Program Overview

Master of Science in Applied Chemical Sciences (MSACS) Degree

The Master of Science in Applied Chemical Sciences (MSACS) degree is a non-thesis master's degree that provides students with a comprehensive education in applied chemical sciences. The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to succeed in a variety of careers in the chemical sciences.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the MSACS degree, students will be able to:

• Apply basic chemical knowledge and analytical skills to problem-solving.
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding of chemical knowledge in one of the three areas of specialization.
• Use statistical analysis to evaluate data.
• Demonstrate written, oral, and visual communication strategies required to communicate effectively across science, business, and government.

Requirements for the MSACS Degree

The MSACS degree requires:

• A minimum of 14 courses (minimum of 39-40.5 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).
• A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of part-time graduate study at Rice University.
• A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit.
• A 3-6 month full-time internship.
• The requirements for one area of specialization (see below for areas of specialization).

Areas of Specialization

The MSACS degree program offers three areas of specialization:

• Bioorganic Chemistry
• Chemistry for the Energy Industry
• Computational Chemistry and Data Science

Bioorganic Chemistry

Students must complete a minimum of 4 courses (minimum of 12-13.5 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy the requirements for the MSACS degree program's Bioorganic Chemistry area of specialization.

• Select a minimum of 4 courses (minimum of 12 credit hours) from the following:
  • CHEM 501: Advanced Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 511: Spectral Methods in Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 542: Medicinal Chemistry I
  • CHEM 547: Supramolecular Chemistry
  • CHEM 548: Peptide Chemistry Design, Synthesis and Structure
  • CHEM 552: Chemical Biology
  • or CHEM 562: Organic Chemistry of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions
  • or BIOS 558: Fundamentals of Quantitative Environmental Health Risk Assessment

Chemistry for the Energy Industry

Students must complete a minimum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) to satisfy the requirements for the MSACS degree program's Chemistry for the Energy Industry area of specialization.

• Select 4 courses from the following:
  • CHBE 505: Advanced Numerical Methods with Engineering Applications
  • CHBE 517: Fundamentals of Materials in Energy and Sustainability
  • CHBE 550: Petroleum Phase Behavior and Flow Assurance
  • CHEM 511: Spectral Methods in Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 520: Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics
  • CHEM 533 / CEVE 533 / MSNE 534: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology I
  • CHEM 547: Supramolecular Chemistry

Computational Chemistry and Data Science

Students must complete a minimum of 4 courses (minimum of 12-13.5 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy the requirements for the MSACS degree program's Computational Chemistry and Data Science area of specialization.

• Select a minimum of 4 courses (minimum of 12 credit hours) from the following:
  • CHBE 505: Advanced Numerical Methods with Engineering Applications
  • CHEM 515: Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics
  • CHEM 523: Advanced Analysis Methods for Molecular Dynamics from Statistical Mechanics to Machine Learning
  • CHEM 537: Biophysical Chemistry
  • CHEM 551: Biomolecular Concepts
  • EEPS 585: Computational and Data Science in the Energy Industry
  • EEPS 587: Sem: Petroleum Geochemistry - Principals and Practice
  • STAT 532: Foundations of Statistical Inference I
  • STAT 533: Foundations of Statistical Inference II
  • STAT 535: Data Science Projects
  • or STAT 630: Statistical Designs for Clinical Trials

Elective Requirements

Select a minimum of 3 courses (minimum of 9 credit hours) from the following approved coursework in management, business, analytics, or communication:

• EEPS 585: Computational and Data Science in the Energy Industry
• EEPS 587: Sem: Petroleum Geochemistry - Principals and Practice
• ENGI 515: Leading Teams and Innovation
• ENGI 614: Learning How to Innovate?
• MGMT 610: Fundamentals of the Energy Industry
• MGMT 625: Design Thinking
• MGMT 633 / BIOE 633: Roles of Physicians, Scientists, Engineers and MBA's in High-Tech Startups
• MGMT 676: Leadership, Ethics, and Free Enterprise
• MGMT 686: Introduction to Marketing Research
• MGMT 717: Project Management
• MGMT 721: Business Law
• MGMT 747: Regulatory Environment of Business
• MGMT 771: Digital Marketing
• NSCI 515: Foundations of Project and Program Management

Policies for the MSACS Degree

Admission

Admission to graduate study in Applied Chemical Sciences is open to qualified students holding a bachelor's degree in a related science or engineering program that included coursework in general chemistry, physics, and advanced math. Scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), good critical thinking and communication skills, and strong quantitative abilities are required. Some lab experience, intro statistics, introductory economics, and computer skills are preferred. Department faculty evaluate the previous academic record and credentials of each applicant individually and make admission decisions.

Transfer Credit

For Rice University's policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program's advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Opportunities for the MSACS Degree

Fifth-Year Master's Degree Option for Rice Undergraduate Students

In certain situations and with some terminal master's degree programs, Rice students have an option to pursue a master's degree by adding an additional fifth year to their four years of undergraduate studies. Advanced Rice undergraduate students in good academic standing typically apply to the master's degree program during their junior or senior year. Upon acceptance, depending on course load, financial aid status, and other variables, they may then start taking some required courses of the master's degree program. A plan of study will need to be approved by the student's undergraduate major advisor and the master's degree program director.