Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Integrated Chemistry for Health Sciences (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 1130-02

Course: CHEM 1130-02
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Chemistry and Physics
CRN: 33841

Course Description

This is a course designed to introduce relevant chemistry to students interested in the Health Professions. In particular, this will meet the needs of Pre-Nursing and other allied health students to become acquainted with key aspects of chemistry. Key aspects of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry will be discussed.

Required Texts

  • General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 4th Edition (Frost and Deal) ISBN: 978-0-13-498869-6
  • Other: Scientific calculator

Learning Outcomes

Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes

To fulfill its mission, SUU will:

Southern Utah University is a dynamic teaching and learning community that engages students in experiential education leading to personal growth, civic responsibility, and professional excellence.

  • Critical Thinking: Learn to ask and answer how and why the topic at hand influences, impacts, pertains or involves you. Don’t accept what the book or I tell you; both may be wrong. Always strive to find ‘better’, not just ‘sufficient’ ways of completing assignments or answering questions.
  • Effective Communication: Learn to formulate and ask clear questions, and present information clearly and concisely.
  • Lifelong Intellectual Curiosity: Learn to enjoy learning. It is our life’s pursuit to learn, and we need to find enjoyment in it. Find a reason to apply every subject to your life’s goals, interests, hobbies, job, or personal development.
  • Global Awareness: Chemistry impacts every facet of life, touching every corner of the world, and affecting humanity in both a positive and negative manner. A better understanding of chemistry will provide a better understanding of the world we live in.
  • Personal Responsibility: Not everybody is cut from the same mold, has the same aptitudes, or is equally talented; nevertheless, hard work is an amazing equalizer. Where you lack talent, hard work can often bridge the gap. Learn to accept personal talents and limitations. Convert your deficiencies into strengths through hard work!
  • Integrity: I will be honest with you and expect likewise. We are adults. Expect to be treated as such.
Specific to the Course

There is no way to escape chemistry. One might be able to feign ignorance, but you will never be able to claim that chemistry has no value to your life; chemistry is vital for your daily existence. You may never study chemistry again, and if so, ideally the lessons that will remain with you from this course will be those that helped you fulfill SUU's mission. Specifically, this course will introduce you to the basic principles of chemistry, including these objectives:

  • Develop and apply critical thinking skills in solving organic/biochemistry-related problems.
    Inquiry, Critical Thinking, Quantitative Literacy, Problem Solving
  • Understand the fundamental principles and theories behind the field of organic/biochemistry.
    Critical Thinking, Quantitative Literacy
  • Think critically and analyze physical phenomena using fundamental chemical principles.
    Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking
  • Understand chemistry’s role in benefiting humanity through medicine, materials, and quality of life.
    Lifelong Learning, Information Literacy
  • Provide an opportunity for the application of critical thinking skills in solving chemistry-related problems.
    Critical Thinking, Problem Solving
General Education Physical Sciences Outcomes
  • Explain science as a process and as a way of understanding the physical world
    This will be reinforced throughout the semester through readings and lectures, with students demonstrating their understanding through homework, quizzes, and exams.
  • Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on physical systems.
    This will be reinforced throughout the semester through readings and lectures, with students demonstrating their understanding through homework, quizzes, and exams.
  • Evaluate the credibility of various sources of information about science-related issues.
    This will be reinforced throughout the semester through readings and lectures, with students demonstrating their understanding through homework, quizzes, and exams.
  • Describe how the Physical Sciences utilize their foundational principles to confront and solve pressing local and global challenges, shaping historical, ethical, or social landscapes in the process.
    This will be reinforced throughout the semester through readings and lectures, with students demonstrating their understanding through homework, quizzes, and exams.

Course Requirements

Assessment Policy

Distribution of Course Points

Points may be earned through…

Exams3 @ 100% pts400% pts
Final exam200% pts
Application problems(Multiple)50% pts
Homework150% pts
Total points800% pts

To determine % points for an assignment: (Achieved points) / (Points possible) 100 = % pts

The instructor’s goal is to complete the grading of assignments and exams within 1-week from when they were turned in. Scores are posted using Canvas (). Ensure the recorded assignment/assessment score is the one earned. Please inform me of any discrepancies.

