This program is designed for students preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, environmental studies, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, patent law, forensic science, or secondary science education.^†

The BA - Chemistry program is organized into four alternative areas of concentration.  Students may choose to follow the Standard BA-Chemistry Concentration or - in consultation with an advisor - choose a specific area of emphasis: the Biochemistry Concentration, the Environmental Chemistry Concentration, or the Forensic Chemistry Concentration.  Each of the four options is described below.

^† Students interested in secondary teacher certification should contact the College of Education at 348-3215.

Lower Division Preparation for All Areas of Concentration

Common Prerequisites

*For the Bachelor of Arts degree, PHY 2053 and PHY 2054 may be substituted for PHY 2048 and PHY 2049.

Other Lower Division Courses Required for the Degree:

To qualify for acceptance into the upper division, FIU undergraduates must have met all the lower division requirements including CLAST, completed 60 semester hours, and must be otherwise acceptable to the program.

  Upper Division Program: (60 total hours, 48 hours must be 3000 level and above)

Upper Division Courses Required for All Concentrations

Students are required to take a nationally-normed chemistry examination in their last semester before graduation.

Specific Courses by Concentration

Standard BA-Chemistry Concentration

1.  Choose from List 1 (Cognate Area Courses):  Any one course.*

*Premed students should choose BSC1011/1011L.

2.  Choose from List 2 (Restricted Electives):  Any two courses, one of which must include its corresponding lab.

3.  One senior level chemistry elective (CHM4XXX/CHM5XXX)**

     **CHM4910L or CHM4911L may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

Biochemistry Concentration

     This concentration is intended for students who desire a comprehensive background in chemistry but with emphasis in biological chemistry.  The curriculum is designed to contain all of the courses necessary for entry into medical and dental school.

1.  Choose from List 1 (Cognate Area Courses):

     BSC 1011/BSC1011L

2.  Choose from List 2 (Restricted Electives):

     CHM4300 &  CHM4230L or CHM4307& CHM4307L and one other lecture course

3.  One senior level chemistry elective (CHM4XXX/CHM5XXX)** which is biomedically related.

**CHM4910L or CHM4911L may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

Environmental Chemistry Concentration

This concentration is intended for students who desire a comprehensive background in chemistry but with an interest in applying their expertise in chemistry to environmentally-related careers and issues.

1.  Choose from List 1 (Cognate Area Courses):

     An environmentally-related course.

2.  Choose from List 2 (Restricted Electives):

     CHM4130/4130L and one other lecture course.

3.  One senior level chemistry elective (CHM4XXX/CHM5XXX)** which is environmentally-related.

**CHM4910L or CHM4911L may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

NOTE:  To earn a Certificate in Environmental Studies (offered by the Department of Environmental Studies), satisfy the College's requirement of 9 credits outside the major by taking the appropriate environmental studies courses.

Forensic Chemistry Concentration

This concentration is intended for students who desire a comprehensive background in chemistry but with an interest in applying their expertise in chemistry to a career in forensic science or criminalistics.

1.  Choose from List 1 (Cognate Area Courses):

     CCJ 3024

2.  Choose from List 2 (Restricted Electives):

     CHM4130/4130L and one other lecture course.

3.  One senior level chemistry elective (CHM4XXX/CHM5XXX or CHS4XXX/CHS5XXX)** with forensic emphasis.

**CHM4910L or CHM4911L may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

4.  For a Forensic Science Certificate, CHS4591 (Forensic Internship) is also required.

  List 1 – Cognate Area Courses

List 2 – Restricted Electives

 *CHM3410 is a prerequisite for CHM3411

Pre-Medical, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry, Pharmacy Curricula

Students who have satisfied the requirements for either the BA or the BS degree in chemistry will also have satisfied the course requirements for admission to professional schools in the above areas. The BA-Chemistry degree (Biochemistry Concentration) includes additional course work relevant to the career objectives of the student. Interested students should consult the Pre-medical advisor, Dr. Roller, at 305-348-7289.