Chemistry

Academics at Hanover:

At Hanover, students use chemistry to better understand the issues faced by modern society. Are you interested in making new chemicals, such as life-saving antibiotics or packaging materials that change color when damaged? What about measuring molecules in the world around you, such as hormones in hair, flavor compounds in food, or contaminants in cosmetics? You could explore these topics and many more through chemistry coursework and research at Hanover College.

You’ll begin with a broad introduction to important concepts in chemistry, and then further focus on each major field: Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical. Along the way you will have opportunities to take advanced courses in cutting edge areas of chemistry, including Computational Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Neuropharmacology. Your program will culminate with a collaborative research project in which you’ll work one-on-one with a chemistry department faculty to explore an area of interest to you. Read faculty profiles below.

LEARNING IN THE LAB… AND BEYOND

As a student of chemistry at Hanover, you’ll have unique opportunities to build your resume and prepare for the world after college, whether that is graduate school, medical school, or an industry or government career. You can take part in the Chemistry Departments Summer Research Program, which offers paid positions to research full time on Hanover’s campus. Additionally, ample time is built into your coursework to gain individualized, hands-on experience with sophisticated equipment, the kind seldom found in undergraduate programs even at large universities, such as:

Infrared and raman spectrophotometer – can be used to measure molecular vibrations in order to compare the chemical makeup of materials
Ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS) – industry grade instrument used to quantify how much of a chemical is in a mixture, such as drug testing in biological samples
Computational resources – use technology to design and simulate mechanochemical reactions
Fluorimeter – instrument that excites molecules and measures emitted light

WHAT DO CHEMISTRY MAJORS STUDY?

Principles of chemistry
Organic chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Advanced laboratory
Students pursuing a minor in biochemistry take related courses

Although pre-med is not a major, many chemistry students consider careers in medicine. Hanover’s pre-health science students have unique hands-on access to a human patient simulator and human cadaver dissection as undergraduates.

Careers

Medical doctor
Dentist
Biochemist
High school teacher
Environmental engineer
Geochemist
Pharmacist
Pharmaceutical sales
Lab technician
Optometrist
Research assistant
Environmental specialist
Doctor of dental surgery
Scientific programmer/analyst
Doctor of osteopathic medicine
Environmental chemist

Sample Employer Placements

Eli Lilly Company
Beck Meyer Company
Analytical Services Laboratory
Flowers Labs
Madison Chemical Company, Inc.
Indiana Kentucky Electric
Central Pharmaceuticals
Methodist Hospital
Safety-Kleen Corporation
Applied Laboratories
Atlantic Research Company
Marion County Health Department
Southern Analytical Laboratories

Recent Graduate School Placements

Indiana University
Stanford University
Ohio State University
Miami University
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
University of Louisville
Pennsylvania State University
University of Dayton
University of Minnesota
Kent State University
University of Colorado
University of Nebraska
Purdue University

Recent Summer Fellowships

Harvard Medical School, biomedical medical research
Miami of Ohio, competitive government funded research
Riley Children’s Hospital, biomedical research
Madison Chemical, industrial research
Indiana State Police, forensics
University of Kentucky, research
University of Louisville, research
University of Cincinnati, research
Indiana University, summer medical program

Learn about the Summer Research program at Hanover

COURSES

Number

Name

Units

Description

CHE 160 Special Topics 1.00 Open to first-year students only.Fee may be charged.

CHE 161 Principles of Chemistry I 1.00 Presents current theory regarding the nature of matter from the nuclear scale to that of the molecule and a descriptive and theoretical introduction to the chemical reaction; organized around two central ideas: the atom and energy. Satisfies the SL CCR and partially satisfies the SM CCR. Partially satisfies SM Knowledge in the Hanover Core. Satisfies SL Knowledge in the Hanover Core. Fee charged.

CHE 185 Principles of Chemistry II 1.00 A continuation of 161. Prerequisite: 161. Fee charged.

CHE 210 Forensic Science 1.00 The study of various techniques and procedures that apply to the broad area of Forensic Science including for example, fingerprinting, trace analysis, DNA, etc. This course will include guest lectures, classroom, laboratory, and field trips to gain a basic understanding of the broad field of Forensic Science. There is an off-campus component for this course and an additional fee required.

CHE 221 Organic Chemistry I 1.00 Structure, nomenclature, and properties of organic and biomolecules. Common analytical methods for determining molecular identity are introduced. Includes laboratory work and a laboratory fee. Laboratory experiments focus primarily on common techniques in synthesis including recrystallization, extraction, distillation, and filtration. Prerequisite: Che 185. Fee charged.

CHE 222 Organic Chemistry II 1.00 A continuation of the study of organic reactions with an emphasis on the determination of reaction mechanisms. Components of this course include spectroscopy and theoretical applications. Laboratory components include synthesis, instrumental analysis, and kinetics. Prerequisite: Che 221. Fee charged.

