ACS Guidelines for Approved Chemistry Programs – The New MSN Requirement

1. ACS Guidelines for Approved Chemistry Programs – The New MSN Requirement • Thomas Wenzel – Bates College • New macromolecular, supramolecular, mesoscale and nanoscale requirement in the ACS Guidelines for approved chemistry programs • Richard Schwenz – University of Northern Colorado • Implementing the ACS CPT requirements for macromolecular science • Ron Darbeau – University of Arkansas Fort Smith • New ACS MSN requirement – yet another argument for meaningful communication among 4-year and 2-year institutions • Ron Brisbois – Macalester College • Macalester College efforts to implement the CPT requirement on macromolecular, supramolecular, mesoscale and nanoscale coverage • Laura Kosbar – IBM • Introducing polymer chemistry into an undergraduate chemistry curriculum • Small group discussion American Chemical Society

2. American Chemical Society American Chemical Society The New Macromolecular, Supramolecular, Mesoscale and Nanoscale Requirement in the ACS Guidelines for Approved Chemistry Programs Thomas Wenzel Bates College Lewiston, ME 04240 August 1, 2016

3. CurriculumDepartmental Approval • Foundation courses • One course equivalent in each of five foundation areas (ABIOP) • At least four foundation course equivalents a year – all five over two years • Four in-depth courses (exclusive of research and many seminar courses) taught each year • Must have one or more foundation courses as a pre-requisite • 400 lab hours beyond general chemistry (4 of 5 sub-disciplinary areas, research up to 180 hours) • http://www.acs.org/cpt American Chemical Society

4. Certified Degree for Students • Five foundation course equivalents (ABIOP) • Four in-depth courses – unspecified • Research can be used to meet one of these four • In-depth lab course(s) can be used • Organic 2 lab not suitable • Upper-level lab building on foundation lab concepts is • Many capstone seminar courses cannot be used • 400 lab hours beyond general chemistry (4 of 5 sub-disciplinary areas) • An independent research project cannot be used to meet one of the 4 sub-disciplinary lab experiences American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 4

5. Courses and Labs • No mandatory coverage of topics • Disciplinary supplements on CPT website • We do examine (1) rigor and (2) breadth • Example problem (rigor) • Exam questions all or almost all rote memorization • Example problem (breadth) • Analytical course that only covers electrochemistry • Analytical lab that overemphasizes titrations American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 5 5

6. Courses and Labs • We recognize that five areas and five course equivalents tends to compartmentalize ABIOP • It is possible to have integrated foundation courses and integrated labs • More common to have integrated labs • We do look to see that there is approximately a semester worth of material in each of four sub-disciplinary areas American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 6 6

7. New MSN Requirement Some Observations • Some undergraduate curricula focus overwhelmingly on aspects of small molecules • Large molecules and aggregated systems often have strikingly different properties than small molecules • Different properties often based on size/scale and not predicted by extension of small molecule properties • Macromolecular, supramolecular, nanoscale and mesoscale systems are important to chemists and to society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 7 7 7

8. New MSN Requirement • Principles that govern macromolecular, supramolecular, mesoscale and nanoscale systems must be part of the certified curriculum • Preparation, characterization and physical properties • Two of the following four: synthetic polymers, biological macromolecules, supramolecular, meso- or nanoscale American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 8 8 8

9. Meeting the MSN Requirement • Required in-depth course (perhaps combined with some foundation) • Distributed coverage – equivalent to approximately one-fourth of a standard semester course • Can be within 5 foundation courses • Can be a mix of foundation and in-depth • Can involve required lab experiences • Program can have multiple paths for completing the requirement American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 9 9 9 9 9

10. CPT Evaluation of MSN *Coming Attraction (Distraction?) • At least one path must be routinely offered so students can complete it (example problem – department has polymer course but it’s rarely offered) • Periodic report • What courses and/or labs • Which MSN topics covered • Number of class equivalents • Syllabi and exams will be examined for evidence that MSN topics are being covered • Non-compliant programs will need to fix by the next periodic review (6 years) American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society American Chemical Society 10 10 10 10 10 10

11. Questions/Comments? American Chemical Society