Why Major in Chemistry at VU?
The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics seeks to enhance, through the Christian perspective, the student's knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the interaction of creation, the natural laws regulating it, and the human forces influencing it. The student is expected to achieve understanding and appreciation of the philosophy, limitations, methods, procedure, and literature of science.
Personalized Instruction
Each and every class is taught by a professor, and not by a graduate assistant, as is the case at most large public universities. In addition, a low student-to-faculty ratio promotes a great deal of interaction between the student and the professor.
Non-Competitive Atmosphere
Vanguard University students are challenged individually and do not compete with their peers for grades. Grades are percentage-based, not curve-based; grade sabotage does not occur here.
Balance
A Vanguard University education isn't all biology, chemistry, and math courses. Students at VU experience a well-rounded program of liberal arts courses and extra-curricular activities which give balance to their education. In fact, it is this balance that has made VU graduates so appealing to medical and dental schools.
Chemistry Departmental News
Chemistry Student of the Year Award
Joshua Bixler ('10 Biochemistry Major) has been selected as the Vanguard University's Chemistry Student of the Year. Josh is a senior graduating in May 2010. He is planning on matriculating into Graduate school to pursue an advanced degree in Biochemistry so that he can spend his life engaged in biochemical research! Josh has also been very involved in the Vanguard Culture by being President-Elect (2007) and President ('08-'09) for the VUSC's chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (known on campus as SAINTS). He has also been engaged in Student Ministries, participating in at least two missions trips.
He is to be honored at a dinner sponsored by the Orange County Section of the American Chemical Society (OCACS). The College Awards dinner is to be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the Concordia University, Irvine, CA. Josh's achievement will be recognized during the award ceremony, which will take place after the dinner and presentation. The evening's presentation, "Air Quality Management in the South Coast Basin: A Chemist’s Perspective," is being delivered by Jason C. Low, Ph.D. with the Science and Technology Advancement Group at South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Chemistry Department to sponsor Undergraduate Research
This summer three of VUSC's chemistry professors: Drs. Lorance, Sirvent and Rosengarth will be mentoring students during the 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Program - called SURP! Descriptions of the projects can be found here. Applications for fellowship positions within SURP are due by April 23rd, 2010. SURP fellows are expected to be actively engaged during the SURP program and are required to prepared a written poster which summarizes their research results.
Organic Chemistry offered during Summer School
Vanguard University is offering Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 summer 2010! "Summer is a great time to study Organic Chemistry," says VU professor Dr. Tara Sirvent. "Although it is extremely intense and students most likely will not have any free time, taking Organic Chemistry during the summer affords the student who is behind in their 4yr plan a chance to catch up or an opportunity for a student to focus strictly on Organic without the pressures of other classes during the academic year."
The Schedule for Organic Chemistry is listed below. For those students who are off-campus wishing to take Organic Chemistry, click on the course for the most recent Course Syllabi. Also for a complete listing of 2010 Summer Courses offered at Vanguard University check the Registrar's site for Course Schedules. For more information please contact, Dr. Sirvent at tsirvent@vanguard.edu.
Summer 2010 Organic Chemistry schedule
| Summer Session II: June 1 - July 9th, 2010 |
Day of the Week |
Time |
| Chem 304: Organic Lecture I |
MWF |
8:30-11:00am |
| Chem 304L: Organic Laboratory I |
TR |
8:30-12:30pm |
| Summer Session II: July 12-Aug 20th |
|
|
| Chem 305: Organic Lecture II |
MWF |
8:30-11:00am |
| Chem 305L: Organic Laboratory II |
TR |
8:30-12:30pm |