CHE 225 Analytical Chemistry 1.00 Presents data analysis techniques with an emphasis on sources of error, methods for evaluating an instrument's performance, and the fundamental principles on which instruments operate, such as equilibria. Laboratory experiments focus primarily on rigorous, quantitative data collection and introductory instrumental operation. Prerequisite CHE 185. Fee charged.

CHE 243 Fermentation Science 1.00 The study of various yeast and bacterial fermentation processes including but not limited to cheese, bread, and alcoholic beverages. This course will have a significant off campus experience and may include guest lecturers who are experts in their area of fermentation. There will also be a laboratory component to this course. Fee charged.

CHE 260 Special Topics 1.00 Fee may be charged.

CHE 307 Directed Study .50 0.50 unit

CHE 308 Directed Research .25 Field or laboratory research performed under the direction of a professor. Prerequisite: permission of directing professor. Graded Pass/Fail. 0.25 unit. Includes laboratory work. This course may be repeated for credit. Fee charged.

CHE 309 Directed Research .50 Field or laboratory research performed under the direction of a professor. Prerequisite: permission of directing professor. Graded Pass/Fail. 0.50 unit. Includes laboratory work. This course may be repeated for credit. Fee charged.

CHE 311 Phys. Chem: Chemical Thermodynamics 1.00 An introduction to classical thermodynamics and its applications to phase relations, chemical reactivity, chemical equilibrium, and basic electrochemistry. MAT 122 recommended. Includes laboratory experience. Prerequisites: CHE 185, PHY 185, MAT 121. Offered alternate years. Fee charged.

CHE 312 Phys. Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry 1.00 An introduction to wave mechanics and its applications to spectroscopy and molecular structure. MAT 122 recommended. Includes laboratory experience. Prerequisites: CHE 185, PHY 185, MAT 121. Offered alternate years. Fee charged.

CHE 314 Computational Chemistry 1.00 Introduction to modern computational methods used to model and predict chemical structure, reactivity, and energetics. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation of computational results and their application in current chemical research. Includes a course-embedded research project and scientific writing component culminating in an article-style paper. Prerequisite: CHE 222. Satisfies W2 ACE. Satisfies W2 Skills in the Hanover Core. Fee charged.

CHE 323 Inorganic Chemistry: Reactivity 1.00 Survey of inorganic reactions. Emphasis on unique reactions of elements, metal coordination complexes, and catalytic cycles. Laboratory work includes working with air- and moisture- sensitive reactions. Prerequisite: CHE 222. Satisfies W2 ACE. Satisfies W2 Skills in the Hanover Core. Fee charged.

CHE 324 Inorganic Chemistry: Structure 1.00 Principles of atomic and molecular structure. A group theory approach to molecular bonding and vibrational spectroscopy. An introduction to d-group chemistry and metal-ligand interactions. Prerequisite: CHE 222. Fee charged.

CHE 325 Instrumental Analysis 1.00 Chromatography and spectrophotometric methods of analysis, including GC, LC, HPLC, UV-VIS, IR, NMR. Prerequisite: 225. Fee charged.

CHE 341 Biochemistry I 1.00 Introduction to the application of fundamental chemical principles to the structure and function of proteins and cell membranes. Exploration of bioenergetics and metabolic pathways. Emphasis on protein structure, enzyme catalysis, and regulatory mechanisms. Includes laboratory work and a laboratory fee. Laboratory work includes enzyme kinetics and protein purification. Prerequisites: CHE 222 and BIO 185. Fee charged.

CHE 342 Biochemistry II 1.00 Examination of carbohydrate, fatty acid, lipid, nucleotide, and amino acid metabolism. Additional topics include photosynthesis, nucleic acid chemistry, and protein synthesis. Prerequisite: 341.

CHE 344 Neuropharmacology 1.00 Introduces the basics of pharmacology with specific application to the brain. Begins with the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and neurobiochemistry, then explores the history of neuropharmaceutical drugs and illicit drugs of abuse, the effects of these substances on the nervous system, and broader societal and cultural implications of the drug’s use. Prerequisite CHE 341. Satisfies the CP ACE. Satisfies CP Skills in the Hanover Core.

CHE 345 Medicinal Chemistry 1.00 Introduces the major components of the drug discovery process with a focus on the design of molecular structures and drug evaluation. Explores a range of career paths and topics in the pharmaceutical industry including biological targets, AI discovery, toxicology, process scale Chemistry, and clinical trials. Includes a lab component to design, synthesize, and evaluate pharmaceutical drug analogs. Prerequisite: CHE 222. Fee charged.

CHE 357 Internship: 1.00 Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

CHE 360 Special Topics 1.00 Fee may be charged.

CHE 409 Senior Research .50 Prerequisites: 0.50 unit of either 308 or 309, senior standing, and consent of project advisor. 0.50 unit. Fee charged.

CHE 471 Senior Thesis 1.00 Literature based. Prerequisite: Senior standing and consent of project advisor.

CHE 472 Senior Thesis 1.00 Laboratory research based. Prerequisite: CHE 409, senior standing, and consent of project advisor. Fee charged.