Ever wonder who creates the medicines that heal us, the materials that power new technologies, and the personal-care products we use every day?
Chemists are the innovators behind these discoveries. In Florida Southern College's American Chemical Society-approved Chemistry program, you'll gain hands-on experience, uncover how matter works at the molecular level, and learn to solve meaningful problems that impact health, sustainability, and society.
The study of matter — and how it is created, changed, and manipulated — makes chemistry one of the most fascinating and fast-paced majors at Florida Southern College.
FSC's Chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the gold standard in undergraduate chemistry education. Your degree covers the five traditional disciplines of chemistry and explores their connections to the phenomena, materials, and products around us. You can deepen your knowledge through concentrations in Environmental or Forensic Chemistry, preparing you for a specialized career in one of these fields. Rigorous science and mathematics training combine with extensive research opportunities to provide exceptional preparation for careers in traditional chemistry, cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields, graduate school, and professional programs including medical, dental, and pharmacy school.
At Florida Southern, you don't just study chemistry. You practice it, with faculty mentors, professional instruments, and research that takes you from campus labs to national conferences.
FSC's Chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society, the gold standard in undergraduate chemistry education. You'll graduate as a skilled scientist, communicator, and critical thinker.
Choose from Environmental Chemistry or Forensic Chemistry to deepen your expertise and prepare for a specialized career in environmental consulting, crime labs, or regulatory science.
Every chemistry student does original research with a faculty mentor, and many go on to publish, present, or research at places like Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Chemistry graduates have gone on to medical, dental, pharmacy, and graduate programs at Duke, Penn, Notre Dame, Auburn, and the University of Miami.
In both the classroom and the laboratory, FSC Chemistry students participate in engaged learning activities including guided inquiry experiments, course-based research projects, active learning exercises, computational exercises, collaborative problem solving, team-based laboratory projects, experimental design, and literature searches using discipline-specific databases. All chemistry majors gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art instrumentation. All students are required to conduct at least a year of research, which is regularly presented at local, regional, and national chemistry conferences.
All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:
Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy. Submit:
If transferring fewer than 24 credits, also include your official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores.
Learn More about transfer admissionsFSC’s Chemistry curriculum covers the five core chemistry disciplines—organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry—plus mathematics and physics. This comprehensive approach ensures the broad scientific foundation required for ACS approval and expected by graduate and professional programs.
All Chemistry students engage in original research, collaborating one-on-one with a faculty mentor to design and carry out a project in their chosen field. Students present their findings at conferences and frequently publish as co-authors in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Pharmacy Studies Chemistry majors are exceptionally well prepared to pursue careers in medicine, including MD/Ph.D. programs. The rigorous training in science and mathematics, combined with FSC's broad liberal arts curriculum, provides an excellent background for professional school. All pre-professional students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor, pre-health career coordinators, and Associate Director for Health Professions coordinator to ensure they meet requirements for admission.
Pre-Engineering Students interested in pre-engineering should consult FSC's pre-engineering coordinator for specific prerequisites and requirements.
The BS and BA in Chemistry are 124-credit-hour degrees. The Chemistry core provides a rigorous foundation across all five subdisciplines, and upper level courses ranging from Medicinal Chemistry, Metabolism, and Instrumental Analysis. Students specialize in specific areas by concentrating in interdisciplinary coursework in Environmental or Forensic Chemistry.
Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all 1000- and 2000-level courses required for the major for both the BA and BS degrees.
Special Requirements: Due to the similarities in the programs, students majoring in Chemistry are not permitted to double major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Chemistry Core All Chemistry majors complete foundational coursework spanning the five traditional disciplines — principles of chemistry, organic chemistry (with laboratory), analytical chemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry — alongside a required research sequence that culminates in original senior research or an honors thesis.
