Department of Chemistry
Introduction
Our comprehensive programs are designed to help adult learners achieve their educational and professional goals through flexible, high-quality instruction.
The Continuing Education Center (CEC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh has been a cornerstone of professional development since 2004. Established with support from Simon Fraser University and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), we bridge academic excellence with real-world skills.
We offer a diverse range of courses, professional trainings, and specialized workshops:
- Expand intellectual horizons through our enrichment courses
- Advance your career with professional certification programs
- Prepare for academic success with our preparatory courses
- Develop cutting-edge skills in emerging fields
- Network with professionals across various industries
The Department of Chemistry offers three degrees, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Master of Analytical Chemistry. As in all departments of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, all students study Foundation Year courses during their first year, and then specialize from their second year on. All three courses offer students theoretical knowledge and practical skills in chemistry. After graduating many graduates choose to study one more year at the National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh, to qualify as teachers but others choose to pursue careers the academic field as lecturers and researchers or in chemical laboratories in industries where jobs are currently in high demand due to the growth of Cambodia’s industrial sector. The Masters course in Chemistry provides advanced knowledge and skills in chemistry and research in order to strengthen the teaching of chemistry and research in higher education in Cambodia. The program balances theory with application and gives students the chance to begin independent research using the laboratories in the Chemistry department.
Background
The Department of Chemistry was part of the original Faculty of Science, opening in 1964. From 1975-1980 classes ceased, as did all other forms of higher education in Cambodia. From 1980-1989, the department reopened as part of a teacher-training college, and chemistry was taught to future chemistry teachers, to serve the needs in high schools. In 1990, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry was developed, with a new curriculum focusing on applied chemistry, to prepare students for a broader range of careers in the field. The department has received significant technical assistance from various volunteers from Ireland, America, France, Sweden and Australia. This has resulted in the development of new lab courses, the donation of new equipment and the establishment of links with international universities and organizations.
Example
The irruption of Human Resource Management (HRM) as a strategic element for quality development of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is relatively recent. Few decades back and until our days, HR approaches just focused on staff recruitment, employment contracts and payment
Admission
where the curriculums are based on what is available in the competitions. The courses provided to Cambodian gifted students to prepare for the competitions include Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Research Methodology, and so on. Since its establishment in 2004, CEC has developed and offered (on campus/outside campus) a number of courses such as
- Internet for University Student
- Intensive Course in Web Design
- Network Administration Using Linux
- Information Technology for Specific Purposes
- Network Administration Using Windows Server
- Electronic Equipment and Computer Repairing
- Statistical Analysis Using SPSS for Research (Descriptive and Inferential Statistics)
- Physics for High School Teacher
- Physics for APhO/IPhO
- Astronomy/Astrophysics for IOAA
- Mathematics for IMO/APMO
- Research Methodology for SSYS
- TOEFL iBT Preparation
- Certificate in TESOL
- Academic Proposal Writing
- Academic Presentation Skills
- Academic Project Management
- TOEFL ITP Preparation
- Professional and Oral Communications in English
- Advanced English for Business/Workplace
- Teaching Professional Development for Teachers of English
Details of each course are available at the website of the university (CEC’s URL).
Approximately 40 students are chosen for the scholarship class in Chemistry each year, based on their results in the national Grade 12 exam. This is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, based on sound results in the High School Certificate subjects of Chemistry and Mathematics.
Assessment
RUPP-HR4Asia
The irruption of Human Resource Management (HRM) as a strategic element for quality development of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is relatively recent. Few decades back and until our days, HR approaches just focused on staff recruitment, employment contracts and payment
Students sit examinations throughout their degree. They are also assessed on a variety of other tasks, including assignments, laboratory reports and attendance.
Curriculum
RUPP’s CEC is dedicated to promoting individual and community economic status and providing Cambodian of all ages, professions, ethnicities, and background with a wide variety of lifelong learning opportunities.
Goal
- To inform and enrich working and non-working adult learners through educational activities that are designed to develop their professional, personal, and social skills and to enhance their acquisition of knowledge.
- To enhance the economic development of Cambodian communities by upgrading the competencies of the labor force and organizational effectiveness in areas relevant to the vision of the CEC.
