Winter Session 2025 CHEM 3580 Preparation (no credit)

The Winter Session CHEM 3580 Prep is an opportunity for students who are taking CHEM 3580 in Spring 2025 to work on fundamental concepts and skills needed for success in CHEM 3580.

What will students learn in the Winter Session CHEM 3580 Prep?
This winter session offering is similar to CHEM 1058 (offered during the academic year). The course will review relevant topics from CHEM 3570 (including resonance, curved arrow formalism, foundational reaction mechanisms) and will also introduce topics from CHEM 3580, such as reactions of dienes, aromaticity, Frost circles, and chemistry/reactions of benzene.

What are the logistics of Winter Session CHEM 3580 Prep?
The course will take place virtually, with synchronous-only components from January 2–January 10, 2025. Students will be expected to attend lecture and problem-solving sessions each weekday. Students must be available at the following times: Monday through Friday, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST (lecture) and 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST (problem-solving). Lecture recordings will not be available. The expected total workload is between 18–22 hours.

Is there a cost?
This not-for-credit workshop is free to all participants, and nothing will go on a student’s transcript. Any time spent can be viewed as an investment in future success in CHEM 3580!

Who is Winter Session CHEM 3580 Prep for?
Self-motivated students who are taking CHEM 3580 in the spring, especially those concerned about the intensity or pace of the course, are questioning their level of prior preparation, or wish to build confidence after taking CHEM 3570. Barring unforeseen circumstances, students are expected to fully participate in the program.

How can students participate?

All students are welcome to access materials but must commit to attendance and availability during both times listed in order to access Zoom links for lecture and problem-solving. Students can self-enroll in the course at the following URL: https://canvas.cornell.edu/enroll/KHKB6N. Students who fail to attend sessions on January 2 and January 3 will not be invited to attend sessions during January 6–January 10. To express interest, students should complete the “Student Information” assignment and will be contacted with more information closer to the start date of the program. For questions, students can contact the instructor directly: Brandon Bogusz (bb677@cornell.edu).

Are there any resources for students who cannot commit to entirety of course?

Problem-solving sessions solutions will be posted the following day for all students with access to Canvas.  Additional optional practice problems may also be posted.