Master's Programs in Chemistry
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Specializations are offered in analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical chemistry, and polymer science. This program provides opportunity for advanced study and research training in chemistry, both general and specialized. Provision also is made for the student to elect certain advanced subjects in related fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering.
Credit Requirements
A minimum of 30 credits is required for the Master of Science degree in Chemistry, with 18 credits being earned in courses; and 12 credits earned in graduate research. Of the 18 course credit minimum, exclusive of research, a minimum of 15 credits must be taken in chemistry. The remaining course credits (3 or more) may be taken in chemistry or in related fields such as physics, mathematics, biology or engineering. Credit normally is not allowed for 400 level subjects in chemistry except for those designated in the catalog or approved by a student's advisor. Each graduate program in chemistry must include at least three advanced subjects from three of the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, or polymer chemistry, unless such requirements have been met previously and approved by the department.
Requirements
Specialization in Analytical Chemistry
84.514 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
and two courses of the following:
[84.523 Organic Reaction Mechanism
or 84.568 Structural Analysis]
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.550 Biochemistry I
84.543 Modern Inorganic Chemistry
84.580 Advanced Analytical Biochemistry
Specialization in Biochemistry
84.550 Biochemistry
84.551 Biochemistry II
and any three courses of the following:
84.568 Structural Analysis
84.514 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
84.526 Chromatography
84.523 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.538 Biochemical Mechanisms
84.560 Advanced Physical Biochemistry
84.567 Advanced Computational Chemistry
84.569 Advanced Biocheminformatics
84.580 Advanced Analytical Biochemistry
Specialization in Inorganic Chemistry
84.543 Modern Inorganic Chemistry
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.523 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
and one course from the following
84.514 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
84.550 Biochemistry I
84.551 Biochemistry II
Specialization in Organic Chemistry
84.523 Organic Reactions, Mechanisms
84.524 Organic Synthesis
84.568 Structural Analysis
and at least two courses from the following:
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.550 Biochemistry I
84.543 Modern Inorganic Chemistry
Specialization in Physical Chemistry
84.531 Statistical Thermodynamics
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.513 Spectroscopy
84.523 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
84.543 Modern Inorganic Chemistry
84.540 Chemical Kinetics
Specialization in Polymer Science
Required: select from the following courses:
97.503 Advanced Polymer Science I
97.504 Advanced Polymer Science II
97.505 Polymer Preparation and Characterization
84.568 Structural Analysis
97.553 Organic Chemistry of Macromolecules
84.532 Advanced Physical Chemistry
84.523 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
Although the design of the academic program is the responsibility of the student's advisory committee, the following listing provides recommended courses for program development.
First Semester Subjects
97.503 - Advanced Polymer Science
97.505 - Polymer Preparation and Characterization
84.568 - Structural Analysis
97.553 - Organic Chemistry of Macromolecules
97.607 - Polymer Science Seminar
97.701 - Graduate Research in Polymer Science
97.549 - Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules
84.523 - Organic Reaction Mechanisms and Structure
Second Semester Subjects
97.504 - Advanced Polymer Science II
97.512 - Properties of Bulk Polymers
97.602 - Polymer Science Seminar
97.702 - Graduate Research in Polymer Science
84.434 - Colloid and Surface Chemistry
84.524 - Organic Synthesis
26.523 - Plastics Processing Techniques
Seminar Requirement
Each semester the student is required to attend and participate in the chemistry seminar/colloquium program 84.601,602, 603 and 604. In addition, a master's candidate is required to present one seminar.
Thesis Advisory Committee
An advisory committee should be selected jointly by the student and advisor at the earliest possible opportunity. A minimum of three (3) faculty members are required for the master's thesis committee. The student's advisor will serve as the chairperson of this advisory committee. The purpose of this committee is twofold. First, it will be responsible for ascertaining that the student's research was conducted and presented in final form, in a professional and acceptable manner. Perhaps of more importance, the committee will serve in an advisory capacity during the course of the research project. In this spirit it is recommended that the student convene a meeting of the selected committee prior to starting his/her research. The purpose of this meeting is to informally present an outline of the proposed research project.
Non-Thesis Masters in Chemistry (NTMC)
This program provides opportunity for advanced study in chemistry that must include at least three of the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, or polymer chemistry.
Credit Requirements
The NTMC degree requires 30 credits (10 courses). The following NTMC requirements must be met: 1) A total of 18 course credits (84- or 97-prefix) must be taken within the Chemistry Department at University of Massachusetts Lowell. 2). The remaining credits may be satisfied by either additional 84- or 97- courses or by transfer of up to 12 credits from a closely related program at a domestic university, including University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Note: Students who wish to pursue the NTMC degree who currently hold a B.S. or B.A. degree in chemistry or a related science, but do not have previous laboratory experience, may be required to take up to three undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses to ensure that they have sufficient laboratory skills upon completion of their NTMC degree.