Masters Program

The Department of Chemistry offers two kinds of MS degrees. The plan I degree is a research masters degree that will result in the submission of a masters thesis by the degree candidate. The plan II degree is a coursework masters that has a higher course load, but does not require a masters thesis. Financial support during the first two years in the program will be offered to students seeking the masters degree, provided they continue to make satisfactory progress. For a complete description of the degree requirements, see the Graduate Handbook.

Plan I Masters (Thesis Option)

1. The Plan I Masters degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, which will be broken down into 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis research (CH 699)
2. Four lecture courses (12 credit hours) are required for the Plan I Masters degree. At least two of these courses must be in the student's major area, while at least one must be outside the major area.
3. In addition to formal coursework, students will generally register for 10 hours of advanced research technique courses in their major area. Students will also take at least 6 hours of thesis research (CH 699).
4. Students will present a research seminar in their second year prior to the oral defense of their thesis. Students will register for the seminar course (CH 586) in the semester that they give their seminar.
5. Each student will meet with their thesis committee in the first semester of their third semester (September of the second year for students starting in the fall semester) to present an initial research review (IRR). In the IRR, the student will describe the progress made on the thesis project to his or her committee. The student will also discuss the work remaining to complete the thesis research.
6. Upon completing their research, the student will prepare a thesis according to the Graduate School guidelines. The thesis should be distributed to the thesis committee two weeks prior to the oral defense.
7. The student's research advisor and thesis committee will read the thesis and meet to hear an oral defense of the thesis. The oral defense will serve as the comprehensive exam for the MS degree.

Plan II Masters (Coursework Option)

1. The Plan II Masters requires a minimum of 30 credit hours.
2. The Plan II Masters requires six lecture courses (18 hours). Four of these courses will be in the student's major, with the remaining two being outside the major area of study.
3. The remaining 12 hours of the program will be made up of the seminar course (CH 586) and research techniques courses in the students major area.
4. Students in the Plan II program will present a seminar on a literature topic not related to their research during their second year in the program. This seminar will serve as the comprehensive exam for the Plan II Masters degree.

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