Chemistry was one of the College’s original majors, established in 1924. Professors Dr. Agatha Riehl, OSB and Sister Petra Lenta, OSB were pioneers in the cancer biology field in the 1950s. We are proud to carry on the vibrant chemistry intellectual tradition with this master’s program and our faculty are dedicated to the education and career preparation of their students. 

Program

The M.S. in Chemistry will develop a student's ability to integrate advanced chemistry knowledge and critical-thinking skills to effectively approach scientific problems grounded in chemistry. In addition, graduates will gain the ability to clearly and persuasively communicate advanced scientific ideas across scientific disciplines and to non-scientists alike.

The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for successful careers in industry or chemistry education. It is anchored by four core courses covering fundamental chemistry concepts in thermodynamics, bonding, effective scientific communication and spectroscopy. These core courses are supplemented by 10 elective courses spanning all sub-disciplines of chemistry, including chemistry education.

Program strengths and outcomes

• Students will be able to articulate an understanding of complex concepts in several chemistry sub-disciplines, such as biochemistry, chemical education, analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry
• Critically read and evaluate scientific literature to develop critical assessment of scientific ideas
• Effectively communicate complex scientific concepts, consequences and the rationale underpinning conclusions, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously
• Examine scientific ethical issues to properly identify ethical responsibility in science-related professions
• Integrate advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills to evaluate scientific problems to gain new scientific insight

Advantages of a M.S. in Chemistry

• Career advancement for industry professionals and educators 
• Compensation increases across career fields 

Career outlook

Opportunities for those holding an M.S. in Chemistry exist in both the industrial and academic job markets. As reported by the American Chemical Society's ChemCensus Survey (2015), chemists holding master’s degrees have steadily comprised about 20% of the industrial workforce since 1985. In addition, industrial chemists with advanced degrees (master’s vs. bachelor’s) also report a wider variety of potential career opportunities, such as applied research and development and management positions. 

An M.S. in Chemistry will advance secondary education instructors interested in teaching concurrent enrollment classes or making salary scale lane changes. Based on the Higher Learning Commission guidelines for academic college program accreditation, all instructors teaching concurrent enrollment / bachelor’s level classes must possess either:

• a master’s degree in their content area
• a master’s degree in any area but have taken at least 18 credits of discipline-specific coursework

Other potential career opportunities:

• Forensic Science Technicians
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists
• Laboratory Managers 
• Increased preparation for pursuing a Ph.D. degree in chemistry or a closely-related science