Admission

To enroll in the graduate program in chemistry, students must follow the admission procedures required by the Graduate School. The department also requires:

• A baccalaureate degree in chemistry;
• A grade point average of at least 3.000/4.000 (both overall and in chemistry);
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic background;
• A one-page typed statement of goals and research interests; and
• Submission of test scores from the general GRE exam is not required, but is preferred. The department reserves the right to ask a candidate for submission of GRE scores if necessary to afford an affirmative review of the applicant. The department strongly recommends test scores from the chemistry subject GRE as well.
• International students must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based, or 79 internet-based, or an overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a score of 58 on the PTE-Academic.

Applicants whose transcripts do not explicitly list the chemistry courses which they have taken must submit an official description of the courses which comprise their chemistry degree. Students deficient in any of the requirements may be admitted conditionally provided they follow the specified procedures required to remove any deficiencies.

Applications are reviewed as completed throughout the year, however, all application materials required by the department must be submitted by April 1st for consideration for the following fall semester, and September 1st for consideration for the following spring semester.

Assessment Exam Requirements for the MS Degree

All entering Master of Science students are required to take assessment exams in analytical, inorganic, organic, physical chemistry and biochemistry at the beginning of their first semester in the program. Students must receive a pass or remove deficiencies in four of the subject areas listed above within the first year in the program. Deficiencies may be removed by enrolling in an appropriate course designated by the graduate affairs committee and passing with a B or better grade. Assessment exams are given two times a year — fall and spring.

Program Requirements

All MS students are required to satisfactorily complete the Professional and Scholarly Integrity Training by the end of their first year in the program.

The MS degree in chemistry requires the completion of 30 credit hours, including the presentation of a thesis based on original research.

Thesis

The thesis is reviewed by a committee from the department, and an oral examination given by a faculty committee appointed by the Graduate School must be passed.

Students must select a faculty member to be their research advisor by the beginning of their second semester in the graduate program.

Applied Learning

Students in the master's degree program in chemistry are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from this program. This requirement can by met by successfully completing the thesis.