SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM ?
5,
d7 - /
To .................... SENATE
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............
?
From ...
....S
EN ATE
COMMITTEE
.
ONUNDERGRADUAT
STUDIES
COURSE AND PROGRAM CHANGES -
Subject .........
DEPARTMENT o
p
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ISTR.
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.............. ..............
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Date....
NOVEMBER,
18,19..6
Action taken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies at its meeting of November
9, 1976
gives rise to the
following motion:
MOTION
That Senate approve, and recommend approval
to the Board of Governors, proposed changes
in Chemistry, as set forth in
S.76-It,
including:
i)
program for students intending to
specialize in Chemistry
ii)
Chemistry Major program
iii)
Chemistry Honors program
iv)
Chemistry Minor program
v)
prerequisite changes to CHEM
101, 106, 362,
464, 482
vi)
description change for CHEM
481
vii)
title change for CHEM
482.
A_. ?
Daniel R. Birch
Sit 7d.-'2J
SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
SMEMORANDUM
?
F-76-14
J. .
M.
Webster
.
, p
, e ,
an o
,.Sc
ienCe
..............................
.
From
D. Ryeburn, Chairman
Science Undergraduate Curriculum
Subject..
Calendar
revjQfl
.
?
Date ....
7Qç91'
..
1976 ?
..............
A
At the meeting of 23 September 1976, the F.U.G.C.C. approved the revised Calendar
entry for Chemistzy, as shown below. Subsequently, at the meeting of 30 September
Dr. Peterson presented a rationale paper for the proposed changes. This is appended.
Calendar entry to replace section entitled " Chemistry Program for Students
Intending to Specialize in Chemistry" (pp 359 - 362 inclusive in current Calendar).
PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS INTENDING TO SPECIALIZE IN CHEMISTRY
The point at which a high school or regional college student enteis the Chemistry
program is governed by his/her knowledge of the subject. CHEM 101-3 and CH1Tht
106-2 are not required courses for the B.Sc. degree. They are avilble as
electives to those students who have no knowledge of chemistry or,who are
starting from B.C. High School Chemistry 11. Students who have taken B.C. High
. ?
School Chemistry 12 (or equivalent) normally start with CHEM 104- and 115-2.
Chemistry major and honors students must fulfill the program requirements
listed below and are expected to maintain a grade of Cor better in their Chemistry
courses. Whether majoring in Chemistry or not, students are not normally
permitted to enrol in any Chemistry course for which a grade of Dwas obtained
in any prerequisite.
CHEMISTRY MAJOR PROGRAM (120 semester hours)
Reauired courses (58 semester hours)
CHEM
?
104-3,115-2,105-3, 117-2, 232-3, 251-3, 256-2, 252-3, 261-3, 336-2,
356-2,366-2. (30 semester hours).
PHYS ?
15 semester hours, to include 201-2, 203-2, 204-2, 205-2, and a
minimum of 2 semester hours of 200 level laboratory credit.
MATH ?
151-3,,152-3, 253-4, and either 310-3 or316-3. (13 semester hours)
Electives
1) An additional 19 hours of upper division credit in Chemistry to
include a minimum.of 3 credits in each of the following three groups:
GROUP I (Organic Chemistry)
?
CHEM 357-3, 455-3
GROUP II (Inorganic Chemistry) CHEM 332-3
GROUP III. (Physical Chemistry) CHEM 361-3, 362-3, 460-2, 461-2.
ii)
An additional 16 hours of upper division credit in any courses of
. ?
the student's choice (excluding EDUC 401,402,405) to complete the B.Sc.
requirement of 44 hours upper division credit (see Faculty of Science requirements)
iii)
27 semester hours og gree electives to include a minimum of 6 hours
in the Faculties of Arts, Education (excluding EDUC 401,402 and 405) or
Interdisciplinary Studies.
•
Students entering with Chemistry 12 and Physics 12 (or their equivalents) are
advised to take the following lower division program (students who have not
completed Physics 12 should first take PHYS 101-3 and 102-3, and then follow a
similar program):
Level I
?
CHEM 104-3, 115-2
MATH 151-3
Electives
Level 2
?
