Chemistry & Biochemistry

• Mission Statement

  The mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is to equip our students with the conceptual and experimental foundation to support their goals. Such a foundation is achieved through deep understanding of the chemical basis of matter, in combination with current hands-on practical laboratory skills. The department provides a personalized and accessible learning environment to encourage critical thought, maintain safe and ethical practices, and develop the ability to communicate effectively. First, our mission engages chemistry majors seeking thorough technical knowledge and advanced skills that will enable them to pursue post-graduate studies or employment.  Our degree programs include an Applied Associates Chemical Technician degree, ACS Certified Bachelor’s degrees (Chemistry and Biochemistry), and a Chemistry Teaching Bachelor’s degree.  Our students take on undergraduate research opportunities under the direct mentorship of faculty members.  The relationships between the faculty and local businesses allow for real-world internship opportunities.  Second, our mission supports students in other scientific majors including pre-professional students, by providing molecular context interdisciplinary to life science or other physical sciences.  Third, our mission enables non-science majors (general education credit) to attain a basic understanding of chemistry and the scientific method, growing the community’s ability to evaluate critically and make informed decisions on issues relating to science, technology, and society. We extend our enthusiasm with the wider community through outreach activities, and through concurrent education opportunities.

• Student Learning Outcomes
  • Certificate

     

  • Associate Degree

     

  • Bachelor Degree

    At the end of their study at 91·çÁ÷, students completing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemistry Teaching will:

    • Have knowledge and comprehension of the core concepts of chemistry.
    • Build experience utilizing modern instrumentation and data analysis techniques, including atomic spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy, separations and chromatography, electrochemistry, and mass spectrometry.
    • Learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills by designing, executing, and evaluating their own experiments.
    • Develop written communication skills with multiple opportunities for practice and evaluative feedback.
    • Refine oral communication skills with multiple opportunities for practice and evaluative feedback.
    • Effectively utilize chemical literature by conducting thorough searches, evaluating source quality, and analyzing and interpreting results and conclusions.
    • Demonstrate understanding of how to recognize, assess, minimize, and prepare for hazards associated with chemicals and associated procedures.
    • Cultivate affective traits that enable success in the laboratory setting, including persistence, comfort, confidence, interest, and reflection.
    • Interact effectively and productively as part of a team to solve scientific problems.

   

• Curriculum Grid

   

• Program and Contact Information

  The Department of Chemistry is housed within the College of Science.  It is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS).  The department offers an ACS Certified Chemistry program that leads to the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.  This program meets all the requirements of the ACS and the graduates' names are submitted to the ACS and certified by the department.  The Chemistry Teaching Major leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree with secondary education licensure.  The Chemistry minor, Chemistry Teaching Minor, and Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) Chemistry emphasis are also available. The two-year Chemical Technician Program, leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree or a Certificate of Skill Proficiency, is designed to emphasize skills required for employment as a technician in chemical laboratories.  The chemistry faculty’s range of expertise includes Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.

   

  Contact Information
  Dr. Brandon Burnett, Chair
  Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
  Weber State University
  1415 Edvalson Street, Dept. 2503
  Ogden, UT 84408-2503
  (801) 626-6221

  brandonburnett@weber.edu

  Chemistry Department Website

• Assessment Plan

   

  Program Outcome	Assessment	Threshold
  1. Core Knowledge. Students will have knowledge and comprehension of the core concepts of chemistry	CHEM 1210: ACS Exam CHEM 1220: ACS Exam CHEM 2310: ACS Exam (Organic) CHEM 3000: ACS Exam (Analytical) CHEM 3070: ACS Exam (Biochem) CHEM 3610: ACS Exam (Inorganic)	Percentage of exam scores at or above the 50th percentile in each discipline.
  2. Skills. Students will build experience utilizing modern instrumentation and data analysis techniques, including atomic spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy, separations and chromatography, electrochemistry, and mass spectrometry.	ABIOP foundational courses	Percentage of students who utilized each of the listed techniques
  3. Skills. Students will learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills by designing, executing, and evaluating their own experiments.	ABIOP foundational Courses	Percentage of students who pass an experiment where they iteratively develop and evaluate their own procedures
  4. Skills. Students will develop written communication skills with multiple opportunities for practice and evaluative feedback.	CHEM 4990/4250 report	Percent of students who are rated at a level of 'Developed' or higher in the written skills rubric
  5. Students will refine oral communication skills with multiple opportunities for practice and evaluative feedback	CHEM 4990/4250 posters	Percent of students who are rated at a level of 'Developed' or higher in the presentation rubric
  6. Skills. Students will effectively utilize chemical literature by conducting thorough searches, evaluating source quality, and analyzing and interpreting results and conclusions	CHEM 4990/4250	Percent of students who are rated at a level of 'Developed' or higher in the literature rubric
  7. Skills. Students will demonstrate understanding of how to recognize, assess, minimize, and prepare for hazards associated with chemicals and associated procedures.	ABIOP foundational courses	Percentage of students who successfully completed a RAMP assessment of a procedure
  8. Traits. Students will cultivate affective traits that enable success in the laboratory setting, including persistence, comfort, confidence, interest, and reflection.	CHEM 1215: MLLI (pre) CHEM 1225: MLLI (post) CHEM 4990/4250: MLLI (post)	Percentage of students rating an average Likert score of 4 or higher on MLLI questions 8, 9, 13, 18, 21, 27, 28, 30
  9. Traits. Students will interact effectively and productively as part of a team to solve scientific problems.	CHEM 1215: TSI (week 5) CHEM 1215: TSI (end of semester) CHEM 1225: TSI (end of semester)	Percentage of students demonstrating half (13) of the skills listed in the Teamwork Skills Inventory, according to the majority opinion of their peers

   

• Assessment Report Submissions
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Program Review

  2019-20
   

This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.