At Messiah University, Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences is a one-semester organic course populated by nutrition, biopsychology, environmental science, and some applied health majors. With such a diverse set of majors, it is necessary to use real-world applications to make the course relevant. The departments that require the course want students to be prepared to discuss biochemical and environmental applications in subsequent courses. Therefore, the course was redesigned in the last few years to replace a traditional text with a self-designed course pack, to concentrate on the most relevant carbonyl chemistry, and to incorporate in-class problem solving. Applications are central to all topics covered, including from the very beginning of the semester when structure and bonding is discussed. Each topic begins with leading questions, problem sets focus on applications (as opposed to drill problems), and the second exam has been replaced with a paper on a real-world topic. Student response has been favorable.

Redesigning a one-semester organic course to focus on applications

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.