M.S. Chemistry, Experiential Track – Department of Chemistry

A candidate for the Master’s degree, Experiential Track (Plan A) must complete a total of at least 30 credits of graduate coursework. Up to 10 graduate credits in Chemistry or Biochemistry may be transferred from other institutions. Graduate courses offered outside of the program may be taken for graduate credit, with prior approval.

To graduate, the cumulative GPA from lecture-course credits must be a 3.0 or higher. Any student whose average lecture-course GPA for a given semester falls below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Only one C or C+ and a maximum of 9 credits may be counted towards the 30 credits.

Click the folder icon to see the requirements for the M.S. in Chemistry.

The list of requirements are also available in the Course Catalog.

Coursework. At least 18 credits of lecture/laboratory coursework must be completed from:
56:160:500-level Any 500-level graduate chemistry lecture course
56:115:500-level Any 500-level graduate biochemistry lecture course
56:160:500-level Any 500-level chemistry laboratory course
56:115:500-level Any 500-level biochemistry laboratory course
One Advanced Chemistry (115 or 160) Course may be substituted with a 500- level graduate Computational & Integrative Biology 121 lecture course

Thesis/Research Credit. Up to 6 credits may be taken in the Independent Study research courses (56:160:619,620 or 56:115:619,620). Up to 6 credits may be taken in preparing a research thesis (56:160:701,702 or 56:115:701,702). Only a maximum of 10 combined credits of independent study and research can be counted towards the thesis-based M.S.

Research Seminar. All students must accumulate at least 2 credits of 56:160:601,602.

Faculty Adviser and Committee. All students will find a faculty adviser (by mutual consent) at the beginning of their first semester. With the guidance of the faculty adviser, two other individuals will be appointed to form the student’s thesis committee. The committee oversees the selection of a research project, judges the acceptability of the thesis, and conducts the final examination.

Research Initiation. When a student is ready to begin a research project, an outline of the proposed topic is presented during seminar to the graduate faculty for approval. The deadline is mid-semester of the student’s second term as a full-time student. The student is expected to inform members of the student’s committee of the date and time of the research proposal.

Completed Thesis. The thesis must be approved by the director of the student’s research committee and then accepted by the other committee members. For May graduation, the oral presentation and exam must be completed by mid-April. The thesis must be submitted online via the Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) system. The thesis deadline adheres to the same deadline as the Application for Admission to Candidacy for Degree. This can be found by visiting https://graduateschool.camden.rutgers.edu/files/Application-for-Admission-to-Candidacy-for-Degree.pdf. Students should be sure to follow the guidelines set forth in the Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide, which can be found at https://dept.camden.rutgers.edu/graduate-school/files/Thesis-Style-Guide.

Thesis Presentation and Final Examination. The thesis presentation is given during the semester in which the student completed his or her course of study. The presentation is open to the public and possibly scheduled as a research seminar.

A diploma application must be submitted online in accordance with the deadlines that can be found at https://graduateschool.camden.rutgers.edu/graduation. The Application for Admission to Candidacy for Degree (side one) should be completed by the candidate and submitted to the graduate director prior to the examination. Application forms are available at https://graduateschool.camden.rutgers.edu/files/Application-for-Admission-to-Candidacy-for-Degree.pdf. The student must inform the graduate director of the intent to complete the final examination. The examination must be completed in accordance with the schedule established by the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School-Camden and the chemistry program. In the event of an unfavorable decision, the examination may be repeated twice.

The recommended 2-year sequence for M.S. Experiential Track is:

Year 1Year 1-SummerYear 2Year 2-Summer

Year 1 – Fall (9 total credits)
Step 1: Select Thesis Adviser – Explore Our Research and meet with potential Advisers. Inform Graduate Program Director of the Adviser who has agreed to your placement in their laboratory or group.
Step 2: Register for Graduate Chemistry Courses – 9 credits of approved courses, listed below*
Step 3: In consultation with Thesis Adviser, select Thesis Committee – Inform Graduate Program Director of Thesis Committee Members
Step 4: Begin research project

Year 1 – Spring (9 total credits)
Step 1: Register for 56:160:601, Seminar – 1 credit, Present Thesis Proposal
Step 2: Register for Graduate Chemistry Courses – 6 credits of approved courses, listed below*
Step 3: Register for 56:160:620 or 56:115:620, Independent Study – 2 credits
Step 4: Continue research project

*Graduate Chemistry Courses
56:160:500-level Any 500-level graduate chemistry lecture course
56:115:500-level Any 500-level graduate biochemistry lecture course
56:160:500-level Any 500-level chemistry laboratory course
56:115:500-level Any 500-level biochemistry laboratory course
One Advanced Chemistry (115 or 160) Course may be substituted with a 500- level graduate Computational & Integrative Biology 121 lecture course

Year 1 – Summer (0 total credits)
Step 1: In consultation with Thesis Adviser, update thesis committee on research progress
Step 2: Continue research project

Year 2 – Fall (6 total credits)
Step 1: Register for Graduate Chemistry Courses – 3 credits of approved courses, listed below*
Step 2: Register for 56:160:619 or 56:115:619, Independent Study – 3 credits

Year 2 – Spring (6 total credits)
Step 1: Register for 56:160:602, Seminar – 1 credit, Present Thesis
Step 2: Register for 56:160:702 or 56:115:702, Research – 5 credits
Step 3: If Spring graduation is expected, submit Online Diploma Application & Application for Admission to Candidacy for Degree by Due Date – Due Dates and Applications available at Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Step 4: If Spring graduation is expected, hand in Thesis to Thesis Adviser for review and revision – Mutually agreed upon timeline using University Thesis Style Guide
Step 5: If Spring graduation is expected, submit final version of Thesis to Committee – Submit final version of Thesis through the Electronic Thesis & Dissertations Portal by the Due Date

Year 2 – Summer (0 total credits)
Review your progress with adviser and committee. If a summer graduation is expected, complete the following steps:
Step 1: If Summer graduation is expected, submit Online Diploma Application & Application for Admission to Candidacy for Degree by Due Date – Due Dates and Applications available at Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Step 2: If Summer graduation is expected, hand in Thesis to Thesis Adviser for review and revision – Mutually agreed upon timeline using University Thesis Style Guide
Step 3: If Summer graduation is expected, submit final version of Thesis to Committee – Submit final version of Thesis through the Electronic Thesis & Dissertations Portal by the Due Date