Department of Chemistry
- Faculty
- General Information
- Careers
- Special Programs
- Degree Requirements for the Major in Chemistry
- Teacher Education Program
- Combined B.S./M.S. Program
- Courses
FacultyDistinguished Professor Emeritae
Harry L. Frisch, Ph.D.
Polytechnic Institute of BrooklynProfessors Emeritae/i
Shelton Bank, Ph.D.
Purdue UniversityRobert E. Frost, Ph.D.
Harvard UniversityHenry Kuivila, Ph.D.
Harvard UniversityEugene Mclaren, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
Washington UniversityProfessors
Eric Block, Ph.D.
Harvard UniversityFrank M. Hauser, Ph.D.
University of North CarolinaBernard J. Laurenzi, Ph.D.
University of PennsylvaniaYash P. Myer, Ph.D.
University of OregonRamaswamy H. Sarma, Ph.D.
Brown UniversityCharles P. Scholes, Ph.D.
Yale UniversityLawrence C. Snyder, Ph.D.
Carnegie Institute of TechnologyJohn T. Welch, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve UniversityAndrew J. Yencha, Ph.D.
University of California, Los AngelesProfessor of Education and Chemistry
Audrey Champagne, Ph.D.
University of PittsburghAssociate Professors Emeritae/i
Arthur O. Long, Ph.D.
University of WisconsinAssociate Professors
Lawrence H. Daly, Ph.D.
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstitutePaul J. Toscano, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins UniversityAssistant Professors
Eugeny Dikarer, Ph.D.
Moscow State UniversityRabi A. Musah, Ph.D.
University of ArkansasLi Niu, Ph.D.
University of WisconsinMarina Petrakhina, Ph.D.
Moscow State UniversityAdjuncts (estimated): 4
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 25The objective of the department is to provide students with a broad, fundamental knowledge of modern theoretical and experimental chemistry enabling graduates to embark immediately on professional careers in chemistry or to continue study at an advanced level toward higher degrees.
The general program in chemistry is approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. For students interested in engineering, 3-2 programs with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Clarkson University are available.
Careers
Careers graduates have pursued include: industrial production chemist, industrial control chemist, analytical chemist (industrial and governmental laboratories), research assistant, technical sales and service representative, secondary school teacher, science writing and editing, forensics, chemical business, patent law, information science, toxicology, and even investment counseling and public relations.
Special Programs
For students interested in engineering, there are available 3-2 programs with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, SUNY at New Paltz, and SUNY at Binghamton. Students in these programs spend their first three years at this campus and the last two years at the other. The tuition is at the University at Albany rate for the first three years only. Upon successful completion of the programs, students are awarded a B.S. in Chemistry from the University at Albany, and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the other institution.
A typical program, in the three years here, includes all courses required for the B.S., Chemistry emphasis, degree except for A Chm 341B, 420A, and the 6 credits of advanced chemistry. Equivalent work at the engineering school is accepted for these last 12 credits. In addition, students take more mathematics, physics, and computer science, to prepare for the engineering school. This includes A Mat 220 and 311, A Phy 321C and 462, A Csi 101 and 204.
Degree Requirements for the Major in Chemistry
General Program B.A.: Combined major and minor sequence consisting of a minimum of 51 credits: A Chm 120N, 121N, 122A, 122B, 216A, 216B, 217A, 217B, 225, 320, 321, 420a, 430, and 6 credits in advanced chemistry including at least 3 credits in courses other than A Chm 424, 425, or 426; A Mat 111 or 112 or 118 and 113 or 119; A Phy 105N, 106, 108N, and 109.
Note: A Phy 140N and 150N will substitute for A Phy 105 and 108 sequence.
General Program B.S.: Within this program, a student has a choice of three tracks: Chemistry Emphasis (66 credits); Chemistry/Polymers Emphasis (67 credits); and Chemistry/Materials Emphasis (67 credits). The specific requirements for individual tracks are outlined below.
Chemistry Emphasis: B.S.: (combined major and minor sequence) 66 credits: A Chm 120N, 121N, 122A, 122B, 216A, 216B, 217A, 217B, 225, 317, 340A, 340B, 341Z, 341B, 420A, and 6 credits in advanced chemistry including at least 3 credits in courses other than A Chm 424, 425, or 426; A Mat 111 or 112 or 118,113 or 119, and 214; A Phy 140N, 145, 150N, 155, 240.
Chemistry/Polymers Emphasis: B.S.: (combined major and minor sequence) (67 credits): A Chm 120N, 121N, 122A, 122B, 216A, 216B, 217A, 217B, 225, 340A, 340B, 341Z, 408, 420A, and 496; A Mat 111 or 112 or 118, 113 or 119, and 214; A Phy 140N, 145, 150N, 155 240, and 462; X RPI 300 (RPI 72- 464, Polymer Science Laboratory-student cross-registers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the course).
Chemistry/Materials Emphasis: B.S. (combined major and minor sequence) (67 credits): A Chm 120N, 121N, 122A, 122B, 216A, 216B, 217A, 217B, 225, 340A, 340B, 341Z, 408, 420A, and 495; A Mat 111 or 112 or 118,113 or 119 and 214; A Phy 140N, 145, 150N, 155, 240, 462 and 464; X RPI 300 (RPI 72-464 Polymer Science laboratory) may be substituted for A Phy 464.
Teacher Education Program
B.S. A combined major and minor sequence consisting of 69 credits: A Chm 120N, 121N, 122A, 122B, 216A, 216B, 217A, 217B, 225, 340A, 340B, 341Z, and 342, or 420A, or 440A; A Mat 111 or 112 or 118, 113 or 119, and 214; A Phy 140N, 145, 150N, 155, 240; A Bio 110F and 111N; 6 credits in geological and/or atmospheric sciences as advised.
Students interested in a career in secondary school teaching must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program administered by the Department of Educational Theory and Practice before they can be officially enrolled in this major in the teacher education program. Qualified students may apply after satisfactorily completing one year of undergraduate study and a minimum of 24 graduation credits. Admission requirements are described in this bulletin under the section headed "Department of Educational Theory and Practice." Students admitted to the program must complete the teacher education professional requirements described in this bulletin under "Undergraduate Professional Requirements" within the section headed "Department of Educational Theory and Practice." They must also complete those courses within the major and related fields that are listed in this section.
Combined B.S./M.S. Program
The combined B.S./M.S. program in chemistry provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs from the beginning of the junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.S. and M.S. degrees within nine semesters.
The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.S., students must meet all University and college requirements, including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minimum 60- credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.S., students must meet all University and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.S. and M.S. programs.
The undergraduate requirement of 420A may be satisfied by A Chm 520A. Likewise, the requirement of 6 credits in advanced chemistry may be satisfied by two 500-level graduate courses.
Students are considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.S. requirements. Upon meeting B.S. requirements, students are automatically considered as graduate students.
Students may apply for admission to the combined degree program in chemistry after the successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100 credits, and after the satisfactory completion of A Chm 340A. A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.