Chemistry: Chemical Herbalism

Subjects vary by semester. Includes a laboratory component that may be in-person or may combine online software with experiments that can be performed safely by students at home. Background in science is helpful, but generally not required. Representative topics: Chemical Herbalism; Chemical Gastronomy. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years.

Open to degree and PACE students Asynchronous Online

This is an introductory, one-semester, online lab course in chemical herbalism. General, organic, and biochemical topics and methods relevant to medicinal herbal chemistry will be covered. An introduction to body systems, herbal actions, medicine making, harvesting/storing, and the history of herbalism are also covered.

Students are expected to have regular access to a kitchen and will need to purchase their own tools and herbs for medicine making. These are basic items found in most kitchens and herbs either harvested outside or at an apothecary. Lists of required, recommended, and luxury tools, as well as links to several apothecaries are in the syllabus. Additionally, a 6-week subscription to our online platform, ALEKS, is required for virtual labs (organic chemistry experiments that cannot be done in a kitchen) and quizzes.

Students are evaluated by a variety of assessments including creative plant journals, case studies, virtual labs, medicine making, discussions, and quizzes.