a curriculum for continuing education in chemistry

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Available data sueeest not onlv tha t there is under-utili-

Nina Matheny R ~s ch er , - ~

Paul F Waters,

Thomas S. CantreU,

Loulse Karle Hanson,

and Frederick W. Carson

The American University

Washington.D.C. 20016

-

zation of women scientists, but t ha t in many cases they may

cbwse to enter or reenter their discioline after a considerable

Curriculum for Continuing Education

in Chemistry

lapse of time beyond graduation. A similar problem exists also

with oersons who have entered em~ lo vm en tn chemistrv at

a ~ub:~rofessionalevel in that they ma; have progressed &h

the state of the art only in those areas immediatelv oert inent

to their empl oyment .~hu s, hese persons need period of

updating if they wish to pursue work or in order to upgrade

their positions to professional status.

This paper describes the curriculum and approach used by

the Chemistry Department a t The American University in

preparingand implementinga program to update two groups

of women in order to prepare them to enter graduate school

or return t o the job market in chemistry.

Rather than asking returning students to take advanced

courses in which they would sink or swim or to retake under-

eraduate courses. the facultv believed a special oroeram with

emphasis on laboratory experience would be more instructive

and effective. S~ ec ia lourses were desimed in ~ hvsi ca l. r-

ganic, analyticai, and biochemistry with the understanding

that to a certain extent inorganic chemistry would be covered

in all of the programs.

The courses were developed with the understanding that

each of the four courses taught in Group I would meet for

seven weeks, five davs a week, four hours a dav with one hour

of lecture and three hours of laboratory each diy. Group I1 was

taught during fourteen weeks with two hours of lecture and

six hours of laboratory each day.

In the fi rst program the order of th e courses was physical,

organic, analytical, and biochemistry. In the second it was

physical followed by organic with analytical and biochemistry

meeting at the same time. However, after two weeks of ana -

lytical chemistry in the morning and biochemistry in th e af-

ternoon, the summer schedule was changed. The students felt

tha t carrying the two subjects a t once was too great a strain

and there was a general breakdown in morale. Th e last four

weeks were modified to two weeks of analytical chemistry,

followed bv two weeks of biochemistrv.

I he pro&m stressed instrumentaimethods that had de-

velowd within the last

1

to 15 vears. It was recoanized that

methods developed 15 years agofor research would

not have reached the undereraduate laboratorv immediatelv

and would also need t o be considered. ~x t e n & e aborator;

experience was also necessary, with not just exposure to the

instruments, but repetitive experience with some of the more

common instruments.

I t was decided th at a repeat of some of the more common

underaraduate experiments would be helpful initially.

heref fore in each area common laboratory experiences weie

'Thk rnilterial is

h a s 4

upon results obtained during a project

suppvrtrd hy r h r K n t a d Science Fotmdntimunder Grant No. SMI

76-20575. An opmions findings,and ronrlusiuns or recornrnendn-

rioni ~xpresredn

t h i s

publication

are

r l r w d ~ h euthors

and do

not

newssarilg reflect the view oi thr National Science Fuundntion.

Presented.

in

v a n , at the Middle Atlnntic Regional Meerine of the

planned, such as some basic physical chemical measurements,

distillation and crystallization, organic synthesis, and aua-

lytical techniques. The biochemistry segment was taught with

the assumption th at no prior knowledge of the topic existed.

The participants who had biochemistry before found th at the

topics had changed enough that they did not feel short-

changed.

Twentv oartici~antswere selected for t he f irst oroeram

during th e i976-?7 academic year. This group inclu>ei25

with master's degrees and the balance with bachelor's degrees

in chemistry ohtained generally in the early 60's. The most

recent degree was a master's degree obtained in 1970. The

second program involved ten students, two with master's

degrees. and was durina the summer of 1977. Onlv one of the

30barticipants was employed a t the time she entered t he

proaram.

