Program Requirements

While students are completing a BS degree in chemistry, they may also complete some of the requirements for an MS degree in chemistry by participating in the BS/MS program using the following guidelines:

• The student must apply and be accepted for participation in the BS/MS program prior to completion of the BS degree in consultation with both the undergraduate and graduate advisors. Students must complete a 4+1 intent form to formally declare this program, as they work very closely with undergraduate and graduate advisors to ensure they are on track and completing requirements as necessary.

• Up to 12 semester hours of graduate-level course work may be taken as an undergraduate and applied toward the MS degree. With prior approval, these courses may also be applied toward the BS Chemistry , BS Biochemistry  or ACS certification requirements  for the BS Chemistry degree.
• The chemistry department will waive the requirement for placement examinations in each area of chemistry for which the student has completed the undergraduate sequence of courses and laboratories at the Downtown Campus with grades of B (3.0) or better for each course.
• The student must apply for and be admitted to the MS program the semester that they plan to complete the BS Chemistry , BS Biochemistry  or ACS certification requirements  at the Downtown Campus.

The BS/MS program allows undergraduate students who have begun their research as undergraduates to complete up to 12 semester hours toward the 30 semester hours required for an MS degree in chemistry while they are still completing their BS degree. This makes it possible for students to complete an MS degree in chemistry in only one year beyond the BS degree in chemistry  or biochemistry . Students entering the MS program through the BS/MS program option must fulfill all of the requirements of the Plan I or Plan II MS degree programs, which can be found here.