Master of Science in Chemistry in Biochemistry

California State University - Fullerton

The Master of Science in Chemistry is a thesis- or project-based degree that requires students to complete courses in their area of study and work on an original, independent research objective in one of the following concentrations: Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical. The skills learned in the program prepare students for a career in teaching, industry or graduate school. Because of its broad scope, contemporary chemistry offers employment opportunities in rapidly growing fields, such as materials science, polymers, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical/medicinal chemistry, chemical education research and environmental science. Graduates are prepared to enter any of these fields or others, since chemistry is the central science with connections to physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and environmental science. Placement Examinations: A student’s foundational knowledge of chemistry or biochemistry aquired during their undergraduate study is essential for successfully completing the MS program. A new graduate student can demonstrate their mastery of chemistry or biochemistry at the undergraduate level by either completing all upper division undergraduate chemistry or biochemistry major courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher, in addition to earning a ''B'' or better in courses related to their graduate field of study. Students who have not earned an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in all upper division undergraduate chemistry or biochemistry major courses and/or have not earned a ''B'' or better in courses related to their graduate field of study will establish their mastery by passing one placement exam in their intended area of graduate study. Graduate students who do not pass the placement exam will take the corresponding undergraduate course during their first semester in the program and must earn a ''B'' or better. Graduate students cannot take their core graduate courses until they have completed the placement examination requirement. There are five placement exams in the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. All exams are the American Chemical Society standardized exams. Scoring at the 40th percentile (as determined by national norms) or higher on the exam is considered passing. If the student does not pass the exam, they will take the corresponding undergraduate course and earn a ''B'' or better to satisfy this requirement. The appropriate courses are: CHEM 301B for organic CHEM 315 for analytical CHEM 325 for inorganic CHEM 361A or CHEM 361B for physical (biochemistry concentration) CHEM 371A or CHEM 371B for physical ( all chemistry concentrations) CHEM 423A or CHEM 423B for biochemistry. Students who do not meet the placement exam requirement by the end of their first semester in the program will be removed from the graduate program. Degree Requirements: The program consists of adviser-approved coursework, all of which must be completed with a minimum 3.0 GPA, exclusive of CHEM 598 and CHEM 599. A minimum of 24 units of 500-level coursework is required. CHEM 423A, CHEM 423B and CHEM 421 may not be taken for graduate credit.

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics