Chemistry Program Learning Outcomes

A student who graduates with a major in Chemistry should be able to:

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Successfully solve and demonstrate to others multistep problems in Organic, Analytical, and a third sub-discipline of the field. In at least one case, critical evaluation of the quality or usefulness of the data presented must be evaluated and explained.
• Written and Oral Communication: Reports of independently obtained laboratory results and analysis must be presented in the scientific format. The effectiveness of presentation and the linguistic quality of the report will be evaluated. A seminar must be presented on a current or historical topic in chemistry in which all of the chemistry department community is invited to attend. The effectiveness and quality of presentation will be evaluated.
• Technical Skills: Each student in the major will be evaluated on their technical competence in the laboratory with respect to operating the chemical instrumentation and properly handling apparatuses specific to certain sub-disciplines.
• Service to the Community at Large: Every student in the major will, either as part of a course or as a co-curricular activity, participate in one or more of the science outreach programs offered by the chemistry department or through the Pepperdine Chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society.