Master of Science in Chemistry
Rochester, USA
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2024
TUITION FEES
USD 41,424 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* rolling admissions
** $41,424 - $54,974 | based on credits taken
Introduction
With a master's degree in chemistry, you’ll be able to solve scientific problems with agility and accuracy. Conduct research specific to your field of interest as you develop skills that translate to infinite career opportunities. With an emphasis on leadership, many graduates excel in leadership positions in dynamic fields such as sustainability, public policy, lobbying, sales, government, imaging science, space exploration, medicine, and much more.
The MS degree in chemistry is offered on a full- or part-time basis. The program is designed to fill the needs of the traditional student or the practicing chemist who is employed full-time and wishes to pursue a graduate degree on a part-time basis.
The School of Chemistry and Materials Science has research- and teaching-oriented faculty, as well as excellent equipment and facilities that enable full-time graduate students to carry on a program of independent study and develop the ability to attack scientific problems at the fundamental level. The research can result in either a thesis or a project report.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
RIT awards more than $37 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 5% of tuition all the way up to full tuition. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
RIT awards more than $30 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 10% - 40% of tuition. Our median scholarship amount is around 30% of tuition or $13,000. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
Optional Co-Op: cooperative education is paid work assignments with corporations and organizations around the U.S. and abroad. Co-op allows students to spend one or more semesters employed in a full-time, paid position related to their academic program before they graduate. Many students use co-op earnings to help finance their education.
Work-Study: graduate students studying full-time may apply to work part-time on campus. RIT has more than 9,000 jobs available each year, and students typically work 10 – 20 hours per week. International students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa may work up to 20 hours per week on campus and 40 hours during break periods.
Curriculum
The program offers two options: a thesis or a project. Concentrations are available in organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry. Customized concentrations are available to accommodate specific student interests and needs relating to graduate study in chemistry.
Each student, together with an adviser, chooses courses to create a customized curriculum that best meets their interests, needs, and career aspirations. Each student's curriculum is subject to the approval of the director of the graduate program.
A deliberate effort is made to strengthen any areas of weakness indicated by the student’s undergraduate records and the placement examinations. The MS degree consists of the following requirements:
- A minimum of 30 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Courses in chemistry consist of core and focus area courses. Core courses are designed to increase a student’s breadth of chemical knowledge, while focus area courses increase depth. Core courses include four semester credit hours in the Graduate Chemistry Seminar (CHEM-771, 772, 773, 774) and one credit hour in Chemistry Writing (CHEM-670). Focus area courses are chosen to address the student’s career goals and any undergraduate deficiencies in chemistry. Focus area courses must be at the graduate level and are chosen in consultation between the student and graduate adviser. Focus area courses outside of chemistry are acceptable provided they are approved by the student’s graduate adviser. - Research
Ten semester credit hours of research are required with the thesis option. For students who opt for the project option, four semester hours of project research are required. - Capstone
Students enrolled in the thesis option are expected to complete an independent research thesis and pass an oral defense. Typically, all requirements are met within two years. Students enrolled in the project option have numerous ways of satisfying the capstone requirement for their project. These include but are not limited to conference presentations, papers, journal articles, patents, and seminars.
Chemistry (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- CHEM-771 Graduate Chemistry Seminar I
- CHEM-772 Graduate Chemistry Seminar II
- CHEM-670 Graduate Chemistry Writing
- CHEM-790 Research and Thesis Guidance
- Graduate Chemistry Focus Courses
Second Year
- CHEM-773 Graduate Chemistry Seminar III
- CHEM-774 Graduate Chemistry Seminar IV
- CHEM-790 Research and Thesis Guidance
- Graduate Chemistry Focus Course
Chemistry (project option), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- CHEM-771 Graduate Chemistry Seminar I
- CHEM-772 Graduate Chemistry Seminar II
- CHEM-670 Graduate Chemistry Writing
- Graduate Chemistry Focus Courses
Second Year
- CHEM-773 Graduate Chemistry Seminar III
- CHEM-774 Graduate Chemistry Seminar IV
- CHEM-780 Chemistry Project
- Graduate Chemistry Focus Courses
Program Outcome
Through course work and research activities, the program strives to increase the breadth and depth of the student’s background in chemistry. Students develop the ability to attack scientific problems with minimal supervision.
Career Opportunities
Industries
- Medical Devices
- Manufacturing
- Food and Beverage
- Consumer Packaged Goods
Typical Job Titles
- Materials Scientist
- Assistant/Associate Research and Development Scientist
- Quality Control Specialist
- Analytical Chemist
- Organic Chemist
- Inorganic Chemist
- Physical Chemist
- Medical Chemist
- Lab Technician
English Language Requirements
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