- To upgrade the degrees of Cambodian learners by providing Distance Education Programs at RUPP.
Explanation:
The code a(b-c) indicates the study load and number of credits. In this example:’a’ = number of credits, ‘b’ = number of lecture hours, and ‘c’ = number of tutorial or practical hours.
Note:
English language, run by ELSU, runs on a variable course code system, ENG001- ENG 410 depending on students’ skill level.
Total Credits (All Degrees): 155 Credits
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
| YEAR TWO | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 28 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 28 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits |
| English Language III* | 2(6-0) | English Language IV* | 2(6-0) | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | SCH201 | 4(4-0) | Organic Chemistry II | SCH208 | 4(4-0) |
| Analytical Chemistry I | SCH202 | 3(3-0) | Analytical Chemistry II | SCH209 | 3(3-0) |
| Analytical Chemistry Lab. I | SCH203 | 1(0-3) | Analytical Chemistry Lab. II | SCH210 | 1(0-3) |
| Quantum Chemistry | SCH204 | 3(3-0) | Physical Chemistry I | SCH211 | 3(3-0) |
| Elementary Statistics | SCH205 | 3(3-0) | General Biology | SCH212 | 3(3-0) |
| Inorganic Chemistry I | SCH206 | 3(3-0) | Inorganic Chemistry II | SCH213 | 3(3-0) |
| Inorganic Chemistry Lab. | SCH207 | 1(0-3) | Organic Chemistry Lab. I | SCH214 | 1(0-3) |
| YEAR THREE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 30 hours/week | Code | 19 Credits | 26 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits |
| English Language V* | 2(6-0) | English Language VI* | 2(6-0) | ||
| Biochemistry I | SCH301 | 4(3-3) | Biochemistry II | SCH305 | 4(3-3) |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | SCH302 | 5(4-3) | Visual Basic Programming | SCH306 | 2(2-0) |
| Physical Chemistry II | SCH303 | 4(3-3) | Physical Inorganic Chemistry | SCH307 | 3(3-0) |
| Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis | SCH304 | 4(3-2) | Polymer Chemistry I | SCH308 | 3(3-0) |
| Structure and Energetics | SCH309 | 4(4-0) | |||
| Research Methods in Chemistry | SCH310 | 2(2-0) | |||
| YEAR FOUR | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 21 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 16 hours/week | Code | 16 Credits |
| Natural Compounds | SCH401 | 2(2-0) | Food Chemistry | SCH409 | 3(3-0) |
| Catalysis | SCH402 | 2(2-0) | Laboratory Management | SCH410 | 2(2-0) |
| Physical Organic Chemistry | SCH403 | 3(3-0) | Inorganic Synthesis | SCH411 | 2(2-0) |
| Heterocyclic Aromatic Chemistry | SCH404 | 2(2-0) | Organic Synthesis | SCH412 | 2(2-0) |
| Surface Chemistry | SCH405 | 3(2-0) | Chemistry of Color | SCH413 | 3(3-0) |
| Agro-Chemistry | SCH406 | 2(2-0) | Aquatic Chemistry | SCH414 | 2(2-0) |
| Environmental Chemistry | SCH407 | 4(3-3) | Seminar in Chemistry | SCH415 | 2(2-0) |
| Polymer Chemistry II | SCH408 | 2(2-0) | or Thesis | SCH416 | 16 Credits |
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
| YEAR THREE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | |||||
| 30 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 28 hours/week | Code | 19 Credits | |
| English Language V* | 2(6-0) | English Language VI* | 2(6-0) | |||
| Biochemistry I | SCH301 | 4(3-3) | Biochemistry II | SCH305 | 4(3-3) | |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | SCH302 | 5(4-3) | Techniques in Biochemistry | SCH313 | 2(1-3) | |
| Physical Chemistry II | SCH303 | 4(3-3) | Plant and Animal Physiology I | SCH314 | 2(2-0) | |
| General Microbiology | SCH311 | 3(3-0) | Plant and Animal Physiology II | SCH315 | 2(2-0) | |
