01:160:307 · Chemistry · School 01 — New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences

Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry I is Rutgers' first full majors-level organic chemistry course. It introduces the structures, bonding patterns, stereochemistry, mechanisms, and reactivity patterns that govern carbon compounds, then applies those ideas to substitution, elimination, alkene and alkyne additions, conjugated dienes, oxidation-reduction chemistry, and radical reactions.

4
credits
Typical seasons: Fall · Spring · Summer
Guide: Researched guide · 6 sources

Can I take it?

160:160 160:162 160:164

Gen Chem For Engrs · General Chemistry · Honors General Chem

How hard?

5/5 · Very heavy

Students rate teaching

3.75 / 5

SIRS · 11,356 responses · 2014–2025

Spring 2027

10 sections

10 open in snapshot · 1 instructor

When it meets

TF 10:20 AM

C/D

Add to schedule Compare in Explorer Watch openings Ask Scarlet Sync

Who’s teaching it — Spring 2027

Checked-in sections · current seat counts are unavailable.

Kiranjot Sethi

TF 10:20 AM · C/D · 4 sections · 4 open

Course SIRS teaching3.72/5

Course guide

AI-generated overview

Sources (6)

Course fingerprint

Higher means more demanding · AI summary

Difficulty

5/5

Very heavy

Exams

5/5

Very heavy

Abstraction

5/5

Very heavy

Workload

4/5

Heavy

Pacing

4/5

Heavy

Prerequisites

4/5

Heavy

Memorization

3/5

Moderate

Math

2/5

Light–moderate

Reading

2/5

Light–moderate

Projects

1/5

Light

What you’ll learn

5 units · topic sequence may vary by instructor

1
Structures, bonding, and the language of organic molecules
The opening part of 307 builds the representational toolkit for the rest of the sequence: Lewis structures, line-angle formulas, formal charge, molecular orbitals, polarity, and the common bonding patterns for carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and halogens. This is where the course stops looking like general chemistry review and starts insisting on organic notation and three-dimensional reasoning.
line-angle structuresformal chargesigma and pi bondselectronegativitymolecular shaperesonance
2
Conformations, stereochemistry, and acid-base/mechanistic thinking
Once the structures are in place, the course turns to conformations, chirality, enantiomers, diastereomers, and the acid-base ideas that drive reaction mechanisms. Rutgers syllabus material places a lot of emphasis on using arrow-pushing as an explanation of electron movement rather than treating reactions as disconnected facts.
cyclohexane conformationsR/S configurationcis/trans and E/ZpKa reasoningnucleophiles and electrophilescurved-arrow mechanisms
3
Substitution and elimination reactions
A major middle block of the course studies how alkyl halides, alcohols, ethers, epoxides, and related compounds react under SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 conditions. Students usually have to compare competing pathways, justify stereochemical outcomes, and decide how solvent, substrate shape, leaving groups, and base strength shift the mechanism.
SN1SN2E1E2carbocation rearrangementsregioselectivity
4
Alkenes, alkynes, and conjugated dienes
The course then moves into addition chemistry: electrophilic addition to alkenes and alkynes, halohydrins, hydration patterns, hydroboration/oxidation, and the behavior of conjugated systems. The Rutgers summer schedule also highlights kinetic versus thermodynamic control and the Diels-Alder reaction as key turning points where mechanistic reasoning and synthesis start to merge.
Markovnikov and anti-Markovnikov additionstereoselective additionsalkyne reactionsconjugated dienesDiels-Alderretrosynthesis
5
Oxidation, reduction, radicals, and synthesis strategy
The end of 307 broadens the reaction toolbox with oxidation-reduction chemistry and free-radical reactions. This is where students are expected to connect functional-group changes across many reactions and solve multi-step synthesis problems rather than handling one transformation at a time.
oxidation states of carbonalcohol oxidationalkene reductionradical halogenationanti-Markovnikov radical additionmulti-step synthesis

Students say

Public r/rutgers discussion around 307 consistently treats the course as demanding but learnable when students practice every week instead of treating it as a memorization marathon. The recurring advice is to use recitation and extra problems aggressively, keep up with reactions as they appear, and focus on why mechanisms work.

Consistency matters more than last-minute cramming

Recitation is treated as real study time, not optional background noise

Mechanistic understanding beats brute memorization

Outside resources can help, but they work best after lecture

Basic concept overview

Structure controls reactivity

Most of 307 can be traced back to how electrons are arranged, how stable intermediates are, and how three-dimensional shape changes which pathways are possible.

Mechanisms are explanations, not decorations

Curved arrows matter because they show where electron density moves, which is what connects reagents to products and predicts side reactions.

Stereochemistry is part of the answer

Rutgers syllabus material emphasizes that product identity often includes orientation in space, not just a molecular formula or functional group.

Reaction families are easier than isolated facts

SN1/SN2, E1/E2, alkene addition, and radical processes become manageable when grouped by common patterns rather than memorized separately.

Do well in it

Common pitfall

Memorizing products without understanding why one pathway wins

Instead

Ask what nucleophile/base strength, substrate type, solvent, and intermediate stability say about the mechanism before deciding on a product.

