Department Information and Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree & Qualifications1 of faculty within Chemistry & Biochemistry

Education and research in the department span many areas within the chemical sciences including materials chemistry, nanotechnology, nonlinear optics, drug design and delivery, and environmental chemistry. The forensic science programs specialize in trace evidence analysis and forensic biochemistry DNA analysis. The B.S. chemistry program is certified by the American Chemical Society. The department has developed an extensive network of partnerships with business and industry. The Ph.D. focuses on materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, and forensic science. The department benefits from close ties with units at UCF including the National Center for Forensic Science, the College of Optics and Photonics, and the Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences.

Degrees offered

The Chemistry Department offers these programs:

  • BS in Biochemistry
  • BA in Chemistry
  • BS in Chemistry
  • Combined BS/MS in Chemistry
  • Combined BS in Chemistry/MS in Forensic Science
  • MS in Chemistry
  • MS in Forensic Science
  • PHD in Biochemistry
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry
  • PHD in Chemistry with a Chemistry Education Track
  • PHD in Chemistry with an Environmental Chemistry Track
  • PHD in Chemistry with a Forensic Science Track
  • PHD in Chemistry with a Radiochemistry Track

Terminal Degree2 for each discipline taught in Chemistry

  • Ph.D. in Chemistry (40.0501)

Related Disciplines3

  • Analytical Chemistry (40.0502) - all courses
  • Biochemistry (26.0202) - all courses
  • Inorganic Chemistry (40.0503) - all courses
  • Organic Chemistry (40.0504) - all courses
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (40.0506) - all courses

Related Disciplines3 for specific courses

  • Molecular Biology (26.0204) - CHS 4533
  • Oceanography, Chemical and Physical (40.0607) - CHM 5150, 6281
  • Physics (40.0801) - ISC 4947
  • Science Teacher Education (13.1316) - CHM 3945, 4702
  • Toxicology (26.1004) - CHM 4130, 4990, 5150, CHS 4430, 5435, 5538, 5539, 5990 

Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications4 for the programs in Chemistry)

Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.

Notes

1Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor's qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor's academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned.

The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor's teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this:

Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline

2The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline

3For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level

4(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.

Current/Effective Date 04/01/2020