Master's Programs in Chemistry

Specializations are offered in analytical, applied chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, material chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer science, and sustainable chemistry. This program provides opportunity for advanced study and research training in chemistry, both general and specialized. Provision also is made for the student to elect certain advanced subjects in related fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering.

The Department of Chemistry also offers two Professional Science Master's Options in Chemistry (one in chemistry and polymer science and the other in pharmaceutical biochemistry) which have different requirements than those outlined below. These PSM programs are no longer accepting applications.

Program General Requirements for all Chemistry MS:

Masters 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 of the following specializations
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 of the following specializations

Requirements/Chemistry Program Specializations:

Analytical Chemistry Specialization:

REQUIRED two of the following courses:

and two courses of the following:

For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research.
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 12 credits to complete 30 credits)

Applied Chemistry non-thesis Specialization:

Required (12 credits):

and two courses of the following (6 credits):

18 credits are accounted for above, thus 4 free electives may be taken.

Biochemistry Specialization:

Required:

and any three courses of the following:

For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research.
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 12 credits to complete 30 credits)

Inorganic Chemistry Specialization

Required:

and two courses of the following:

For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research.
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 12 credits to complete 30 credits)

Material Chemistry Specialization

Required:
and two courses of the following:
For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research and choose any 1 graduate (5000-level or higher) chemistry course (worth the final 3 credits to complete 30 credits)
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 15 credits to complete 30 credits)

Organic Chemistry Specialization:

Required:

and at least two courses from the following:

For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research and choose any 1 graduate (5000-level or higher) chemistry course (worth the final 3 credits to complete 30 credits)
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 15 credits to complete 30 credits)

Physical Chemistry Specialization:

Required:
and at least two courses from the following:
For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research and choose any 1 graduate (5000-level or higher) chemistry course (worth the final 3 credits to complete 30 credits)
For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 15 credits to complete 30 credits)

Polymer Science Specialization:

Required:

and two courses of the following:
For an MS with thesis, include 12 credits (4 courses) of laboratory research.

For an NTMS without thesis, choose any 4 graduate (5000 level or higher) chemistry courses (worth the final 12 credits to complete 30 credits)

And Polymer Seminar:

Each semester the student is required to attend and participate in the chemistry seminar/colloquium program CHEM.6010,6020,6030 and 6040. In addition, a master's candidate is required to present one seminar in 6020 - Polymer Science Seminar.

Although the design of the academic program is the responsibility of the student's advisory committee, the following listing provides recommended courses for program development.

Polymer Science Specialization First Semester Subjects

Polymer Science Specialization Second Semester Subjects


Sustainable Chemistry Specialization with a thesis path:

Required: (15 credits)
and two courses of the following (6 credits):

Sustainable Chemistry MS Specialization non-thesis path:

Required (15 credits):

and two courses from the following (6 credits):

21 credits are accounted for above, thus 3 free electives may be taken.

Seminar Requirement

Each semester the student is required to attend and participate in the chemistry seminar/colloquium program CHEM.6010,6020, 6030 and 6040. In addition, a master's candidate is required to present one seminar.

Thesis Advisory Committee

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 informally present an outline of the proposed research project.

Non-Thesis Masters in Chemistry (NTMC)

This program provides opportunity for advanced study in chemistry that must include at least three of the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, or polymer chemistry.

Credit Requirements 

The NTMC degree requires 30 credits (10 courses). The following NTMC requirements must be met:

  1. A total of 18 course credits (CHEM or POLY prefix) must be taken within the Chemistry Department at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
  2. The remaining credits may be satisfied by either additional CHEM or POLY courses or by transfer of up to 12 credits from a closely related program at a domestic university, including University of Massachusetts 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.

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