The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at CSUSB is comprising only twelve permanent faculty and three full time staff. Chemistry majors may choose from four degrees offered by the Department: B.S. in Chemistry (ACS option), B.A. in Chemistry, B.S. in Chemistry (Biochemistry option), and B.A. in Chemistry (Biochemistry option). In the 2004/2005 academic year, there were 32 graduates from our department, of which 3 took the BS-ACS option and 14 took biochemistry options.
In keeping with the Charter for the California State University, the Department prides itself on the quality of the instruction it provides and the personal attention given to its students. Class sizes are deliberately kept small so students can interact better with the instructor. General chemistry lecture classes are kept at no more than 72 and are often less, while upper division classes are often less than 20. Laboratory classes are typically 24 or less. Good advice is considered a key aspect to a successful stay at CSUSB, and chemistry faculty advisors are always available for consultation. Each student majoring in chemistry or biochemistry will be required to see an advisor at least once each year to ensure they are on track for graduation.
In addition to taking the usual complement of classwork, students may also carry out independent research projects in association with one of the faculty. Results of such research are often reported at professional meetings, such as the various American Chemical Society meetings, or published in the chemical literature. Information on the types of research opportunities available can be found on the faculty webpages.
In support of laboratory classes and faculty research programs, the department is well equipped with some state of the art instrumentation, including a JEOL 270 MHz NMR spectrometer, a GC/MS, and infrared and UV-Visible spectrometers. Visit the Facilities webpage for a complete list of major instrumentation in the department.
The department also has an active Chemistry Club. Typical activities include organizing outreach programs, visits to local chemical companies (and the odd brewery) as well as promoting chemistry here on campus. Visit the Chemistry Club webpage for more information.