The participants were evaluated and selected on the basis

of their t ranscriots , experience, and statements on why they

would like to take part;n the program, what they expected

do after they completed th e program, and what they hoped

.

to get out of the pr&am.

hef fa cult

involved in the program

generally concluded, however, tha t transcripts were of little

value. The majority of those selected had outstanding grades

as undergraduate students .

There are no reliable tests available for evaluatine students

a t this level. It was decided to use as one criterion t he Amer-

ican Chemical Society exams written for entering graduate

students. These tests were administered on a pre-program and

post-program basis. The entire test was used even though it

was not planned nor anticipated that all of the questions

would be pertinent. Some of the subjects on the tests were

deliberately excluded from consideration in the program,

considering the time factor and the material to be covered.

The performance on the pre-test generally correlated more

with how recently the student had attended school than with

their grades in the specific course or their overall performance

as undergraduate students. No pre-test was given in bio-

chemistry as the number of participants with prior knowledge

was sufficiently limited to make any results statisticallv

meaningless.

Our experiences in this continuing education project for

women scientists suggest that individual counseling and re-

inforcement is necessary for success in a program of this

type.

The main topics for the courses for lectures and laboratory

are outlined in Table 1and Table 2, respectively. T he com-

ments on th e individual courses follow.

Physical Chemistry

Physical chemistry was reviewed first t o refurbish basic

principles useful in the o ther fie lds of chemistry. Th e topics

chosen included: chemical thermodynamics, intermolecular

forces, liquid crystals, polymers, surface chemistry, quantum

mechanics, and molecular spectroscopy. Surface chemistry

was taught during the first program. Quantum mechanics was

substituted for it in t he second uroeram.

I t was assumed th at all of thepr ispec tive students would

have had thermodvnamics which would be ideal for easing the

students hack into a formal study of chemistry

1.2).

1;ter-

molecular forces, common to all substances, were used as a

American chemical ~ocietv.ewark ~elawari. mil. 1977.'

3Roseher,N.

M.

J ~ 0 1 1 . - ~ c i .e a e h . n press.

646

Journal of ChemicalEducation



vehicle to emphasize the electrical nature of all matter and the

importance of this property in physical andlor chemical

properties and transformations. Liquid crystals were exam-

ined. as useful items of current commerce and

vital

structural

members in biological systems, and asexemplars of the power

of the intermolecular forces in stahilizine mesophases and in

governing transformations within and between mesophases

(3.4).

.

Polymer chemistry served as a framework for the teaching

of topics in reaction kinetics an d mechanisms, solution ther-

modinamics, kinematics, interactions of electromagnetic

radiation with mat ter at nonabsorbing frequencies, and ele-

mentary rheology. Practical aspects of the field were treated

by examining the modes of manufacture and the physical

properties of a variety of the forms of the polymers of com-

merce(5,6).

An elementary approach was taken with the quantum

theory. The solutions of Schrodinger's equation for the ei-

genvalues of the energies of simple molecular models were

discussed, leading to the topics of spectrophotometry and

microwave. infrared. and Raman snectroscoov.

Par ts of th e first few laboratory periods ke;e used to con-

duct a mini course in applied electronics, beginning with

simple dc circuits, through simple power supplies, ac circuit

theory, amplifiers and semiconductors.

Organic Chemislry

Emphasis was placed on nmr , ir , mass spectrometry, with

brief introductions to techniques of esr, ord, cd and photo-

electron spectra. Also covered were the elements of organic

nhotochemistrv. orbital svmmetrv correlation rules and aD-

plications thereof, and recent developments in medicinal

chemistrv. Due to time limitations and th e importance of in-

strumentation, organic reaction mechanisms were not con-

sidered.

Three texts were assigned

(7-9).

Reprints of review articles

on crown ethers (10). organohoranes (11). and prostaglandins

(12) were provided for ~ ~ ~ ~ l e m e n t a leading mkerialon these

topics.

