Chemistry MS

Overview

The Master of Science program in Chemistry provides rigorous training in understanding the molecular structures and mechanisms of chemical and biochemical molecules, including diverse opportunities on cutting edge research ranging from organic synthesis to electrochemistry and RNA biology.

Campus: Hattiesburg

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the Admission Requirements and Procedures , applicants must submit the following.

• Resume
• Statement of Purpose, describing the motivation to pursue graduate study, research interest and experience, faculty research of interest to the applicant, limited to 1,000 words.
• Contact information for three individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic or professional performance
• Applicants whose native language is not English must earn a TOEFL score of at least 550 (TOEFL PBT), 217 (TOEFL CBT), or 80 (TOEFL iBT), or a IELTS score of at least 6.5.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

In addition to meeting the requirements stated in General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information , students must satisfy one of the items below:

• Thesis option: Students using this option must complete and defend a MS thesis.
• Non-thesis option: For the non-thesis option in the MS degree, students need to obtain 30 credit hours of graduate course work out of which 18 credit hours need to be at the level of 600 or above. In the Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate program, all students take up to 12 credit hours of CHE 791 (research) every semester. Along with the graduate lecture courses at the 600 level or above, students acquire more than 30 graduate credit hours within four semesters. Successful completion of the non-thesis MS degree will be assessed based on a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ assessment provided by each student’s committee members on the student’s required first annual research update. Ph.D. students are required to give this update during their 5th semester, for students who decide to terminate their studies with a MS degree, the update will be scheduled during their 4th semester or earlier. In this fashion, the option serves both terminal MS students and Ph.D. students wishing to earn the MS degree en route to the Ph.D.

Course Requirements (30 hours)

• CHE hours and approved electives as needed to complete 30 hours total