Chemistry, Thesis Option, M.S.

Thesis Master’s Programs

The thesis program is strongly recommended for those planning to pursue graduate study at the Ph.D. level and for those intending to pursue research-oriented employment. By the end of the first semester, the student should select a research area and a thesis advisor who will supervise the research and the remainder of the student’s course work. In collaboration with the advisor, the student should identify a three-member thesis committee. Two members must be from the department with the advisor as the committee chair; the third member must be from outside the department. An expert from outside the University may be used with the approval of the Graduate School.

In carrying out the thesis project, the student must complete a minimum of three and maximum of six hours of thesis credit. On completion of the research, the student will write a thesis that conforms to the Graduate School’s recommended procedures. With the advisor’s approval, a draft of the thesis will be forwarded to the other members of the thesis committee for examination and review. After the thesis has been reviewed and judged ready for defense by the advisor and by the other members of the thesis committee, the student must pass an oral thesis examination.

The oral examination is comprehensive, covering the student’s entire graduate program and emphasizing the research work and content of the thesis. All thesis and oral examination requirements must be scheduled and completed to meet Graduate School deadlines.

Curriculum requirements

All students must complete the following curriculum requirements:

• Nine hours of graduate core courses: CHEM 6443 Inorganic Chemistry ; CHEM 7113 Physical Organic Chemistry ; and CHEM 7123 Advanced Physical Chemistry .
• Minimum of twelve hours of elective graduate courses. Of these a minimum of six hours must be graduate chemistry courses. For students with an undergraduate degree in chemistry, it is recommended that they take six hours of graduate credit outside of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Three hours of graduate seminar.
• Three to six hours of thesis credit.
• A minimum total of 30 graduate credit hours are required to complete the thesis option.