Department of Chemistry and Physics

Department Chair Elizabeth Pierce – SC 309B	Faculty & Staff
Associate Department Chair Cameron Pace – SC 210	Student Success Advisors
Administrative Assistant Rhonda Riley – SC 309	Website

Overview of Programs

The Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southern Utah University offers undergraduate programs in chemistry and physics. Our dedicated and highly qualified faculty offer students an engaging experience in the classroom, laboratory, and through a wide variety of undergraduate research opportunities. A close working relationship between students and professors is maintained through a low student-to-faculty ratio, especially in upper-division classes. Undergraduate research is highly valued within the Department, offering our students an opportunity to participate in scientific discoveries and enhance their applications to gain admission to top graduate schools and professional programs.

Our laboratories are well-equipped, with students receiving training and hands-on experience with modern instrumentation including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy, a variety of mass spectrometers linked to other instrumentation (ICP-MS, GC-MS, LC-MS), and gas chromatography. The Department of Chemistry and Physics maintains a modern astronomical observatory and is a partner with the Great Basin Observatory.

The chemistry program is approved by the American Chemistry Society (ACS). Students completing a baccalaureate degree that meets the ACS Guidelines will receive an ‘ACS-certified degree.’ The chemistry program routinely ranks above the 90th percentile of the nation according to the Educational Testing Services major field exam given to all graduating chemistry majors.

Our physics program has a variety of offerings supplemented by a well-equipped and maintained laboratory and an astronomical observatory. Students may obtain a minor in physics and participate in undergraduate research that takes advantage of modern equipment, campus supercomputing facilities, and a world-class remotely operated observatory located in the Great Basin National Park.

Mission

The Department of Chemistry and Physics fosters an environment of academic excellence in the disciplines of chemistry and physics. Several specialized learning environments complement the classroom experience. These include a nationally certified environmental water laboratory, an astronomical observatory, the Edward & Shirley Stokes open chemistry lab, and a laser lab for cold molecule spectroscopy. We provide comprehensive classroom and experiential learning environments that accentuate critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication in the physical sciences of chemistry and physics.

Department/Program Learning Outcomes

The goal of the Department of Chemistry and Physics is to provide students with the tools necessary to solve problems and achieve their career aspirations. Our programs stress the development of a student’s ability to define problems, develop hypotheses, execute experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions. Undergraduate students who complete one of the degree tracks offered through the Department of Chemistry and Physics will be able to demonstrate they:

Understand and can utilize the scientific method.
Have attained a firm foundation in the fundamentals and application of current scientific theories within their program area.
Are able to carry out, record, and analyze the results of experiments within their program area.
Are able to use instrumentation and classical techniques to carry out experiments, properly record results, and develop conclusions from these experiments.
Are able to identify and solve problems within their respective fields of chemistry and physics.
Are able to use information searching and retrieval methods to obtain relevant information to a topic, technique, or issue related to their program area.
Are able to effectively communicate information and scientific data to scientists and non-scientists.
Are ready to pursue and excel in further education or employment opportunities.

Other Information

Graduate Program Opportunity

Master of Business Administration: An arrangement has been made with the School of Business so that it is possible for students to earn an M.B.A. while pursuing their degree in chemistry or physics. Contact the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics or the advisor in the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, Miranda Gubler, at 435-586-5462.

Laboratory and Lecture Retake Policy

Any course listed with a laboratory co-requisite requires those courses to be taken simultaneously when a student enrolls in that course for the first time. However, since laboratory courses within the department are evaluated independently of the co-requisite course, one may meet the passing requirements (“C” or above) of one course but not the other. Below is the policy pertaining to those scenarios:

If a student passes the lecture course but fails to pass the laboratory co-requisite course, they must retake the laboratory course only and achieve a passing grade. The lecture course does not need to be retaken by the student. For some laboratory courses that are the first in a series, e.g. CHEM 1215 prior to CHEM 1225, that lab may be retaken concurrently with the next lecture and laboratory courses in the series (e.g. CHEM 1215 with CHEM 1220 and 1225).
If a student passes the laboratory course but fails the lecture co-requisite course, they have one (1) year following that course (within the following three semesters) to achieve a passing grade in that course without the need for retaking the lab course. If that time is exceeded before passing the lecture-based course, the co-requisite requirement of the lab is reinstated.
If a student wishes to withdraw from a lower-division co-requisite lecture and/or laboratory, they are required to drop both courses.

Minimum Grade

A grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in each course required for all majors and minors in the Department of Chemistry and Physics.
All prerequisite courses must be passed with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above).

Special Learning Environments

Southern Utah University Environmental Water Laboratory

The SUU Water Laboratory is a student-staffed laboratory accredited by the state of Utah under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAB). Serving southern Utah since 1972, this laboratory provides SUU students with an interest in chemistry a hands-on, chemical laboratory experience. The laboratory also provides students with employment opportunities.

The SUU Water Laboratory serves the tri-state area (Arizona, Nevada, and Utah) by providing a local source of chemical and bacteriological analysis of water and wastewater.

The Southern Utah University Ashcroft Observatory

The SUU Ashcroft Observatory offers college credit courses and weekly community astronomical viewing activities and is located near the SUU Valley Farm.

The Edward & Shirley Stokes Open Chemistry Lab

The Edward & Shirley Stokes Open Chemistry Lab is designed to support undergraduates pursuing a diverse selection of research opportunities. The laboratory space houses many modern instruments and facilities for a broad range of projects including research in organic chemistry. Additional research-specific laboratories are available and dedicated to biochemistry, physical, inorganic, and analytical chemistry research projects.

The Cold Molecular Laser Lab

In this laboratory, isolated molecules in the gas phase are analyzed using laser spectroscopy to precisely measure their structure, electronic transitions, and nuclear motion. The lab employs a mass spectrometer coupled with a supersonic expansion, enabling both UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy of cold samples. Simultaneously, it measures the masses of any fragments or dissociation products resulting from excitation.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Minor