Chemistry and Physics
The Chemistry program is committed to academic excellence and seeks to prepare students for industry, graduate school, or professional school. This is achieved through a broad-based education that includes exposure to the major areas of chemistry (analytical, biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, organic, and physical) in both the classroom setting and in the laboratory. The required undergraduate research component of the degree provides an opportunity for the investigation of an original project.
The strengths of the department include small class sizes; extensive interaction with faculty; an award-winning student affiliate American Chemical Society (ACS) chapter and the opportunity to attend national ACS meetings; instruction that uses the latest innovations in technology, teaching pedagogy, and lab equipment; opportunities for community service; and the possibility for internship and co-op positions. The department also provides classes and strong support for students majoring in other sciences as well as for non- science majors.
The Chemistry program offers a rigorous and balanced curriculum that prepares students for graduate study in the various areas of chemistry and for employment in the chemical, materials, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries. Also, the Chemistry major, coupled with selected supporting courses, provides excellent preparation for the study of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and other health-related professions. A chemistry education can also equip students for advanced study in areas such as patent law and scientific publishing.
Biochemistry majors will emerge well qualified for laboratory research and other positions in biochemical and life science industries, and for continuing training in the health sciences, including medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.
Students completing their undergraduate degree in chemistry or biochemistry at SHU have the opportunity to obtain a BS/MS combined degree in chemistry. This is a five-year undergraduate/graduate accelerated track. Students who complete this track receive both BS and MS degrees. Students must apply to Graduate School at Sacred Heart University by the end of the first semester of their junior year.
The Department of Chemistry & Physics also provides introductory physics courses for students in engineering/computer, science majors, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Veterinary, and other pre-professional programs in health-related careers. Courses of general interest to meet core science requirements for the non-science major are also offered.
For students wishing to receive a more comprehensive exposure to the principles of modern physics (such as relativity or quantum mechanics), the Department offers a minor in Physics.
Faculty & Staff
Chemistry Laboratories
There are eight chemistry laboratories and five research laboratories serving the needs of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and computational chemistry. These laboratories contain the following major equipment:
Spectroscopy
NMR 400 MHz; Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer + Autosampler; Raman Spectrometer; four FT-IR Spectrometers including ATR, Ultraviolet/Visible Spectrophotometers; Near Infrared Spectrometers; Spectrofluorometer; Shimadzu RF-5301 Fluorophotometer.
Chromatography
PE HPLC Binary UV/Vis System with Series 200 Autosampler; Gow Mac 550P and two Gow Mac 69-400 TCD-P Gas Chromatographs; Shimadzu GC/MS 2010 Plus with OI Eclipse purge-and-Trap.
Electrochemistry
Pine Dual Potentiostat System; EG&G Parc 264A and EG&G Parc 384 Polarographic Analyzer/- Stripping Voltammeter; EG&G Parc 303A SMDE Electrode; EG&G Parc 616 RDE Electrode.
Computers and Software
Licenses
Hyperchem Molecular Modeling System; ACD proton and carbon-13 NMR software; Wiley 6th edition MS spectral library of 138,000 MS Spectra and NIST Library Chemical Structure Database; Sadtler search software and infrared spectrum library of 3500 organic and inorganic compounds; MATHCAD; ChemDraw; Chem3D; IR Tutor; Introduction to Spectroscopy; Spectra Deck; Turbochrom.
Others
Rudolph Autopol IV Automatic Polarimeter; Johnson Matthey Mark II Magnetic Susceptibility Balance; Jenway PFP7 Flame Photometer; Bio-Rad Experion Automated Electrophoresis System; PE 48-well Thermal Cylinder for DNA analysis; IEC Centra CL2 Benchtop Clinical Centrifuge; Classic Series C-Line Model C24 Benchtop Incubator Shaker; Labconco Tissue Culture Enclosure, Shimadzu HPLC, Shimadzu GCMS, access to Shimadzu ICP; Shimadzu TGA-51.
Computer Facilities
Chemistry server providing licensed software for the use of students.