Chemical Sciences, M.S.

Saint Louis University's Department of Chemistry offers a Master of Science in Chemical Sciences.  

Program Highlights

• The M.S. in chemical sciences is a coursework, nonthesis degree.
• Many of SLU's graduate courses in chemistry are scheduled in the evening, allowing students to complete the degree part time.
• This flexibility allows students to tailor a program of study to suit their needs. For example, graduate courses in business and management, education, mathematics or other science disciplines may be included.
• In addition to the M.S. in chemical sciences, SLU's Department of Chemistry also offers a full-time, research-based M.S. in chemistry which requires a thesis. 

Curriculum Overview

The requirements for SLU's nonthesis M.S. degree in chemical sciences include a minimum of 30 credits of post-baccalaureate coursework.

Graduate Handbook

Careers

Possible careers for chemical sciences graduates include science teacher, pharmaceutical scientist, crime lab analyst, environmental chemist, fuels and materials scientist, and academic researcher.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should possess sufficient GPA and TOEFL (if applicable) scores and a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Bachelor's degrees usually are in chemistry or biochemistry, although other science majors will be considered.

Admission typically requires a minimum of 18 semester credits (minimum 2.8 GPA) of upper-division undergraduate chemistry courses, including organic chemistry (two semesters), quantitative analysis (one semester) and physical chemistry (two semesters). Students who do not meet these criteria may complete these prerequisites as part of their graduate program, though not for graduate credit.

Students who have not completed equivalent coursework in upper-level undergraduate inorganic chemistry and instrumental analysis will also be required to complete these courses, but they can be taken for departmental graduate credit.

Application Requirements

• Application form 
• Two letters of recommendation (three preferred)
• Résumé
• Goal statement describing educational/professional experience, career ambitions, and research interests (~2 pages)
• Interview (invited)

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students, along with the following:

• Demonstrate English-language proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority review given to applications received by Dec. 15 for the fall semester and by Sept. 1 for the spring semester.

Review Process

The Chemistry Graduate Committee votes on whether to admit, deny or waitlist applicants. Applicants on the waitlist may be offered admission in a future semester.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

Graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate expanded knowledge in chemistry. Exhibit understanding in the core areas of chemistry.
2. Demonstrate information literacy. Efficiently locate, evaluate, and apply scientific literature toward problems.
3. Communicate scientific information effectively. Present scientific information clearly and effectively in written or oral formats.
4. Apply ethical and professional standards. Practice responsible conduct of research and uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in all aspects of scientific work.

Graduate Chemistry Courses

Non-Course Requirements

Exit interview.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.  Grades of D and below are not considered passing and require repeating or replacement with another grad level course.

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

Students in the coursework chemical sciences, M.S., program commonly take one to three courses a semester, which means the timeline will vary for each student.

For more information about any School of Science and Engineering graduate program, email ssegrad-admissions@slu.edu.

For additional information about our program, please email the Chemistry graduate program coordinator at chemgrad@slu.edu.