Degree Title: Master of Science

Program Name and Number: Chemistry – MS3311, MS3317

Department/Units: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus (MS3311), Online (MS3317)

Terms of Entry: Fall, Students in the non-thesis option may enroll in any semester that a course is offered.

Program Mission: The department’s mission is to provide a quality education to graduate students while they pursue state-of-the-art research in chemistry.  The objective of the graduate program is to educate and train students to become highly effective scientists by providing them with the interdisciplinary tools, research skills and ethical and service sensibilities needed to succeed in their future career.  This includes offering a variety of rigorous graduate level courses, maintaining cutting-edge research programs within individual laboratories and compliance with the Code for Professional Ethical Conduct espoused by the American Chemical Society.

Program Learning Objectives:

1. To demonstrate an understanding of chemical concepts and an understanding of a selected topic in chemistry
2. To demonstrate competence in solving a scientific problem through scientific experimentation and/or data analysis
3. To effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, scientific concepts and outcomes.
4. To work effectively both as an individual and as a collaborative team member.

Program Overview: Three paths to the MS degree are offered.  A traditional thesis-based MS degree option, a publication in lieu of a thesis option, and a non-thesis option. Candidates for a Master of Science degree in Chemistry must demonstrate the ability to plan, execute, evaluate, and communicate chemical research.  Candidates will develop research skills to carry out this work effectively and will do so under the guidance of a chosen faculty advisor.  Generally, it will take about 2.5 years to complete the M.S. curriculum, however, an accelerated M.S. degree program is available to qualified Ohio University undergraduate students. This program allows students to complete their M.S. in chemistry within 12-15 months after completing their bachelor’s degree. Students accepted into the accelerated M.S. program would typically begin research in their junior/senior year of undergraduate studies, taking graduate classes during their senior year.  The accelerated M.S. program also has an optional graduate research exchange program with the University of Leipzig in which students conduct research in Leipzig for 2-4 months, generally during the summer. The non-thesis option can be completed in 1 year.

Opportunities for Graduates: The MS degree prepares students for a variety of professional positions and for graduate studies. Example sectors for employment include the pharmaceutical industries, analytical service laboratories, government laboratories and biomedical and industrial laboratories.

Link to Program:  www.ohio.edu/chemistry

Link to Program Handbook: Contact Ms. Marlene Jenkins at  jenkinm1@ohio.edu

Graduation Requirements:

1. A minimum of 30 semester hours (including research credits) in chemistry and approved electives at the 5000 level and above. 
2. Attendance at a seminar course each semester and yearly departmental seminar presentations after the first year of study.
3. Students must take competency exams/classes on entering the program and must take eight graded course credits within their area of study unless permission is received from the graduate committee to take classes outside the major area of study.
4. Students have three thesis options: i.  Prepare a written thesis;  ii.  In lieu of a thesis, publish in a refereed journal, a paper based on the student’s research; iii. Instead of a research thesis or published research paper, a student can complete 26 credit hours of graded coursework at the 5000-level or above and write a review-type article.
5. All students must present their thesis-related work orally at a public meeting followed by an oral defense held before the student’s thesis committee.
6. The average period of study is two and one-half years.

Culminating Experience: For students in the research option, a thesis describing the student’s research or a paper accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal must be written. For students in the non-thesis option, a review-type article on an area of chemistry must be written.

Admission Requirements: A 4-year bachelor’s degree, a GPA (or equivalent) of 3.0 or higher, a TOEFL of 80 (IBT) or IELTS of 6.5 across all bands for international students, GRE scores for holders of a non-US degree, a resume, and three letters of recommendation and a written description of research interests. All graduate students new to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will be required to take competency examinations in Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. The exams will be taken from the current American Chemical Society exam sequence, unless a division decides to generate and grade its own exam. All who score in the 50th percentile or greater on a standardized examination demonstrate competence in that area. Each student must pass a total of three (3) out of five (5) competency exams taken including one in the area chosen as the student’s major during the first year of graduate study. The exams will be offered three times during the year in September, January, and June. Alternately, competency can be demonstrated by passing at a level of B or better one 5000 level course in three of the five areas (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). One of the three courses can be in the student’s major area but the other two must be outside of the student’s major area and must be in the other areas of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). General/review courses will be offered each fall at the 5000 level in each research area of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical).