Chemistry, Bachelor of Science

Degree:Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major:Chemistry
Specializations:Chemistry
Chemistry/Biochemistry
Certificate:Chemistry for Laboratory Health Sciences
Department:Chemistry
Building 58C, Room 204
850-474-2739
http://uwf.edu/chemistry
College:Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
CIP Code:40.0501
Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120

The B.S. specializations in Chemistry and Chemistry/Biochemistry have been approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and consist of courses designed to offer training in the fundamentals of chemistry. Opportunities exist for the student to take courses to prepare for a wide variety of careers in chemistry and related fields. The B.S. program is recommended for students wishing to enter graduate programs in chemistry or to find employment as professional chemists.

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach this subject area in secondary education need to contact an advisor in this department to carefully plan the course work to satisfy degree and some teacher certification requirements. A degree in this major is required for participation in teacher education certification options.

Program Requirements

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.S. in Chemistry must meet the requirements listed below.

Students should consult with their academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Education requirements and common prerequisites.

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all common prerequisites. No grade below a “C-” in a major course may be applied toward graduation.

Chemistry B.S. and Chemistry/Biochemistry B.S. specialization majors must complete the following for ACS certification:

PHY 2048Calculus-Based Physics I3
PHY 2049Calculus-Based Physics II3
BCH 3033+LBiochemistry I (+Lab)4

Chemistry/Biochemistry, B.S. Specialization majors must also take the following for ACS certification:

One of the following:4
Genetics (+Lab)
Microbiology (+Lab)
Plus one additional course in biochemistry3

B.S. Chemistry Specialization 

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum:

Multicultural Requirement

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Students Included in Cohort Civic Literacy Competency Requirement
Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 None
Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 Complete a course or exam
Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter Complete both a course and exam

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006s.1007.25(4,a-b)

Common Prerequisites

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.

CHM 2045+LGeneral Chemistry I (+Lab) *4
CHM 2046+LGeneral Chemistry II (+Lab) *4
MAC 2311Analytic Geometry and Calculus I *4
MAC 2312Analytic Geometry and Calculus II *4
CHM 2210+LOrganic Chemistry I (+Lab)4
CHM 2211+LOrganic Chemistry II (+Lab)4
PHY 2048+LCalculus-Based Physics I (+Lab) *4
PHY 2049+LCalculus-Based Physics II (+Lab) *4
Total Hours32
*

Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement.5-7
Total Hours5-7

Major

CHM 3120+LAnalytical Chemistry (+Lab) +4
CHM 3230Organic Chemistry III +3
CHM 3410Physical Chemistry I +5
CHM 3411Physical Chemistry II +4
CHM 3740LAdvanced Laboratory Techniques +2
CHM 3741LPhysical Chemistry Laboratory +2
CHM 4130+LInstrumental Analysis (+Lab) +4
CHM 4610LInorganic Synthesis +1
CHM 4611Inorganic Chemistry +4
CHM 4931Seminars in Chemistry +3
Choose 10-11 sh (with approval from departmental advisor):10-11
Biochemistry I (+Lab)
Introduction to Polymer Science (+Lab) +
Undergraduate Chemistry Research +
Chemistry Internship * +
Seminar: Special Topics in Advanced Chemistry * +
Total Hours42-43
*

Courses offered for a variable number of semester hours.

+

 Courses included in the major GPA

Honors Research Track

CHM 2XXX Research Experience2
CHM 4931Seminars in Chemistry +3
CHM 3740LAdvanced Laboratory Techniques +2
CHM 3410Physical Chemistry I +5
CHM 3230Organic Chemistry III +3
CHM 3411Physical Chemistry II +4
CHM 3741LPhysical Chemistry Laboratory +2
CHM 3120+LAnalytical Chemistry (+Lab) +4
CHM 4130+LInstrumental Analysis (+Lab) +4
Chemistry Elective3-4
CHM 4611Inorganic Chemistry +4
CHM 4610LInorganic Synthesis +1
CHM 4912Undergraduate Chemistry Research +8

This specialization is only for students in the Honors Program, and requires completion of an Honors thesis.

Upper Division Electives

Student must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater.17-18
Total Hours17-18

B.S. Chemistry/Biochemistry Specialization

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum:

Multicultural Requirement

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Students Included in Cohort Civic Literacy Competency Requirement
Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 None
Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 Complete a course or exam
Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter Complete both a course and exam

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006s.1007.25(4,a-b)

Common Prerequisites

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.

CHM 2045+LGeneral Chemistry I (+Lab) *4
CHM 2046+LGeneral Chemistry II (+Lab) *4
MAC 2311Analytic Geometry and Calculus I *4
MAC 2312Analytic Geometry and Calculus II *4
CHM 2210+LOrganic Chemistry I (+Lab)4
CHM 2211+LOrganic Chemistry II (+Lab)4
PHY 2048+LCalculus-Based Physics I (+Lab) *4
PHY 2049+LCalculus-Based Physics II (+Lab) *4
Total Hours32
*

Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. Majors should complete the Physics or Organic Chemistry sequence not completed in the Common Prerequisites.0-5
Total Hours0-5

Major

CHM 3120+LAnalytical Chemistry (+Lab) +4
CHM 3230Organic Chemistry III +3
CHM 3410Physical Chemistry I +5
CHM 3411Physical Chemistry II +4
CHM 3740LAdvanced Laboratory Techniques +2
CHM 3741LPhysical Chemistry Laboratory +2
CHM 4931Seminars in Chemistry +3
CHM 4610LInorganic Synthesis +1
CHM 4611Inorganic Chemistry +4
Choose two of the following (advisor approved):8
Biochemistry I (+Lab)
Biochemistry II
Microbiology (+Lab)
Genetics (+Lab)
Molecular Biology
Choose 3-4 from the following (advisor approved):6-8
Instrumental Analysis (+Lab) +
Introduction to Polymer Science (+Lab) +
Chemistry Internship +
Undergraduate Chemistry Research +
Seminar: Special Topics in Advanced Chemistry +
Total Hours42-44
+

 Courses included in the major GPA

Major Related

BSC 2010+LBiology I (+Lab)4
BSC 2011+LBiology II (+Lab)4
Total Hours8

Upper Division Electives

Student must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater.15-17
Total Hours15-17

Chemistry for Laboratory Health Sciences Certificate

This certificate program focuses on elements of introductory general chemistry courses and organic chemistry. In this certificate, students will develop knowledge and problem-solving skills to prepare them for advanced studies in Laboratory Health Sciences. Students must complete prerequisites in mathematics for the courses in this program. 

CHM 2030General Chemistry 1 for Laboratory Health Sciences3
CHM 2031General Chemistry 2 for Laboratory Health Sciences3
CHM 2202Organic Chemistry for Laboratory Health Sciences3
Total Hours9