Graduate Courses

Core Courses:

The Chemistry Graduate students are required to take the following four core courses:

Intended to be an introduction of new graduate students to the research interests of the department faculty. Departmental procedures and organizations will be discussed. Philosophical consideration of doing scientific research will also be discussed. All new graduate students are expected to take this course. Grading: S/U

A detailed look at reactions of chemical elements and molecules, their rates and thermodynamics. Chemical kinetics, rate laws, collision theory and transition state theory. Reaction and structural dynamic. Thermochemistry, properties of ideal and nonideal systems. Chemical equilibria.

Synthetic procedures and methods for preparation of inorganic, organic, and polymeric compounds, with special attention to recent developments. Methods of characterization and identification of chemical compounds, with emphasis on physical methods.

An overview of modern instrumental techniques used in various areas of chemistry (analysis, characterization, identification). Topics include spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, theory and applications.

Electives:

The Chemistry Graduate students must take a minimum of three elective courses from the partial list of graduate courses relevant to the field of Chemistry & Biochemistry in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. The following are courses currently being taught at FAU are examples of courses that can be used as electives. This list is not inclusive. The selection of elective courses to meet degree requirements will be determined by consultation between the student and the student's Research Advisory Committee.

A detailed study of selected topics in molecular biology, including DNA replication, gene regulation, transcription and RNA processing, and techniques of genetic engineering.

Principles of biomolecular structure determination by spectroscopic methods. Enzyme kinetics. Transport mechanisms across membranes. Molecular physiology and molecular genetics.

Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (BCH 6930) 3 credits.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Special topics in biochemistry.

A detailed overview of organic reaction mechanisms utilizing valence bond and molecular theories and kinetic analysis.

Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHM 6225) 3 credits.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Introduction to the concepts of modern physical organic chemistry. Elementary molecular orbital theory and applications. Methods for determining reaction mechanisms. Linear free energy relationships. Solvolysis reactions.

Synthesis, reaction mechanisms, and physical organic chemistry.

Principles of quantum mechanics. Overview of quantum chemistry and its application to spectroscopy and molecular characterization.

Topics in Chemistry (CHM 6830C) 1- 4 credits

Chemistry for Environmental Scientists (CHS 6611) 3 credits

A review of chemical principals and a survey of environmental chemistry (global warming, ozone layer, energy, etc.) but emphasizes aquatic systems. Aquatic environmental chemistry includes nutrients, trophic interactions, heavy metals, biogeochemical cycles, and all aspects of pollution and remediation scenarios. May be taken by Chemistry majors with approval of Major Professor and will include a literature search writing project in addition to the regular class requirements.

Bioinformatics (BSC 6458C) 4 credits

A practical approach to accessing nucleic/protein databases, management of databases, identification of genes, and electronic expression profiling.

Brain Diseases: Mechanism and Therapy (BMS 6736)

Discussion of the molecular and cellular basis of brain diseases and of the current status of therapeutic intervention for those diseases.

Cellular Neuroscience and Disease (BSC 6936)

Cellular neuroscience from the point of view of human neurological diseases. This will connect various defects in development to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's disease. This will examine molecular mechanisms involved in axon/dendrite growth and guidance, synapse formation, regeneration and degeneration. This course will also examine synaptic plasticity in context of memory and learning. The final part will cover electrical properties of neurons and muscles and their connections to such diseases as Myasthenia Gravis and cardiac arrhythmics.  

Developmental Biology Seminar (BSC 6936)

Integration of cellular and molecular biology with research will involve seminars on various research projects, Critique of journal articles and seminar on specific signaling pathways.

Journal Club - Molecular Biology (BSC 6956)  

A practical approach to learning how to discuss scientific literature in molecular biology in a journal club format.

Protein Misfolding and Disease: (PCB 6933)

In this course we will discuss a range of diseases that result from misfolding in relation to their structural bases, molecular pathology, implications for normal folding, possible treatments and roles in non-Mendelian inheritance.

Others:

Graduate Research (CHM 6918) 1-12 credits.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Supervised research in chemistry. Grading: S/U

Non thesis topic.

Thesis research seminar.

Grading: S/U

Advanced Research in Chemistry (CHM 7978) 1-9 credits.
Prerequisite: Admission to doctoral candidacy

Focused, relevant research in the student’s course of study in the Ph.D. program in chemistry. This course requires oversight by the student’s dissertation advisor. Grading: S/U

Dissertation (CHM 7980) 1-12 credits.
Prerequisite: Admission to doctoral candidacy
Grading: S/U

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