Many physical chemists think that the teaching of physical chemistry is currently experiencing a crisis. First, most students enter a physical chemistry course less prepared, particularly in math, than they did in years past. Second, teachers of physical chemistry face numerous vexing questions, including: What do we want to accomplish with the physical chemistry course? What topics we present to a diverse audience? How much of each subject should we emphasize? How can we be certain that the students master the material?
More than a dozen years ago, Physical Chemistry: Developing A Dynamic Curriculum was published. (1) This landmark book was a welcome advance in the quest to modernize the physical chemistry curriculum. It arose from a Pew Charitable Trust project and NSF Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement workshops at the University of Northern Colorado. These workshops were well-attended and provided clear evidence of the strong need for reform in the physical