CHY_BS - Chemistry

About this Program

• College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Degree: Bachelor of Science
• Specializations: Biochemistry | Chemistry
• Credits for Degree: 120
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To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Students can choose the Chemistry specialization, which is comparable to that offered in any major university, or the Biochemistry specialization, which is designed to give more flexibility to students wanting to pursue courses with biological focus. The department encourages students in either specialization to include undergraduate research with one of the department's internationally recognized faculty as a component of the undergraduate experience. Undergraduate research will frequently result in journal publications and presentations at scientific meetings.

Requirements for the Majors

The Chemistry major requires a total of 55-60 credits including 25-30 credits of foundation coursework and 30 credits of major coursework.

The Biochemistry major requires a total of 62-69 credits including 29-34 credits of foundation coursework and 33-35 credits of major coursework.

Required coursework will depend upon the program chosen. Coursework for each specialization can be found below under Critical Tracking and Model Semester Plan.

For either specialization, all required courses must be completed within two attempts with minimum grades of C.

RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK

The chemistry program at the University of Florida is approved by the American Chemistry Society (ACS). Students completing a baccalaureate degree in the standard Chemistry track may enhance their undergraduate experience by completing an ACS-certified degree. The ACS-certified degree is comprised of foundational coursework from each of the five subdisciplines of chemistry (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, physical, and organic), as well as additional in-depth courses and laboratory experiences.

The following coursework and lab experiences are necessary to satisfy the requirements for ACS certification:

• Completion of all coursework for the standard Chemistry track
• CHM 3218 (4 credits)
• CHM 3610L (2 credits)
• An additional 4000-level CHM lecture course (2-3 credits)
• An additional 4000-level CHM laboratory course or CHM 4910 (2-3 credits)

Course Details

Introduction to Chemistry

CHM 1025, a two-credit course, is offered for students who need to strengthen their understanding of basic concepts of atomic structure and stoichiometry before beginning the general chemistry sequence:

A placement exam is offered via ONE.UF and the score achieved determines whether CHM 1025 or CHM 2045 is the appropriate first course in chemistry.

Chemistry

The following chemistry offerings are available:

• CHM 1030/CHM 1031 is a terminal sequence for non-science students that presents chemistry from a medical and nursing perspective.
• CHM 1020 is a terminal General Education course that explores chemistry in terms of society.
• CHM 2045/CHM 2045L and CHM 2046/CHM 2046L is the chemistry sequence and is an acceptable preprofessional requirement for many science and engineering majors. Students are presumed to have good backgrounds in high school chemistry and mathematics (through MAC 1147) and are expected to pass the placement exam offered via ONE.UF before registering for CHM 2045.
• CHM 2095/CHM 2045L and CHM 2096/CHM 2046L is an alternative chemistry sequence especially designed for engineering majors.
• CHM 2047/CHM 2047L is a one-semester program for entering first-year students with strong backgrounds in chemistry, normally reflected by high AP or IB chemistry test scores. This program enables students to move more quickly into advanced work.
• CHM 2051 is offered as an alternative to CHM 2046 for students who have done particularly well in CHM 2045.
• CHM 2054L is a 2-credit, inquiry-based lab focusing on major concepts in chemistry and their application to quantitative life-sciences research. This course is equivalent to CHM 2045L and CHM 2046L or CHM 2047L.

Placement

For placement into the appropriate first course in chemistry, please refer to the Academic Advising section or consult a chemistry advisor. All students should complete their chemistry studies at the same institution.
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Minors and Certificates

UFTeach Program

There is a severe shortage of qualified high school chemistry teachers in Florida and nationwide. Students interested in becoming part of this high-demand profession should see a chemistry advisor about the UFTeach program. UFTeach students complete the UFTeach minor in science teaching with their BS in Chemistry and have the coursework and preparation for professional teacher certification in Florida when they graduate.
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