Department of Chemistry

Being one of the teacher training departments, the Department of Chemistry provides the instruction of chemistry together with the courses of didactics and methodology. The department offers the BA Chemistry in Education degree programme and two follow-up MA degree programmes: Teaching Chemistry for Upper Levels of Primary Schools and for Secondary Schools. In the course of the BA degree programme, students are introduced basic chemistry disciplines theoretically in lectures and seminars as well as practically in laboratory classes. In all teacher training degree programmes of the department, methodology and didactics courses are considered crucial, as well as practical work; laboratories with latest equipment are at students´ constant disposal. The department runs teaching qualification extension courses of chemistry and methodology.

Another degree programme offered by the department is the BA Safety of Work in Non-Production Sphere degree programme. The programme is designed to cover all aspects of this complex study field. Students are introduced the basics of social and natural sciences that are followed by specialized courses. Students will attend lectures and seminars on various topics as varied as: safety of work, legislation and management, toxicology, hazardous substances and waste, fire prevention and security, crisis management, etc. The aim of this degree programme is to raise experts in organization and provision of safety at work that would be able to implement preventive measures, eliminate safety risks, and find effective solutions operatively in crisis appropriately to the specific types of workplace. The graduates will find a wide range of employment at schools, administrative offices, industry, agriculture, etc.

Subject areas of the research carried out at the department include didactics of chemistry as well as specific scientific tasks. Within the Czech- Polish project the staff of the department monitor the frontier area and examines the presence of heavy metals and radioactive Caesium-137. Another project deals with the research of the synthesis of carboxylic acids derivatives in microwave environment. The department organizes international conferences and workshops focused on didactics of chemistry, and the academic staff cooperate on the organization of youth chemistry competitions.

Due to the department’s developed contacts with numerous public and private institutions, the students participate in various projects already in the course of their studies. Within their seminar works, for example, students test materials for companies producing medical equipment. At the same time, experts from these institutions lecture on specialized subjects and participate in assigning and consulting the students´ theses.