M.S. in Chemistry

Admission Requirements

The student must meet all criteria for admission to the Graduate School.

In addition, each applicant must have a GPA of at least 3.0 for all upper-division credits taken in the previous degree program (a B.S. or B.A. in Chemistry or Biochemistry).

Several courses are prerequisite for the M.S. degree programs; any student who has not yet met these requirements must take them as part of their M.S. program. These are:

  1. one semester of calculus
  2. one year of physics
  3. one semester of inorganic chemistry
  4. one year of organic chemistry
  5. one semester of analytical chemistry
  6. one year of physical chemistry

Many of these requirements must be completed prior to enrolling in specific MS-level courses. Credits earned in these undergraduate courses do not count toward the 30 credit requirement for the M.S. degree.

Application Process

All applications for Fall admission to Chemistry must be submitted by April 1, and should include the following components, uploaded within the application form:

  1. Unofficial/Official transcripts describing all post-secondary work. All official transcripts will be required if admitted.
  2. A letter of intent describing your reasons for choosing our program, and how your personal strengths and goals align with your expectations of the program.
  3. Three letters of recommendation, submitted through the application system, from professionals in the sciences or mathematics attesting to your potential to succeed in a graduate chemistry program.

General Requirements

The M.S. programs include both thesis and non-thesis degree options, each of which requires a total of 30 graduate credits including 15 credits in 6600-level chemistry or chemistry-related courses, with specifics depending on the degree program. These credits are drawn primarily from among four core classes, CHEM 6609, CHEM 6630, CHEM 6655, and CHEM 6671, and all MS students are required to take 2 credits of seminar, CHEM 6601. Each program of study must be approved by the student's committee, the Chemistry Department, and the Graduate School.

Thesis Option

The thesis option emphasizes original research in a specific field and requires a substantial, original research project that culminates in a thesis and defense. Timely completion of this degree typically involves summer research in addition to the formal coursework outlined below. At least one of the core advanced courses is required, but others may, with committee approval, be replaced by other electives more relevant to a specific student's field of study. A minimum total of 30 graduate credits is required, and a suggested schedule that maintains full-time status is outlined below:

CHEM 6601Seminar2
One of the following: 3
CHEM 6609
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 6630
Advanced Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 6655
Advanced Physical Chemistry
CHEM 6671
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Requirements to Include the Following (19 credit minimum):19
CHEM 6650
Thesis (6-10 credits)
CHEM 55XX/66XX electives (9-13 credits) **
Two approved 66xx Lecture Electives (including the following) *6
CHEM 6609
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
or CHEM 6630
 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
or CHEM 6655
 Advanced Physical Chemistry
or CHEM 6671
 Advanced Organic Chemistry
Total Credits30
*

Or approved courses from other departments on a case by case basis by committee approval. 

**

No more than 12 credits of CHEM 5581/5582/6635 can count toward this total. Substitutions from other departments by committee approval.

Non-Thesis Option

The non-thesis option emphasizes accumulation of broad chemical knowledge through coursework encompassing all fields of the discipline. Students may count no thesis credits and limited research credits toward this degree, and must complete a multi-part written exam and subsequent oral defense at the conclusion of the program. A minimum total of 30 graduate credits is required.

CHEM 6601Seminar2
3 courses from the option below: 9
CHEM 6609
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 1
CHEM 6630
Advanced Analytical Chemistry 1
CHEM 6655
Advanced Physical Chemistry 1
CHEM 6671
Advanced Organic Chemistry 1
Approved 66xx Electives4
Course not taken above qualifies: ***
CHEM 6609
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
or CHEM 6630
 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
or CHEM 6655
 Advanced Physical Chemistry
or CHEM 6671
 Advanced Organic Chemistry
or CHEM 6635
 Masters Research
Approved CHEM 55xx/ 66xx Electives ****15
Total Credits30
***

With the committee approval,  courses may be replaced by another 6600-level coursework elective.

****

No CHEM 6650 credits, and no more than 4 credits total among CHEM 5581/5582/6635 can count toward total elective requirements. Substitutions from other departments by committee approval.