Master of Science in Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers the Master of Science degree in Chemistry with graduate work in the fields of biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry. The program is designed for the student who intends, upon completion, to work as a professional chemist, to study for the Ph.D., or to seek further training (e.g., in business or engineering). The program also prepares students for teaching at the high school or community college level.

Prerequisites

The preliminary academic background required for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry is substantially the equivalent of that represented by the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of San Francisco (see the undergraduate section of the Catalog). Any applicant whose undergraduate preparation does not include a proper foundation for graduate work in the field of chemistry must devote some time to specified undergraduate courses.

Furthermore, the applicant should have a "B-" (2.7) overall average in upper-division courses. Also required is a "B" (3.0) average in upper-division courses taken in the field of chemistry.

Requirements

After a student has been accepted into the graduate program, the graduate advisor will, with the student's research advisor as chair, supervise the student's program. Upon arrival, the student will take two evaluative examinations in selected subject areas of chemistry. The areas available for selection by the student are biochemistry, analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. If the entering student should fail to pass one or both of these examinations, he/she will meet with the graduate advisor and the research advisor to determine a means of remediation. This will usually involve taking an undergraduate course in the appropriate subject(s) (grade of B or better required) or possibly undertaking independent study followed by another evaluative examination in the area(s) in which deficiency was found. In either case, any deficiencies must be removed by the start of the second semester of residence. Otherwise the student will be subject to disqualification from the graduate program.

During the first semester of a student's residence in good academic standing, the student, the faculty advisor and graduate advisor will decide on the program of study.

A total of 24 units, including a thesis, is required. The courses taken must be graduate courses or upper-division courses approved by the Department of Chemistry. At least 12 of the required units must be CHEM 698 and 699.

Learning Goals/Outcomes for the Master of Science in Chemistry

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of advanced chemical concepts.
• Show mastery of advanced laboratory techniques.
• Show mastery of advanced computer programs commonly used in scientific work.
• Demonstrate ability to understand information presented in scientific literature.
• Demonstrate the ability to organize and complete an appropriate written research thesis project, including all necessary laboratory and library research aspects, while understanding the issues of plagiarism and scientific fraud.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfuully communicate a research thesis project both orally and in written form to faculty and/or peers.
• Achieve success in running a section for undergraduate lab programs as a teaching assistant.

To learn more:

• Please see Graduate Chemistry Course Descriptions.

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