Download The Master of Science Degree in Chemistry

M.S. Chemistry Student Handbook
2010-2011
The Master of Science Degree in Chemistry
The M.S. degree in Chemistry requires substantial original research on a project that culminates in a
thesis. A minimum of 30 credits in graduate courses and seminars (including thesis credit) are
required. All requirements for the degree and graduation must be completed within a period of seven
years.
 Graduates will attain a broad knowledge in five areas of Chemistry: analytical,
biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.
 Graduates will conduct novel research in Chemistry.
 Graduates will be prepared to continue on to advanced graduate (Ph.D.) programs.
I. Admission Requirements
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Candidates must have at least a 3.0 GPA for all upper division credits taken in their
previous B.S. or B.A. degree program to be admitted to REGULAR graduate student
status.
GRE scores are required. The score in two portions of the GRE (Verbal, quantitative or
analytical) must be in the 35th percentile or higher to be considered for admittance with
REGULAR status.
Lower GPA and/or GRE scores require graduate admissions committee approval to admit a
candidate under PROVISIONAL status. PROVISIONAL status will be removed upon
satisfactory completion of one year of graduate coursework (B or better in all classwork,
satisfactory progress toward completion of thesis research).
A number of courses are prerequisites for the M.S. degree program. Generally these will
have been taken as part of an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry. These
courses are: one year of calculus, one year of physics, one semester of analytical chemistry,
one year of organic chemistry, one year of physical chemistry, and either one semester of
inorganic chemistry or one semester of biochemistry. Because these are undergraduate
courses, any credit earned in taking these courses will not be applied toward the 30 credit
requirement for the M.S. degree.
Course work used as a prerequisite for a chemistry class must be no more than five years
old unless the student obtains the permission of the instructor and the department chair.
Students deficient in more than 9 credits of M.S. degree program prerequisites are
ineligible to apply for the program. Students deficient in 9 or less credits of prerequisite
coursework may apply for PROVISIONAL acceptance into the program. To remove the
PROVISIONAL status, the prerequisite coursework must be completed with a B grade or
higher in the first year of the program.
II. How to Apply:
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the department for advice on current application
deadlines at: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1520, Phone: (208) 426-3000, email: [email protected]. Applications
received prior to March 1 will receive priority for Fall semester entrance, although later applications
will be considered if space and support are available.
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M.S. Chemistry Student Handbook
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2010-2011
Applications for admission into the M.S. Chemistry Program can be found online at:
http://chemistry.boisestate.edu/. A complete application package will consist of:
 A cover letter expressing interest in admission to the program
 A completed application form
 Two letters of recommendation from science faculty at the applicants’
undergraduate institution.
 Transcripts of all prior college coursework (unofficial is acceptable)
 Official GRE scores
A complete application to the program should be delivered to the Graduate Program
Director, Dept. Chemistry & Biochemistry, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1520, Phone: (208) 426-3000, email: [email protected].
Application deadlines are approximately February 15 (for Fall admission) and August 15 (for
Spring admission).
Candidates will be evaluated by the Graduate Program Committee in March and September,
and notified by email and letter, of acceptance or rejection of admission into the program.
A letter of support from the Committee will be forwarded to the Graduate College to
indicate that the candidate has met the program requirements.
IMPORTANT. Candidates who are accepted into the program MUST still apply for
acceptance into the Graduate College at Boise State University. Application forms and
instructions can be found at http://www.boisestate.edu/gradcoll/index.html. Official
transcripts and GRE scores for the departmental program may still be used. A candidate is
not officially accepted as a graduate student into the M.S. Chemistry degree program
until their acceptance into the Graduate College is official.
III. M.S. Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Chemistry program will provide students with advanced training in
modern chemical research methods. The program is designed to provide students with a core
foundation in chemistry while maintaining course work flexibility. Table 1 lists the degree
requirements.
Table 1: Degree Requirements for Master of Science in Chemistry
Master of Science in Chemistry
Course Number and Title
Core Courses
Chem 500 Research Methods in Chemistry & Biochemistry
One course each from three different subdisciplines of Chemistry
except for Chem 580-589 and Chem 597
Chem 598 Seminar
Elective Courses
Additional coursework from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Any 500 or 600 Science, Math or Engineering electives as approved by the
supervisory committee
Preliminary Examination
Chem 600 (Thesis Proposal Defense)
Culminating Activity
Chem 593 Thesis
TOTAL
Credits
1
9
4
3
3
1
9
30
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M.S. Chemistry Student Handbook
2010-2011
The following requirements apply to the proposed two year degree program:
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Completion of 30 credits of course work and research.
Average GPA for graduate coursework of at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale.
Enrollment in CHEM 500 (Research Methods in Chemistry & Biochemistry) in the first
semester of graduate study.