The lecture and lab syllabi for Group I1 differed signifi-

cantly from those of Group I. Based on experiences with th e

members of Group I, changes were made as a result of test

scores, lecture and lab instructors' subjective opinions, stu-

dents' verhal suggestions, and on an anonymous written

questionnaire.

Suggestions made hy Group I which were incorporated into

Table

1

Selected Lecture Toplcs

Physical:

Thermodynamics: ln termlecular Fwcer: Liquid Oystals; Polymers: Swlace

Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics: Molecular Spclroscopy.

organic:

Atomic and Molecular Orblab; Inhared Spenroscopy: NMR Specnoscopy:

Mass Spectrometry; Organic Photochemistry; Medicinal Chemistry; Newer

Synthetic Methods.

Anaiyticai-Inorganic:

Atomic Absorption, UV-Visible Absorption. Emission Spectroscopy; X-Ray

Crystallography: Chromatography: Potentiametry; Coulometry: Polarography;

Elementary Statistics: Fourier Transform Melhods:

Lasers:

Organometallic

Complexes of Transition Metals.

Biochemistty

Amino Ackl. Peotide and Protein Sbuctures and Pmoerties: Enmme Kinetics.

Reg~lalmn

na

Mechannsrns:

Metabolic

Pmclpies and Bioenergetics. Gly-

co YS 9 Reactions and The r Regulat on, Mitochondrmen0 he Krebr Cyc

e:

Mernhrana Slr ~c t~ re snd Transpol l. Hormone Acton: Molecular Genetics:

Genetic Engineering.

Computer Applications

Input and Editing of Data Using

a

Libmy Statistical Rogram: Computer Histmy

and Roles in Chemistry: Use of

a

LibraryDataBase Search Program; A l p

rithms and Flow Charts: Linear Mean Calculation: Iterative Mean Calculation:

Nested Loops. Matrix Operations and Functions: lhput/Output Files and

Subroutines.

the schedule for Group I1 included: more laboratory time

spent on identification of unknown substances using spectral

methods and less time on synthesis; one class period ap-

proximately halfway through the session set aside for

a

general

review; and less time spent on orbi tal symmetry correlation

rules and their applications and more on instrumental

methods.

Analytical Chemistry

The course included: spectroscopic techniques, chroma-

tographic techniques, electrochemical techniques, methods

for treating and improving data, and topics in inorganic

chemistry,~ncludingbrgan netallic

nd hfoinorganic chem-

istry. Approximately two-thirds of the course was devoted to

spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. In these two

suhiects, th e lectures emphasized one illustrative technique

in detail (atomic absorption spectroscopy and gas chroma-

tography, respectively) with the help of audiovisual aids

(13).

There were few changes in the topics between the two ses-

sions, though more time was spent on electrochemistry in the

second session at the expense of th e inorganic chemistry. No

specific course text was assiened durine the first sessional-

though a list of current anal5ical text sand

CS

reprint col-

lections from Analytical

Chemistry

was handed out. I t was

decided that these participants would have benefited from the

discipline of havine had an assigned text: therefore, the

second group was-assigned ' ' ~ & c i ~ l e s f Instrumental

Analysis by Skoog and West (14).

In the second program, major changes involved access to

a mass spectrometer, an atomic absorption unit, and an

electrophoretic device. Three students were in a group for all

experiments except the porphyrin synthesis. Different groups

would work on different instruments in any given lab period.

Occasionally, no lab would be scheduled and th e open time

was used for review of lecture material, te sts (two were given),

and discussion of th e laboratory experiments and homework

nrohlems.

The students were requested to hand in concise laboratory

reoorts which included the purpose of the ex~ er im ent, ata,

caiculations, and results. Students were also given homework

Table

2.

Laboratory Experiments

. .

