Chemistry and Biochemistry (MS)

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the Degree

A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses is required with an overall B average (3.00). A minimum of 18 credit hours must be course work at the 600 level or above (excluding pre-candidacy study, research, thesis or dissertation credits) as specified in the PhD requirements listed below. A maximum of 12 credit hours, 500 level or greater, may be taken in other departments toward the 30 credit hour requirement.

First year-graduate students are required to take a non-credit one-hour special seminar, CHEM865-010 (new student seminar). Graduate students must also register for one of the topical seminar series (CHEM865 -XXX - Biochemistry Seminar, Organic/Inorganic Seminar, Physical/Analytical Seminar), as well as Colloquia (CHEM865-XXX). A thesis is required. Thesis must not represent more than six credit hours. Thesis and/or research must represent a minimum of 6 and a maximum of twelve credit hours toward the 30 credit hour requirement.

Specific course requirements by division are outlined below. If a student wished to take courses other than those specified, then each of these courses must be approved in writing: (a) at the Fall and Spring advisements for first-year graduate students by the representative from the respective Division on the Graduate Curriculum Committee, and (b) at other times by the research advisor.

The remaining courses satisfying the departmental course requirement of 18 credits in graduate level coursework can be selected from offerings in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, or appropriate graduate level courses in other Departments.

Analytical Chemistry

Six credit hours of graduate analytical courses from the list below plus six additional credit hours of graduate coursework approved by the research advisor.

CHEM 620 - Analytical Spectroscopy Credit(s): 3
CHEM 621 - Chemical Separations Credit(s): 3
CHEM 622 - Electroanalytical Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 623 - Chemometrics Credit(s): 3
CHEM 624 - Principles of Mass Spectrometry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 625 - Heterogeneous Atmospheric Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 628 - Chemical Sensors Credit(s): 3
CHEM 629 - Surface Chemistry and Analysis Credit(s): 3
CHEM 820 - Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry Credit(s): 1-3

Biochemistry

At least 9 credits in graduate-level biochemistry courses. CHEM641 must be taken as one of these courses unless this requirement is waived by the Biochemistry Division. The Division, or the student’s research advisor, must approve the courses used to satisfy the departmental course requirement of 18 credits in graduate level courses.

CHEM 641 - Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 642 - Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 643 - Advanced Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 644 - Mechanisms of Enzyme Catalysis Credit(s): 3
CHEM 645 - Protein Structure and Function Credit(s): 3
CHEM 646 - DNA-Protein Interactions Credit(s): 3
CHEM 684 - Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids Credit(s): 3
CHEM 686 - Biophysical Chemistry Credit(s): 3

Inorganic Chemistry

Nine credit hours from the folowing courses:

CHEM 651 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 652 - Organometallic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 653 - Bioinorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 654 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3

Organic Chemistry

CHEM 633 - Advanced Organic Chemistry: Physical Credit(s): 3
CHEM 634 - Advanced Organic Chemistry: Synthesis and Reactivity Credit(s): 3

Note

Two additional courses (6 credit hours) with a CHEM-63X or CHEM-83X designation (one of these courses may be audited.)

It is strongly recommended that the courses taken outside of Organic Chemistry should be chosen from the following list.

If a student wishes to take other courses than these outside of Organic Chemistry, then each of these courses must be approved: (a) at the Fall and Spring advisements for first-year graduate students by the representative of the Organic Chemistry Division on the Graduate Curriculum Committee and (b) at other times by the Organic Chemistry Faculty.

CHEM 641 - Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 642 - Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 651 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 652 - Organometallic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 654 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3

Physical Chemistry

A minimum of three courses from among the following:

One may substitute for one of these four courses from related three-credit courses upon the approval of the research advisor.

CHEM 671 - Quantum Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 672 - Advanced Quantum Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 674 - Chemical Dynamics Credit(s): 3
CHEM 678 - Surface Structure and Properties Credit(s): 3