Chemistry and Biochemistry

College of Science and Engineering
Dean: Sheldon Axler

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
TH 806
415-338-1288
Chair: Cliff Berkman

Undergraduate Advising Coordinator: Pete Palmer
Graduate Coordinators: Andrew Ichimura, Bruce Manning

Faculty

Professors—Aragón, Berkman, Buttlaire, Erden, Gronert, Keeffe, Luckey, Macher, Orenberg, Palmer, Simonis, Trautman, Wu, Zeile

Associate Professors—DeWitt, Esquerra, Gassner, Gerber, Manning

Assistant Professors—Baird, Ichimura, Komada

Research Associate Professor—Yen

Adjunct Professors—Holmes, Roitman, Runquist

Programs

B.A. in Chemistry
B.S. in Biochemistry
B.S. in Chemistry
Minor in Chemistry
M.S. in Chemistry
M.S. in Chemistry: Concentration in Biochemistry

Program Scope and Career Outlook

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers an outstanding educational environment for undergraduate and graduate students. The department's degree programs are designed to prepare students for graduate study, health professions programs, and professional careers such as teaching and laboratory positions with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. An important objective is to educate versatile chemists and biochemists who understand the theoretical basis and practical applications of their discipline and are well prepared to succeed in graduate school and professional positions.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry is particularly well-suited for those students whose career goals involve the integration of chemistry with other fields. This program provides excellent preparation for high school science teachers pre-medical students and high school science teachers, as well as those who will pursue further studies in the pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary medicine, and dentistry. (Students preparing to become teachers should note that additional science preparation beyond the major is required; thus, it is important to consult early and often with the credential advisor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to plan the major and to keep abreast of any state-mandated changes in the requirements.) Additionally, the B.A. in Chemistry may be combined with a minor in engineering, business, social sciences, the humanities, or the arts to provide the student with a unique synthesis of experience applicable to careers in patent law, management, sales, marketing, chemical engineering, regulatory affairs, technical writing, scientific journalism, library science, environmental protection, and art restoration. Students who are considering teaching chemistry should consult with a credential advisor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry before planning the major. Specific courses in competency assessment are required for the credential program.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, which is approved by the American Chemical Society, prepares students to pursue a career in chemically-oriented industry or to begin graduate study in chemistry and other molecular sciences. The degree provides a solid foundation in mathematics and physics, breadth in chemical subdisciplines (analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry), and depth in one or more areas of chemistry. This program provides excellent hands-on training in instrumental techniques and emphasizes quantitative and analytical aspects of the discipline.

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is designed for those students who wish to be particularly well qualified in the rapidly expanding fields between biology and chemistry. The extensive laboratory training program provides exceptional preparation for careers in biotechnology and enjoys a favorable reputation among biotechnology companies in the Bay Area. This degree provides a strong foundation for a graduate degree in biochemistry, and it is an excellent degree choice for entry into medical or dental college.

The Master of Science in Chemistry, which is approved by the American Chemical Society, is designed as a balanced program in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, and biochemistry. The department also offers the Master of Science in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry for students who want to specialize in the biochemical aspects of chemistry. The American Chemical Society placement examinations, while not greatly influencing the graduate status of the student, will determine where individual weaknesses exist so that corrective emphasis may be applied. The department also offers a cooperative M.S./Ph.D. program with the University of California, Davis for defined minority students and women from all ethnic groups (contact the department chair for further information). Work leading to the master's degree should provide for the best possible balance between theoretical course work and research. A student completing the program should be prepared to pursue a career in the field of chemical research and development at the technical level, teaching, or have the necessary foundation to continue studies toward the doctorate.

The Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society enthusiastically commended the department for the excellence of its undergraduate program. High-quality teaching, one-on-one advising, and opportunities for students to participate in research under the direct supervision of active faculty members who are recognized authorities in their field are significant features of the department. Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty members are actively involved in research, and many undergraduate students work on research projects during their senior year, working closely with their faculty research advisor. Examples of research projects currently under investigation by our faculty members and their research students include:

Analytical Chemistry: Use of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Direct Sampling Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (DSITMS) for monitoring organic pollutants. Use of X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) for rapid screening of toxic elements in foods, supplements, and other products. Development of novel analytical techniques for separation and detection of redox-sensitive trace species.

Biochemistry: Enzyme reaction mechanisms. Synthesis of enzyme inhibitors, characterization of transition-state analogs, and measurement of enzyme-ligand interactions. Isolation and characterization of methyl transferase enzymes. Structure-function relationships in membrane transport proteins and mechanisms of membrane biogenesis, with emphasis on outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli. Biosynthesis and regulation of the expression of complex carbohydrate cell surface antigens. Characterization of enzymes involved in the nitric oxide cellular signaling pathway.

Metalloprotein Biochemistry: Structural and functional studies of metalloproteins involved in redox reactions, oxygen activation, oxygen transport, and signal transduction.

Environmental Chemistry: Determination of structures and speciation of metals and trace elements adsorbed on environmental surfaces. Modeling speciation, precipitation, and adsorption reactions of trace elements in environmental systems. Mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance/accumulation in plants. Effects of heavy metals on gene expression in plants. Detection of trace levels of volatile organic compounds and heavy metals in urban air, water, and soil samples.