Common pitfall

Ignoring stereochemistry until the exam

Instead

Practice wedge-dash drawings, conformations, and R/S or E/Z assignments while each chapter is fresh, not only during review week.

Common pitfall

Treating old reactions as finished after each exam

Instead

Keep a running reaction map because the second half of the course assumes the first half's reagents and mechanisms are still available for synthesis problems.

Common pitfall

Skipping recitation or practice sets when lecture felt understandable

Instead

Use practice to test whether you can generate a mechanism or major product on your own, not just recognize it while reading notes.

Sources

Rutgers Chemistry course description: 01:160:307 Rutgers Organic Chemistry I syllabus (Fall 2022)Rutgers Organic Chemistry I material-covered outline (Summer 2020)Rutgers Organic Chemistry I course schedule (Summer 2024)Reddit: Rutgers Organic Chemistry I study/grade advice Reddit: a guide for approaching organic chemistry

Spring 2027 sections

10 open · C/D

Section	Status	Instructor	Meeting	Campus
0113910	Open	Kiranjot Sethi	Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Thursday 2:15 PM-3:10 PM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0213911	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Thursday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0313912	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0413913	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 2:15 PM-3:10 PM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0513914	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:35 AM-11:30 AM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0613915	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Monday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HCK 119HCK 138 HCK 119	C/D
0713916	Open		Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Monday 2:15 PM-3:10 PM at HCK 201HCK 138 HCK 201	C/D
0813917	Open	Kiranjot Sethi	Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Thursday 4:05 PM-5:00 PM at HCK 201HCK 138 HCK 201	C/D
0913918	Open	Kiranjot Sethi	Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Monday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HCK 205HCK 138 HCK 205	C/D
1013919	Open	Kiranjot Sethi	Tuesday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Friday 10:20 AM-11:40 AM at HCK 138; Tuesday 12:25 PM-1:20 PM at HCK 205HCK 138 HCK 205	C/D

cachedSource: Checked-in Rutgers Schedule of Classes snapshotsUpdated when term datasets are refreshedMay be stale

SIRS teaching signals

Historical student surveys

Open full SIRS search

Teaching

3.75

Course quality

3.03

Response rate

33.4%

Coverage

191 offerings · 2014–2025

Instructor	Offerings	Teaching	Quality
Kiranjot Sethi	22	3.72	2.85
Cullerton Denise	16	4.59	3.91
Emmanuel Hove	12	3.52	2.56
Jayati Halder	11	3.41	2.58
Hongmei Zhang	11	3.32	2.32
Kim-Phuong Le	9	3.81	2.53

Course stats

Catalog and planning context

Credits

Current campuses

C/D

Current availability

10 open of 10

Catalog terms

Fall, Spring, Summer

Core codes

None listed

Loaded terms

Prerequisites

(01:160:160) OR (01:160:162) OR (01:160:164) OR (21:160:116) OR (01:160:166) OR (50:160:116)

Who’s teaching it — Spring 2027

Course guide

Course fingerprint

Difficulty

Exams

Abstraction

Workload

Pacing

Prerequisites

Memorization

Math

Reading

Projects

What you’ll learn

Structures, bonding, and the language of organic molecules

Conformations, stereochemistry, and acid-base/mechanistic thinking

Substitution and elimination reactions

Alkenes, alkynes, and conjugated dienes

Oxidation, reduction, radicals, and synthesis strategy

Students say

Consistency matters more than last-minute cramming

Recitation is treated as real study time, not optional background noise

Mechanistic understanding beats brute memorization

Outside resources can help, but they work best after lecture

Basic concept overview

Structure controls reactivity

Mechanisms are explanations, not decorations

Stereochemistry is part of the answer

Reaction families are easier than isolated facts

Do well in it

Memorizing products without understanding why one pathway wins

Ignoring stereochemistry until the exam

Treating old reactions as finished after each exam

Skipping recitation or practice sets when lecture felt understandable

Sources

Spring 2027 sections

SIRS teaching signals

Course stats

Prerequisites

Degree requirement lists

Related CHEMISTRY courses

Course Wiki

Who’s teaching it — Spring 2027

Course guide

Course fingerprint

Difficulty

Exams

Abstraction

Workload

Pacing

Prerequisites

Memorization

Math

Reading

Projects

What you’ll learn

Structures, bonding, and the language of organic molecules

Conformations, stereochemistry, and acid-base/mechanistic thinking

Substitution and elimination reactions

Alkenes, alkynes, and conjugated dienes

Oxidation, reduction, radicals, and synthesis strategy

Students say

Consistency matters more than last-minute cramming

Recitation is treated as real study time, not optional background noise

Mechanistic understanding beats brute memorization

Outside resources can help, but they work best after lecture

Basic concept overview

Structure controls reactivity

Mechanisms are explanations, not decorations

Stereochemistry is part of the answer

Reaction families are easier than isolated facts

Do well in it

Memorizing products without understanding why one pathway wins

Ignoring stereochemistry until the exam

Treating old reactions as finished after each exam

Skipping recitation or practice sets when lecture felt understandable

Sources

Spring 2027 sections

SIRS teaching signals

Course stats