Analytical, Inorganic, Organic or Physical Chemistry; or Chemical Biology

Applicants seeking a master’s degree in one of these areas will plan a course of study with the assistance of their research advisor and Graduate Advisory Committee. A graduate major must present credit for at least 30 semester hours. A minimum of 12 hours of formal (lecture) courses are required above the proficiency level. The student must maintain a B average in all formal chemistry coursework. The student must write a thesis describing their research and must defend the thesis at an oral examination administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee.

The Department of Chemistry requires completion of two of the five core courses (one of which must be in the student’s area of concentration) with an average grade of B or above. A thesis is required. Each student’s degree plan is determined by consultation with their Thesis Committee, the faculty members of the home division for their concentration, and the departmental Graduate Affairs Committee.

The core courses in each area are as follows:  CHEM 5570  (Analytical Chemistry);  CHEM 5710  (Inorganic Chemistry); CHEM 5500  (Organic Chemistry);  CHEM 5210  (Physical Chemistry); and  CHEM 6540  (Chemical Biology). Other courses may be substituted for these only with approval of the divisional faculty and the Chemistry Graduate Affairs Committee. 

Chemistry Education

Applicants seeking a master’s degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Chemistry Education will plan a course of study with the assistance of their research advisor, the Chemistry Education Division faculty members, and the Graduate Affairs Committee. A graduate major must present credit for at least 30 semester hours, including Research (CHEM 6940 ) and Seminar (CHEM 5940 ); this must also include six credit hours of CHEM 5950 , Master’s Thesis, to be completed at the end of the student’s graduate studies and before the Thesis Defense. A minimum of 12 hours beyond Proficiencies must be formal graduate courses, not including seminar courses. The student must maintain a B average in all formal course work. The student must write a thesis describing their research and must defend the thesis at an oral examination administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee. The Department of Chemistry requires completion of two core courses with an average grade of B or above; one of the core courses must be CHEM 5880 , and the other core course must be in the student’s Area of Specialization in one of the other chemistry formal divisions (Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, or Physical Chemistry). Students pursuing this degree are also required to complete two advanced/special topics courses, one specifically related to Chemistry Education, and the other in Chemistry in the student’s Area of Specialization. The degree requirements are determined by consultation with the Graduate Affairs Committee.

For those seeking a non-thesis master’s degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Chemistry Education, the student must present credit for at least 36 semester hours of formal graduate courses, which may include seminar courses, but which cannot include CHEM 6940  (Individual Research) or CHEM 5950  (Thesis) if no thesis is to be written. For the non-thesis degree, a minimum of 18 hours beyond Proficiencies must be formal graduate courses, not including seminar courses.