CHEM 105-3, 117-2
MATH 152-3
PHYS 131-2 (optional), 201-2
Elective
Level 3 ?
CHEM 251-3, 256-2, 232-3
MATH 253-4
PEWS 204-2, 233-2
Level 4 ?
CHEM 252-3, 261-3
MATH 310-3, or 316-3
PEWS 203-2, 205-2
The Mathematics and Physics courses should be takenas early as possible so that
they will be of benefit in the study of Chemistry. Students intending to
specialize in physical or theoretical chemistry are advised to take more
Mathematics and Physics courses than specified above.
CHEMISTRY HONORS PROGRAM (132 semester hours)
Required courses (80 semester hours)
CHEM ?
104-3, 115-2, 105-3, 117-2, 232-3, 251-3, 256-2, 252-3, 261-3, 332-3,
336-2,;341-3, 356-2, 357-3, 361-3, 362-3, 366-2, 367-2, 481-5 (or 483-15
W ?
subject to approval) (52 semester hours)
PEWS ?
15 semester hours to include 201-2, 203-2, 204-2, 205-2, and a minimum
of 2 semester hours of 200 level laboratory credit.
MATH ?
151-3, 152-3, 253-4, 310-3 (13 semester hours).
Electives
.............in Chemistr
y
and 12 hours of up
p
er division credit..
i)
An additional 17 hours (or 7 hours if CHEM 483-15 is chosen) of upper
division
creditXin
any courses of the student's choice, excluding EDUC 401, 402
and 405, to complete the B.Sc. Honors degree requirement of 60 hours of upper
division credit (see Faculty of Science regulations).
ii)
23 credits of free electives to include a minimum of 6 hours in the
Faculties of Arts, Education (excluding EDUC 401, 402 and 405) or Interdiscipli-
nary Studies.
Students may enter the Honors program at any level after the fourth level with
the approval of the Department. Graduation with an Honors degree requires
completion of 132 semester hours and an average Grade Point Average of 3.0 or
higher (see General Regulations p.. and Faculty of Science regulations p....)
continued.....
.
?
H ?
.
-3-
.
3z CHEMISTRY MINOR PROGRAM
For full details of major-minor program regulations, see Section i.3 of this
Calendar (p...). To qualify for a Minor in Chemistry, students
will
be required
to complete a minimum of 14 hours of upper division credit in Chemistry, together
with all the prerequisites.
Typical course combinations providing emphasis in three specific areas of
interest are listed below; other variations are possible.
Chemistry Minor (Organic Chemistry)
CHEM ?
104-3,105-3,115-2,251-3,256-2,252-3,356-2,357-3, and three courses from
453-3,455-3,458-3, BICH 301-3, BICH 302-3.
Chemistry Minor, (Inorganic/Radiochemistry)
CHEM ?
104-3,115-2,105-3,117-2,232-3 (or 233-2), 332-3,336-2,341-3 and six
credit hours from 416-3,432-3,437-2,442-3,446-2.
Chemistry Minor (Physical and Nuclear Chemistry)
CHEM ?
104-3,105-3,115-2,261-3, and 14 credit hours from 341-3,361-3,362-3,
?
366-2,367-2,416-3,442-3,446-2,460-2,461-2,462-3,464-2,472-3.
•
OTHER CALENDAR REVISIONS
The F.tJ.G.C.C. also approved the following changes:
•
e ?
CHEM 101 ?
Addition to prerequisite statement, "Students iu*'
CHEM 104-3 or a
succeeding
chemistry
lecture course may not take CHEM 101 for
j<4..t'
CHEM 106
?
Addition to prerequisite statement, "Students 'i1
Oediffvr
CHEM 115-2 or a succeeding chemistry,
laboratory course may not take CHEM 106 forf
CHEM 362 ?
Prerequisite changed from, "CHEM
2611,MATH
253" to,
"CHEM 261 and MATH 253, or PHYS 341."
CHEM 464 ?
Prerequisite changed from, "CHEM 362" to, "CHEM
362 or PHYS 341".
CHEM 481 ?
• ?
Course description changed to," Experimental and/
or theoretical research, and preparation of thesis
for Major or Honors degree in Chemistry.