For students looking to dive deeply into the science of chemistry, the BS degree offers hands-on experience in synthesis, characterization, biochemistry laboratories and specialized chemistry topics—providing a strong launchpad for graduate school, professional school, and scientific careers. The BA degree, meanwhile, allows for greater academic flexibility, making it easier to pair chemistry with interests like pre-engineering, pre-health, business, law, or other interdisciplinary pursuits.
All chemistry majors conduct at least one full year of novel research with a faculty member that results in a thesis, and sometimes in presentations and publications.
Cognate Requirements Both degrees include two semesters of calculus and two semesters of calculus-based physics, ensuring graduates have the quantitative foundation that graduate programs and professional schools expect.
Optional Concentrations Students who want to specialize may choose either the Environmental Chemistry or Forensic Chemistry concentration in place of the general elective track. Both concentrations replace the general elective requirements with focused coursework — no additional time or hours are required.
The Chemistry Minor is open to students in any major and requires 22 hours, including Principles of Chemistry I and II plus 14 additional hours of CHE courses at the 2000-level or above.
It is a natural complement for students in Biology, Marine Biology, or Environmental Studies who want deeper grounding in chemical principles alongside their primary field of study. Pre-health students majoring outside the sciences will also find the minor strengthens their application profile for medical, dental, and pharmacy programs. And for students interested in forensic science, environmental consulting, or pharmaceutical careers who are not chemistry majors, the minor provides the foundational credentials those fields look for.
Chemistry students at FSC are part of a close-knit scientific community that extends well beyond the classroom. Student organizations host social, educational, and professional programs throughout the year, including scientific outreach events with local elementary and middle school students.
FSC's Chemistry program covers the full breadth of the discipline but if you want to go deeper in a specific direction, two optional concentrations let you tailor your degree toward a focused career path. Whether you are drawn to environmental science or forensic investigation, a concentration adds specialized coursework on top of your chemistry foundation without changing your degree requirement.
Environmental Chemistry provides a strong foundation in analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and method development with specific application to the transport and fate of chemicals in the environment and their potential effects on human health. This concentration prepares graduates for careers in analytical testing, regulatory compliance, environmental consulting, and environmental engineering programs.
Forensic Chemistry provides a strong background in analytical and instrumental analysis and the applications of chemistry to criminalistics, with an emphasis on written communication skills. This concentration prepares graduates for careers in crime labs, the FBI, and the medical examiner's office.
Analytical tools most students don't encounter until graduate school are available to FSC Chemistry students from their first year. You will prepare your own samples, make your own measurements, and operate instruments firsthand — with training and guidance from faculty — building the technical fluency that graduate programs and employers are looking for.
FSC's chemistry laboratories are equipped with:
FSC's partnership with Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), one of the nation's top engineering schools, offers Chemistry students the opportunity to earn dual degrees in both Chemistry and Engineering.
After completing your Chemistry major requirements and pre-engineering coursework at FSC, you will transfer to WUSTL to complete your engineering degree. Students interested in this pathway should consult FSC's pre-engineering coordinator as early as possible to ensure their course sequence stays on track.
FSC's relationships with local and regional companies give Chemistry students numerous opportunities to pursue internships alongside their coursework, building a resume with relevant professional experience before graduation.
Internship placements include Firmenich, one of the world's largest fragrance and flavor companies, and Phoslab Environmental, a locally owned environmental laboratory. Whether your interest is in industry, environmental science, or pharmaceutical research, FSC's Central Florida location provides access to a diverse range of internship opportunities.
A Chemistry degree from FSC opens doors across science, medicine, law, business, and beyond – and 100% of the Class of 2025 Chemistry graduates are employed or in graduate or professional school within six months.
FSC Chemistry graduates have been accepted to top graduate and professional programs at Auburn University, Duke University, Notre Dame, George Washington University, Washington University, and the University of Maryland. FSC's ACS-approved curriculum and mandatory research experience make graduates highly competitive applicants for doctoral programs in chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering.
Chemistry is one of the strongest pre-professional majors available. The rigorous science and mathematics training, combined with FSC's liberal arts curriculum, provides an excellent background for medical, dental, pharmacy, and physical therapy school, including MD/Ph.D. programs for students pursuing research-intensive medical careers.
