Admission requirements

Students seeking admission to the Master of Science program in Chemistry must meet all of the requirements for admission to Graduate Studies. The Chemistry Department requirements are as follow:

1. A bachelor's degree,

2. A major or minor in Chemistry or commensurate industrial experience,

3. A grade point average of 2.5 in undergraduate Chemistry courses,

4. An official transcript,

5. Three letters of recommendation.

Degree requirements

Master of Science, Plan I, II or III, requires a fundamental core of four graduate courses from different areas of Chemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Physical, Inorganic, or Organic) and at least one semester of research (CHM 698). Other requirements are indicated below. A minor consisting of four courses totaling a minimum of twelve semester hours is required in a field that logically supports the major (Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology) for the Master of Science, Plans I and III.

Master of Science, Plan I
	12	semester hours of Chemistry (from 4 areas)
	6	semester hours of thesis
	12	semester hours in a minor field

Master of Science, Plan II

12 semester hours of Chemistry (from 4 areas)

6 semester hours of thesis

12 semester hours of graduate Chemistry electives

When it is deemed appropriate by the Advisory Committee, twelve additional semester hours of course work in Chemistry may be substituted for six semester hours of thesis. This will result in a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit for those students.

Master of Science, Plan III
		24	semester hours of Chemistry (from 4 fields)
		12	semester hours in a minor field
		12	semester hours (undergraduate) in French or German

Master of Education, Plan II: This nonthesis degree program is designed to provide additional study in a teaching field for the professional secondary school teacher and is initiated in the College of Education and Applied Science. The degree requires 36 hours of graduate credit as described below:

18 semester hours of undergraduate credit in Chemistry

12-18 semester hours of graduate credit in Chemistry

12-18 semester hours of professional education courses

Other specific requirements

Advisory Committee: The student will begin a thesis research project in the second semester of graduate work. The student and the thesis director will select two additional faculty members to serve as the thesis committee. This committee will judge the student's thesis defense.

Period of Study: Students taking nine semester hours of course work each long semester and three semester hours each summer session will be expected to finish their graduate program within two years. A minimum of three long semesters and two summer sessions are required.

Comprehensive exam and oral thesis defense: In order to receive the MS degree, all graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive exam based on their course work. The nature of this exam, which may be written and/or oral, will be determined by the faculty in consultation with the student's thesis director. An oral presentation of the thesis to the faculty in a seminar format is required, and the thesis must be defended before the student's thesis committee.