Prerequisite changed to," Permission of the Depar-
tment; knowledge of Chemistry at an advanced level.
Normally taken during the fourth year of study."
CHEM 482 ?
Course title to read," Directed study in Advanced
Topics of Chemistry."
Prerequisite to read," Permission of the Department.
Normally taken during the fourth year of study.
pp ?
3
SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
. ?
MEMORANDUM
F-76-14 Supplement
io ................. .F.a.ci.1..t.y .... o.f .... Sc.i.e.n.c..e ..................... .....
..................... .
From ....
L .K. .
Peterso.n.....
........ .........
.................. .... ... . ............
...
?
..
Chemistry
........... ......
......... ............ ... .............................
Subject ........ Rationale....for. Calendar....Changes
...
?
Date ..... 12.. October1976 ... ..................................
..............
The Major Program
The proposed Calendar changes-:from the Department of Chemistry are the outcome
of a fairly detailed analysis of the structures of degrees within the Faculty
of Science, and of the changing role of the Chemistry Department (and of other
Science departments) within the University context. The "old" structure of the
Chemistry Major program (see appendix, "Structures of Degrees") i4as substantially
out of line with programs in Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Mathematics,
in terms of more restrictive upper division science requirements and substantially
less flexibility in the area of upper division electives. The highly structured
nature of the Physics program, in terms of LD and UD science requirements, is
compensated to some extent by its free elective component, which .s more than
50% greater than the corresponding component in the Major programs of other
departments in the Faculty of Science. The "new" Chemistry Major'structure
brings our program into line with other departments' programs. As a result,
•
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the discipline of Chemistry can now more readily be combined with substantive
studies in othr disciplines, and hence caters better to needs for educational
breadth in an academic career. The elective structure provides the flexibility
that also allows for extensive specialization in Chemistry, in a form that is
distinct from that of the Honors program. The new format caters better to the
distinguishable goals of both academic interests, and career-oriented interests,
in the chemical discipline.
?
I
Briefly, the desirable goals of the "new" program are structured by the following
conditions:
i)
Minimum requirements for breadth of exposure to Organic, Inorganic
and Physical Chemistry in LD courses;
ii)
Minimum Calculus requirements in Mathematics, coupled with a choice
of 300 level Mathematics in Differential Equations (MATH 310) or
Numerical Analysis (MATH 316), depending on the courses selected in
the Chemistry program;
iii)
Minimum requirements in Physics to provide an understanding of thc
basic concepts of heat, energy, work, simple harmonic and rigid body
motion, elementary optics and acoustics, electricity and magnetism
(15 semester hours of Physics);
iv)
Minimum requirements for laboratory studies in Organic Inorganic
and Physical Chemistry;
v)
Minimum requirements for exposure to the Organic, Inorganic and
Physical Chemistry sub-disciplines in UD courses (selected courses
have been arranged in Groups i-Ill, and opportunities for choice
within groups have been developed);
vi)
A flexible approach to the development of the Chemistry component
. ?
of the Program, embodied in elective provisions;
vii)
An opportunity for undertaking substantive studies in other areas
of science or in the Faculties of Arts or Education is provided for in
the elective structure.
-2-
The Honors Program
The structure of the Honors program is essentially unchanged. The revised descri-
ption of requirements and electives presents the program in a clearer format,
and clearly shows the established practice that an Honors thesis is a requirement
of the program. The latter condition may be satisfied by taking CHEM 481-5,
or CHEM 483-15 (new course proposal, Individual Study Semester).
Rationale re. Mathematics requirement
Many problems of practical chemistry are not susceptible to analytical solutions.
The advent of the digital computer makes it feasible to solve such problems
numerically, rather than ignoring their existence, as has been customary in the
past. Some common examples of such problems are:
?
I
i)
Equilibrium: (a) very simple equilibrium problems (e,g, pH of
ammonium acetate solutions) lead to algebraic equations of order higher than 2nd,
or to simultaneous non-linear equations. In present chemistry courses we pretend
that such problems do not exist, or we solve them under conditions where simplify-
ing solutions can be made;
(b) solution of ionic equilibria with Debve-Huckel
expressions for activity coefficients leads to strongly non-linear equations;
ii) Kinetics: ?