| Cytology | SCH312 | 2(2-0) | Food Microbiology I | SCH316 | 3(3-0) | |
| Instrument Methods of Chemical Analysis | SCH317 | 4(3-2) | ||||
| YEAR FIUR | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 26 hours/ week | Code | 20 Credits | 17 hours/week | Code | 16 Credits |
| Enzyme Kinetics & Metabolic Control | SCH417 | 3(3-0) | Food Chemistry I | SCH409 | 3(3-0) |
| Bioenergetics | SCH418 | 3(3-0) | Carbohydrate & Protein Technology | SCH424 | 3(3-0) |
| Biochemical Genetics | SCH419 | 3(3-0) | DNA | SCH425 | 2(2-0) |
| Fermentation Technology | SCH420 | 3(2-3) | Bioinorganic Chemistry | SCH426 | 2(2-0) |
| Enzyme Biotechnology | SCH421 | 3(2-3) | General Toxicology | SCH427 | 2(2-0) |
| Nutrition | SCH422 | 3(2-3) | Seminar in Biochemistry | SCH428 | 2(2-0) |
| Biochemistry of Immunology | SCH423 | 2(2-0) | Special Problems in Biochemistry | SCH429 | 2(1-2) |
| or Thesis | SCH416 | 16 Credits | |||
Bachelor of Science in Food Technology
| YEAR TWO | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 30 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 30 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits |
| English Language III* | 2(6-0) | English Language IV* | 2(6-0) | ||
| Nutrition I | SCH215 | 3(2-2) | Nutrition II | SCH219 | 3(2-2) |
| General Chemistry II | SCH216 | 5(4-3) | Food Technology I | SCH220 | 3(2-2) |
| General Biology | SCH217 | 4(3-3) | General Microbiology | SCH311 | 3(2-3) |
| Organic Chemistry I | SCH201 | 4(4-0) | Organic Chemistry II | SCH208 | 4(4-0) |
| Statistics I | SCH218 | 3(3-0) | Statistics II | SCH221 | 4(3-1) |
| YEAR THREE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 31 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 28 hours/week | Code | 19 Credits |
| English Language V* | 2(6-0) | English Language VI* | 2(6-0) | ||
| Food Technology II | SCH318 | 3(2-2) | Food Engineering Principles | SCH324 | 3(2-2) |
| Food Microbiology I | SCH316 | 3(2-2) | Food Microbiology II | SCH325 | 3(2-2) |
| Environmental Microbiology | SCH319 | 3(2-2) | Food Chemistry I | SCH326 | 3(2-2) |
| Introduction to Food Process Engineering | SCH320 | 3(2-2) | Cereal Technology | SCH327 | 2(1-2) |
| Organic Lab. II | SCH321 | 1(0-3) | Carbohydrate Technology | SCH328 | 2(2-0) |
| Quality Assurance | SCH322 | 3(2-2) | Protein Technology | SCH329 | 2(2-0) |
| Food Technology Project Proposal | SCH323 | 2(2-0) | Biochemistry of Flavors & Aromas | SCH330 | 2(2-1) |
| YEAR FOUR | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Semester Two | ||||
| 25 hours/week | Code | 20 Credits | 19 hours/week | Code | 16 Credits |
| Fermentation Technology | SCH430 | 4(3-3) | Industrial Microbiology | SCH436 | 3(2-3) |
| Food Laws and Regulations | SCH431 | 3(3-0) | Food Toxicology | SCH437 | 3(3-0) |
| Sensory Evaluation | SCG432 | 3(2-2) | Food Biotechnology | SCH438 | 3(3-0) |
| Food Packaging Technology | SCH433 | 3(2-2) | Food Chemistry III | SCH439 | 3(2-2) |
| Food Chemistry II | SCH434 | 3(2-2) | Food Technology Project | SCH435 | 4(0-4) |
| Food Technology Project | SCH435 | 4(0-4) | |||
Course Description
GENERAL EDUCATION
ENG001-ENG410 English Language III- VI
Years II-III, Semesters I & II
English Language Support Unit
As most textbooks and research books in Cambodia are written in English or French, foreign language acquisition is essential for professors and students alike. The development of students’ knowledge base and research skills across all disciplines at the Royal University of Phnom Penh is an outstanding goal of this foreign language program.
