CHEM:MS - Master of Science in Chemistry
Download as PDF
Simple Requirements
Admissions Requirements for the Master of Science (MS) in Chemistry
(1) A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 in chemistry and cognate science courses. International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.
(2) A statement of purpose, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s potential for graduate work. Originals of these items must be sent to the FIU Admissions office as specified at https://admissions.fiu.edu/how-to-apply/graduate-applicant/index.html. Prospective candidates should refer to both the above website and https://case.fiu.edu/chemistry/ for details regarding the application procedure, which must be completed on-line.
(3) Formal admission to the MS and Doctor of Philosophy programs is granted by the Admissions Office. Awards of teaching assistantships are granted by the Graduate Program Director. Entrance is possible at the beginning of each semester (fall, spring, summer). For consideration for a graduate assistantship applicants need to apply for the Fall semester and all application materials should be received at least five months prior to the desired starting date.
(4) Students whose undergraduate degree is not equivalent to the American Chemical Society certified Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry may be required to make up deficiencies. For example, depending on his or her area of specialization, a student may be required to make up deficiencies in quantum mechanics, instrumental analysis, or biochemistry by successfully completing Graduate Physical Chemistry II (CHM 5426), Graduate Analytical Methods (CHM 5150), or Graduate Biological Chemistry (CHM 5305) respectively.
(5) Entering graduate students must pass two proficiency exams. Proficiencies are offered in organic, physical, inorganic, analytical, and biochemistry. One pass must be in either organic or physical chemistry; the other is open. The proficiency exams will be administered to incoming graduate students in the week before the fall and spring semesters. If a student fails to receive a pass in a proficiency exam, he or she must show proficiency by completing the appropriate course with a grade of “B” (3.0/4.0) or better. These courses are Graduate Organic Chemistry (CHM 5225), Graduate Physical Chemistry (CHM 5425), Graduate Analytical Methods (CHM 5150), and Graduate Biological Chemistry (CHM 5305). Students are expected to complete proficiency requirements by the end of their first semester.
(6) Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0/4.0. Only courses applicable to the graduate program, excluding those for making up deficiencies or satisfying proficiencies, are counted in the GPA. If the cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 for one semester, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to raise his or her GPA to 3.0 or higher within one semester will be dismissed from the program.
(7) Full-time graduate students generally serve as Teaching Assistants (TA) in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for their first semester. Doctoral candidates must serve as a TA for at least one year except in unusual circumstances. TAs are awarded on a competitive basis, require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and can be continued for up to four years for PhD students who maintain acceptable academic performance. A limited number of Graduate Research Assistantships (RA) may be available.
Transfer Credits and Financial Support
Students having an MS in Chemistry may transfer as many as 36 credits towards the PhD degree. However, no more than six of those credits will count toward fulfillment of the formal course work requirement. More than six credits for formal course work can be transferred only with special permission of the Graduate Committee, in which case the number of additional course work credits required will depend on the student’s performance in courses, the date courses were completed, and the area of PhD concentration.
Full-time graduate students in good academic standing are eligible for financial support. Teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Inquiries concerning application to the program and availability of financial support should be directed to the Chemistry Graduate Program Director.
The following do not count toward satisfaction of this requirement: proficiency courses and courses taken to make up for undergraduate-level deficiencies in chemistry (including CHM 5150, CHM 5225, CHM 5305, CHM 5425, and CHM 5426); and courses corresponding to research, seminar, colloquium, supervised teaching, and thesis completion (CHM 6910L, CHM 6935, CHM 6936, CHM 6940, CHM 6970, and CHM 6971).
The following do not count toward satisfaction of this requirement: proficiency courses and courses taken to make up for undergraduate-level deficiencies in chemistry (including CHM 5150, CHM 5225, CHM 5305, CHM 5425, and CHM 5426); and courses corresponding to research seminar, colloquium, supervised teaching, and thesis completion (CHM 6910L, CHM 6935, CHM 6936, BCH 7930, CHM 6940, CHM 6970, and CHM 6971).
Full-time graduate students are required to register for one credit of Supervised Teaching each semester they serve as teaching assistants.
Full-time graduate students are required to register for one credit of Graduate Seminar or one credit of Chemistry Colloquium each fall and spring semester.
At least one credit of Chemistry Colloquium is required. Each student must present a seminar on their proposed research at the colloquium for a letter grade in their second semester of graduate study.
Satisfactory completion of a research report approved by the student’s thesis/dissertation committee and the department’s graduate program director. A submitted manuscript, a report written for the candidacy exam, or a stand-alone research report could satisfy the report requirement.
Admissions Requirements for the Combined Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry to MS in Chemistry Accelerated Degree Pathway
To be considered for admission to the combined BS/MA accelerated degree pathway, students must have completed at least 75 credits in the bachelor’s degree program at FIU and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined degree pathway; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.
Admissions Requirements
(1) Current enrollment in the BS in Chemistry program at FIU.
(2) Current GPA of 3.2 or higher.
(3) Three letters of recommendation.
(4) Approval of the Chemistry Graduate Committee.
Other Curricular Offering: Combined BS in Chemistry to MS in Chemistry Accelerated Degree Pathway
A student admitted to the combined accelerated degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships. Only 5000-level or higher courses, and no more than the number of credits specified by the program catalog, may be applied toward both degrees.
Completion Requirements:
Completed BS in Chemistry degree at FIU Required:
(1) 9 credits (3 courses) selected from graduate chemistry core courses. Required courses must be completed with an average of “B” or higher, and only one course may receive a grade less than “B-“.
(2) Electives: 3 courses selected from the Chemistry Graduate Elective Offerings.
(3) 9 credits of Thesis Research and 2 credits of Thesis. 1 credit of Colloquium.
(4) Overlap: Up to 3 graduate level courses (9 credits) may be used to satisfy both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree requirements.
A minimum of 32 credits of course work. A grade of “C or higher must be obtained in all courses, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher must be maintained. The course work must include:
At least nine (9) credits of chemistry in at least two of the six major areas of chemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Environmental, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical) from the core listed below:
Courses not listed above may be counted as core course with prior departmental approval.
The following do not count toward satisfaction of this requirement: proficiency courses and courses taken to make up for undergraduate-level deficiencies in chemistry (including CHM 5150, CHM 5225, CHM 5305, CHM 5425, and CHM 5426); and courses corresponding to research, seminar, colloquium, supervised teaching, and thesis completion (CHM 6910L, CHM 6935, CHM 6936, CHM 6940, CHM 6970, and CHM 6971).
Full-time graduate students are required to register for one credit of Supervised Teaching each semester they serve as teaching assistants.
Full-time graduate students are required to register for one credit of Graduate Seminar or one credit of Chemistry Colloquium each fall and spring semester.
At least one credit of Chemistry Colloquium is required. Each student must present a seminar on their proposed research at the colloquium for a letter grade in their second semester of graduate study.
At least eight (8)credits involving independent thesis research under the direction of a faculty member in the department.
Course must be taken in the semester in which the thesis is to be defended.
Satisfactory public presentation and defense of a research thesis, evaluated by the student’s Thesis Committee, is required. The Thesis Committee will consist of the research advisor and a randomly-assigned committee member appointed by the Graduate Program Director, both from the department’s graduate faculty, and one additional member with expertise in the student’s research area. At least one committee member must be tenured in the department. The committee may include more members, but they will be non-voting.
There are no majors associated with this program.