(a) very simple reaction mechanisms, such as the
consecutive 2nd Order system
2A- ?
2B -
.
?
lead to systems of differential equations which have no analytical olutions.
Again, we either ignore such problems, or discuss very simple cases qualitatively.
(b) a serious kinetic problem such as calculation of
effects of atmospheric pollutants is completely beyond the reach
of
present
chemistry graduates;
iii)
Thermodynamics: most non-trivial thermodynamic problems involve
numerical integration, about which students have the haziest ideas from calculus
courses;
iv)
Data Collection and Reduction: Numerous problems in linear and
non-linear least squares, interpolation and integrtion arise. The advent of
cheap digital data acquisition systems would alloithe development
of
sophisticated
problems, but studs are generally not mathematically prepared for these
advances in our courses.
A course in numerical analysis would lay the foundation for students to tackle the
above types of problem. The present move is toward a liberalization of the
Major program in Chemistry, allowing more choice and a broader interpretation of
basic requirements. The justification of MATH 310 (Introduction to Differential
Equations) as a prerequisite to CHEM 361 (Quantum Mechanics) still exists and
students choosing CHEM 361 will continue to take the appropriate Math. course.
The only other significant use of differential equations in chemistry is in
solving kinetic mechanisms, where we find that most differential equations are
(a) trivial (soluble by quadratures) or (b) not soluble analytically. There is
only one counter-example to the above in the whole present undergraduate
chemistry curriculum, viz, the consecutive 1st order system.
S
?
For students not taking CHEM 361, the more useful mathematics course is MATH
316 (Numerical Analysis I). It is desirable to
maika'in
some element of 300-
level expertise in mathematics in the chemistry program, and in keeping with the
concepts described above, the choice between MATH 310 and MATH 316,
and
subsequent
different routes in the program, is left open.
S
?
-3-
Other Changes
The prerequisite change for CHEM 362, to read CHEM 261-3 and MATH 53-4, or
PHYS 341-4, was:proposed by the Chemical Physics Committee, and was acceptable
to the Department of Chemistry. The change improves flexibility in the
Chemical Physics program, while leaving the Chemistry program essentially
unaffected (chemists do not take PHYS 341).
The prerequisite change for CHEM 464, to read, CHEM 362-3 or PHYS 341-4
proposed by the Chemical Physics Committee, was also acceptable to the Department.
The above prerequisite changes have been supported by E.D. Crozierand J. Walkley.
Extracts from the relevant memoranda are reduced below:
r
Crozier to Peterson, 6 Feb. 76
.the Chemical Physics Committee agreed that the pre-requisite fr CHEM 362,
CHEM 261, could be waived if the student has taken PHYS 341. The rationale for
this waiver is that a student who has taken PIIYS 206 and PHYS 341 is better
qualified to take CHEM 362 than a student who has taken only CHEM 261."
Walkley to Crozier, 25 Feb. 76
" I can' see no reason why PHYS 341 cannot act as a prerequisite for CHEM 464.
It is as good a base as CHEM 362, and obviously sets up sufficientthermodynamics
and statistical mechanics for CHEM 464. I am quite happy to accept Chem-Phys
students into CHEM 464 with PHYS 341 as prerequisite and would even suggest that
this could be generalised for any Physics student - thus making the Calendar entry
a general one of CHEM 362 or PHYS 341 as prerequisites."
Crozier to Peterson, 23 Mar. 76
" The (Chem-Phys) Committee decided that as far as Chemical Physics students are
concerned, the prerequisite for CHEM 464 could be CHEM 362 or PHYS34l.
Some members felt that the Chemistry Department might wish to consider making
CHEM 362 or PHYS 341 the prerequisite' course for CHEM 464. Thus students in
Physics, Biophysics and Mathematical Physics who have taken PHYS 341 would be
eligible for CHEM 464. (Chemistry students, because of their core program
requirements, would be forced to take CHEM 261 and CHF.M 362; they, of course,
could take PHYS 341 in addition. "
--------------------------------------7-;;---•;
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