Graduate Programs

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Chemistry

Introduction

The Department of Chemistry offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science degree in chemistry. Balanced programs of course work and research are individually designed to prepare students for careers as professional chemists or for advanced degree study. Joint programs with other departments are encouraged for students interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research with emphasis in chemistry.

The department also supports the Interdisciplinary Science and Mathematics Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) program offered by the College of Science and Mathematics.

Admission

In order to meet the minimum requirements for admission to the graduate program in chemistry, applicants must fulfill the requirements for admission established by the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, applicants must have completed basic calculus, one year of physics, and approximately 50 quarter hours (33 semester hours) of chemistry, including lecture and laboratory courses in general chemistry, quantitative analysis, and introductory courses in organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Students who do not meet these requirements will be asked to do some remedial work in addition to fulfilling the usual graduate degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

In order to qualify for the Master of Science degree, candidates must fulfill the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, complete 30 credit hours of course work and a minimum of 15 credit hours of thesis research, submit an acceptable thesis, and pass a written or an oral examination. Students will normally concentrate in one of the following areas: analytical, environmental, inorganic, organic, physical or polymer chemistry, or chemical education.

Courses
Candidates for the Master of Science degree must complete 30 credit hours of course work in chemistry and related fields, including designated chemistry core courses (as outlined below). The chemistry courses must be numbered 600 or above and comprise a program acceptable to the advisory committee. The related courses must be numbered 500 or above and be acceptable to the advisory committee. In addition to courses in the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, courses are also offered in applied areas such as environmental, medicinal, and polymer chemistry.

Core Course Requirements
Five core areas have been designated from which each M.S. chemistry candidate must take at least one course. Acceptable core courses are listed below. No substitution will be allowed.
Physical Chemistry
CHM 750, 751, 752
Inorganic Chemistry
CHM 720, 721, 722
Organic Chemistry
CHM 744, 746, 748
Analytical Chemistry
CHM 637, 762, 763
Applied Chemistry which includes:
Environmental Chemistry: CHM 610, 611, 612
Polymer Chemistry: CHM 661
Medicinal Chemistry: CHM 640, 641
Toxicological Chemistry: CHM 643, 644

Language Requirement

A reading knowledge of a foreign language is not required for the Master of Science degree in chemistry. However, certain students, because of the nature of their specific area of interest in chemistry, may be required to demonstrate an ability to read chemical literature in a foreign language.

Residency Requirement

Full-time residency is not required to qualify for the Master of Science degree. However, students must be registered for three consecutive quarters of full- or part-time study.

Thesis

The candidate must enroll in CHM 899 (thesis research) under the supervision of an advisor approved by the chemistry graduate studies committee. An acceptable thesis based on a minimum of 15 credit hours of laboratory or theoretical research (CHM 899) must be submitted to the thesis advisory committee (chaired by the candidate’s advisor and selected by the advisor, student, and the department chair). After the presentation of the thesis and at least two weeks prior to the date proposed for conferring the degree, the candidate must pass a written or an oral examination. If the student’s record is satisfactory, the scope of the examination will generally be confined to the candidate’s field of specialization.

Four copies of the final draft of the thesis must be submitted to the thesis advisory committee and the department chair for approval prior to binding. After approval by the School of Graduate Studies, one copy will be deposited in the library. One copy each is kept by the advisor, the graduate, and the department chair.

Environmental Sciences

The environmental sciences concentration was developed by the College of Science and Mathematics to promote interdisciplinary research. Accordingly, for a student with a strong interest in chemistry and in the environment, a Master of Science degree in chemistry with a concentration in environmental sciences has been designed. This program entails approximately two more courses than the regular chemistry major, but provides much greater breadth and depth in environmental sciences than the traditional chemistry major would obtain.

The advisory committee of the student selecting this option will differ from the usual committee in that at least one individual will be a faculty member from outside the chemistry department, e.g., a member of the biology or geology faculty. In addition to meeting the general requirements for the Master of Science degree in chemistry, including the preparation and defense of a research-based thesis, course requirements for the environmental track include:

• geologic and environmental applications of geographic information systems or hydrogeology or hydrogeochemistry;
• environmental statistics;
• risk assessment;
• environmental sciences seminar (1 hour); and
• two environmental sciences electives outside the chemistry department.

A student completing these requirements will receive an M.S. degree in chemistry with an emphasis in environmental science.

Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program

In addition, students in chemistry can pursue an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences. See the separate listing for that program.

Faculty

Professors
Rubin Battino (Emeritus), physical chemistry
Sue C. Cummings (Emerita), inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry
William A. Feld, organic and polymer chemistry
John J. Fortman (Emeritus), inorganic chemistry and chemical education
Roger K. Gilpin (Mead Professor of Environmental Sciences), analytical and environmental chemistry
Ivan J. Goldfarb (Emeritus), polymer chemistry
Vladimir Katovic, analytical, inorganic, and environmental chemistry
Daniel M. Ketcha, organic and natural products chemistry
M. Paul Servé (Emeritus), organic and medicinal chemistry
Paul G. Seybold, physical and biophysical chemistry
Thomas O. Tiernan (Emeritus), physical, analytical, and environmental chemistry
Kenneth Turnbull (chair), organic chemistry

Associate Professors
Daniel D. Bombick, analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry
David A. Dolson, physical chemistry and laser spectroscopy
Eric A. Fossum, organic and polymer chemistry
David A. Grossie, inorganic chemistry and X-ray crystallography
George G. Hess (Emeritus), organic, analytical, and environmental chemistry
Steven Higgins, solid-liquid interface dynamics and chemistry
Suzanne Lunsford, chemical education
Audrey E. McGowin, analytical and environmental chemistry