Since the new ACS CPT guidelines have come out, our
department has begun having discussions about ideas for changes in the
curriculum. As part of this process, we are trying to define the skills that we
think a BS-level chemistry graduate should have. We have a good start on skills
that aren’t specific to a discipline (literature searching, databases, writing
reports in the format of a journal article, presenting research/lab results, scientific
ethics, safety, etc.) Now we’re focusing on skills (not content knowledge) that
our majors should have.