24 courses with the subject CHEM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
CHEM 003BPainting, Chemistry and Conservation.1
Cross-listed with ARTH 026 . This interdisciplinary course explores the intersection of chemistry with the visual arts. During the course of the semester we will learn about the materials available to artists, issues faced by museum curators and conservators, and some basic chemistry concepts related to these topics. Our exploration of the chemistry, and history, of art media will include labs that extend and enhance the lecture topics. Does not fulfill NSEP requirement. Natural science and engineering. 1 credit. Eligible for GLBL-core Spring 2027. Staff.
A study of the general concepts and basic principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, bonding theory, molecular interactions, and the role of energy in chemical reactions. Applications will be drawn from current issues in fields such as environmental, biological, polymer, and transition metal chemistry. CHEM 010 is the normal point of entry for the chemistry and biochemistry curriculum. See course description for CHEM 011 if you have had at least 2 years of high school chemistry. Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Eligible for ENVS. Fall 2026. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff.
CHEM 011Integrated Foundations of Chemical Principles1
A point of entry to the chemistry and biochemistry curriculum for those who have had at least 2 years of high school chemistry. The course meets one afternoon per week for 3.5 hrs in addition to one 50 minute course meeting. Time will be split between experimental hands-on experiments and seminar style discussions of current topics in chemistry.
Must exceed a minimum score on the Chem 011 Placement Exam to be invited to enroll. Natural sciences and engineering practicum. 1 credit. Eligible for ENVS. Fall 2026. Beaulac. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 015Environmental Chemistry1
(Cross-listed as ENVS 060 ) The course covers selected aspects of atmospheric chemistry, aquatic chemistry, and soil chemistry. There will be a specific focus on the environmentally important element cycles for C, N, O, P, and S in the absence and presence of current human activity. The chemistry of organic pollutants across the three zones will also be examined. The course content will involve a discussion of relevant current events.
C- or better in CHEM 010 or CHEM 011 ; or discretion of the instructor. Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Eligible for ENVS, GLBL-core Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 022Organic Chemistry I1
An introduction to the chemistry of some of the more important classes of organic compounds; nomenclature, structure, physical and spectroscopic properties; methods of preparation; and reactions of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, halides, and monofunctional oxygen compounds, with an emphasis on ionic reaction mechanisms.
C- or better in CHEM 010 or CHEM 011 . Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 032Organic Chemistry II1
A continuation of CHEM 022 with emphasis on more advanced aspects of the chemistry of monofunctional and polyfunctional organic compounds, multistep methods of synthesis, and an introduction to bio-organic chemistry.
C- or better in CHEM 022 . Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Rablen. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 038Biological Chemistry1
An introduction to the chemistry of living systems: protein conformation, principles of biochemical preparation techniques, enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, bioenergetics, intermediary metabolism, and molecular genetics.
C- or better in CHEM 032 . Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 042Physical Chemistry I1
A quantitative approach to the description of energy and structure in chemical and biochemical systems. Topics will include thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum theory, and spectroscopy.
C- or better in CHEM 010/CHEM 011; CHEM 022; MATH 025 (or MATH 026 ); and PHYS 003 and PHYS 004 (or PHYS 003L, PHYS 004L, or PHYS 007, PHYS 008). Natural sciences and engineering practicum. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Watkins. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 043Analytical Methods and Instrumentation1
An introduction to the techniques and instrumentation used for the separation, identification, and quantification of chemical species.
C- or better in CHEM 022, PHYS 003/004 (or 003L/004L or 007/008), and MATH 025 (or 026).
Corequisite
PHYS 004/004L/008. Natural sciences and engineering practicum. Writing course. One laboratory period weekly. 1 credit. Eligible for ENVS. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 048Biological Chemistry II1
A continuation of CHEM 038 . More advanced aspects of proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolism will be covered along with an introduction to the structure, function and chemistry of carbohydrates and lipids. Additional topics include the transport of molecules and signals across and within membranes.
C- or better in CHEM 038 Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Miller. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
C- or better in CHEM 042 and MATH 034 (or equivalent). 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 056Inorganic Chemistry1
A study of the structure, bonding, and reactivity of inorganic compounds with emphasis on the transition metals. Included in the syllabus are discussions of crystal and ligand field theories, organometallic chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry.
C- or better in in four prior semesters of college chemistry, or discretion of the instructor. Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Groff. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
Experimental projects will build upon fundamental laboratory techniques acquired in earlier courses and focus on recombinant DNA technology, biochemical and structural biology methods to obtain information about biological macromolecules. Students will gain experience in experimental design and data analysis while exploring numerous classical and modern experimental techniques used in biochemistry research. Enrollment limited; preference will be given to biochemistry majors.
