The class is split into two parts, a lecture portion and a lab portion. The lecture section holds approximately 50 students and utilizes the chalk-board, multimedia, models, and demonstrations for understanding of key conceptual and mathematical processes. The lab section holds approximately 22 students and allows the student to physically conduct experiments within the key topics presented in lecture.

Key topics discussed in CHEM1400 include matter, stoichiometry or reactions, gas laws, thermochemistry, quantum theory, atomic structure, electronic configurations, bonding and intermolecular forces.

The lecture section of the course is evaluated with three mid-semester exams, 10 homework quizzes and one cumulative final exam. Each mid-semster exam and homework quizzes counts for 175 points each. The cumulative final exam counts for 225 points, for a total of 750 points from the lecture portion of the course. The student is allowed to replace their lowest mid-semester exam with their cumulative final exam grade only if their final exam grade is higher than their lowest mid-semester exam grade. The lab section of the course is evaluated with weekly attendance, pre-lab report, pre-lab quiz, and full lab report for a total of 250 points. The grade in the class is the sum of both the lecture and lab points divided by 1000 points.