Easing the Transition from Organic Chemistry I to II: A January-Term Bridge Course

A bridge course intended to ease the transition from Organic Chemistry I to II was designed for a January term that spans 2 weeks and features sharply focused topics courses. In the first week, key topics from Organic Chemistry I are revisited to ensure that students have a firm foundation on which to build. During the second week, a selection of Organic Chemistry II material is introduced. The course focuses heavily on interactive problem solving and utilizes an open-access text as well as YouTube videos. Students taking the bridge course were tracked through the second semester against a comparison group with similar Organic Chemistry I grades. Results suggest that the bridge course may lead to better outcomes in Organic Chemistry II.