CHEM 486: Computational Chemistry

Chemistry · 3 credits

A hands-on introduction to computational models employed in contemporary chemical research. Topics will include energy landscapes, geometry optimization, and molecular dynamics; classical force fields, ab initio quantum chemistry, semi-empirical methods, density functional theory; critical assessment of assumptions and approximations in computational chemistry.

Offered in 3 of the 26 listed terms (Spring 2022 to Spring 2026).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

CHEM 461 or CHEM 466 or PHYS 225 or PHYS 230

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

CHEM 461 Physical Chemistry
requires (CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 225) and (MATH 224 or MATH 225) (and (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and PHYS 162 and PHYS 163)
- CHEM 163 General Chemistry III
  requires CHEM 122 or CHEM 162
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
    requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161
    - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
      requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I
        requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
        MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S) (continues on its page)
      - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
        requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
        MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
        requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
        requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
        MATH 115 Precalculus II
        requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 (continues on its page)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
      - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
        requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
        MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
        MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
        requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 (continues on its page)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
        requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
        MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
      - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
        requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II
        requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
        MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
      - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
        requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
        MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
        MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors
  requires CHEM 126 or CHEM 176
  - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors
    requires CHEM 175
    - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
      requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
      - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I
  requires MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 4 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 5
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
    requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
      requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
      requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
    requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
- MATH 225 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II
  requires MATH 224
  - MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (shown above)
- PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II
      requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
      requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
    requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II
  requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
  - PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I (shown above)
  - HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics (shown above)
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III
  requires PHYS 162 and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
  - PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
CHEM 466 Biophysical Chemistry I
requires (MATH 224 or MATH 225) and (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and PHYS 162 and PHYS 163 and CHEM 471
- MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 225 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II (shown above)
- PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I (shown above)
- HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics (shown above)
- PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II (shown above)
- PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III (shown above)
- CHEM 471 Biochemistry I
  requires (CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 225) and CHEM 353 and BIOL 205
  - CHEM 163 General Chemistry III (shown above)
  - CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors (shown above)
  - CHEM 353 Organic Chemistry
    requires CHEM 352
    - CHEM 352 Organic Chemistry
      requires CHEM 351
      - CHEM 351 Organic Chemistry
        requires (CHEM 123 or CHEM 163) or CHEM 225
        CHEM 163 General Chemistry III (shown above)
        CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors (shown above)
  - BIOL 205 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab
    requires BIOL 204 and (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175) and (CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176)
    - BIOL 204 Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab
      requires (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161) or (CHEM 125 or CHEM 175)
      - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
      - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
    - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
    - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
    - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
    - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
PHYS 225 Modern Physics II
requires PHYS 224 and (MATH 224 or MATH 225) and MATH 331
- PHYS 224 Modern Physics I
  requires PHYS 163 and (PHYS 226 or PHYS 220) and MATH 204
  - PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III (shown above)
  - PHYS 220 Physics with Calculus IV
    requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and (MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or (MATH 138) or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
    - PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I (shown above)
    - HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
  - MATH 204 Elementary Linear Algebra
    requires MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 225 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 331 Ordinary Differential Equations
  requires MATH 204
  - MATH 204 Elementary Linear Algebra (shown above)
PHYS 230 Introduction to Quantum Physics
requires PHYS 163 and MATH 204
- PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III (shown above)
- MATH 204 Elementary Linear Algebra
  requires MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (0)

No course lists it as a prerequisite.

Syllabi and course websites

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Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
Kowalczyk, Tim	3	Spring 2022 to Spring 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (3 sections)

Term	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Spring 2026	23256	Lecture	MWF 12:00pm-12:50pm · MH 103	Kowalczyk, Tim	15/24	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2024	13662	Lecture	MWF 12:00pm-12:50pm · IS 244	Kowalczyk, Tim	16/24	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2022	23360	Lecture	MWF 12:00pm-12:50pm · SL 130	Kowalczyk, Tim	8/20	Face to Face Instruction