electronics firms. There are SDSU graduates in the EPA, the DEA, and crime laboratories. The City and County of San Diego employ many chemists in providing safe drinking water and preventing pollution. Others find careers in management, market research, and sales. The department is particularly proud of the large number of our graduates who are high school, community college, and university teachers.
Although San Diego is not known as an industrial area, the San Diego Section of the American Chemical Society is comprised of over 2,100 local chemists.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site for more information.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Chemistry program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the University. Catalogs are distributed at all Academic Orientation programs. To order a catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Chemistry
Department
College of Sciences
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1030
Email: office@chemistry.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-5595
Fax: (619) 594-4634
Office location: GMCS 209
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm