A basic understanding of chemistry is critically important for anyone planning a career in science, medicine or engineering. Chemistry impacts on all of our lives from the safe handling of common household chemicals to understanding the chemical effects of compounds on our health from dietary intake including foodstuffs and medicines, the air we breathe, the fuels we burn, the chemicals we manufacture and use, and their environmental consequences.
The minor in Chemistry will provide students with a basic understanding of chemical knowledge that is essential for anyone contemplating undertaking a career in the biological sciences, medicine, physical sciences or engineering. The highly transferable lab-based skills in the manipulation of glassware, the safe handling and use of chemicals, the application of techniques and instrumentation, and experimental process will stand students in excellent stead in a variety of disciplinary contexts.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply their understanding of the structure, bonding, properties, characterisation and reactivity of molecular and macromolecular compounds and solid state materials to a range of contexts.
- Demonstrate well developed, safe laboratory based skills, using appropriate risk assessments, software and instrumentation, to perform qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis.
- Access and use relevant chemical literature to present sound arguments accurately and concisely to an expert audience.
- Recognise the interdisciplinary nature of chemistry and of its underlying significance in other areas of science, engineering and medicine.
- Perceive some of the ethical and social dimensions of practising chemistry.
Other Information
What first year courses should you enrol in?
- CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 (pre-requisite for most 2000 and 3000 level BIOL courses)
- CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 (pre-requisite for most 2000 and 3000 level BIOL courses)
Other first year courses:
- If you plan to do CHEM2208 Protein Engineering & Analysis, you will need to complete BIOL1004.
- While not a pre-requisite, both PHYS1101 and MATH1013/1115 are recommended for students considering taking CHEM2214.
Thematic stream 1 - Biological Chemistry:
Suggested enrolment choices work for this stream includes the completion of 12 units from the following courses:
- CHEM2213 – Chemical Biology 1 (semester 1)
- CHEM2208 – Chemical Biology 2 (semester 2)
- CHEM3204 – Structural Methods in Chemical Biology (winter session)
- CHEM3207 – Current Topics in Chemical Biology (semester 2)
Thematic stream 2 - Materials Chemistry:
Suggested enrolment choices work for this stream includes the completion of 12 units from the following courses:
- CHEM2214 – Chemical Physics (semester 1)
- CHEM2208 – Materials Chemistry (semester 2)
- CHEM3202 – Advanced Materials (semester 1)
- CHEM3208 – Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry (semester 2)
Thematic stream 3 - Synthetic Chemistry:
Suggested enrolment choices work for this stream includes the completion of 12 units from the following courses:
- CHEM2202 – Chemical Structure and Reactivity 1 (semester 1)
- CHEM2203 – Chemical Structure and Reactivity 2 (semester 2)
- CHEM3201 – Synthetic Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry (semester 1)
- CHEM3203 – Organometallic Chemistry (semester 1)
- CHEM3206 – Catalysis in Chemistry (semester 2)
Academic or enrolment advice:
Students can seek further advice from the academic contact for this minor (details above), or the College of Science Student Services Team (students.cos@anu.edu.au).
Back to the topRequirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must consist of:
12 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:
CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 (6 units)
CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 (6 units)
12 units from the completion of courses from the following list:
CHEM2202 Chemical Structure and Reactivity 1 (6 units)
CHEM2203 Chemical Structure and Reactivity 2 (6 units)
CHEM2208 Chemical Biology 2 (6 units)
CHEM2210 Structural Elucidation in Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM2211 Chemical Biology 1 (6 units)
CHEM2213 Materials Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM2214 Chemical Physics (6 units)
CHEM3060 Research Project in Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM3201 Synthetic Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM3202 Advanced Materials (6 units)
CHEM3203 Organometallic Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM3204 Structural methods in Chemical Biology (6 units)
CHEM3206 Catalysis in Chemistry (6 units)
CHEM3207 Current Topics in Chemical Biology (6 units)
CHEM3208 Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry (6 units)