Undergraduate Program
CHEMISTRY is central to all sciences in providing the mechanism of life processes, explaining our interactions with the material world, producing materials of importance to the economy and answering fundamental questions about the nature of matter and its transformations. Chemists provide the basic understanding and technology necessary to improve our quality of life, while maintaining the world's delicate environmental balance. Chemistry is key to providing the information, ideas and materials required to meet the needs of our increasingly complex society.
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Our moderately sized department is large enough to provide opportunities for chemistry majors to interact with over a dozen faculty members but still small enough so that faculty have time to mentor our students. Our department is well-suited for students to learn chemistry because:
- Classes are small - general chemistry classes usually contain less than 50 students and upper level classes have much lower enrollments
- Students are taught by world-renowned instructors
- All lecture classes are taught by Ph.D. faculty, not graduate students
- Our program is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Students can enroll in classes to study nanotechnology and environmental chemistry as well as more traditional areas in chemistry
- Graduates are in high demand at Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Exxon Chemical, Proctor and Gamble, Intel, USDA, NASA and the National Institute of Health
In addition, our department offers many degree options so that students can focus on the area of chemistry that suites them best. Degree options include:
Research Chemistry Option
Students receive an ACS-certified degree by following this option. Research chemistry is the best choice for those who wish to pursue an advanced degree after graduation and are interested in a career in chemical research. This option features a full year of undergraduate research during the senior year.
General Chemistry Option
This option is similar to the research option but without senior research, thus allowing greater flexibility for the addition of electives during the senior year. It also provides excellent preparation for professional or graduate schools, or for a career in industry.
Chemical Management Option
This option is designed for the student interested in a business career in the chemical industry. Chemical management provides a complete program in chemistry, supplemented with selected business course work.
Premedical Chemistry Option
This option is designed for the student interested in a solid background in chemistry in preparation for a career in medicine or a related professional field. The curriculum includes all required course work to make the student competitive for admission to medical, dental or veterinary schools. The advisor to this program provides up-to-date information on admission requirements for most of those schools, as well as admission test information.
Biochemistry Option
The course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry is an interdisciplinary program jointly administered by the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. The curriculum has flexibility in that technical electives can be selected to provide a strong emphasis in either chemistry or biology and prepare the biochemistry major for a variety of careers.
Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Option
A dual-degree option is available for students with interest in both chemistry and chemical engineering. This option requires approximately one additional year of study and allows the student to complete bachelor's degrees in both chemistry and chemical engineering.
Our department encourages chemistry majors to perform undergraduate research with professors in their labs. This is a great way for you to gain experience working with instrumentation, learn valuable laboratory skills and find out how chemical research is really done. Check out our faculty research to learn more about the projects that our faculty are studying. Important aspects of our undergraduate research program include:
- Undergraduate research opportunities can begin in the freshman year
- Work closely with a faculty mentor
- Use state-of-the-art instrumentation and laboratory facilities
- Present your research results at the ACS regional and national meetings and publish articles in research journals
- Participate in a wide variety of projects, including: Alzheimer's research, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical development, toxicology, environmental chemistry, polymer chemistry and fire safety
In addition to receiving a quality education and gaining research experience, chemistry majors get to know one another through our Chemistry Club, Florida Tech's chapter of the ACS student affiliate.
The following links will provide more information about attending Florida Tech:
Thank you again for taking the time to learn more about our department. Please feel free to contact us so that we can answer any of your questions.