Grading Scheme

Grades are assigned upon the comparison of the percentage of points earned to the total number possible.

Note: If you are not performing at the level you desire, seek help early to maximize your performance. Do Not ask how to get ‘extra’ points, or for grade bumps, even if you are ‘so close’. This is an especially egregious action in the last couple of weeks of a semester. Final grade curving may occur, but doing so after a student has requested it raises issues of ethical misconduct. Individuals are not provided opportunities for credit that the entire class does not have. These situations often lead to job loss.

I WILL NOT do that for you! BUT: I will do everything I can, ethically, to assist you in achieving your academic goals.

Exams and Quizzes

Exams consist of multiple-choice and short-answer problems similar to those in the textbook. Exams cover all material discussed to that point, focusing on the information presented since the last exam. The American Chemical Society GOB Chemistry Subject Exam is used as a comprehensive final exam. These are nationally standardized multiple-choice exams and are an excellent gauge of a student’s comprehension of the course material. Bring a No. 2 pencil and a 100-question SCANTRON to the Final Exam.

As per department policy, exams will not be returned to students but may be reviewed in class, during office hours, and by appointment. Tentative exam dates are identified on the Reading and Exam Schedule.

Homework

Scored homework will be completed through Pearson Mastering Chemistry. This is included with the Inclusive Access textbook. You can navigate to the textbook and homework system through the appropriate links in Canvas. The best way to learn Chemistry is by doing, and you are encouraged to complete the homework with as little external assistance as possible. Use the homework to build and test your problem-solving abilities. Exam questions will mimic these questions.

Grade Scale

A100 – 93%B+89. – 87%C+79. – 77%D+69. – 67%
A–92. – 90%B86. – 83%C76. – 73%D66. – 63%
B–82. – 80%C–72. – 70%D–62. – 60%F<60%

