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Departmental Information

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Prof. James J. Valentini
528 Havemeyer
854-7590

Undergraduate Office
340 Havemeyer
854-2163

Departmental Office
344 Havemeyer
(212) 854-2202

Departmental Web Site
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/chemistry/

The Department of Chemistry offers three different first-year tracks. In Track 1, students with one year of high school chemistry take CHEM C1403-C1404 , a one-year course in general chemistry, and C1500 , the one-term laboratory course that accompanies it. Students who qualify by prior examination during orientation week can place into the advanced tracks. There are two options. Track 2 students will take CHEM C2407 , a special one-term intensive course in general chemistry in place of the one-year course. Track 3 students will take CHEM C3045-C3046 , a one-year course in organic chemistry for first-year students. All students in Tracks 2 and 3 will take CHEM C2507 , the one-term laboratory course. Students who wish to enroll in CHEM C2507 or CHEM C3045 must have achieved a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination and are expected to additionally pass qualifying examinations given by the department prior to the start of the term. Students who complete CHEM C2407 can take C3071, an introduction to inorganic chemistry, in the spring term of their first year.

CHEM C2408 , a seminar for first-year students on topics in modern chemistry, is offered to all qualified students.

In the second year most students study organic chemistry, CHEM C3443 - C3444 (a one-year lecture course), while those who took intensive organic chemistry for first-year students enroll in organic chemistry laboratory (C3545 - C3546) along with physical chemistry (C3079 - C3080), or inorganic chemistry (C3071). Those who take the lecture course in organic chemistry after their first year usually take these other courses in their third and fourth years. Organic chemistry laboratory (C3543 - C3546) for these students can be taken for either one or two terms. Biochemistry (BIOC C3501 , C3512) is recommended for students interested in the biomedical sciences.

Physical chemistry (C3079 - C3080), a one-year program, requires prior preparation in mathematics and physics. The accompanying laboratory is C3085 - C3086.

Also offered are a senior seminar (C3920); advanced courses in biochemistry; inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; and an introduction to research (C3098).