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Apply for the BS/MS Degree

two graduate students working in the labThe BS/MS program in the Department of Chemistry is tailored to students interested in a focused and accelerated graduate degree program, combining graduate level coursework with research. The program allows advanced students to complete both their B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years, one year earlier than if the degrees were done separately. This gives students an advantage in the job market by providing them with more training, an advanced degree, more research experience and increased earning potential, or an advantage for entry into professional schools or Ph.D. programs. Students are accepted into the BS/MS program in the spring of their junior year. Contact Jon Rainier or Joeleen Thompson for more information.

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Timeline

  • April 1, 2015: Applications due (Juniors, minimum GPA 3.0)
  • May 1, 2015: Notices of acceptance into the program will be sent out.
  • Senior Year (Fall): In consultation with Program Director (Rainier) and Undergraduate Advisors (Ernst, Richmond), students will begin graduate coursework.
  • February 1, Senior Year: Students choose a research advisor
  • Summer following Senior Year: Research
  • Year 5 (Fall): Graduate coursework + Research
  • Year 5 (Spring): Complete coursework and research.
  • April 1, Year 5: Students must submit a short report (10 pages) describing their research accomplishments to the Program Director and their Advisory Committee (advisor + 2 faculty).
  • April 30, Year 5: Students present and defend their report.

Minimum Requirements for Admission

  • GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Two letters of recommendation, one from a chemistry faculty member

Coursework

  • Students will take the normal course load for a BS degree in Chemistry (122 credit hours).
  • 16 credit hours of Chemistry graduate level courses. Ideally, six credit hours would be completed while in their fourth year of undergraduate study. So long as they are not counted towards the BS degree, four of these units can be an advanced laboratory class (Chem 5700 (Advanced Analytical Chem), Chem 5710 (Advanced Organic Chem), Chem 5720 (Advanced Physical Chem), Chem 5730 (Advanced Inorganic Chem), and Chem 5750 (Advanced Chemical Biology)
  • Scientific Writing/Communication (1 credit hour)
  • Research Ethics (1 credit hour)
  • Introduction to Chemical Safety (1 credit hour)
  • Graduate Seminar (1 credit hour)

Research Requirements

  • Students will be required to take 10 credit hours of research with a faculty member in Chemistry.
    • Upon approval by the program director, research with Chemistry faculty can be coupled with an internship. Students would need to be able to write up and defend all of their work.
    • Upon approval by the program director, research can be carried out with Auxiliary faculty.
  • Students will write a short report (< 10 pages) detailing their project.
  • Students will be required to present and defend their project at the end of their 5th year.
Last Updated: 6/3/21