Department of Chemistry, University of Otago - BridgingChem

BridgingChem - Bridging Chemistry

This course will prepare students with the necessary knowledge, study and practical skills to confidently undertake the CHEM 111 and/or CHEM 191 courses at Otago.

Not only will you study concepts that will help you understand the material in CHEM 111 and CHEM 191 but you will also get an overview of other areas usually covered in secondary school.

The course is intensive and interactive and runs in the 3 weeks - 30 January - 17 February 2012. (Note change of date - was originally Sunday 29th January, now Monday 30th).

Enrolments close on Friday 20th January 2012 or when the course is full, whichever is earlier.

Please note: Students undertaking this course will still need to meet the University’s admission and entrance criteria in order to proceed to full credit study.

"Having taken a gap year between graduating high school and starting university I was worried that I wouldn't want to start my university experience as I’d been out of studying for so long and the subjects I had taken at school wouldn’t be fresh in my mind. I decided to do the Bridging Chemistry course really because it was the only short introductory course offered in the sciences.

It was one of the best decisions I have made so far. Although awkward at first with everyone being of different ages, which I wasn’t used to, I soon got into the routine and established good university study skills, as well as friends and study partners I will keep.

The course familiarised me with the wonderful Chemistry Department staff, contacts and support which I still have, as well as the labs and content of Chem 191, leaving me fully prepared and a lot less nervous.

The content was a lot more work than I had expected and the days were jam packed with lectures, tutorials and labs (with mock exit tests), as well as assignments-exam style. It really went above and beyond the 7th form course introducing new concepts at a good pace.

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone going into the sciences who is slightly unsure as it teaches you a lot more than basic Chemistry."

Felicity Williamson

Restrictions

The course is restricted to students who have gained less than 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Chemistry or with the approval of the Head of Department.

Prerequisites

This course is not generally considered to be suitable for students with little or no background in Chemistry or the Physical Sciences (eg Year 11/Level 1 General Science). Students with such backgrounds are strongly advised to successfully complete the distance taught Introductory Chemistry course run by the Department throughout the year. The Introductory Chemistry course will provide adequate background for admission to Bridging Chemistry.

Teaching Format

This immersion course of three weeks, full time, 9am - 5pm, will have integrated laboratories/tutorials and lectures/discussion with the following format:

10 x 1 hour lectures per week
5 x 1 hour tutorials per week
5 x 3 hour laboratories per week

Students attending this course will not have time to take other summer school papers. Tutorials, problems classes and practicals will be held in the laboratories. Once a day the class will combine for a lecture. The staff taking this course will be available all the time for assistance and advice.

written assignments 3 x 20% 60%
exit tests after each laboratory 40%

A Certificate will be given at the end of the course to show a student's personal achievement. This will be in time for enrolment in a first year chemistry course.

Course fee

The tuition fee for Bridging Chemistry in 2012 for domestic students is $750 and $1200 for international students. Payment should be made with your enrolment no later than 20 January 2012.

Class Size

Class size for 2012 is limited to 65 domestic students (no restriction on numbers of international students).

Accommodation

Accommodation is NOT included in the course fee. If you require accommodation for the duration of this course please contact St Margaret’s College:

Web: http://stmargarets.ac.nz/
Ph: (03) 479-5543
Fax: (03) 479-5541
Email: annmarie@smc.ac.nz

Enquiries and enrolment

Enrol using the online form and pay by credit card.

Bridging Chemistry Brochure

If you would like an enrolment form sent to you in the post, please contact the enquiries address below.

All enquiries should be made to:

Pip Jack
Department of Chemistry
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin
Tel: (03) 479-7912
Fax: (03) 479-7906
Email: bridging@chemistry.otago.ac.nz

Course Coordinator

Dr David A. McMorran: Tel: +64 3 479 479 7934; Location: Science II, 1c2; davidm@chemistry.otago.ac.nz

Chemistry