Central Michigan University is developing a new sophomore- junior level undergraduate inorganic lecture-laboratory course focussing on synthesis and characterization. The availability of the newly acquired automatic polarimeter, Evans magnetic susceptibility balance, and high temperature box furnace make it possible for undergraduates to: study of optical isomerism in transition metal complexes; determine of magnetic moments of complexes; and, the synthesis and characterization of solids. The equipment is also being used by students conducting undergraduate research.