Bioorganic First: A New Model for the College Chemistry Curriculum

This commentary describes a new approach to the college chemistry curriculum, one that acknowledges that most of the students in the class are more interested in the life sciences than in chemistry. The curriculum is appropriate for both majors and nonmajors. It begins with an organic course that emphasizes connections to biology but leaves out some of the more esoteric topics of sophomore organic chemistry. Sophomore year continues with the more physical material that is traditionally taught to freshmen, but at a higher level. There is a junior-level course that fills in the organic material missing from the freshman course, but is now taught only to those who will need it. The article describes these courses, documents the success of the approach, and points out some of the problems associated with it.