Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: chemgrad [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: www.chem.indiana.edu
(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin. Requirements may or may not be reflected identically in departmental URLs.)
Curriculum
Degrees Offered
Master of Science, Master of Arts for Teachers, and Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Biology. The department also participates in the biochemistry, chemical physics, library science, information science, SPEA, and molecular and cellular biology programs.
Fields of Study
Analytical, inorganic, materials, organic, physical chemistry, and chemical biology.
Special Department Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate degree in chemistry, physics, mathematics, or the biological sciences. Students with undergraduate degrees in other areas of the physical sciences or engineering are also encouraged to apply. Students are admitted to the program only with the approval of the Chemistry Graduate Admissions Committee.
Grades
At least a B (3.0) average in work for the advanced degree. Grades below C (2.0) are not counted toward the completion of degree requirements, but will be counted in determining a student’s grade point average.
Master of Science Degree - Chemistry
This degree may be conferred upon the holder of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in another discipline.
Course Requirements
These requirements are flexible and are planned and approved by the graduate committee. A minimum of 30 credit hours in chemistry are required. At least 9 credit hours of course work in the major field offered in fulfillment of the M.S. degree must be in courses numbered 500 or above (excluding thesis work).
Thesis
Required.
Master of Science in Chemistry/Master of Science in Environmental Science (SPEA)
This dual degree may be conferred upon the holder of a bachelor's degree or master's degree in another discipline.
Admission Requirements
The department of Chemistry and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) offer a two-year, 51 credit hour program that qualifies students for two master's degrees. A student must apply to and be accepted by both the Chemistry Deparment and by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs for study toward an M.S. degree in Chemistry and an M.S. in Environmental Science. The student will receive graduate advising in both the Chemistry Department and SPEA. Both degrees can be conferred upon the holder of a bachelor's degree or master's degree in another discipline.
Course Requirements
A minimum of 51 total credit hours with a minimum of 21 credits required in both chemistry and environmental science, distributed among the following six areas of chemistry and environmental science: (1) chemistry core (9 cr.); (2) envrinomental science core (9 cr.); (3) economics, policy, and law competencies (6-9 cr.); (4) tool skills (3-5 cr.); (5) environmental chemistry concentration (15-18 cr.); and (6) an experiential reqirement (3 cr.). One of the 3-credit hour courses must involve team participation in an integrative project that addresses a multidisciplinary problem. This course may be in either of the concentrations or in the tool skill courses.
Experiential Requirement
A minimum of three credits associated with an approved experiential assignment, such as an intership or prior employment, is required.
Thesis
The thesis requirement is waived for the dual M.S. Chemistry/M.S.E.S. degrees.
Master of Science for Teachers Degree
The M.A.. program permits a secondary scThool teacher with minimum training in chemistry to achieve certification for the teaching major in chemistry in the secondary school. Teachers already holding such certification may strengthen their training by taking advanced lecture and laboratory work in chemistry. Students with B.A. or B.S. degrees in chemistry, but with no education courses, may complete requirements for a secondary Indiana teaching certificate and strengthen their chemistry training.
Admission Requirements
Eighteen (18) credit hours of chemistry, including one semester each of general, quantitative, and organic chemistry. Deficiencies must be removed without graduate credit. Continuance in the program will depend upon the results received in courses taken during the first semester of summer in the program; alternatively, a qualifying examination may be administered after either one semester or one summer in the program.
General Requirements
A total of 36 credit hours, of which a minimum of 20 credit hours must be in courses in chemistry that carry graduate credit. A maximum of 6 credit hours of undergraduate courses may be applied toward the M.A.T. degree. For a student having an unusually strong undergraduate background in chemistry or biochemistry (e.g., a B.S. degree), some of the required 20 credit hours in advanced chemistry courses may be in other areas of science and mathematics, if approved in advance by the graduate advisor. A student completing the requirements for the M.A.T. degree in chemistry must also have met the requirements for certification for a teaching major in science in the secondary school. Consult Education Student Services (Wright Education Building 1064, [812] 856-8511) for details.
Lecture-Course Requirements
Twelve (12) credit hours, distributed as follows: 6 credit hours in one of the following six fields: analytical, biological, inorganic, materials, organic, or physical chemistry; and 3 credit hours in each of two of the remaining four fields. Lecture courses may be selected from those at the 500 level or with departmental approval from any of the following undergraduate courses: analytical, A314, A318; biological, C481, C483, C484, C485; inorganic, C430; organic, C342, S342, C443; physical, C360, C361, S361, C362, S362, C460.
