Program Overview

Program Overview

The department offers various graduate degrees with a major in chemistry, including the Master of Science (thesis or non-thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. These degrees are available with specializations in biochemistry, analytical, organic, inorganic, or physical chemistry.

Admission Requirements

New graduate students should have adequate undergraduate training in inorganic, analytical, organic, and physical chemistry. Normally, this includes:

• A year of general chemistry
• One semester of quantitative analysis
• One year of organic chemistry
• One year of physical chemistry
• One semester of advanced inorganic chemistry Additional courses in instrumental analysis, biochemistry, and advanced physical and organic chemistry are desirable. Deficiencies in any of these areas may be corrected during the first year of graduate study.

Degree Requirements

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree in chemistry has both thesis and non-thesis options. Candidates for the master’s degree are required to complete any two core courses.

Master of Science in Teaching

The non-thesis degree Master of Science in Teaching is offered with a major in chemistry and requires a written paper of substantial length (30 to 50 pages) on an approved topic pertaining to some phase of chemistry, under the course CHM 6905 Individual Problems, Advanced (1-5 cr.).

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral candidates are required to complete at least 9 semester credits of courses specified by the division of the Chemistry Department in which they choose to specialize, as well as at least 9 semester credits of out-of-major-division courses. There are some minor restrictions on courses that may be used to meet this requirement. Additional courses may be required by the student’s supervisory committee or major professor. Ph.D. candidates must serve not less than one year as teaching assistants.

Specializations and Options

Chemical Physics Option

A chemical physics option is offered for students who will be doing research in areas of physical chemistry which require a strong background in physics. For this option, a student meets the departmental requirements for concentration in physical chemistry, except that only one out-of-major division course is required. In addition, a minimum of 14 credits in 4000 level or higher physics courses or a minimum of 7 such credits in physics and 7 in 4000 level or higher mathematics courses is required.

Course List

The following courses are offered by the Chemistry Department:

• CHM 5224: Basic Principles for Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 5235: Organic Spectroscopy (3 credits)
• CHM 5275: The Organic Chemistry of Polymers (2 credits)
• CHM 5305: Chemistry of Biological Molecules (3 credits)
• CHM 5416L: Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (2 credits)
• CHM 5511: Physical Chemistry of Polymers (2 credits)
• CHM 6036: Chemical Biology (3 credits)
• CHM 6037: Chemical Biology and Biochemistry Seminar (1 credit)
• CHM 6153: Electrochemical Processes (3 credits)
• CHM 6154: Chemical Separations (3 credits)
• CHM 6155: Spectrochemical Methods (3 credits)
• CHM 6158C: Electronics and Instrumentation (1-4 credits)
• CHM 6159: Mass Spectrometric Methods (3 credits)
• CHM 6165: Chemometrics (3 credits)
• CHM 6180: Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry (1-3 credits)
• CHM 6190: Analytical Chemistry Seminar (1 credit)
• CHM 6225: Advanced Principles of Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHM 6226: Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 6227: Topics in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (2 credits)
• CHM 6251: Organometallic Compounds (3 credits)
• CHM 6271: The Chemistry of High Polymers (2 credits)
• CHM 6301: Enzyme Mechanisms (3 credits)
• CHM 6302: Chemistry and Biology of Nucleic Acids (3 credits)
• CHM 6303: Methods in Computational Biochemistry and Structural Biology (3 credits)
• CHM 6306: Special Topics in Biological Chemistry Mechanisms (3 credits)
• CHM 6381: Special Topics in Organic Chemistry (1-3 credits)
• CHM 6390: Organic Chemistry Seminar Presentation (1 credit)
• CHM 6391: Organic Chemistry Seminar Discussion (1 credit)
• CHM 6430: Chemical Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHM 6461: Statistical Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHM 6470: Chemical Bonding and Spectra I (3 credits)
• CHM 6471: Chemical Bonding and Spectra II (3 credits)
• CHM 6480: Elements of Quantum Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 6490: Theory of Molecular Spectroscopy (3 credits)
• CHM 6580: Special Topics in Physical Chemistry (1-3 credits)
• CHM 6586: Computational Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 6590: Physical Chemistry Seminar (1 credit)
• CHM 6620: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I (3 credits)
• CHM 6621: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (3 credits)
• CHM 6626: Applications of Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 6628: Chemistry of Solid Materials (3 credits)
• CHM 6670: Inorganic Biochemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 6680: Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (1-3 credits)
• CHM 6690: Inorganic Chemistry Seminar (1 credit)
• CHM 6720: Chemical Dynamics (3 credits)
• CHM 6905: Individual Problems, Advanced (1-5 credits)
• CHM 6910: Supervised Research (1-5 credits)
• CHM 6934: Advanced Topics in Chemistry (1 credit)
• CHM 6935: Chemistry Colloquium (1 credit)
• CHM 6943: Internship in College Teaching (2 credits)
• CHM 6971: Research for Master's Thesis (1-15 credits)
• CHM 7485: Special Topics in Theory of Atomic and Molecular Structure (1-3 credits)
• CHM 7979: Advanced Research (1-12 credits)
• CHM 7980: Research for Doctoral Dissertation (1-15 credits)
• CHS 5110: Radiochemistry (2 credits)
• PHA 6435: Biosynthetic Logic of Medicinal Natural Products (3 credits)