Developing and teaching chemistry course for non-majors remains a significant educational challenge. At New York University, science instruction for non-specialists is offered within the structure of a general education curriculum. We have designed two lecture and laboratory courses that emphasize different aspects of modern chemistry. “Energy and the Environment” uses environmental issues as a framework for exploring the underlying chemistry and its relevance for making appropriate policy decisions. As another option, “The Molecules of Life” connects chemical principles to the function of biological molecules and the action of pharmaceuticals. Multiple sections of these two courses provide chemistry instruction for over 600 non-major students during each academic year. This presentation will survey curriculum structure, laboratory design, effective teaching practices, and will provide insights into how non-majors students react to studying chemistry in college.
Back to Chemistry in The Core - Teaching Chemistry to Non Science Majors
Back to The 33rd Northeast Regional Meeting (July 14-17, 2005)