Laboratory-Course Requirements
Two (2) credit hours chosen so that the student’s total background in advanced laboratory courses will include credit in three different fields. The following, and comparable courses taken elsewhere, will qualify with departmental approval: A315, C344, S344, P364, C437, P464, C487.
Electives
Additional courses in chemistry may count with departmental approval at the 400 level or above to give a total of at least 20 credit hours (including course work in the preceding two categories). Up to 16 credit hours in courses may count with departmental approval at the 300 level or above in mathematics, biological sciences, physical sciences, or education carrying graduate credit.
Final Examination
Either oral or written, or both.
Master of Library Science/Master of Information Science Degree Information Specialist (Chemistry)
Offered by the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). Students in this joint program receive the Master of Library Science degree or the Master of Information Science degree, and are certified as information specialists in chemistry.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or the equivalent.
Course Requirements: M.I.S.
Foundation and Specialization course requirements (15 credit hours); and as electives courses L570, L624, and additional courses to total at least 36 credit hours. Additional courses are to be chosen in consultation with advisors in SLIS and Chemistry to bring the total graduate credit hours to 42.
Course Requirements: M.L.S.
Foundation courses (15 credit hours); and as electives courses L570, L624, and additional SLIS courses to total at least 30 credit hours. The additional courses are to be chosen in consultation with advisors in SLIS and Chemistry to bring the total graduate credit hours to 36.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The program leading to the Ph.D. degree emphasizes the attainment of a high level of competency in a specialized area of chemistry, but also requires the development of broad knowledge and experience. By the time the degree is earned, the student should show promise of becoming a capable and independent investigator in chemistry. The major emphasis for the Ph.D. is on research while in residence on the Bloomington campus. Research should be the student’s greatest challenge and the focus of the major portion of his or her energy. The student’s attitude toward and progress in research is a most important factor in graduate committee decisions.
Course Requirements
A total of 90 credit hours, of which at least 24 credit hours must be in course work. Students may major in analytical, biological, inorganic, materials, organic, or physical chemistry. Doctoral students majoring in a field of chemistry are required to complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work in that field, following a sequence of courses approved by their advisory committee.
A doctoral student in chemistry can choose to minor within the Chemistry department or can elect to minor in some other department. In the latter case, the requirements are specified by the minor department. Students electing to minor within the department must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours in areas of chemistry other than the major area. The course work comprising an inside minor must be approved by the advisory committee.
All doctoral students in chemistry are required to enroll in C500 Introduction to Research during their first year of study.
Foreign-Language/Tool-Skill Requirement
The department has no formal foreign language or tool-skill requirement, but Ph.D. advisory committees may consider such courses essential for individual students.
Qualifying Examinations
To remain in good standing, each student must successfully complete the Chemistry seminar course in the chosen major (A800, B800, M800, N800, R800, or P800) during the third and fourth semester, and present a literature seminar by the end of the second year. In the fifth semester, students meet with their advisory committees to review past performance in both the major and minor areas and to evaluate plans for completing the Ph.D. This review includes a seminar, written document, and oral examination. A written exam is included for Chemical Biology majors. Current information concerning probation, termination, and reinstatement policies may be obtained from the departmental graduate office.
Final Examination
Usually oral, covering dissertation, major, and minors, and also a seminar describing the dissertation.
Ph.D. Minor in Chemistry
Students from other departments who wish to minor in chemistry must complete at least 6 credit hours of graduate course work in chemistry with an average of B (3.0) or above.
Ph.D. Minor in Sustainable Energy Science
Students in Chemistry who wish to minor in Sustainable Energy Science must complete 12 credit hours of study, 9 of which are in coursework that includes (1) GEOG-G542, (2) a course on a specific energy type, and (3) one course on implications of energy use. Contact the departmental Graduate Office for appropriate courses.
Ph.D. Minor in Quantitative Biology (Q.B.)
Students wanting to minor in Q.B. are required to complete 4 - 1.5 credit courses offered in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Physics and Medical Sciences. Contact the departmental Graduate Office for appropriate courses.