Calorimetry: Elechical Measurements: Oscillosmpe: CC Potentiometer,

AG, AHand A S of anElectrochemical Reaction: Optical Polarization: Re-

fractive Indices of Cholssteric Mesophsses: Polymerization: Purifications

end Molecular Weight Determination of Polystyrene by Viscometry and0s

momtry ; Preparation and Testing of Reverse Osmosis Membrances: Tensile

Strength of Polymer Films: Determination of Extinction Coefficient of Meth-

ylene Blue.

Organic:

Operation of IR and NMR Spectrometers and Practice with Known and

Un-

known Compounds: Use of Computerized Mars Spectral Search for ldenti-

ticationo Unknown Ccmpwnds hamMassSpectra Alone: hganic Symhesls:

Aldol Condensation, Oieis-Alder. NaBH, Reduction and Photochemical R e

actions: Purification o Products by Column Chromatography: Classical

Qualitative Organic Analysis: Preparation of Solid Derivatives: Chemical and

Spectral Methods.

nna1flca1

Analysis of TwDComponent Absorbing Mixture: pKa'of

an

indicator: UV

Spectrophotametry; Fluorimehic Analysis of Nitrate: Fluorescence Experi-

ments with Quinine: Atomic Abswption Analysis of

Fe

Content in F d

Chromatography: Gas LiquibQuali tat ive and Ouantitative, including unknown

Gasoline Midures: ion-ExchangeSeparation of Fe Co: Cis and Trans Azo-

benzenes: Paper-Ink; Amino Acid: Polarography: Amperometric Titration

with OME: Synthesis and SNdy of Metalloporphyrin- Absorption Spectra.

NMR Spectra. Fluorescencel.

Biochemistry

pKa'of

Tris hydroxymethy1~minomethane:

Potentiometric and Formal Ti-

nations of

an

Unknown Amino Acid: Blood Hemoglobin: Nitrite n Meat:

Methemaglobin Redunase from Blood: Luciferin-Luciferase Assay of ATP:

Lipid Composition by

Gas

Chromatography; Rate of Protein Synthesis in E.

mli.

Volunm

55

Number

10

October 1978

/ 647



prohlems in statistical analysis of da ta, uv spectroscopy, and

spectral identification.

Biochemistry

It was decided tha t one tooic would he covered in deoth in

the f irst half of the course and current developments hould

he emphasized in the second half. In addition, computer

processing of experimental data was an integral part of the

laboratorv work. Th e eeneral schedule for each dav was one

hour of lecture, one hour of computer applications or hio-

chemistry laboratory lecture, and two hours of biochemistry

laboratory work.

Stryer's hook (15) was chosen as the text for the traditional

topics. A syllabus with page references to hoth the required

text and Lehninger's hook 16)was distributed. Additional

readings from the texts hy Watson (17) and Metzler 18)were

suggested.

Trends in Biochemical Sciences (TIBS), Science and Na-

tur e provided source material for outlines and specific ex-

amples of recent developments in biochemistry. Th e syllabus

and a bibliography of TIBS articles from 1976and 1977 were

provided to t he students for reference and subsequent inde-

pendent study.

Data analysis using an interactive computer and detailed

written reports were selected as important aspects of the

hiochemistrv laboratow curriculum. These asoects. as well

.

as literature searching, computer programming,' and partic-

ipation of many of the women in field testing a computer-

augment,ed ACS Continuing Education Delivery Systems

(CEDS) course. S~e ctr ome tri c dentification of Oraanic

.

~ o m p o k d s , ut into the time formally allotted to bi o-

chemistrv lahoratorv work.

Th e emphasis of the study of the potentiometric titration

of tris- hvdroxvmethvl)-minomethane, was a detailed error

analysis by linear regiession analysis, done hoth by hand and

using an interactive curve-fitting computer program.

Assays of hemoglobin and nitri te were used to illustrate

typical colorimetric methods used in clinical chemistry (19,

20)

and regulatory analytical chemistry. The hemoglobin

determination was performed with hoth a commercial kit and

laboratory reagents in order to demonstrate th e economies of

time available at a price.

