PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION O F CHEMISTRY TEACHERS THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'
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KAROL J. MYSELS University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
THE University of Southern California is the largest, private university west of the Mississippi. In contrast to many of the other large schools, however, its endowment is small, giving an income which is negligible in comparison with tuition receipts. Founded in 1880 it has, therefore, gone through several periods of rapid development and others of severe retrenchment as the economic and cultural conditions of the state fluctuated. By being alert to the needs of the popula. tion and emphasizing the personal touch and quality of instruction, it has been able, however, to reach its present state of development. While chemistry has been an important part of the science curriculum since the founding of the university, masters' degrees having been granted since 1892 and occasional doctorates in chemistry since 1932, the real development of the chemistry department did not begin until a short dozen years ago when A. B. Burg came to a four-man department in which there were only a dozen graduate students in 1939, and became its chairman two years later. Today there are 14 regular faculty members and an active graduate school of some 60 selected graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, coming from most states of the Union, Canada, and abroad, mainly from India, England, and Holland. The faculty group is very active and unusually young, their ages averaging about 36, ranging from 27 to 46. Their training and experience are quite varied. The 14 men received their bachelor degrees in 11 different schools (Chicago claims three and Wisconsin two) and their Ph.D. degrees in nine different institutions (Chicago and Harvard claiming three each and Berkeley two). They taught or did postdoctoral research a t 10 schools other than those that granted their degrees (Harvard and Stanford each claiming two) before coming to U. S. C., and average over one year of industrial experience. Their research interests range from synthetic organic to synthetic inorganic chemisbw. ntnletum of crvstals to that of colloids ~ -,--.--"frnm t,he ~--. " ~
1 This is the first of a series of artioles, sponsored by the PSACT, describing chemical education in western colleges and universities.
and of solutions above the critical temperature, from radiochemistry to rheology. None is, however, interested specifically in analytical chemistry and as a result advanced degrees are granted only in the fields of colloid, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, over 40 publications dealing with these fields having appeared last year from the department. Part of the teaching load is carried by postdoctoral lecturers on temporary appointment who spend one or a few years a t the University to gain experience before proceeding to other posts. Most lecturers divide their time equally between research and teaching. Graduate students are admitted on the basis of promise for advanced work as evidenced by their undergraduate grades and letters of recommendation. It has been the policy of the department to advise students intensively, to screen them early and vigorously, and to grant both the M S . and the Ph.D. titles as research degrees only after full demonstration of merit. The M.S. degree thus is not a "consolation prize" but a recognition of definite achievement beyond the B.S. After being admitted, the new graduate student consults with one of threemembers of a faculty committee which deals with all new students, who learns of his particular problems and explains what will be expected of hi. The student then takes a three-hour orientation examination on the basis of which he is advised by the full committee about his chances of success and the best ways of preparing to meet the next hurdles. Frequently students are advised a t this point to begin by taking undergraduate courses in physical or organic chemistry to make up deficiencies. Before the end of their first term all new students are required to take three "background" examinations covering organic, physical, and inorganic-analytical chemistry a t an advanced undergraduate level. The equivalent of a strong B performance in each examina, tion is required for passing. The student may attempt these examinations twice but if two are ~ a s s e don the first attempt he is required to repeat onlyone. At this point, student is Over 50 per cent and less than 20 per cent pass all three on the first attempt.
JANUARY. 1952
These examinations have been found very effective in eliminating a t an early stage, before a large investment of time and effort has occurred on the part of either students or faculty, those who are unable to show the thorough grasp of fundamentals which is considered a necessary prerequisite for successful advanced work. On the other hand, those students who pass these examinations have been found, in most cases, to proceed from there on without having to spend time reviewing basic material so that an atmosphere more conducive to creative research prevails in the student body. As a rule, students are admitted to research only after passing the three background examinations, or on a probationary basis after passing two, although reThis homer the main activities of search may be commenced immediately on entrance on a petition basis if an individual has special qualifications. A thesis showing the ability to obtain puhlishable results is required for the M.S. degree, mhich is granted after satisfactory completion of 28 units of study and a final oral examination dealing mainly with the thesis and the courses taken in the major field. The examining committee also recommends whether the student should or should not be discouraged from continuing for the Ph.D. degree. The work of Ph.D. candidates (whether they have an M.S. degree or not) is closely followed by a committee of a t least three faculty members which meets twice a year with the student to discuss the progress of his research and related matters in order to evaluate his creative imagination, critical facility, and ability to express ideas, as well as his progress in research and in the independent study of his field. These qualities, including the capacity to do independent work, are believed to be even more essential than successful course study in fitting the person for work in responsible positions, be it in industry or in teaching. After each meeting, the candidate is informed of his progress toward the degree. After at least three semesters of research, and only if his progress has been satisfactory, the student may present himself for the "qualifying" examination which is oral and which deals with his research and any topics connected with it, with questions given him two weeks in advance and to mhich he has prepared written
Science Hall
the chemistry department as well as several of the other science deoartments.
