Learning Objectives for Chemistry major:
Objective
1. Students will
understand
fundamental
principles and
applications in
analytical,
biological, organic,
inorganic and
physical chemistry.
2. Students will
demonstrate an
ability to apply
modern methods of
analysis to chemical
systems in a
laboratory setting
including
experimental
design, use of
technologies and
instrumentation,
attention to safety,
and good
laboratory practice.
3. Students will
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Assessment
Exams contain 3-5 questions each
o General Chemistry – 4 exams
(pre/post each semester)
o Quantitative Analysis – 2 exams
(pre/post)
o Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry –
2 exams (pre/post)
o Organic Chemistry or Applied
Organic and Biochemistry – 2
exams (pre/post)
o Biochemistry I – 2 exams (prepost)
o Physical Chemistry I or II, or
Principles of Physical Chemistry –
2 exams (pre/post)
o Exit Exam – one exam (ACS
standardized Diagnostic of
Undergraduate Chemical
Knowledge or “DUCK” – 60
questions/2 hr exam to be
administered during senior
seminar)
Senior Exit Interview questionnaire
Alumni questionnaire
Homogeneous Equilibrium
(General Chemistry)
Grignard Reaction (Organic
Chemistry Lab) or Caffeine (Applied
Organic and Biochemistry)
Potentiometric titration
(Quantitative Analysis)
Contact Explosives (Descriptive
Inorganic Chemistry)
Intein (Biochemistry Lab)
Spectroscopy of Dichlorobenzenes
(Physical Chemistry Lab)
Structure Analysis of Unknown
(Instrumental Analysis)
Research (where applicable)
Senior Exit Interview questionnaire
Alumni questionnaire
Sample lab reports from General
Expectations
 Questions written at varying
levels (basic, intermediate,
advanced). Proficiency defined as
successful completion of the first
two levels on post-test, and
mastery is completion of
advanced level on post-test.
o 95 % demonstrate
proficiency
o 20% demonstrate mastery
 DUCK proficiency comparable to
national norms (when
determined)
 Information from Exit and Alumni
interviews will qualitatively
provide evidence to support
quantitative results
 Observations of a random sample
of students during the indicated
laboratory experiment and rated
according to departmentally
devised rubric including common
threads of:
o Notebook use
o Safety equipment and use
(i.e. goggles)
o Experimental set up, etc.
 Information from Exit and Alumni
interviews will qualitatively
provide evidence to support
quantitative results
 Pre/Post collection of a random
efficiently and
effectively
communicate
scientific
information
including
experimental
results and analysis
in both written and
oral formats.
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Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Lab,
Applied Organic and Biochemistry,
Quantitative Analysis, Descriptive
Inorganic Chemistry, Physical
Chemistry Lab, Biochemistry Lab
SOAR grant proposals
Presentations at regional and
national meetings
Presentations in Descriptive
Inorganic Chemistry, Instrumental
Analysis, and Physical Chemistry
Lab
Senior Exit Interview questionnaire
Alumni questionnaire
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4. Students will be
able to access,
retrieve, and
interpret accurate
and meaningful
information from
the chemical
literature.
 Literature/topic search and
summary in Organic Chemistry Lab
and Biochemistry II
 Literature/topic search as part of
Undergraduate research report
 Senior Exit Interview questionnaire
 Alumni questionnaire
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5. Students will exhibit  Selected exam questions from
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problem solving and
General Chemistry I and II, Organic
critical thinking
Chemistry I and II, Applied General
skills relevant to the
Chemistry, Applied Organic and
field of chemistry.
Biochemistry, Descriptive Inorganic
Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis,
Physical Chemistry I and II,
Principles of Physical Chemistry,
Biochemistry I and II, Instrumental 
Analysis (e.g. “Design an
experiment…”)
 Senior Exit Interview questionnaire
 Alumni questionnaire
sample of lab reports (n = 3-5)
and analysis of content and
scores with 75% of the post
reports earning minimum scores
of 70%.
Number of submitted SOAR
grants to meet the minimum of 4
proposals with a success (i.e.
funded) rate of 50%.
Minimum of 50% of
undergraduate research students
present at regional or national
meetings annually.
Minimum of 75% of oral
presentations are scored at a
minimum of 70%.
Information from Exit and Alumni
interviews will qualitatively
provide evidence to support
quantitative results
Minimum of 75% of assignments
are scored at a minimum of 70%.
Minimum of 75% of the literature
review portions of research
reports meet standard criteria
adopted by department research
mentors.
Information from Exit and Alumni
interviews will qualitatively
provide evidence to support
quantitative results
Instructors in courses will identify
1-2 exam questions per year
which exemplify problem solving
and critical thinking skill relevant
to chemistry and a minimum of
75% of students are scored at a
minimum of 70% on those
questions.
Information from Exit and Alumni
interviews will qualitatively
provide evidence to support
quantitative results