COMMON SUBJECTS: YEAR II
SCH201 Organic Chemistry I
Mr. Long Lay
Year II, Semester I Students learn about the structure and properties of organic compounds, bonding and molecular structure, chemical reactivity, conformation, and stereochemistry. They study homology, nomenclature, preparation and the properties of hydrocarbons.
SCH202 Analytical Chemistry I
Mr. Mey Sovuthy, Ms. Ith Putheary
Year II, Semester I
Reviews and introduces new concepts in stoichiometry, aqueous solutions, chemical equilibrium, gravimetric methods of chemical analysis, acid-based titration, complexation titration, oxidation-reduction titration, and gravimetry.
SCH203 Analytical Chemistry Lab. I
Mr. Mey Sovuthy, Ms. Ith Putheary
Year II, Semester I
Students gain a working understanding of titrimetry (acid-base), gravimetry (precipitation),
oxio-reduction, titration, and complexation titration.
SCH204 Quantum Chemistry
Mr. Kin Sovann
Year II, Semester I
Quantum Theory allows us to understand and predict the role of electrons in Chemistry. Students learn how this important theory developed from basic physics to explain some of the most fundamental questions in chemistry related to the number, energy and position of electrons in atoms.
SCH205 Elementary Statistics
Mr. Bun Chantha
Year II, Semester I
Students are introduced to such concepts as frequency distribution graphs, averages, variability, standard scores and the normal curve, linear regression, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and other correlation techniques, sampling, probability and distributions, testing hypotheses, covering population parameters, single and bivariate, chi-square and distribution free statistical tests.
SCH206 Inorganic Chemistry I
Mr. Huch Huot
Year II, Semester I
Students learn about the electronic structure of atoms, elementary molecular orbital theory, and the chemistry of S and P block elements.
SCH207 Inorganic Chemistry Lab.
Mr. Huch Huot, Mr. Chuon Sovanna
Year II, Semester I
Students learn about the packing of atoms or ions in crystals, preparation and properties of S, P-block elements and transitional elements, and the uses of inorganic compounds.
SCH208 Organic Chemistry II
Mr. Long Lay
Year II, Semester II
Students examine aromatic compounds, aromatic substitutions, properties of aliphatic compounds including spectroscopy, alcohols and thiols, ether epoxides, glycols, thioether, carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, carbanion-enolates, amines, and phenolic compounds.
SCH209 Analytical Chemistry II
Mr. Mey Sovuthy, Ms. Ith Putheary
Year II, Semester II
Students examine strategies for qualitative analysis and learn about chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibrium, additional aspects of equilibrium, and chemical kinetics.
SCH210 Analytical Chemistry Lab. II
Mr. Mey Sovuthy
Year II, Semester II
Students gain a working knowledge of separation and identification of ions, in the silver group, copper-arsenic group, aluminum-nickel group, barium group and sodium-potassium-magnesium group.
SCH211 Physical Chemistry I
Mr. Chey Thavy
Year II, Semester II
Students learn about the treatment of thermodynamics in chemical systems, enthalpy, entropy, free energy changes in chemical reactions and applications of thermodynamics in various chemical systems.
SCH212 General Biology
Mr. Thav Sokunthea
Year II, Semester I
Students gain a basic knowledge of a wide range of biological fields of study, and become aware of the relevance and importance of biology to life in Cambodia and the world. The course begins with the biology of cells and traces premises about the origins of life, from early theories to the modern. The course then continues with the biology of organisms and ecosystems, their relationships to one another, behaviors and how they change, and organisms that are useful and harmful. The course includes laboratory exercises that relate to the theory.
SCH213 Inorganic Chemistry II
Mr. Huch Huot
Year II, Semester II
This course introduces students to transitional elements, chemical symmetry, states of atoms, aqueous chemistry of the first transition series and Pi-acid ligand complexes.
SCH214 Organic Chemistry Lab. I
Mr. Long Lay
Year II, Semester II
Students practice fundamental techniques used in organic chemistry to classify the properties of organic compounds by chemical methods.
Staff
Activities
Date: September 4, 2025
Type: Training
Uploaded By: Staff