C- or better in four semesters of chemistry, one of which must be 40 or higher. At least three of the four chemistry courses must have a lab. Natural sciences and engineering practicum. 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 094Research Project
This course provides the opportunity for qualified students to participate in research with individual faculty members. Students who propose to take this course should consult with the faculty during the preceding semester concerning areas under study. This course may be elected more than once. Students may enroll in this course for either a half credit or a full credit. A half credit implies a time commitment of 5-7 hours per week, while a full credit implies a time commitment of 10-15 hours per week. 0.5 or 1 credit. Fall 2026. Staff. Spring 2027. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff. Spring 2028 Staff.
Chemistry and biochemistry majors will be provided with an option of writing a senior research thesis as part of their comprehensive requirement. Thesis students are strongly urged to participate in on-campus research during the summer between their junior and senior years. A minimum of 2 credits of CHEM 096 must be taken during the last three semesters of the student’s residence at Swarthmore. Students must be enrolled in CHEM 199 concurrently. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Staff. Spring 2027. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff. Spring 2028 Staff.
C- or better in CHEM 032 and completion of a 40 or 50 level CHEM course with C- or better. Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 110Topics in Biophysical Chemistry1
This course will address advanced topics of current interest in the field of biophysical chemistry.
C- or better in CHEM 038 and CHEM 042 . Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 112DNA Nanotechnology1
This course will focus on supramolecular chemistry as related to nanotechnology, logic gates, drug delivery, and novel materials. We will start with the principles of supramolecular chemistry covering the works of the Nobel Prize winner Jean-Marie Lehn considered by some to be the “Father of Supramolecular Chemistry”. Major part of the course will focus on unusual DNA structures, DNA assemblies, and DNA-based nanomaterial (including DNA origami) as well as DNA nanomachines. The other part of the course will cover topics selected by students according to their interests.
C- or better in CHEM 038 and completion of a 40 or 50 level CHEM course with C- or better. Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 116Topics in Organometallic Chemistry1
This course will address the organometallic chemistry of the transition metal elements. Themes will include a survey of key ligands frameworks paired with an understanding of the bonding and electronic structure of their metal complexes. A survey of elementary reactions and catalytic applications of organometallic complexes will also be developed and will be complemented with a discussion of physical inorganic techniques applied to organometallic systems. Material will largely be drawn from the primary literature and students will read, evaluate and discuss scientific papers critically.
C- or better in CHEM 032 and CHEM 056 . Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 118Special Topics in Biochemistry and Its Applications1
This course will address selected topics of interest in the field of biochemistry, which may include protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid recognition, viruses, immunoglobulins, signal transduction, and structure-based drug design. Different experimental approaches, as well as the atomic and physical properties of different biological macromolecules and their complexes, will be analyzed and evaluated in the context of human disease development and research. Material will largely be drawn from the primary literature and students will read, evaluate and discuss scientific papers critically.
C- or better in CHEM 038 and either CHEM 042 or CHEM 048 . Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Spring 2027. Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 120Topics in Environmental Nanotechnology1
This course will address advanced topics of current interest in the field of environmental nanotechnology, including sustainable applications of nanotechnology and its implications for human and environmental health. Material will largely be drawn from the primary literature and students will read, evaluate, and discuss scientific papers critically.
C- or better in CHEM 038 and completion of a 40 or 50 level CHEM course with a C- or better. Natural sciences and engineering. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Riley. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/chemistry-biochemistry Access the class schedule to search for sections.
CHEM 180Honors Thesis- Research1
An opportunity for students in the External Examination Program to participate in research with individual faculty members. The thesis topic must be chosen in consultation with a member of the faculty and approved early in the semester preceding the one in which the work is to be done. A minimum of 2 credits of CHEM 180 must be taken during the last three semesters of the student’s residence at Swarthmore. Students must be enrolled in CHEM 199 concurrently. 1 credit. Fall 2026. Staff. Spring 2027. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff. Spring 2028 Staff.
CHEM 199 is an interactive course where students completing a senior research thesis discuss their work. Strategies for effective writing and oral presentations will be emphasized. Course is required of all students enrolled in sections of CHEM 096 or CHEM 180 . On Colloquium weeks, this course will also include Colloquium Journal Club attended by all Majors and Minors within the Department. Natural sciences and engineering. 0 credit. Fall 2026. Staff. Spring 2027. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff. Spring 2028 Staff.
