Mar 29, 2024  
OHIO University Graduate Catalog 2021-22 
    
OHIO University Graduate Catalog 2021-22 [Archived Catalog]

Chemistry - MS (Athens)


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Master of Science in Chemistry

Chemistry (Athens) – MS3311

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
100 University Terrace
136 Clippinger Laboratories
Athens, OH  45170-2979
740.593.1737
chemistry@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry:  Fall (typically), Spring (in rare circumstances)

Program Overview

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.

Generally, it takes approximately 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.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of chemical concepts and of selected topics in chemistry.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to plan, execute, evaluate, and communicate original chemical research concepts and outcomes.
  3. Develop specialized research skills to carry out work effectively in the laboratory of a chosen faculty research advisor. 

Opportunities for Graduates: The M.S. 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.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/chemistry/graduate/masters

Link to Program Handbook: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/chemistry/graduate/requirements

Admission Requirements

Applicants whose qualifications satisfy all criteria listed below are reviewed for admission to the Chemistry M.S. program:

  1. 4-year bachelor’s degree in chemistry or equivalent.
  2. GPA (or equivalent) of 3.0 or higher
  3. TOEFL of 80 (IBT) or IELTS of 6.5 across all bands for international students, in accordance with Ohio University policy.

International Students

This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

Complete 30 credit hours in Chemistry and approved electives. All courses must be completed with no grade lower than a B. Depth of Knowledge requirements may be satisfied with the 7000-level courses listed below or with the 5000-level courses listed under Breadth of Knowledge.

Breadth of Knowledge Courses


Complete at least three courses, each in a different area. One must be in the primary area of research. Breadth of knowledge coursework must be completed in the first year of study.

Depth of Knowledge Courses


Complete at least two courses in the primary area of research. Appropriate Special Topics courses of 4 or more credit hours may be counted toward area requirements.

Seminar Requirements


Additional Requirements


      Each semester, attend the weekly departmental colloquium series.

Culminating Experience


Students may complete any of these three options:

  • Thesis: A written thesis accepted by the student’s thesis committee.
  • Research publication in lieu of thesis: Preparation of a manuscript, a major portion of which is based on the student’s research, and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. If the paper is accepted for publication and accepted by the Department, no other written thesis is required.
  • Non-thesis option: Completion of a total of 26 credit hours of graded coursework at the 5000-level or above. Coursework chosen must be approved by the Graduate Committee. In addition to the coursework, the student must complete the capstone requirement by completing at least 4 credit hours of M.S. research (Chem 6950) and writing a research paper, which must include a critical evaluation of the current literature and a new research hypothesis. This research paper will be presented in an hour-long presentation as part of the oral defense.

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