Karen Butland

Adjunct Professor - Chemistry

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Karen Butland

Adjunct Professor - Chemistry Department

 

 

About Me

I am Karen Butland, an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Grossmont College. I especially enjoy teaching Chem 110 (Environmental Chemistry), Chem 113 (Forensic Chemistry), and Chem 115 (Fundamentals of Chemistry), because in these classes I typically encounter students who have never taken Chemistry before. If this is you, we can discover together! I like to joke that I am responsible for how you will feel about Chemistry for the rest of you life, so I'd better make it good! I work hard to make Chemistry interesting and fun for my students!

I received both my BA and MS from University of California San Diego, and have been teaching Chemistry since 1993, minus a break to raise kids. I am recently married to an amazing man and have two awesome teenage boys. In my free time, I enjoy volleyball and singing. I am also a speaker for an international organization called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers).
 
Please email me at karen.butland@gcccd.edu if you have any questions about me or the courses I teach. I look forward to meeting you!
 
Karen Butland

 

 

Courses

 

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Chemistry 113 - Forensic Chemistry

Course Description


Chemistry 113: Forensic Chemistry
4 units, 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: A “Pass” grade in Mathematics 090 or equivalent.

 

Elementary principles of inorganic and general chemistry with application to the field of criminal justice. Students will learn basic chemical terminology, problem solving techniques and chemical explanations of our environment. Emphasis will be placed on forensic applications of topics covered, including the study of physical evidence such as hair, fibers, glass fingerprints, and paint. Organic and inorganic techniques for analyzing evidence will be studied in lecture and practiced in lab. Previous chemistry background is helpful, but not required.

 

This course is recommended for students needing a one semester general chemistry laboratory course. This course does not satisfy the prerequisite for Chemistry 141.

 

Students will not receive credit toward graduation for more than one of the following courses: Chemistry 113, Chemistry 115, Chemistry 120.

 

Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College B2; CSU B1; IGETC 5A.
Transfers to: CSU, UC (credit limited)

 

Chemistry 115 - Fundamentals of Chemistry

Course Description

 

Chemistry 115:
Fundamentals of Chemistry: 4 units, 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: A “Pass” grade in Mathematics 090 or equivalent.

 

Elementary principles of inorganic and general chemistry with an overview of organic and biochemistry. Basic chemical terminology, problem solving techniques and chemical explanations of our environment will be studied. Chemical concepts will be explained through common applications such as health science and forensic science. Previous chemistry background is helpful, but not required. This course is recommended for students needing a one semester general chemistry laboratory course. This course does not satisfy the prerequisite for Chemistry 141.

 

Students will not receive credit toward graduation for more than one of the following courses: Chemistry 113, Chemistry 115 and Chemistry 120.

 

Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College B2; CSU B1; IGETC 5A Transfers to: CSU, UC (credit limited)

 

 

Chemistry 110 - Environmental Chemistry

Course Description

 

Chemistry 110:  Environmental Chemistry: 3 units, 3 hours lecture

 

A course in chemistry designed for the nonscience student who wishes to discover how chemistry is an intricate part of our everyday life. Emphasis will be placed on basic chemical principles and practices, fundamental concepts, and modern implications of chemistry. Students will also become acquainted with environmental applications of topics covered, including the study of environmental issues such as ozone depletions, global warming, air and water pollution, and radioactivity. Demonstrations and hands-on in-class experiments involving student participation take the place of a laboratory.

 

Satisfies General Education for: Grossmont College B2; CSU B1; IGETC 5A Transfers to: CSU, UC (credit limited)