Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, M.S.

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(30 UNITS)

Master of Science in Chemistry

The Master of Science in Chemistry is a thesis-based degree that requires students to complete courses in their area of study and work on an original, independent research objective in one of the following concentrations: Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical.

The skills learned in the program prepare students for a career in teaching, industry or graduate school. Because of its broad scope, contemporary chemistry offers employment opportunities in rapidly growing fields, such as materials science, polymers, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical/medicinal chemistry, chemical education research and environmental science. Graduates are prepared to enter any of these fields or others, since chemistry is the central science with connections to physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and environmental science.

Admission

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, applicants must meet the following requirements:

An undergraduate degree in chemistry or a selection of science courses deemed as adequate preparation for further study in chemistry by the Department Graduate Committee
At least a 2.75 GPA in science courses
The GRE general examination, with score reported to the department

Placement Examinations

All students are required to take and pass placement examinations or take and pass the appropriate courses with a “B” (3.0) or better. Graduate students in one of the chemistry concentrations must demonstrate competency by passing two placement examinations in the following five areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical and biochemistry. Graduate students in the biochemistry concentration must demonstrate competency in biochemistry and one other area of chemistry: analytical, organic, biochemistry or biology.

A student may take each placement examination two times within the first year of enrolling in the graduate program. A student who does not pass the placement examinations within the first year must demonstrate competency by passing with a “B” (3.0) or better the appropriate courses within two years after first enrolling.

The appropriate courses are: CHEM 301B for organic; CHEM 315 for analytical; CHEM 325 for inorganic; CHEM 361A , CHEM 361B for physical (biochemistry option); CHEM 371A , CHEM 371B for physical (chemistry option); CHEM 423A , CHEM 423B for biochemistry; and BIOL 251 for biology.

Classified Standing

In order to proceed from conditionally classified to classified standing, a student must meet the following requirements:

Pass two placement exams
Approved selection of a research director
An approved study plan
Satisfy the university graduate-level writing requirement

Study Plan

Students will complete a laboratory research thesis.

The degree program consists of graduate committee-approved coursework completed with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all coursework exclusive of CHEM 598 and CHEM 599 . In consultation with their research director, each student prepares a study plan, which must be approved by the graduate program adviser and the Office of Graduate Studies. All chemistry courses on the study plan must be 400-level or above.

Study plans will contain 2 units of CHEM 500 , 3 units of CHEM 505A , 1 unit of CHEM 505B and 6 units each of CHEM 599 and CHEM 598 . In addition, 9 units of concentration coursework and 3 units of elective coursework is required.

A minimum of 27 units of 500-level coursework is required.

Required Courses (12 units)

Elective (3 units)

Must be adviser-approved.

Culminating Experience (6 units)

CHEM 598 - Thesis (1-6)

Biochemistry Concentration (9 units)

May include courses other than those listed, and must be adviser-approved.