DWU - Catalog

Chemistry (CHM), Physics (PHS) and Astronomy (AST)
Dakota Wesleyan University offers a minor in chemistry and a number of courses in physics, which provide a general background for students seeking to prepare for careers in teaching, positions in scientific occupations, or further study in graduate or professional schools. Courses in chemistry and physics provide a basic understanding of the components and processes related to the composition and uses of matter. Understanding the physical parameters of our world facilitates responsible action with regard to matter and energy and their uses.

Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical and biological processes occurring in living organisms. Biochemistry uses the combined knowledge of biology, chemistry and genetics to investigate the complexity of the life processes of animals and plants.

A degree in biochemistry prepares the student for several postgraduate activities, including graduate study in the life sciences and professional careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and agriculture. Current biochemical research in the biology department is focused on the interactions between plants and plant pathogenic viruses.

General Science
This course of study is designed for a broad background in biological and physical sciences which could be structured for pre-professional students (pre-engineering, pre-med, pre-vet, science teachers, etc).

*Electives – These would be credits in chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics. It would be up to the adviser and the advisee to determine the exact course needs of the major.

Pre-Engineering
Students seeking professional training in engineering should consult with graduate schools and their departments of engineering concerning the appropriate prerequisites needed for admittance and for degree completion.

Course Descriptions
Astronomy (AST)
100 Introduction to Astronomy 3 hours S
This course is an introduction to heavenly bodies, such as planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies, their formation, structure and behavior over time, and the history and processes that make modern-day astronomy possible. Students must be available for night-time observing.
General Education: Critical and Collaborative Thinking – Science Technology and Human Experience

Course Descriptions
Chemistry (CHM)
104 Chemistry and Society 3 hours TBA
The course acquaints students with the basic concepts of chemistry and helps them to understand and cope with the problems in our society and environment that are chemical in origin.

113 Physiological Chemistry 3 hours F
This course introduces basic principles of inorganic, organic and biological chemistry. Primary emphasis is on the chemistry of the human body.

150 General Chemistry I 4 hours F
This is the first of a two-semester course sequence. This course provides an introduction to the laws of chemical combination and the properties of matter. Topics in this semester include: measurement, atomic structure (including the quantum theory), inorganic nomenclature, stoichiometry (mass relationships in chemical reactions), gases, thermochemistry, periodic properties of the elements, chemical bonding and the geometry of molecules. The laboratory exercises parallel the lecture topics, and are intended to introduce safe practice principles, techniques for synthesis and characterization of compounds, and the use of laboratory apparatus. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory.
Prerequisite: MTH 120 or consent of instructor. High school chemistry preferred.
General Education: Critical and Collaborative Thinking – Science Technology and Human Experience

160 General Chemistry II 4 hours S
This course is the second part of a two-semester course sequence. The topics in this semester include the properties of compounds in the liquid and solid states; physical properties of solutions, kinetics, equilibria, acids and bases, acid-base and solubility equilibria, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and descriptive organic chemistry. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory.
Prerequisite: CHM 150.

275 Field Experience 1-2 hours TBA

299 Selected Topics – Basic 1-3 hours TBA

323 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis 4 hours S12
Students will study quantitative analytical methods, principles, details and applications, including the statistical treatment of data. Lab exercises cover the qualitative analysis scheme in the first half of the semester and more specific analytical problems in the second half. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory, plus extra lab hours by arrangement.
Prerequisite: CHM 160.

331 Organic Chemistry I 4 hours F
This is the first of a two-semester course sequence. It provides an introduction to the nomenclature, structure, properties, reactions and uses of the compounds of carbon. Topics follow the functional group approach to the study of organic compounds, including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, halides and alcohols. Spectroscopic methods of structure determination are introduced. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory.
Prerequisite: CHM 160.

332 Organic Chemistry II 4 hours S
This course is the second part of a two-semester course sequence and continues the functional group approach begun in CHM 331. Topics will include ethers, conjugated systems, aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amines and special reactions of the carbonyl group. More extensive use of spectroscopy is used throughout to elucidate molecular structures. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory.
Prerequisites: CHM 331.

335 Introduction to Biochemistry 3 hours TBA
This is an overview of the primary structural molecules and processes occurring in living cells.
Prerequisite: CHM 331.

336 Introduction to Biochemistry Lab 1 Hour TBA
This is an overview of the primary techniques used in biochemistry.
Prerequisite: CHM 331.
Corequisite: BIO/CHM 335.

341 Biochemistry I 4 hours TBA
This is the first semester of a comprehensive biochemistry course providing an introduction to the chemical and physical properties of biologically important molecules. Topics to be discussed in this course include carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and enzymes.
Prerequisite: CHM 331.

342 Biochemistry II 4 hours TBA
This is the second semester of a comprehensive biochemistry course with emphasis on metabolism, energy use and synthesis of biologically important molecules.
Prerequisite: CHM 341.

360 Physical Chemistry 3 hours TBA
This course introduces the basic theoretical concepts of the chemical sciences: thermodynamics, chemical and physical equilibria, chemical kinetics and the behavior of matter in the solid, liquid, gaseous and solution states.
Prerequisites: CHM 160 and MTH 210.

450 Internship 1-4 hours TBA

460 Independent Study 1-4 hours F,S
Students study selected topics in advanced areas, including projects, research investigations and surveys of the literature. Hours and fees will be arranged.

499 Selected Topics – Advanced 1-3 hours TBA

Course Descriptions
Physics (PHS)
100 Physical Science: Physics and the Atomic Nature of Matter 3 hours F,S
This is a project-oriented course explaining the fundamental laws of mechanics, solids, liquids, gasses, heat, electromagnetism and light with minimal stress on mathematics.
General Education: Critical and Collaborative Thinking – Science Technology and Human Experience

101 Physical Science: Chemistry, Earth and Space 3 hours S
This course is a basic study in physical science, including chemistry, geology and astronomy.
General Education: Critical and Collaborative Thinking – Science Technology and Human Experience

210 General Physics I 4 hours TBA
General Physics is a two-semester sequence in which students will study the fundamental laws of physics as applied to mechanics, sound, light, electricity and magnetism and be introduced to modern physics. Three lectures, one laboratory.
Prerequisite: MTH 128 or consent of instructor.

220 General Physics II 4 hours TBA
This is a continuation of PHS 210. Three lectures, one laboratory.
Prerequisites: PHS 210 and/or consent of instructor.

260 University Physics I 4 hours TBA
This is an introductory calculus-based course in the fundamentals of physics as applied to mechanics. Topics included are kinematics, vectors, Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, rotational dynamics, gravitation, simple harmonic motion and waves.

270 University Physics II 4 hours TBA
This a calculus-based course in the fundamentals of physics as applied to electricity and magnetism. Topics included are Coulomb’s law, electric fields, potential fields, capacitance, DC circuits, magnetic fields, induction, AC circuits and Maxwell’s laws.

299 Selected Topics – Basic 1-3 hours TBA

499 Selected Topics – Advanced 1-3 hours TBA