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 WSU, students completing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Chemistry Teaching will have knowledge and comprehension of the core concepts of Chemistry. Additionally, students will have developed:

    • Problem-solving skills. Chemistry majors should be competent problem-solvers. They should be able to identify the essential parts of a problem and formulate a strategy for solving the problem.  They should be able to estimate the solution to a problem, apply appropriate techniques to arrive at a solution, test the correctness of their solution, interpret their result and connect it to related areas of chemistry.
    • Laboratory skills. Chemistry majors should be competent experimentalists. They should be able to design and set up an experiment, collect and analyze data, identify sources of error, interpret their result and connect it to related areas of chemistry.
    • Presentation skills. Chemistry majors should be able to express (orally and in writing) their understanding of core chemical principles, the results of experiments, the analysis of problems and their conclusions.
    • Computer skills. Chemistry majors should be competent users of basic software, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and graphing programs.  Strong presentation and organizing skills are complimented with computer knowledge in graphing and spreadsheets.

   

• 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

   

• Assessment Report Submissions
  2021-22
  2019-20
  2017
  2016
  2015

• 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.