Master of Science in Chemistry

Any UML undergraduate junior or senior with a grade point average of 3.000 or better may apply to a Master’s degree program under the Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Degree Option. For optimum flexibility, it is recommended that students apply during the second semester of their junior year. To be accepted into this option, the following minimum conditions must be met:

1. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or above in all chemistry (CHEM.XXX) courses at the time the baccalaureate degree is conferred in order to maintain eligibility for this option.
2. The student must apply for and receive their baccalaureate degree before matriculating into the graduate program.
3. Once accepted, a student must begin their graduate studies in the semester immediately following conferral of the baccalaureate degree. Admission under this option may not be deferred. Any applicant who is accepted to the Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Degree Option and who opts not to enroll in at least one course within the graduate department to which they have been accepted in the semester immediately following conferral of the bachelor’s degree will be required to take the GRE and have their application reassessed.

The BS/MS Program permits students, with a successful petition, to apply some graduate level courses taken as an undergraduate to be applied towards the MS degree.

1. Any graduate courses taken by a baccalaureate degree student that are credited towards the Master’s degree must have been obtained with a grade of B or better.  
2. Only courses of 5000 level or higher may count toward the Master’s degree.
3. A maximum of 12 graduate credits, taken as an undergraduate, may be applied towards the MS degree.  Students must file an Academic Petition to have these credits applied. Students may obtain these credits in a variety of ways as outlined below.
   • The program permits students to apply up to two graduate level chemistry courses required for the BS degree to also count towards the MS degree. Typical courses that could be applied to the MS degree are Modern Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry I and II, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Advanced Physical Chemistry and Chemistry of Natural Products.
   • Students may take one graduate course in a closely related discipline such as engineering, physics, biology or mathematics.
   • Graduate courses in chemistry taken in excess of the required credits for completion of their BS degree may be applied to the MS program.  
4. Students interested in pursuing the thesis MS option have the option of extending their undergraduate thesis research into the graduate program. Students pursuing this option would complete two courses and 12 credits of MS thesis research (CHEM.7490) in their fifth year, assuming they have completed the 12 credits of coursework as an undergraduate student.

BS/MS Program applicants can apply in the second semester of their third year as an undergraduate (up until the last day of classes in their final semester before graduation). Additional details can be found at the Bachelor's-to-Master's website.

Masters Degree without a thesis, by course work only:

• Taking courses including at least 3 different specializations of chemistry
• 30 credits
  • 10 courses of 3 credits each (graduate level courses of 5000 level or higher)
  • GPA >/=3.000
• Selection and fulfillment of one specialization

This NTMC degree ordinarily requires 30 credits with the following requirements:

• A total of 18 course credits (CHEM- or POLY-prefix) must be taken within the chemistry department at UMass Lowell.
• The remaining credits may be satisfied by either additional CHEM.XXXX or POLY.XXXX courses or by transfer of up to 12 credits from a closely related program at a domestic university, including UMass Lowell. 

Note: Students who wish to pursue the NTMC degree who currently hold a B.S. or B.A. degree in chemistry or a related science, but do not have previous laboratory experience, may be required to take up to three undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses to ensure that they have sufficient laboratory skills upon completion of their NTMC degree. 

Since advanced study is required in at least three disciplines of chemistry, a number of courses in Analytical/Environmental, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical and Polymer will be available every semester.

See the graduate catalog for course descriptions and complete degree requirements.

Learn more about graduate program application and admission requirements.

Master's Degree with a research thesis:

• Taking courses including at least 3 different specializations of chemistry
• 30 credits
  • 6 courses of 3 credits each (graduate level courses of 5000 level or higher)
  • And 4 courses/12 credits of research
  • GPA >/=3.000
• Selection and fulfillment of one specialization

See the graduate catalog for course descriptions and complete degree requirements.

An advisory committee should be selected jointly by the student and advisor at the earliest possible opportunity. A minimum of three (3) faculty members are required for the master's thesis committee. The student's advisor will serve as the chairperson of this advisory committee. 

The purpose of this committee is twofold. First, it will be responsible for ascertaining that the student's research was conducted and presented in final form, in a professional and acceptable manner. Perhaps of more importance, the committee will serve in an advisory capacity during the course of the research project. In this spirit it is recommended that the student convene a meeting of the selected committee prior to starting his/her research. The purpose of this meeting is to present an informal outline of the proposed research project.

Learn more about graduate program application and admission requirements.