Chemistry, MS

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The Department of Chemistry offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option leading to the Master of Science degree in Chemistry. The thesis option is designed to provide students with advanced course work and experience in chemical research. This option is desirable for students to engage in chemical research or continue graduate studies toward the Ph.D. degree.

Admissions: All candidates for admission to the chemistry department for the M.S. degree must possess a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from an accredited institution of higher learning. They must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better over the junior and senior years of undergraduate study. Applicants must also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Admission Requirements

A candidate must meet the university-level admission requirements for graduate school.

Course Requirements:

All students pursuing the M.S. Degree in Chemistry are required to complete a minimum of thirty-one (31) semester hours. Each student must complete sixteen semester hours of core courses as listed below:

Core Courses

Students following the thesis track must complete, in addition to the core courses,

Three (3) hours of elective courses
Twelve (12) hours of thesis research. Upon consultation with the major professor up to six (6) of these hours may be substituted with elective courses.
A successful oral presentation and defense of an acceptable thesis based on original laboratory research.
Students following the non-thesis option must complete, in addition to the core courses, nine (9) hours of electives and an approved project for three (3) semester hours. A written report, acceptable to the department, should be submitted at the end of the project.

All students must satisfy the following additional requirements:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Achieve a passing grade (70%) on a written comprehensive examination.

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