Evaluation of a Three-Semester General and Organic Chemistry Course Sequence: A Five-Year Side-by-Side Analysis of a Curricular Change

More than a decade ago, the University of Miami began to transition to a three-semester general and organic chemistry course sequence. This type of curricular reform has been implemented at other institutions, but few studies track curriculum changes by offering the traditional and modified curriculum in the same semesters. Herein, we describe the evolution of the curricular changes from the traditional general and organic chemistry sequence to a three-semester sequence at the University of Miami. From our analysis, we found no difference in the student preparedness or DFW rates between the two curriculums. We also found that students who completed the modified curriculum performed better in biochemistry. This study demonstrates that chemistry can be taught in three semesters without adverse effects on student outcomes.