Course Name:  Organic Chemistry I Lab 
Course Prefix: Chem
Course Number: 2315
             Submitted by (Name & E-Mail):  Barry Lloyd, blloyd@weber.edu

Current Date:  12/7/2010
College: Science
Department:   Chemistry                              
From Term: Fall  2010 

Substantive

change 

Current Course Subject N/A
Current Course Number

 

CHEM 2315. Organic Chemistry I Lab (1) CHEM 2315 is a stand-alone lab course designed to accommodate transfer students from other Universities. CHEM 2315 registration will be allowed only by special permission from the Chair of Chemistry. Transfer students who have taken the CHEM 2310 lecture without the lab should petition the Chair of the Chemistry Department for permission to take this course. Prerequisite: Must have completed or currently be enrolled in CHEM 2310 lecture.

New/Revised Course Information:

Subject:  CHEM            

Course Number: 2315

 Check all that apply:
    This is for courses already approved for gen ed.
    Use a different form for proposing a new gen ed designation.
DV  CA  HU  LS  PS  SS 
EN  AI  QL  TA  TB  TC  TD  TE

Course Title: Organic Chemistry I Lab

Abbreviated Course Title: Organic Chemistry I Lab

Course Type:  LAB

Credit Hours:  1  or if variable hours:    to

Contact Hours: Lecture   Lab 3   Other

Repeat Information:  Limit 0   Max Hrs 0 

Grading Mode:  standard

This course is/will be: a required course in a major program
a required course in a minor program
a required course in a 1- or 2- year program
 x  elective in the minor

Prerequisites/Co-requisites:

Prerequisite: CHEM 1220. Corequisite: CHEM 2310.

Course description (exactly as it will appear in the catalog, including prerequisites):

CHEM 2315. Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 2315: Lab course designed to be taken with CHEM 2310. Includes organic laboratory techniques, synthesis, product isolation, spectroscopy and analysis. Prerequisite: CHEM 1220. Co-requisite: must have completed or currently be enrolled in CHEM 2310 lecture.
 

Justification for the new course or for changes to an existing course. (Note: Justification should emphasize academic rationale for the change or new course. This is particularly important for courses requesting upper-division status.)

Weber State Chemistry Department is one of few institutions that has integrated laboratory exercises incorporated into most chemistry courses, where laboratory scores are currently figured into an overall lecture/lab grade. Laboratory is usually a separate course at other universities (U of U and USU, for examples) and students earn a separate laboratory grade. After much discussion, the WSU Chemistry Department voted to separate organic laboratory courses from lectures (Chem 2310 and 2320). Laboratory courses would then be Chem 2315 and 2325, the same as at other in-state chemistry departments. Chem 2315 and 2325 (1 credit hour each) are already on our books, but are currently used only for transfer students who have had a lecture only course elsewhere. We propose to change Chem 2310 and 2320 courses from 5 to 4 credit hours each. Chem 2310L and 2320L (0 credit hours) course numbers would be eliminated. Chem 2315 and 2325 would become co-requisites to chem 2310 and 2320, respectively, for all students. No net credit hour change results. Chem 2315 would become a core course, required for B.S. degrees. Advantages:

Simplifies most (but not all) transfer articulations. Better alignment with other (especially in-state) universities.
Students with good lab grades but poor lecture grades would not have to repeat lab. Saves laboratory space and lab grading.
Students could transfer or repeat lecture or lab only and try for a better grade -- greater flexibility for students.
Lab grade would indicate experimental aptitude separate from lecture (theoretical) ability.
Might allow online lecture or lab only course offerings -- could reach more remote students.
Would accommodate lecture only transfer students who are currently turned away.
 

INFORMATION PAGE
for substantive proposals only

1. Did this course receive unanimous approval within the Department?

true

If not, what are the major concerns raised by the opponents?

2. If this is a new course proposal, could you achieve the desired results by revising an existing course within your department or by requiring an existing course in another department?

3. How will the proposed course differ from similar offerings by other departments? Comment on any subject overlap between this course and topics generally taught by other departments, even if no similar courses are currently offered by the other departments. Explain any effects that this proposal will have on program requirements or enrollments in other department. Please forward letters (email communication is sufficient) from all departments that you have identified above stating their support or opposition to the proposed course.

4. Is this course required for certification/accreditation of a program?

yes

If so, a statement to that effect should appear in the justification and supporting documents should accompany this form.

5. For course proposals, e-mail a syllabus to Faculty Senate which should be sufficiently detailed that the committees can determine that the course is at the appropriate level and matches the description. There should be an indication of the amount and type of outside activity required in the course (projects, research papers, homework, etc.).