answers, and with original "propositions" submitted by him. In this way the candidate is tested in his ability both to handle established topics and to originate significant new ideas, but quite purposely a rehash of course work is avoided. The examination is taken after the student has had a chance to mature and establish himself in his chosen field but again before an excessive investment of time and effort has occurred. After passing this examination, the student completes his research and finally defends his Ph.D. dissertation standard, such as thermodynamics, advanced organic, and advanced inorganic, in which the student acquires the advanced tools of his profession, as well as courses which are built around the special fields of various faculty members, such as radiochemistry, high vacuum techniques, etc., in which more specialized knowledge is explored up to the present-day borders of science. Seminars and informal colloquia serve as group meetings in which current literature and work in progress in each field are discussed among faculty and graduate students. Work completed in the department and talks by outside speakers are presented a t a weekly "research conference" attended by both graduate and advanced undergraduat,~ students. Phi Lambda Upsilon, Iota Sigma Pi, Sigma Xi, and the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate societies provide additional opport.unity for formal and informal
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
44
already been described in THISJOURa terminal 2-unit lecture and demonstration course emphasizing aspects of chemistry of greatest importance to the general student not specializing in the sciences or engineering. This latter course may in the future be incorporated in a general science course. Only studentsfrom the first course are admitted to more advanced ones. The same semester-course in quantitative analysis, emphasizing quan. titative aspects of equilibrium, is taken by all advanced students, but courses in organic chemistry in which theoretical correlation of reactions is stressed, and in physical chemistry in which problem work is emphasized, have additional laboratory periods for chemistry majors. Premedical students generally terminate their study of chemistry after organic, and chemical and petroleum engineers after physical chemistry, while chemistry majors continue with courses in instrumental analysis, chemical literature, and electives such as organic qualitative analysis, phase rule? elementary colloid, and some of the specialized graduate courses. This curriculum gives the student the basic tools for adapting himself to an industrial position and enough of a survey of the field to whet the appetite and provide a perspective for those who may wish to continue in graduate work. The best undergraduates may conduct research under a faculty member's close supewision. This new experience gives the student an excellent indication of his suitability for research and graduate work. While some find that they are better adapted to other aspects of a chemical career, others are most stimulated by this work, and several have succeeded in their senior year in competing work which was published in journals of the American Chemical Society. This fall a new wing to the main Science Building will be completed to house the teaching and research activities of the organic group. This will relieve considerably the present. congested conditions of the department and will make possible better housing of many instruments, such as the recording X-ray spectrometer, infrared spectrometer, mass spectrograph, ultracentrifuge, light-scattering, and conductivity equipment, some of which are now kept in temporary structures put up in 1947 to accommodate the postwar flood of undergraduat,es. For several years the department has been publishing two brochures, one describing its faculty, publications, and fellowships; the other, detailed degree requirements. These brochures are gladly sent to interested persons upon a request which should be addressed to Robert D. Vold, who became Head of the department last year on a system of rotation. MYSELS,K. J., m~ C. S. COPELAND, J. CHEM.EDUC.,28, N A L , ~and
The New Building far Organio Chemistiy
contact between students of all fields and the faculty. An unusual feature of the graduate program is the curriculum leading to an M.S. degree in industrial chemistry. It is designed for graduates in chemical engineering or in chemistry who wish to obtain additional training in the other field without satisfying its full undergraduate requirements. All graduate students who desire it receive financial support after passing the qualifying examinations and the more promising ones even upon entering. This support comes from teaching "laboratory assistantships" and "associateships" provided by the University, and research assistantships and fellowships provided by a number of industrial firms, the Office of Naval Research, the Atomic Energy Commission, the U. S. Public Health Office, and the Research Corporation. However supported, all work done in the department deals only with fundamental problems and is fully publishable. A faculty committee and an all-University office help in the placement of students in full-time, part-time, or summer positions. Arrangements are made for interviews on campus with representatives of the larger companies who visit the department regularly. The department has the policy of not giving its students a "third degree." It believes that in the five or six years of study leading to t.he B.S. and M S . degrees a student, if he is of a Ph.D. caliber, has re ceived from this faculty all that he could gather and should be exposed to a new and different atmosphere a t another school. This policy leads to the loss of some of the most promising students but is believed to be of distinct benefit to them. In its undergraduate program, the department serves the needs of (1) relatively small groups of chemistry, chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, geology, and physics majors and a larger group of premedical students, (2) engineers other than chemical or petroleum engineers, and (3) liberal arts students with no technical interests. There are three corresponding freshman courses: a professional 10-unit lecture and laboratory course with emphasis on qualitative concepts of equilibrium and structural considerations based as far as possible on laboratory experiments; a rigorous terminal 8-unit lecture and laboratory course which has 165 (1951).
