Using mathematics as a language to describe chemical systems is crucial to all fields of chemistry, including expressing reaction yields, predicting and validating mechanisms, and modeling molecular properties and interactions.
“To ensure an optimal learning experience in upper-year chemistry courses, students must be proficient in the mathematical language used throughout our courses,” explained Aya Sakaya, Assistant Professor in the teaching stream at the Department of Chemistry. “This mathematical foundation extends beyond first-year calculus and is typically dispersed across multiple second- and third-year mathematics courses.”
Put another way: the math essential to learning chemistry can be specialized, it is taught in various courses offered by the math department, and there can be no guarantee any specific Chemistry student will take those courses in time to learn what they need most before they take a given course within their program.
To tackle this problem, by consolidating all the necessary mathematical background into a single course, Prof. Sakaya is piloting an in-house Mathematics for Chemistry course which will be offered for the first time in Fall 2025.
Designed "for chemists, by chemists,” Mathematical Methods for Chemical Sciences (CHM228H1) will equip Department of Chemistry students with the mathematical foundations essential for success in their upper-year chemistry courses. With its particular focus on physical chemistry principles, the course will cover selected topics from multivariable calculus, complex variables, linear algebra, and differential equations. 
“The material will be delivered within a chemistry context, with an emphasis on problem-solving tailored to chemical applications,” said Sakaya.
The new course is intended to become a second-year requirement for chemistry specialists going forward in the program.
“You’ll learn the math you need, when you need it.” Sakaya said.
An additional benefit of CHM228H1 is that it is a single semester (H) course, instead of the two-semester second-year calculus course, she noted.
Sakaya is enthusiastic and eager to share this specialized math with the students who will use it throughout their degrees. As a physical chemist herself, she emphasized that the course may be especially great preparation for physical chemistry courses.
“This content will be within the context of chemical concepts and applications,” she said. “No more abstract functions!”
Prof. Andy Dicks, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies, is excited to be offering the course to second-year Chemistry students for the first time. "I'm thrilled that Professor Sakaya has taken the lead on designing and teaching CHM228H1. It's a course we have been planning to develop for several years and will be a boon to our program students, who have historically learned important math concepts in a very abstract and non-chemical context.
“Professor Sakaya's enthusiasm and dedication will make the course an invigorating experience and I'm looking forward to learning how the first iteration of it is received".
Students can sign up for the class when registration opens on July 15th.