The isolation of methemoglobin reductase from red blood

cells provided an introduction

to

enzyme techniques with few

stens and a hieh activitv enzvme. The orocedure of Solitt -

berger e t al.

(27)

was modified to include a gel filtrationstep.

Spectrophotometric techniques were used for kinetic s tudies

of the enzyme. Cofactor and inhibition data were analyzed

usine Lineweaver-Burk olots and least sauares fits obtained

with the aid of an interactive computer program.

4BASIC Laneuaee and an IBM 370/145Comouter under MUSIC

were

used

withk&berg's text

(22).

SCopies of the experiments or complete descriptions of the curric-

The firefly lantern luciferin-luciferase system, which lu-

minesces in the presence of ATP, provided a qualitative ex-

ample of the high energy nature of ATP. Lipid analysis

demonstrated hoth th e qualitative identification and quan-

titative determination of fatty acid esters. Incorporation of

tritium-labeled leucine into cellular proteins illustrated re-

active isotopic methods.

Concluding Remarks

No academic credit was given for the program. It served

only as a review and an update. Descriptions of the program

and the curriculum are provided routinely to prospective

employers and graduate schools.5 The women's performance

as a whole was a t the beginning graduate stu dent level as in-

dicated by the professors exams as well as the scores on the

ACS exams. I t has been decided, however, th at future pro-

grams will carry some graduate credit. Also under discussion

is a conversion of the courses to core courses for our graduate

program for part-time students returning to school afte r a

lapse of time and for international students with only limited

laboratory experience.

Acknowledgment

The financial support for the planning, administration, and

implementation of the program was provided by a Career

Facilitation Gran t under the Women in Science Program of

the National Science Foundation. The authors gratefully

acknowledge this support .

Literature Cited

(1) Banow

G

M. , Phyairal Chcmiatry. McCr aw~H illBwk Company, New York,

1975.

I21 Klolr M

.

and Ho~enhen.R. M.,

ChemiealThermdynamics. W.

A. Benjamin,

Int . M~nloPerk.Cal. 972.

I?

Ware . 1 F . and F4rm.r. I . R

.

Collntdond

S,.r/otr

S r l m r e V . 9 ' 11976f

CrysUlr.

6d~tdlmr-

I. hnun.

J

.and P

,r lr r .

1.19711 P

2 4 1

(51 ilrerdon..l. '.and W - u n . P F . n Thrrmal and Vh .t

.I#mcllrtrd('urrcnls

n

in.

s u l a t ~IFdct~r n ) l h . U n n n l d ~ . T h r F , l l ~ r ~ r ~ r h r m # r a l

r r l

I'r#n.<u .N.1.

a < .. , .,.~...,

.. . p.

(6) Karamisn, N. A , end

Waters,

P.

F. esolinofion.

17,329 (19751.

(7) Ault, A.. and Dudek.G.O.. NMR:AnIntmdudiontoH1 Nuelcar Mwe ti cResonam

Spedracopy..:Holden-Day.

San Fmnrirro, 1976.

(8) DoPuy, C. H., and Chapman. 0 L.. Moleeulnr Reactions

and

Photochemirtry.

Prmtia-Hall . NowJersey 1914.

(9) ~ d t ... Teehniques and Experiments for orpnie Chemistry, 2nd Ed.. Holhmok.

Boston, 1976.

(10) Gahel.

G

..

Aldrichimko Act-, 9.3 (1976).

(111 Brow H. C.. Aldtiehimica Ado 4.43 (19741.

(121 Horton. E.W.. Chem Snc. Re , 4.5R9 (1975).

Park, California, 1916.

(18) Metzler, D.E.. Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells. Academic

EDUC.,

52.660

(19751.

(22) Soltrberg L., Shah, A. A., Saber,J. C.,

and

Canty, E. T BASIC and Chemistry.

Haughton Miffli n Co..Boaton 1975.

lum are available on request.

848

1

Journal of

hemical

Education

a curriculum for continuing education in chemistry

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