Course Outline

WEEKDATETOPICCHAP. & SEC.PAGESDUE DATES/NOTES
Sep 2Classifying Matter: Pure Substance or Mixture1.11–6
Sep 4Elements, Compounds, and the Periodic Table and How Matter Changes1.2–1.36–15
Sep 7–––––––––Labor Day – No Class–––––––––
Sep 8Math Counts1.415–25
Sep 9The “Stuff of Chemistry” and Measuring Matter1.5–1.625–39
Sep 11Atoms and Their Components2.149–51
Sep 14Atomic and Mass Numbers/Atomic Mass and Isotopes2.2–2.351–56
Sep 15Radioactivity, Radioisotopes, and Radioactive Decay2.4–2.556–65
Sep 16Radiation Units, Half-Lives, and Medical Applications for Radioisotopes2.6–2.765–70
Sep 18Electron Arrangements and the Octet Rule3.177–80
Sep 21In Search of an Octet, Part 1: Ion Formation and Ionic Compounds3.2–3.380–91
Sep 22Ionic Compounds and Covalent Bonds3.4–3.591–104
Sep 23The Mole and Shapes of Molecules3.6–3.7104–115Last day to add/audit/drop w/o “W”
Sep 25Exam 1-Chapters 1-3
Sep 28Representing the Structures of Organic Compounds: Alkanes4.1–4.2125–138
Sep 29Families of Organic Compounds: Functional Groups and Nomenclature4.3–4.4138–156
Sep 30Isomerism in Organic Compounds4.5156–171
Oct 2Chemical Reactions: Kinetics and Thermodynamics5.1–5.2181–193
Oct 5Chemical Reactions: Oxidation and Reduction5.3–5.4193–203
Oct 6Organic Reactions: Condensation, Hydrolysis, and Addition to Alkenes5.5–5.6203–209
Oct 7Classes of Carbohydrates6.1219–222
Oct 9Functional Groups and Stereochemistry of Monosaccharides6.2–6.3222–237
Oct 12Reactions of Monosaccharides6.4237–245
Oct 13Disaccharides6.5245–252
Oct 14Polysaccharides and Carbohydrates and Blood6.6–6.7252–258
Oct 16Exam 2-Chapters 4-6
Oct 19–––––––––Fall Break – No Class–––––––––
Oct 20–––––––––Fall Break – No Class–––––––––
Oct 21Gases and Gas Laws7.1268–279
Oct 23Liquids and Solids: Predicting Properties Through Attractive Forces7.2279–293
Oct 26Attractive Forces and Solubility7.3293–299
Oct 27Dietary Lipids and Attractive Forces and the Cell Membrane7.4–7.5299–303
Oct 28Solutions Are Mixtures8.1313–316
Oct 30Formation and Chemical Equations of Solutions8.2–8.3316–328
Nov 2Concentration8.4328–334
Nov 3Dilution8.5334–338
Nov 4Osmosis and Diffusion and Transport Across Cell Membranes8.6–8.7338–344Last day to drop w “W”
Nov 6Acids and Bases: Definitions9.1–9.2353–359
Nov 9Chemical Equilibrium: Weak Acids and Bases9.3–9.4359–369
Nov 10pH and the pH Scale and pKa9.5–9.6369–375
Nov 11Drug Solubility, Diffusion, Buffers9.7–9.8375–383
Nov 13Exam 3-Chapters 7-10
Nov 16Amino Acids and Protein Formation10.1–10.2392–407
Nov 17Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins and Denaturation of Proteins10.3–10.4407–416
Nov 18Protein Functions/ Enzymes: Life’s Catalysts10.5–10.6416–424
Nov 20Factors That Affect Enzyme Activity10.7424–428
Nov 23-27–––––––––Thanksgiving Holiday Week – No Class–––––––––
Nov 30Components of Nucleic Acids and Nucleic Acid Formation11.1–11.2439–452
Dec 1DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis11.3–11.4452–459
Dec 2The Genetic Code, Protein Synthesis, Genetic Mutations11.5–11.6459–465
Dec 4Viruses and Recombinant DNA Technology11.7–11.8465–471
Dec 7Metabolism and Metabolically Relevant Nucleotides12.1–12.2479–487
Dec 8Digestion: From Food Molecules to Common Metabolites12.3–12.4487–496
Dec 9The Citric Acid Cycle/Electron Transport/Oxidative Phosphorylation12.5–12.6496–503
Dec 11ATP Production and Other Fuel Choices12.7–12.8503–512
Dec 14FINAL EXAM: Monday 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.Final Exams
Dec 15–––––––––Finals–––––––––Final Exams
Dec 16–––––––––Finals–––––––––Final Exams
Dec 17–––––––––Finals–––––––––Final Exams

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

Late Work and Make-up Policy

Late Work– Late work (excluding in-class quizzes and exams) is accepted for up to 3 days after the original due date upon agreement to a 30% deduction. If you don’t agree, then please don’t ask me to accept your late work. Assignments more than 3 days late will receive a score of zero.

Exams: Exams cannot be administered after they have been given to the class!

Application Problems: Application Problems (in-class/quizzes or take-home/homework) are distributed throughout the semester. Prepare for these by reviewing previous lectures and reading for the upcoming lecture. Missed in-class problems cannot be made up/completed under any circumstances. Two of the lowest scores may be dropped to minimize the impact on your grade for these missed learning opportunities. In-class problems may be completed early at the instructor’s discretion; inquire ahead of any planned absences.

Extra Credit

There isn’t any, so don’t ask. I understand people learn and express understanding differently. If you are struggling, I may be able to assist and offer valuable advice, but you need to initiate contact and be willing to follow the suggestions. The later help is sought, the less effective it will be.

––I do not give individuals opportunities for points that the entire class does not have––

Attendance Policy

Attendance

It is strongly recommended that students make every possible effort to attend lectures. Consequences of being absent from class may include missing the following: information presented, application problems/quizzes, alteration of assignment due dates, etc. Inform me ASAP upon missing a class due to unforeseen events.

Expectations Related to Attendance

Missing class is a choice that you make. The consequences of this include missing information presented, unannounced quizzes, alterations of due dates for assignments, etc. Accepted excuses for missing class include University excused absences and medical emergencies. I need proof and should be made aware of these in advance or ASAP. Unacceptable excuses include your wedding, being locked out of your house, sleeping in, and any other creative excuse that doesn’t fit the above, accepted excuses.

