Master of Science in Chemistry

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Students who wish to enter the M.S. program should have a baccalaureate degree in a life, physical, mathematical science, or engineering, including one year of physics; one year of general chemistry; one year of physical chemistry; mathematics consisting of either three semesters of calculus or two semesters of calculus and one semester of differential equations; and four courses in other areas of chemistry at the 300-400 level. Students deficient in these requirements may satisfy them after admission, but the courses may not be taken for graduate credit and must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee after consultation with the department faculty in the student’s primary area of interest. These deficiencies must be satisfied with a grade of C or better during the first two semesters of enrollment in the program. University Honors students who graduate from Northern Illinois University with a baccalaureate degree in chemistry or a related area are guaranteed admission into the M.S. or Ph.D. program (with acceptable scores on entry tests for the latter) as space permits.

The background examination in general chemistry is required at the time of entering the program during the orientation weeks in January and August. All students must pass this exam with a normative score of 50% in order to hold a TA appointment in the department. Students failing to pass the exam must attend general chemistry lectures (CHEM 210 or CHEM 211) during their first semester, then retake the general chemistry examination at its next offering. Failure to pass the exam the second time will result in termination of the student’s TA appointment.

The student must fulfill all requirements for the M.S. degree within five consecutive years from entry into the program.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the M.S. program in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry must meet all the requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission, the master’s program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials:

Baccalaureate Field: A B.A./B.S. degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry is preferred. Outstanding candidates from other related fields may also be considered.
Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who can describe your ability to be successful in the completion of a graduate-level degree program. The individuals who submit a letter for you should be individuals who have a professional or academic relationship with you.
Personal Statement: Your personal statement should be approximately 250 to 750 words in length. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in Chemistry or Biochemistry, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. Also explain why you believe the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at NIU can best help you meet your goals.
Resume/CV: Copy of current resume/CV in pdf format indicating your professional or volunteer experience.

Optional Supplemental Information: Please feel free to submit up to three (3) additional documents, which you feel help demonstrate your preparedness for graduate studies. Examples of such items include, copies of published papers, presented posters, GRE general or subject test scores, etc.

Applications to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry are evaluated by a committee of faculty.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Thesis Option

A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work is required. The student must successfully complete a minimum of 14 semester hours, of which at least 12 must be from courses worth 3 or more semester hours (acceptable courses include: CHEM 570 to 573; CHEM 600; CHEM 620 to CHEM 689). However, a student’s research advisor may require additional course work inside or outside the department course offerings. Other courses can be taken if approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The remaining course hours may be fulfilled from the departmental (CHEM 616, CHEM 691) and university (e.g., UNIV 600) “skills” courses. The Graduate Program Committee will have a final say if a particular university course will qualify as a “skills” course for the program.

Only graduate courses from accredited institutions in which the student has earned a grade of B or better may be accepted towards an advanced degree, subject to approval of the department and the Graduate School.

CHEM 615, Chemistry Seminar, or CHEM 616, Special Topics Chemistry Seminar, must be taken each semester unless a written waiver is given by the director of graduate studies. CHEM 690, Graduate Seminar, must be taken the first two semesters of enrollment.

A thesis incorporating the results of an approved research problem and successfully defended as part of a comprehensive oral examination is required. CHEM 698, Independent Study, should be taken as soon as possible, with enrollment to continue each term until enrollment in CHEM 699, Master’s Thesis, is begun.

Essay Option

A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate work is required. The student must successfully complete a minimum of 15 semester hours, of which at least 12 hours must be from courses worth 3 or more credit hours. Acceptable courses include: CHEM 570 to 573; CHEM 600; CHEM 620 to CHEM 689. However, a student’s research advisor may require additional course work inside or outside the department course offerings. Other courses can be taken if approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The remaining course hours may be fulfilled from the departmental (CHEM 616, CHEM 691) and university (e.g., UNIV 600) “skills” courses. The Graduate Program Committee will have a final say if a particular university course will qualify as a “skills” course for the program.

CHEM 615, Chemistry Seminar, or CHEM 616, Special Topics Chemistry Seminar, must be taken each semester unless a written waiver is given by the Director of Graduate Studies. CHEM 690, Graduate Seminar, must be taken the first two semesters of enrollment.

Students earning an M.S. degree through the Essay Option must have passed the qualifying examination and the candidacy examination described under the Ph.D. program. In addition, students must submit a paper describing original research (a Master’s Essay) to their examining committee. Approval of this research paper by at least three members of the examining committee and deposition of a copy of the research paper in the departmental office is required.

Educator Licensure Option

Students in this option must meet the requirements for educator licensure, in consultation with the discipline coordinator. Retention in the program requires adherence to Graduate School and educator licensure requirements and regulations.

A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work to be determined by the department is required. In most cases, the number of semester hours will exceed 30. The student must successfully complete a minimum of four courses worth a total of 12 semester hours of graduate credit. Acceptable courses include CHEM 505 to CHEM 700, excluding CHEM 590-599, CHEM 615, CHEM 616, CHEM 690, CHEM 691, CHEM 698, and CHEM 699.

CHEM 690, Graduate Seminar, must be taken the first two semesters of enrollment.

The student must pass a comprehensive examination in chemistry and chemistry education. Only graduate courses from accredited institutions in which the student has earned a grade of B or better may be accepted towards an advanced degree, subject to approval of the department and the Graduate School.

Industrial Chemistry Option

A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work is required. The course list must be approved by the faculty advisor. The student must successfully complete a minimum of five courses worth a total of 15 semester hours of graduate credit, of which at least 9 semester hours must be in chemistry. Acceptable courses include: CHEM 570-573; CHEM 600; CHEM 620 - 689). Many of these courses will be available online during the semesters when they are taught. The remaining course work may be done outside the department.

A thesis incorporating the results of this research problem and successfully defended as part of a comprehensive oral examination is required. Research towards this thesis may be carried out at the place of industrial employment. In that case, a faculty co-advisor will be appointed. The co-advisor must approve a research problem and ensure a published product (peer-reviewed publication, patent application, or presentation as part of a national conference proceedings).

CHEM 698, Independent Study, should be taken as soon as possible, with enrollment to continue each term until enrollment in CHEM 699, Master’s Thesis, is begun.