DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Program Links: MS in Chemistry, MED in Secondary Education, MS in Forensic Science, Course Descriptions

The graduate program in Chemistry is designed to train chemists for careers in business, industry or academics. This degree is also appropriate for those students planning to continue their training in Ph.D. programs at other institutions.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Master of Science program in Chemistry must submit the Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the one-time application fee to the Office of Graduate Studies, official transcripts of all college-level work (including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred), official GRE scores, and three letters of recommendation. The Chemistry Department requirements are as follow:

  1. A major or minor in Chemistry or commensurate industrial experience,
  2. A GPA of at least 2.5 in undergraduate Chemistry courses,
  3. Submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam.

For a final admissions decision, a holistic review of each student's application file will be completed on a competitive basis.

The Department of Chemistry offers classes in a wide variety of chemical subjects including analytical, forensic, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, toxicology and biochemistry.

Degree requirements

Master of Science, 30 Semester Hours without minor and with Thesis

24 graduate semester hours of Chemistry
6 semester hours of research and thesis

Master of Science, 30 Semester Hours with Minor and Thesis

12 graduate semester hours of Chemistry
6 semester hours of research and thesis
12 graduate semester hours in a minor field that logically supports the major (Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, etc.).

Master of Science, 36 Semester Hours with minor, Non-Thesis

24 graduate semester hours of Chemistry
12 graduate semester hours in a minor field that logically supports the major (Computing Science, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, etc.)

Master of Science, 36 Semester Hours without minor, Non-Thesis

36 graduate semester hours of Chemistry

Master of Education in Secondary Education

This degree plan is designed primarily for the secondary teacher. All such degrees originate in the College of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and require the completion of a minimum of thirty-six hours of graduate credit, thirty of which must be in courses numbered 500 or above. Twelve to twenty-four hours of professional education coursework are required (twelve hours minimum for minor and 6 hours minimum for a second minor). A comprehensive examination is required. Based on review of a student's undergraduate transcript, the Department of Chemistry may require completion of undergraduate stem courses. The degree requires 36 hours of graduate credit as described below:

12-24 semester hours of graduate credit in Chemistry
12-24 semester hours of professional education courses

Other information

Advisory Committee: For students completing a thesis, a thesis research project will begin in the second semester of graduate work. The student and the thesis director, with approval from the chair, will select two additional faculty members to serve as the thesis committee. Once enrolled in a thesis class, a student must be continually enrolled until graduation.

Period of Study: Students taking 9 semester hours of course work each long semester and 3 semester hours each summer session will be expected to finish their graduate program within two years. A minimum of three long semesters and two summer sessions is required.

Comprehensive exam and oral thesis defense: All graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive exam based on their coursework. The nature of this exam, which may be written and/or oral, will be determined by the faculty in consultation with the student's thesis director. MS students will be tested on three of five areas (Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Biochemistry). Students must be enrolled the semester that they take comprehensive examinations. An oral presentation of the thesis to the faculty in a seminar format is required, and the thesis must be defended before the student's thesis committee.

Master of Science in Forensic Science. The Master of Science in Forensic Science program requires the completion of 44 graduate semester hours of core and forensic science coursework that can be completed in two years. The program is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities essential to forensic science. This unique and Interdisciplinary program was the first of its kind in Texas. Graduate level topics include crime scene Investigation, pattern evidence, instrumental analysis, trace evidence and microscopic analysis, forensic biology, forensic toxicology, law/science interface, ethics and quality assurance. These core topics are complemented with advanced coursework and laboratory instruction. The program maintains strong ties with accredited forensic laboratories in both the private and public sectors. Students are required to complete an internship in a forensic laboratory, complete an Independent research project and demonstrate good oral and written skills that will prepare them for future success in both the laboratory and in the courtroom.

The Program of Study**

Required courses:

CJ 622 Forensic Science Proseminar
CHM 545 Forensic Instrumental Analysis*
CJ 560 Forensic Analysis of Pattern Evidence
CJ 531 Techniques for Crime Scene Investigation
BIO 540 Forensic Biology*
CHM 546 Forensic Toxicology and Drug Chemistry*
CHM 535 Trace Evidence and Microscopic Analysis*
CJ 671 Forensic Science Internship*
CJ 516 Seminar in Forensic Science
CJ 526 Law and Forensic Science
CJ 524 Quality Assurance and Ethical Conduct in Forensic Science
CJ 685 Statistics for Criminal Justice Research
CJ 614 Forensic Science Capstone Course*

After consultation with appropriate advisors, students typically establish a focus in either forensic biology or chemistry. Completion of additional coursework may include, but is not limited to the following electives:

BIO 530 Forensic Entomology
BIO 534 Electron Microscopy
BIO 564 Cell Structure and Physiology
BIO 591 Advanced Genetics
BIO 595 Population Genetics
CHM 568 Analytical Spectroscopy
CHM 572 Advanced Biochemistry I
CHM 585 Advanced Forensic Toxicology
CJ 694 Advanced Forensic DNA
CJ 533 Forensic Anthropology*
CJ 532 Perspectives in Criminology
CJ 694 Firearms and Toolmarks

 

* Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

NOTE: Curriculum may be adapted to meet the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

Senior Courses Open to Graduate Students

CHM 440 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (Credit 4)
CHM 441 Methods for Environmental and Industrial Analyses (Credit 4)
CHM 442 Air Quality (Credit 4)
CHM 448 Physical Chemistry I (Credit 4)
CHM 467 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Credit 3)
CHM 449 Physical Chemistry II (Credit 4)

A maximum of six hours of 400-level courses may be taken toward the completion of the master’s degree. Course requirements in 400-level courses will be appropriately modified for graduate credit.

Course Descriptions: