Post-Bac Premed Course Descriptions
CHE 540. Principles of Chemistry I
Introduction to the fields of organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry including
atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, common types of reactions,
stoichiometry, and acid-base chemistry. Laboratory work will support theoretical principles.
Lecture and laboratory on an accelerated pace; 4 credits. Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate
premedical students. Summer 1 Term. Ahmed-Schofield, Gulian, Tate.
CHE 541. Principles of Chemistry II
Second semester of PBPM chemistry sequence including kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium,
reaction mechanisms, acid-base chemistry, galvanic and electrolytic cells, redox reactions,
electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.
3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory; 4 credits. Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate
premedical students. Prerequisite: CHE 540. Fall semester. Greco, Sibley, Ahmed-Schofield.
CHE 636. Organic Chemistry I
Chemistry of the compounds of carbon with emphasis on the relation of molecular structure
to chemical and physical behavior. Topics covered include functional groups, nomenclature,
structure, bonding, isomers, conformations, chirality, reactions that proceed through
ionic mechanisms, and structure elucidation using NMR, MS, and IR. Specific reactions
covered include acid-base, nucleophilic substitution, elimination, oxidation, reduction,
carbon-carbon bond formation reactions, carbonyl addition, and acyl transfer. Laboratory
work includes appropriate techniques, synthetic and analytical methods.
Lecture and laboratory on an accelerated pace; 4 credits. Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate
premedical students. Prerequisites: CHE 540. Summer 2 Term. Ahmed-Schofield, Greco, Schultz.
CHE 637. Organic Chemistry II & Biochemistry
This intensive and accelerated course fully integrates organic chemistry and biochemistry
topics. It covers chemistry of carbonyl groups, amines, amino acids, carbohydrates,
lipids, and radical reactions. The biochemistry topics covered include protein structure,
purification, and analysis; enzyme kinetics and inhibition; allosteric proteins including
hemoglobin; glycolysis; gluconeogenesis; pyruvate dehydrogenase, TCA cycle; electron
transport chain; ATP synthase; signal transduction; glycogen degradation and synthesis;
pentose phosphate pathway; fatty acid oxidation; reactive oxygen species and antioxidants.
4 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory; 5 credits. Accelerated course pacing. Enrollment
limited to post-baccalaureate premedical students. Prerequisites: CHE 636. Spring
Term. Ahmed-Schofield, Greco, Schultz.
PHY 542. Principles of Physics I
The course is the first half of the Principles of Physics sequence, which focuses
on reasoning from fundamental principles and problem-solving skills. In the first
semester, we focus on principles involving motion, force, and energy. Students will
learn to use mathematical models for these principles; observe and measure many physical
phenomena; and analyze problems by identifying the correct model and using it to derive
solutions. Topics include Newtonian mechanics, kinematics and dynamics of linear and
angular motion, gravity, energy and momentum, fluids, and thermal physics. This course
will use algebra and trigonometry as tools in developing the universal language of
physics, but emphasis will be on intuitive understanding and visualization of various
phenomena in nature governed by physical laws.
3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory; 4 credits. Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate
premedical students. Fall semester. Yoder.
PHY 543. Principles of Physics II
This course is the second half of the Principles of Physics sequence that emphasizes
how to reason from fundamental principles to draw conclusions about how the world
works. Topics in this semester include simple harmonic motion, mechanical and electromagnetic
waves, acoustics, the nature of light and color, electricity and magnetism, and geometrical
and physical optics.
3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory; 4 credits. Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate
premedical students. Prerequisite: PHY 542. Spring semester. Yoder.
BIO 547. Biology and Biomedical Sciences I
This 5-credit intensive biology course for post-baccalaureate students covers the
fundamentals of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and microbiology. The course
provides an understanding of cell structure, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and
gene expression, followed by a thorough study of the principles of inheritance, genetic
disease and mapping, and gene therapy/engineering. Also included are investigations
of pathogens, cancer, and evolution. Fundamentals of biochemistry integrated as a
foundation for CHE 637 in the spring.
Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate premedical students. 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory; 5 credits. Prerequisite: CHE 540, CHE 636. Fall
semester. Lenkowski, Garaycochea, Hiller, Van Breukelen.
BIO 548. Biology and Biomedical Sciences II
This 5-credit continuation of Bio 547 will cover comparative aspects of physiology
and as it generally relates to humans, including disease-related topics. The lab component
includes histology and anatomy explored through mammalian dissection. Course topics
include: Development; Metabolism; Endocrinology; Digestion; Respiration and Gas Transport;
Cardiovascular & Circulation; Nervous system; Muscle types; Renal Function; Immune
System; Neuropsychology & Behavior.
Enrollment limited to post-baccalaureate premedical students. 4 hours lecture, 3 hours
laboratory; 5 credits. Prerequisite: BIO 547. Spring semester. Lenkowski, Garaycochea,
Van Breukelen.