Curricular Overview
Our curriculum is designed to allow chemistry majors to learn fundamental chemical concepts and laboratory skills and to have ample opportunity to engage in original research with guidance from a faculty mentor. Our curriculum is flexible enough to allow chemistry majors to study abroad for one or two semesters during the junior year, and about one-third of our majors take advantage of this opportunity. At all levels advantage is taken of the wide range of modern instruments in the department.
First-year sequence and Sophomore year
Haverford has an innovative and unique curriculum that introduces students to the concepts found in traditional General Chemistry and Organic chemistry courses (found at most other colleges and universities in the US), but each course after the first (110) focusses on a particular chemical theme. Most, but not all, Haverford students have had a good high school chemistry course that uses a General Chemistry textbook, and, based on our chemistry placement questionnaire/exam, are able to skip our Fundamentals of Chemistry course (Chem 110). Students interested in pursuing a chemistry major should take the remaining four introductory courses, while students who plan to major in Biology (without a Biochemistry concentration) or who wish to satisfy the pre-medical compentencies (the basis for the soon to be released new MCAT exam) may stop after Chem 222.
- Chem 110: Fundamentals of Chemistry (fall only; admission only by placement; no lab)
- Chem 111: Structure and Bonding (includes biweekly lab; prerequisite: Chem 110 or placement*)
- CHEM 112: Chemical Dynamics (includes biweekly lab; prerequisite: Chem 110 or placement*)
- *Note: Chem 111 and 112 may be taken in either order. Depending on placement, some students take a half-credit course, Chem 115 (Chemical Structure Inquiry Lab; fall only), in lieu of the full credit Chem 111 course.
- Chem 222: Organic Biological Chemistry (includes weekly lab; prerequisites: Chem 111 (or 115) and 112).
- Chem 225: Organic Reactions and Synthesis (spring only; includes weekly lab; prerequisite: Chem 222).
Students taking their first course in the department must take a placement examination. This examination, secondary school records, scores from standardized and advanced placement tests, and individual consultation, are all used as a basis for a recommended course of study, which may start with Chem 110, 111, 112 or 115.
Junior Year
The central offerings of the junior and senior years for chemistry majors are Physical Chemistry (304a, 305b; most chemistry majors elect to take both semesters, although only the first semester is required for the major) and the integrated laboratory courses (301a, 311g, 312h), in which laboratory work in chemistry and biochemistry provides an introduction to research. Modern methods of instrumental analytical chemistry are stressed throughout these courses. Either in the junior or senior year, students take Inorganic Chemistry (two half-semester courses), two additional advanced courses, and the departmental seminar. Students are urged to participate in research for advanced course credit.
Concentrations
Students may choose to concentrate in Biochemistry as chemistry majors. The Biochemistry and Biophysics Concentration is sponsored jointly by the departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Chemistry majors in the concentration substitute Biology 300b, the Biology Department's laboratory course devoted to proteins and nucleic acids, for Chemistry 311g/312h and take other appropriate Biology and Chemistry courses in the areas of molecular biology and biochemistry.
Major and minor requirements are presented in the Chemistry section of the Haverford College catalog.
More information may be found in the following pdf downloads:
- Brochure for prospective students
- Advice to sophomores considering the Chemistry major (summarizes the course sequences most commonly used to fulfill the requirements)