VCU Chemistry: Scheduling & Advising

Many of you are registered for large classes this semester. For first-year students, coming straight from high school, this will be your first experience in a large class. Returning VCU students are probably used to large classes. I thought I would suggest a few ideas to make large classes work for you.

Don't hide in your classroom. Try to sit in the front. If that is not possible, come early or stay late to ask your instructor a question. When you do, introduce yourself to the instructor.

Get to know the people sitting around you. If your instructor uses clickers, and if you are given the chance to discuss questions, discuss those questions with the people around you. Tell them your name, and find out their names.

Form study groups with your classmates. It's ok for these to be partly social, but make sure you talk about the material outside of class. Ask each other questions.

Whenever possible, read your textbook (or at least skim it) before class. Ten to fifteen minutes spent looking at figures and table and section headings will make the lecture much clearer and reduce your studying time in the long run.

Finally, treat the class as a class - not as a concert or movie. That means turning off cell phones, not texting on cell phones, using laptops to notes (not to surf the internet), and talking only when asked to by the instructor. Come early if possible. Try to stay awake!

The large class environment can be exciting and provide excellent opportunities for learning if handled correctly. You can make it work for you.

Posted by at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Department of Chemistry conducts exit interviews each spring with graduating seniors. We ask students for feedback on their experiences as a chemistry major at VCU, and we ask for a grade. We want honest, open feedback, and we try to use that feedback to improve our program and, we hope, students' experiences. I thought I would add a few entries summarizing students' responses in those interviews. In this entry, I will emphasize independent study.

In the interviews, nearly all students gave very positive feedback about their independent study experiences. Some students thought that we should require all chemistry majors to do independent study. We would love to do that - but it would be difficult given the number of majors (350 and counting). Students said that their research was real and exciting (and really exciting). The research made them more interested in their coursework. Some students thought that their independent study research helped them in their "regular" course work. This happened because they understood the chemistry and the science more deeply, because they were more interested in chemistry in general, and because they developed better "habits of mind" - like improved critical thinking skills.

So, what does this mean for students and faculty? First, the Department of Chemistry advisers will strongly encourage students to participate in independent study (or an internship). Second, we will continue to hold twice-yearly informational meetings for students to learn about research. But I think we can do more. We need to reach out to the Student Affiliate of the ACS here are VCU to help recruit students for labs. We need to talk about research in our classes. Perhaps we can host a research poster session for undergraduate students currently at VCU who are completing independent study projects.

What do students think? What would motivate you to participate in independent study? Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

Posted by at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All chemistry majors and forensics majors (in the chemistry track) must take CHEZ303L, Physical Chemistry Lab I. This is a writing intensive course requiring upwards of 20 hours per week of writing, reading the literature, and data analysis. Be sure to plan for this kind of time commitment when scheduling this course.

Also, this course has CHEZ309L (Quantitative Analysis Lab) as a co/pre-requisite. We recommend that you finish CHEZ309L before taking CHEZ303L. Likewise, forensics majors (chemistry track) must take CHEZ409L. This course has CHEZ303L as a pre-requisite. Avoid taking CHEZ303L and CHEZ409L in the same semester! We will prohibit students from taking CHEZ309L, CHEZ303L, and CHEZ409L in the same semester.

CHEZ303L is offered fall and spring semesters, as is CHEZ309L and CHEZ409L.

Posted by at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To earn a minor in chemistry, you must complete a minimum of nine (9) upper level (300 or higher) credits of CHEM or CHEZ courses at VCU.

Posted by at 9:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two of the courses required for chemistry majors are CHEM320, Inorganic Chemistry, and CHEM398, Professional Practices. These courses are only offered in the fall. If you plan to graduate in either the spring or summer of 2009, be sure you sign up for these courses now. Both have seats available.

Posted by at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are now open seats in CHEM101 and 102 (General Chemistry 1 and 2), CHEM302 (Organic Chemistry 2), CHEM303 (Physical Chemistry 1), and CHEM320 (Inorganic Chemistry). There are also a seats in the following lab classes: CHEZ101, CHEZ102, CHEZ302, and CHEZ409.

Seats remain available as well for CHEM398, CHEM409 (1 seat), and CHEM110.

Posted by at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)