With the support of NSF funding, the Chemistry Department at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University has developed a new curriculum that includes an introductory course (Introduction to Chemical Structure and Properties) to replace our General Chemistry sequence.   The content in this course focuses on the wide range of structural motifs found in chemistry including coordination compounds, biomolecules, Lewis structures, metals, and ionic compounds. To understand structure and the resulting chemical properties, students must examine bonding models, three dimensional structure, bulk properties and intermolecular interactions.  We have developed many resources for this course.  This approach has been found to be successful based on student retention data, SALG, and other assessment data. The presentation will address questions regarding issues with pre-professional programs, transfer students and qualitative vs. quantitative reasoning.  Moving to a one semester introductory course requires a reduction of review material from high school chemistry.  While most CSB/SJU students are able to successfully transition to new content, we have found that we need to provide extra support systems for students with weak high school preparation.

Structure and Support:  A one semester introductory chemistry course

248th National Meeting (2014)

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