DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

GRADUATE STUDIES

Master of Science in Chemistry (MS)

Requirements for Admission to the Master of Science Program in Chemistry

Students who wish to be considered for admission to graduate study leading toward the Master of Science degree must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and have completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in chemistry, with an overall grade point average of at least 2.75, or 2.5 with a minimum score of 800 on the Graduate Record Exam Aptitude Test (v+q). In exceptional cases a student with a lower grade point average may be admitted conditionally, and after completion of nine hours of graduate work may be admitted to full standing by that student's advisory committee.  For international students, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for unconditional admission. Applicants with TOEFL scores between 500 and 550 may be admitted on a conditional basis, but their proficiency in English will be further evaluated upon their arrival on campus, and they may be required to undertake additional study of English prior to, or while, beginning graduate work in chemistry. 

Degree Requirements

Each candidate for the degree must complete a minimum of thirty semester hours of graduate credit. At least eighteen hours must be in courses numbered 600. Independent study is promoted by the requirement of six credit hours of thesis research and the resultant thesis. Students with approved industrial or governmental laboratory experience may substitute six hours of course work for the thesis requirement. An environmental chemistry option is available, in which a year-long co-op program with the state environmental chemistry laboratory may be substituted for the thesis requirement. Students completing the co-op receive ten hour credit at the 600-level toward the total of forty graduate credit hours required for this option. 

The graduate coordinator will advise students until a research director is selected. Graduate students may select a research director after interviews with at least four faculty members. The student and his/her research director shall formulate a graduate committee consisting of five faculty members. The suggested committee roster is to be submitted to the dean for approval and formal appointment. The graduate committee may be formed near the end of the first semester. Non-thesis students will be advised throughout their program by the graduate coordinator. 

To enhance confidence and poise, each student is encouraged to participate in the departmental teaching program and is required to present seminars in specialty areas. For students who choose the thesis option, these will consist of one literature and one research seminar. Non-thesis students will be required to present two seminars, one of which is ordinarily a presentation describing the industrial or governmental laboratory experience that is to be substituted for the thesis requirement. 

In addition to the thesis and seminar requirements, all students must complete a core consisting of CHE 511, CHE 519, CHE 527, CHE 581, CHE 601, and CHE 602.  The remainder of the thirty hours may be selected from chemistry elective courses and approved courses in other departments.

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