|
CHEMISTRY SENIOR SEMINAR SYLLABUS - FALL 2011 |
GETTING
SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE:
CHEMISTRY
AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Section 10 | Section 11 | |
Credit: | one, Pass/Fail | one, Pass/Fail |
Time: | 1:25 - 2:15 Wednesday | 2:30 - 3:20 Wednesday |
Place: | 219 Brown Lab | 219 Brown Lab |
Instructors: | Prof. Klaus Theopold | Prof. Klaus Theopold |
Office: | 214 Lammot du Pont Laboratory | 214 Lammot du Pont Laboratory |
Phone: | 831-1546/1247 | 831-1546/1247 |
theopold@Udel.edu | theopold@Udel.edu |
Description: Chemistry Senior Seminar is a "capstone" course that helps prepare students for employment or post-graduate education. The University Faculty Senate's General Education Committee and national groups, such as the Boyer Commission, call for increased attention to the content and importance of capstone courses. In keeping with those recommendations, this course offers the opportunity to integrate the many chemical concepts you have learned and apply them to practical, real-world issues. At the same time, it will provide the opportunity to make oral and written presentations, use computers technology, and sharpen your critical thinking skills while working with other seniors. Our goals are to make this course useful, interesting, and enjoyable for everyone (including the instructor). Check out the schedule to see what is planned. Also, check out a concept map that displays the interrelationships between the activities and goals of the course.
Take Note: Many studies show that success in life, however measured, has little or no correlation with grade point index. Success is correlated with completion of a college degree and with a variety of interpersonal skills. Few chemists complete their careers doing only chemistry. Thus, while employers want to hire knowledgeable chemists, they also look for personal qualities and experiences that indicate leadership potential and flexibility. By focusing on some of these skills, Senior Seminar will favor students who can work cooperatively to solve problems, who like to integrate knowledge and ideas from different sources, and who enjoy public settings and presentations.
Expectations: Each student will:
Extracurricular Activities:
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry sponsors three seminar
programs that meet at 4:00 PM on Monday (Biochemistry), Wednesday
(Physical/Analytical), and Friday (Organic/Inorganic) of every week. The speakers
come from universities, colleges, and industries from around the country
and sometimes from around the world. They have been invited because they
are doing interesting, often pioneering, research. The speakers and their
topics are posted on colored posters around the department and on the departmental website. We expect all seniors to attend at least two of these talks. Not only is this a wonderful opportunity to learn about what is going on at the frontiers of chemistry
and biochemistry, it is an opportunity to meet people who may provide jobs
or provide inside information on the graduate school prospects where they
come from. For example, you are welcome to sign up to go to lunch with
any of the biochemistry seminar speakers. To do so, speak to Ms. Jen Durkin in 102 BRL or sign up via the web. Be assured that most of these people are more than
happy to talk with undergraduates who are interested in their work or their
school/company.