Chemistry and Biochemistry

About the Department

Viswanathan Krishnan, Department Chair
Science Building, Room 380
559.278.2103
csm.fresnostate.edu/chemistry

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department provides:

1. undergraduate training in chemistry for students planning professional careers in chemistry, biochemistry and allied professions, and for those contemplating graduate work for advanced degrees;
2. undergraduate training in chemistry for those planning careers in professions such as medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.;
3. participation in the preparation of teachers of chemistry and the other physical sciences in the teaching credential programs;
4. teaching of the basic chemical sciences required by students majoring in related fields such as physics, biology, nursing, engineering, geology, agriculture, home economics, and criminology;
5. stimulation of interest in and understanding of the achievements and contributions of chemistry to our civilization for non-science students, as a part of General Education; and
6. graduate instruction in chemistry for the Master of Science degree for students who intend to enter the chemical industry, pursue further advanced study, or who wish to improve their qualifications as teachers in secondary schools and community colleges. The multi-disciplinary forensic science degree program prepares students for continued success by integrating instruction with active forensic research, collaboration with local crime laboratories, and real world experiences.

The Bachelor of Science degree programs in Chemistry/Biochemistry are accredited by the American Chemical Society. Students who satisfactorily complete the program are recommended by the department for certification as graduate chemists by the American Chemical Society. Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree may be recommended for certification by completing additional requirements of the American Chemical Society.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

• Chemistry and Society
• Introductory Organic Chemistry
• Fundamentals of Biochemistry
• Chemistry in the Marketplace

What You Can Learn

• Structure and behavior of organic and biological compounds
• Basic treatment of gas laws, thermodynamics, kinetics, and spectroscopy
• Real-world experiences with forensic science through collaboration with local crime laboratories

Facilities

The graduate chemistry laboratories and support areas are housed in the science building. Students have access to a broad range of instrumentation, including two solution-state NMR spectrometers (300 MHz and 400 MHz), an EPR spectrometer, Jasco-1815 CD spectrometer, a TA instruments nano-DSC, a range of mass spectrometers (including ion trap, micro-TOF and MALDI-TOF-TOF), several HPLC systems. Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometers (transmission and multi-bounce ATR) a range of gas chromatographs (including instruments with mass spectrometer detectors, flame ionization detectors, and electron capture detectors), UV-vis spectrometers, a spectrofluorimeter, an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, X-ray fluorescence and diffraction instruments, and electrochemical analyzers (including spectroelectrochemical systems). Students also have access to a 108-node Linux cluster and several molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics software programs. Library facilities include over 100 journal subscriptions in chemistry plus numerous texts and related books.

Faculty

Our faculty provide excellent research opportunities in analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The broad interests within the faculty have resulted in interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with scientists and professors in other science areas: agricultural chemistry, biotechnology, clinical chemistry, forensic chemistry, forensic biochemistry, chemical physics, enology, nutritional science, and molecular biology. Research projects have involved local facilities such as the California State Crime Laboratory, University Medical Center, UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program, USDA Research Station, U.S. Veteran’s Administration Hospital, U.S. Forest Laboratory, and Valley Children’s Hospital.

The graduate faculty are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality, rigorous M.S. program. Several of the faculty have received awards for the quality of their mentoring and teaching. They are widely respected in their field and regularly publish their work in leading scientific journals. The faculty have received funding to support their work from private foundations, and state and federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. They also work with researchers at several National Laboratories and a number of top-tier research universities.

Careers Opportunities

What You Can Do

Become a professional chemist, plan a career in the medical professions, or continue study toward a career in forensic science or biotechnology

What You Can Earn

• High School Teacher, $56,101 (in our region)
• Chemist I, $48,788 (in our region)

Source: HR reported data from salary.com as of December 2012

Programs

• Biochemistry, B.S.
• Chemistry, B.A.
• Chemistry, B.S.

• Chemistry, M.S.

• Single Subject Credential - Chemistry

• Chemistry, Minor