The Master's Degree in Chemistry is a two-year program intended primarily for individuals interested in advanced training in chemistry and related disciplines in preparation for doctoral programs or for careers in industry, government, or post-secondary school education. Students are expected to be well grounded in one or more of the program's five areas of specialization: Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. The Chemistry Department currently offers both a thesis and non-thesis option for the Chemistry M.S. degree. The non-thesis option is a seldom-utilized alternative route available for students currently employed full-time and requires department authorization. Basic requirements are the same as the thesis option, however it requires 36 hours of graduate credit and a problem report followed by a public lecture. This program organization ensures that all students develop research, writing and public speaking skills regardless of their area of concentration.
The preferred route requires a thesis with 32 hours of graduate credit, two public lectures, and an oral thesis defense. The Master of Science thesis demonstrates that you are capable of pursuing a program of original and independent research, that you can formulate and carry out a research project, and that you can report on the project in a proper scientific manner. The thesis option prepares students for technical careers in industry, or for further study toward a more advanced degree. This option requires advanced coursework in chemistry, biochemistry, or environmental chemistry and research, with the latter culminating in an M.S. thesis. Shortly after entering the program students select a faculty advisor based on their research interests and agree on a research problem. Under the guidance of their faculty advisor students carry out the research program, select a graduate research committee and write and defend the thesis in a final oral examination. The defense of the thesis will take place when the student, the research advisor, and the graduate research committee agree that a defensible copy of the thesis is complete. The thesis examination is graded on a pass/provisional pass/fail basis. To pass the examination, there can be no more than one unsatisfactory grade from the committee members. A student who fails may submit another thesis or a revised version upon approval of the student's committee. A student may only be re-examined once. A student earning a provisional pass will generally be required to make minor revisions or corrections to the thesis.
Students are required to complete 32 and 36 hours of graduate credit (see below) for the thesis and non-thesis options, respectively. No more than six hours of Special Topics courses may be counted in the minimum hours required by either route; any exceptions require specific Departmental approval. Students whose research is in the area of organic chemistry are required to take these courses: 565, 566, 548 (or 549 if credit was previously received for 548 or its equivalent), 540 or 542 and 522 or 526, and additional courses needed to complete the 32 credit hour minimum. Students whose research is in the area of analytical, inorganic, biochemistry or physical chemistry are required to take at least one graduate course in three of the five traditional areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, biochemistry and physical). Students are limited to 12 hours of research credit. Specific course requirements are to be determined in consultation with one's research advisor.
In addition to the formal curriculum and program requirements, M.S. students in Chemistry are offered many opportunities to familiarize themselves with the wide-range of state-of-the-art instrumentation, work on cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary projects and participate in professional conferences. Because of the Chemistry Department's small size, graduate students are compelled to interact with faculty outside their immediate research area. This provides exciting opportunities for our students to broaden their graduate experience.
Organic Chemistry Option Requirements and Suggested Electives
Courses Required in Major (By Course Number and Title) |
Total Required Hours |
Electives Select from below for total of 32 Cr. (Thesis option) or 36 Cr. (Problem Report Option) |
Elective Hours |
CHM 565 Advanced Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
CHM 530 Polymer Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 566 Advanced Organic Chemistry II |
3 |
CHM 553 - Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 548 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I or CHM 549 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II |
4 or 3 |
CHM 560 Molecular Spectroscopy |
3 |
CHM 540 Thermodynamics or CHM 542 Quantum Mechanics |
3 or 3 |
CHM 562 Nuclear Chemistry and Physics |
3 |
CHM 511 Instrumental Analysis |
4 |
CHM 563 - Nuclear Chemistry and Physics Laboratory |
2 |
CHM 631 Seminar I |
1 |
CHM 604 Theories of Analytical Chemistry |
2 |
CHM 632 Seminar II |
1 |
CHM 607 Theoretical Organic Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 679 Problem Report or CHM 682 Research |
3 or 12 |
CHM 618 Kinetics |
3 |
CHM 639 Advanced Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
Analytical, Inorganic, Physical or Biochemistry Option Requirements and Suggested Electives
Courses Required in Major (By Course Number and Title) |
Total Required Hours |
Electives Select from below for total of 32 Cr. (Thesis option) or 36 Cr. (Problem Report Option) |
Elective Hours |
CHM 631 Seminar I |
1 |
CHM 530 Polymer Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 632 Seminar II |
1 |
CHM 553 - Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 679 Problem Report or CHM 682 Research |
3 or 12 |
CHM 560 Molecular Spectroscopy |
3 |
Select 3 course from the following choices |
CHM 562 Nuclear Chemistry and Physics |
3 | |
CHM 511 Instrumental Analysis |
4 |
CHM 563 - Nuclear Chemistry and Physics Laboratory |
2 |
CHM 565 Advanced Organic Chemistry I or CHM 566 Advanced Organic Chemistry II |
3 or 3 |
CHM 604 Theories of Analytical Chemistry |
2 |
CHM 548 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I or CHM 549 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II |
4 or 3 |
CHM 607 Theoretical Organic Chemistry |
3 |
CHM 540 Thermodynamics or CHM 542 Quantum Mechanics |
3 or 3 |
CHM 618 Kinetics |
3 |
BIC 620 Human Biochemistry |
6 |
CHM 639 Advanced Quantum Mechanics |
3 |
Graduate Assistantship Application Form
This degree program, offered in cooperation with the Departments of Geology,Mathematics,
and Physical Science and Physics, is intended to provide abroadly based
advanced science program for individuals whose undergraduateprogram in science
lacks depth or breadth. Programs will be designed tomeet individual needs.
The writing of a thesis is optional. Specific degreerequirements are listed
in the section: Physical Science and Physics.
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