Inorganic/Bioinorganic Chemistry: Transition metal organometallic chemistry. Photochemistry and photophysics of organometallic compounds. Development and applications of multi-dimensional NMR methodologies for the structural analysis of platinum complexes and paramagnetic molecules. Bioinorganic chemistry of paramagnetic Fe(III) porphyrins, chromium(III) complexes, and cobalt(II,III) complexes to model structure-function relationships of heme proteins, the glucose tolerance factor, and vitamin B12.

Organic/Bioorganic Chemistry: Reaction mechanisms and synthetic applications of organic peroxides. Small rings. Heterocyclic chemistry. Chemistry of singlet oxygen. Mechanisms of fundamental organic reactions: computational approaches to modeling the transition states of nucleophilic substitutions and elimination reactions. Conformations of small peptides. Structure-reactivity relationships in acid- and base-catalyzed organic reactions, including heterolytic cleavage of C-H and C-C bonds. Design and synthesis of substrate analogs to elucidate the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes. Design and synthesis of novel enzyme inhibitors for use in sensitizing tumor cells to common chemotherapeutic strategies.

Physical/Biophysical Chemistry: Characterization of structural features and dynamic behavior of natural and synthetic macromolecules in solution using physical methods and theoretical models. High precision computational modeling and electro-optic characterization of hydrodynamic transport properties of small, medium, and large molecules. Electrical and mechanical properties of nucleic acids, proteins, molecular motors, and protein-nucleic acid complexes. Biophysical applications of electron spin resonance spin labels. Diffusion and solubility of molecular oxygen in biomembranes and in other tissue. Biophysical spectroscopic methods, including nanosecond time-resolved polarized absorption spectroscopy, to characterize biological function and examine the molecular basis of disease.

Students obtain extensive hands-on training in the use of state-of-the-art research instruments and obtain valuable training in modern laboratory techniques and computational methods. These include, for example, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facility, and numerous modern instruments. Computers are used extensively in chemistry classes, and the department's modern facilities include the Computational Chemistry and Visualization (CCV) laboratory. The CCV laboratory houses state-of-the-art computer workstations with 3D graphics capabilities and enables instructors to teach molecular modeling applications and computational chemistry in inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry lecture and laboratory courses.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

High school preparation for the chemistry and biochemistry degree programs should include two years of algebra, one year of geometry, one-half year of trigonometry, one year of chemistry, and one year of physics.

Mandatory Advising  All undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry majors are required to meet with a major advisor each fall. Students who do not meet with an advisor will have a hold on their touch-tone registration for the spring semester and will be unable to register for classes. Students are also urged to meet with a GE advisor at the SFSU Advising Center to ensure that their course selection meet General Education requirements.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CHEMISTRY

All courses used in the major program must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC not allowed). Courses that are required for the major must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and a grade of C- or better, with only one exception.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY

All courses used in the major program must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC not allowed). Courses that are required for the major must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and a grade of C- or better, with only one exception.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOCHEMISTRY

All courses used in the major program must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC not allowed.) Courses that are required for the major must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and a grade of C- or better.

MINOR PROGRAM IN CHEMISTRY

Twenty-four units of chemistry are required, including CHEM 115 and CHEM 215/216, or their equivalents. Twelve of these units, including four upper-division units, must be taken at San Francisco State University. Twelve of the twenty-four units must be upper division. Eight of the twenty-four units must correspond to upper-division courses at San Francisco State University. Clinical Science majors who elect CHEM 334 usually meet all these requirements; they should consult a chemistry advisor regarding the Chemistry Minor.

All courses in the minor must be completed with letter grades (CR/NC is not acceptable). Only one course from each of the following pairs of courses can be counted towards the minor: either CHEM 130 or CHEM 333, not both; either CHEM 349 or CHEM 340, not both. The following courses, or their equivalents, cannot be counted toward the minor: CHEM 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 361, 599, and 694.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Admission to Program

Students must meet these criteria:

• Satisfy the university admission requirements.
• Have completed an undergraduate major in chemistry. If this criterion is not met, the student may be admitted but additional course work will be required to make up the deficiency.
• Have a GPA of at least 2.5 in chemistry and related courses.
• Submit at least two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with previous academic work and/or potential for graduate work in chemistry. These letters should be sent to the graduate advisor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: newly admitted students are required to take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) (administered by the Testing Office) preferably before the first enrollment takes place, but no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment, to determine if writing deficiencies exist. If remedial work is necessary, the student shall be expected to complete prescribed course(s) in English. Level Two: later in the process of completing the master's degree, the student is expected to demonstrate an advanced level of proficiency in written and spoken English by successfully completing both CHEM 880 and a thesis.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be advanced to candidacy, students must:

• Pass examinations in physical chemistry and two other areas of chemistry. These examinations cover mainly undergraduate level material and the student is given three opportunities in consecutive semesters to satisfy this requirement.
• Satisfy level one of the written English proficiency requirement.
• Satisfy all course deficiencies stipulated upon entrance into the program.
• File a Graduate Approved Program.

NOTE: After initiating a research project, a graduate student must enroll each semester in CHEM 897 while actively engaged in research for the M.S. degree. A maximum of nine units of CHEM 897 may be included on the Graduate Approved Program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY

See general information for Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry above.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY: CONCENTRATION IN BIOCHEMISTRY

See general information for Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry above.

Footnotes

1. CHEM 351 and 353 may be substituted for CHEM 300 and 301.
2. CHEM 338 may be substituted for CHEM 336.