Chemistry, MS

Program Description

The MS degree in chemistry provides a course-intensive degree with the option to perform research focused on analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Research areas also include bio-organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials chemistry, chemical physics and other areas. Students may earn a Chemistry MS degree through a combination of graduate coursework and research, including a published thesis (thesis option), or through graduate coursework only (non-thesis option).

Summary of Degree Requirements

The MS in Chemistry is awarded on the basis of coursework completed, completion of examinations, and the research performed (for the thesis option). The final basis for granting this degree is the student’s overall grasp of the subject matter, competence in conducting supervised research (for the thesis option), and the ability to express themselves adequately and professionally both orally and in writing. Ultimately, only the student’s advisory committee can certify that the student has earned this degree. This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students pursuing the MS Thesis Option must complete a minimum of 24 hours of graduate coursework and six hours of master’s thesis research ( CH 8910 - Master’s Thesis Research ). Students pursuing the MS Non-Thesis MS Option must complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate coursework. At least half of the total graduate coursework credit hours required to satisfy the MS program, must be in 8000-level courses or above, and at least 12 credit hours must be in the major field of study. 6000-level classes that have a 4000-level counterpart that is required for the undergraduate degree, e.g. CH 6110, cannot be used as credits towards the MS degree. Up to three credits of seminar classes, e.g. CH 8510 - Graduate Student Seminar  and CH 8520 - Departmental Seminar , may be counted toward the required credit hours of coursework. Students must also complete graduate lecture coursework on Broad Chemical Awareness, Focus Area, and Distribution Requirement. Graduate courses taken in other departments may count towards the distribution requirement. In such cases, students must receive approval from the corresponding advisor and the Chemistry Department Graduate Program Committee before enrolling.

MS students receiving grades of C or below in nine or more credits worth of graduate coursework at Clemson University (for example, grades of C in three three-credit lecture courses) become ineligible to continue in the MS program. This includes any coursework taken in the PhD program prior to transferring into the MS program (if applicable). Students who fail to maintain a 3.0 grade point average in graduate coursework are placed on academic probation by the Graduate School and are ineligible for graduation until their GPA is above 3.0. When on academic probation, students have nine additional semester hours of graduate credit in which to remediate their GPA, or they become subject to dismissal from the university.