Course Fees

$58 Fee

Co-requisite

Co-requisite: CHEM 1135

Class material may be accessed through Canvas, located at

Focus on the major concepts. Continually ask why and strive to understand. Take time to think about the reading. Learn to schedule your time effectively. Adhere to the reading schedule. DO NOT wait until the chapter/section is complete to start homework; complete problems as you read and in conjunction with the discussion of material in the lecture. If you plan now (meaning day one) to spend time studying each day, the material will be much easier to understand, leading to success on exams and in class. I can’t do this for you.

Chemistry tutors are available. For more information, see: /

––Remember: Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part––

Experience mandates the following expectations to be established.

These may be altered or added to at any time with applicable disclosure.

You signed up for this course and, in doing so, agree to the terms found in this syllabus. These include agreeing that it is your responsibility to: attend class; take tests on the assigned day, and turn in assignments when due. You also agree that it is not my responsibility to alter the outlined requirements, expectations, or due dates for this course.

Electronic devices not related to the learning environment are not allowed. Cell phones, smartwatches, etc., are not to be used in class as a calculator. Buy a proper calculator. I am not going to babysit individuals. If you bring a phone out, I will assume you are not being challenged and will provide a quiz to the class to better engage you. Further implications include loss of grade curving and bonus projects, and in extreme cases, loss of the object, grade drop, or dismissal from class.

Disruptive behavior cannot be tolerated, and participants will be asked to leave; this includes but is not limited to: texting, talking, sleeping, studying for other courses, arriving late, ringing phones, playing games, distracting activities on a computer, wearing head/earphones, or picking your nose. Don’t embarrass me by making me call you out!

Cheating will not be tolerated. See the academic integrity section.

Late work will be accepted for up to 3 days after the stated due date only if you agree to a loss of 30% of the original value for the assignment. If you don’t agree, then don’t ask me to accept it. Late work includes the following causes: “It was done, but I left it ____ (fill in the blank)”; “I didn’t realize it was due”; “I wasn’t here when you announced the due date”.

Personal matters that may interfere with you completing this course or an assignment are just that, personal. While I’ll try to be empathetic and understanding you need to understand that everybody has challenges. If you know that challenges will arrive during this course, like a birth, wedding, vacation, or are currently experiencing multiple challenges, you are encouraged not to take this course.

Stapling work is your responsibility; however, I am willing to perform this task for you for 2 points per staple. Also, if you need help organizing the pages of an assignment in the required order, I will do this for 2 points.

8½ x 11 paper is the standard in the United States. For the good of the country and your grade, assignments are to be turned in on this paper. It may have lines, but no frayed edges. I am willing to pull off the annoying ‘chads’ from spiral-bound notebooks for 2 points.

Translation services for those who don’t see the need to write clearly or organize their work in such a manner to make it clear what is being done are charged at a rate of up to 20% of the assignment's total value. (10% legibility, 10% organization)

Complete sentences are the only way to answer a question. To encourage complete sentences, a charge of 1 point per infraction will be assessed for lack of a complete sentence or phrase.

Email etiquette, while not a rule, has an academic impact. Failure to use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary reflects poorly on your academic abilities. Don’t send me an email that you wouldn’t send as part of a professional school application or employment application, SRSLY AFAIK, LOL.

University students are held to a higher standard. The above rules may seem childish or unfair, but as initially stated, experience mandates such measures. Ideally, these rules protect those who are here to get a higher education from those who have yet to realize they are at a university. If you don’t agree to abide by these rules, you have a couple of options: take the class from a different instructor, suffer the outlined consequences, call me bad names, give me a bad evaluation, or change majors. If you agree to these rules, I promise a better education and skills that will be invaluable in all aspects of life.

The laboratory that accompanies this course is required. The laboratory curricula are specifically related to the course lectures and allow students an opportunity to practice what they have learned in an experimental setting.

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.

Unfounded rumors suggest this is one of the most difficult pre-nursing courses at SUU. It is challenging, but students earn A’s every semester. This course is what all university classes should be like: challenging, providing an immense supply of new knowledge and skills, and worth the price paid. Students pass, succeed, and even excel in this course every year. The common theme among these students is that they work to understand the material.

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.