The Forensic Chemistry concentration prepares graduates for careers in crime labs, with the FBI, and at medical examiner's offices. Graduates combine analytical chemistry expertise with an understanding of criminalistics and strong written communication skills, a profile that forensic science employers actively recruit.
The Environmental Chemistry concentration prepares graduates for careers in analytical testing, regulatory compliance, environmental consulting, and environmental engineering programs. As environmental regulations grow more complex, chemists with specialized environmental training are in increasing demand across government, industry, and consulting firms.
A Chemistry degree is not limited to laboratory careers. FSC Chemistry graduates have leveraged their technical knowledge to build careers in business management, entrepreneurship, intellectual property law, science policy, and science communication.
"As a chemistry major, I'm lucky to be under the tutelage of a research scientist at the Critical Materials Institute in Iowa. I'm working on a project that deals with the recycling and recovery of rare and important earth metals which are present in everyday tools like cell phone batteries, hard disk drives, and MRI scanners."
During my sophomore year at FSC, I started conducting research that opened many doors for me, including participation in a summer research program at Duke University.
From in-class engaged learning through application of the content, to on-campus faculty-student research to the Spencer Symposium bringing nationally recognized chemists to campus, FSC Chemistry students are always working at the frontier of the discipline. Every experience builds the scientific credibility and professional network that chemistry careers demand.
Meet the educators who will shape the scientist you become.
Department Chair, Professor of Chemistry, QEP Director, PLU National Secretary, Pre-Pharmacy Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the leading professional organization for chemists in the United States. An ACS-approved program meets rigorous standards for curriculum, laboratory experience, faculty qualifications, and student preparation. Graduates of ACS-approved programs are recognized by graduate schools, professional programs, and employers as having received a high-quality, comprehensive chemistry education.
Yes, and one of the strongest. Chemistry provides the foundational scientific training that medical, dental, and pharmacy school curricula are built on, including organic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and quantitative reasoning. FSC Chemistry majors are well prepared for professional school, and the program's ACS approval and mandatory research experience distinguish FSC graduates in a competitive applicant pool.
Both degrees cover the five core disciplines of chemistry and are available with or without a concentration. The BS provides additional science and mathematics depth and is the stronger choice for students planning graduate study or careers as professional scientists. The BA offers greater elective flexibility and suits students combining chemistry with another field such as business, law, pre-engineering, or science communication.
FSC's partnership with Washington University in St. Louis allows Chemistry students to earn dual degrees in both Chemistry and Engineering. After completing Chemistry major requirements and pre-engineering coursework at FSC, students transfer to WUSTL to complete their engineering degree — combining deep scientific knowledge with engineering design skills.
The Forensic Chemistry concentration prepares graduates for careers in crime laboratories, with federal agencies including the FBI, and at medical examiners' and coroners' offices. Graduates combine expertise in analytical and instrumental analysis with an understanding of how chemistry is applied to criminal investigations.
Environmental Chemistry concentration prepares graduates for careers in analytical testing, regulatory compliance, environmental consulting, and environmental engineering. Graduates are equipped to analyze pollutants, assess health risks, and develop solutions to environmental challenges.
Every FSC Chemistry student conducts original research in collaboration with a faculty mentor, most presenting findings at regional and national conferences and some publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
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Read the latest from FSC's Department of Chemistry and Physics, from student research presentations, presentations, and faculty recognition.
At FSC, you are the focus. Our team loves connecting with prospective students to answer questions about the BA, BS, and Minor in Chemistry and explore how the program can be a fit for your goals.
Department Chair, Professor of Chemistry, QEP Director, PLU National Secretary, Pre-Pharmacy Coordinator
From ACS-approved training and graduate-level instrumentation to dual degrees in engineering and research at national laboratories, FSC Chemistry gives you the preparation, the credentials, and the opportunities to go wherever your scientific curiosity takes you.
