Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Principles of Chemistry I (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 1210-02

Course: CHEM 1210-02
Credits: 4
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSCI
CRN: 12137

Course Description

An introductory chemistry course designed for students in engineering, physical science, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, or pre-veterinary medicine. For all students who need more than one (1) year of chemistry. Four (4) lectures per week. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): CHEM 1215 Prerequisite(s): MATH 1050 or MATH 1210 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Prerequisite Test (Min. Score): ACT Math Subscore (26) or ALEKS PPL (75) Prerequisite Can Be Concurrent? Yes (MATH 1210) General Education Category: Physical Sciences

Required Texts

The class will use OpenStax Chemistry 2e, a free digital textbook that can be downloaded at:

 https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World – Students will recall, interpret, compare, explain, and apply chemistry terminology and theory.

2. Quantitative Literacy – Students will use chemical equations, graphs and tables to interpret and communicate chemical information.

3. Inquiry and Analysis – Students will solve complex chemical problems.

4. Critical Thinking – Students will make decisions based on conceptualizing, applying, and analyzing information.

Course Requirements

Grading:
Grades will be based on the following:
            5 Midterm Exams                                             40%
            Final Exam                                                       30%
            In Class Quizzes                                               10%
            Homework                                                       20%

Final Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
            Percentage                   Grade                                       Percentage                   Grade
            93.0-100                      A                                             73.0-77.0                     C
            90.0-93.0                     A-                                            70.0-73.0                     C-
            87.0-90.0                     B+                                            67.0-70.0                     D+
            83.0-87.0                     B                                              63.0-67.0                     D
            80.0-83.0                     B-                                            60.0-63.0                     D-
            77.0-80.0                     C+                                            <60.0                           F

Midterm Exams: There are five midterm exams, to be completed on the designated day unless prior arrangements have been made. The exams will be completed in class. The first four exams will focus on the material in that section, but chemistry by its nature is cumulative and therefore the midterm exams are cumulative as well. The fifth exam is worth half the points of a normal midterm exam and covers all the material in the class. It is departmental policy that exams not be returned, although students will receive their answer sheets back and can examine the questions when the exams are returned or in my office. Scantrons are not required.

 Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive. The final is produced by the American Chemical Society, and the instructor will not have access to the exam prior to its administration. Therefore, it is to your advantage to learn as much as possible throughout the semester. The test is multiple choice and a scantron will be required.

 In Class Quizzes: There will be unannounced quizzes throughout the semester to measure student learning and encourage attendance. Time to complete these quizzes will normally be given in class, although occasionally online or take-home quizzes may be given. No make up will be allowed for quizzes. However, the lowest two quiz scores will be dropped. If a quiz is missed due to a university sanctioned absence (an athlete participating in a sporting event or quarantining because of COVID-19, for example), the missed quiz will be dropped without counting toward the two dropped quizzes. 

 Daily Homework: A few problems will be assigned each day except those days when a test is administered. The problems are due the next day of class and must be completed online. Homework assignments can be redone until the exam on that material. 

 Exam Review Homework:  There are two types of exam review homework – weekly review assignments and unit review assignments. Weekly review assignments are due on the Friday of each week without a test, are limited to 3 questions, and are timed. Unit review assignments are due the day of the exam. These are old exams, and thus can be very valuable to help in exam preparation. They are available throughout the semester, but full points will only be awarded for work completed before the exam. Both types of review are online. The lowest weekly review score will be dropped, but a bonus will be awarded if all review assignments are completed.

Course Outline

Week                                       Text                             Review Homework 
Jan 7-9                                     1.1-1.6                         Week 1 Summary
Jan 12-16                                 1.6-2.5                         Week 2 Summary
Jan 19                                      MLK Day, no class
Jan 20                                      2.6-2.7
Jan 21                                      Review
Exam 1, Chapters 1 & 2 – Friday, Jan 23                   Exam 1 Review           

Jan 26-30                                 3.1-3.4                         Week 4 Summary
Feb 2-6                                     3.4-4.3                         Week 5 Summary
Feb 9-13                                  4.3-5.2                         Week 6 Summary
Feb 16                                      Presidents’ Day, no class
Feb 17-20                                5.2-5.3
Feb 23                                      Review
Exam 2, Chapters 3, 4 & 5 – Tuesday, Feb 24             Exam 2 Review

Feb 25-27                                6.1-6.4                         Week 8 Summary
Mar 2-6                                     6.4-7.2                         Week 9 Summary
Mar 9-13                                  Spring Break, no class
Mar 16-20                                7.2-7.4                         Week 10 Summary
Mar 23                                     7.5
Mar 24                                     Review
Exam 3, Chapters 6 & 7 – Wednesday, Mar 25           Exam 3 Review

Mar 27                                     7.6
Mar 30                                     7.6-8.1
Mar 31                                     Festival of Excellence, no class
Apr 1-3                                     8.1-9.2                         Week 12 Summary
Apr 6-8                                     9.3-10.1
Apr 10                                     Review
Exam 4, Chapters 8, 9 & 10.1 – Monday, Apr 13        Exam 4 Review 

Apr 14-15                                 Review
Exam 5 (Review Exam), Chapters 1-10.1 – Friday, Apr 17 

Final Exam – Thursday, Apr 23, 7:00-8:50 AM, SC 230  

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments are due by 11:59 PM the lecture after the lecture they are discussed. If assignments are turned in after the due date but before the test on that material, a penalty of 20% of full credit may be deducted from the score earned. If assignments are turned in after the test on that material, a penalty of up to 60% of full credit may be deducted. If assignments are turned in two tests or more after the material was covered, a penalty of up to 80% of full credit may be deducted. Exams must be taken as scheduled unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. 

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend class. If you must miss class, contact the instructor to avoid late penalties. In class quizzes cannot be made up (for any two-time learners).

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.