Completion of three graduate chemistry courses in different sub-disciplines of Chemistry
(Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). One of these courses will be
in the area that the student is conducting research, while the other two will be in other subdisciplines. Course listings by sub-discipline can be found in Table 2.
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Table 2. Graduate Course by Sub-discipline
Analytical
CHEM 511
Biochemistry
BCHM 510, BCHM 511, BCHM 512, BCHM 513
Inorganic
CHEM 501, CHEM 551, CHEM 552
Organic
CHEM 507, CHEM 508, CHEM 509, CHEM 510, CHEM 540,
CHEM 560, CHEM 561
Physical
CHEM 521, CHEM 522, CHEM 523
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Enrollment in CHEM 598 (Seminar) every semester (4 cr total).
Completion of at least 6 credits of elective coursework.
Completion of at least 9 credits of CHEM 593 (Thesis research).
Completion of 1 credit CHEM 600 (Thesis defense). The thesis must be the result of
independent and original research by the student, and must constitute a significant
contribution to current knowledge in Chemistry. The thesis is defended at the final oral
examination which is conducted according to the procedures of the Graduate College.
Each student will form a thesis/project advisory committee, which will consist of at least
three members: the student's major professor (a Boise State University Dept. of Chemistry
& Biochemistry faculty member) and two other members from the Boise State University
faculty or other institutions. The committee will determine if academic deficiencies exist
that must be remedied, help design thesis/project research, help choose appropriate
graduate coursework, evaluate the thesis/project, and conduct the final defense.
IV. Financial Aid
A limited number of teaching assistantships that include a stipend, tuition and fee waiver, and
student health insurance are available to M.S. students on a competitive basis for the first year of
study. Additional M.S. student support may be available from faculty members in the form of
research assistantships. Other forms of financial aid (loans, work-study, etc) are available to
graduate students. Prospective students should contact the Financial Aid Office and consult the
Boise State University catalog.
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M.S. Chemistry Student Handbook
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V. Curriculum
CHEM 500 RESEARCH METHODS IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY (1-0-1) (F)
An introduction to project planning, literature assessment, report writing, and data management.
CHEM 501 ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (S) Atomic structure, molecular
structure using valence bond and molecular orbital theories, elementary group theory, transition
metal coordination chemistry, acids and bases, descriptive transition and non-transition metal
chemistry. PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 507 PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (S) (ALTERNATE YEARS)
Mechanisms of organic chemical reactions, stereochemistry, and conformational analysis. The
important types of organic reactions are discussed. Basic principles are emphasized; relatively little
attention is paid to the scope and synthetic applications of the reactions. PREREQ CHEM 309 and
CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 508 SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (F) (ODD YEARS) The scope and
limitations of the more important synthetic reactions are discussed within the framework of
multistep organic synthesis. PREREQ: CHEM 309 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 509 INTRODUCTION TO POLYMER CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (F) (EVEN YEARS) An
introduction to the concepts of polymer synthesis, characterization, structure, properties, and basic
fabrication processes. Emphasis is on practical polymer preparation, on the fundamental kinetics and
mechanisms of polymerization, and on structure-property relationship. PREREQ: CHEM 309 or
PERM/INST.
CHEM 510 ORGANIC POLYMER SYNTHESIS (3-0-3) (S) (ALTERNATE YEARS) A study
of the synthesis and reactions of polymers. Emphasis is on practical polymer preparation and on the
fundamental kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization reactions. Topics include: relationship of
synthesis and structure, characterization of polymer structure, step-growth polymerization, chaingrowth polymerization via radical, ionic and coordination intermediates, copolymerization.
PREREQ: CHEM 309 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 511 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (F). Stoichiometry involved in
separations and instrumental methods of analysis. The course will be flexible in nature to adapt to
the varied background of the expected students. PREREQ: CHEM 322 and CHEM 212.
CHEM 521 QUANTUM CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (F) (ODD YEARS) Formal introduction to
quantum mechanics, Dirac notation, angular momentum and operator algebra. Emphasis will be
placed on electronic structure theory, reaction mechanisms and the use of modern quantum
chemistry theoretical packages. PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PHYS 309 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 522 SPECTROSCOPY (3-0-3) (DEMAND) Concepts and practical usage of modern
chemical spectroscopic techniques, including electronic absorption, infrared/Raman, X-Ray/EXAFS,
magnetic resonance and magnetic circular dichroism. Emphasis will be placed on the application of
these techniques to the structure/function characterization of chemical and biochemical systems.
PREREQ: CHEM 521 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 523 CHEMICAL KINETICS (3-0-3) (F) (EVEN YEARS) A comprehensive study of the
role of quantum chemistry and thermodynamics in chemical reactions. Emphasis will be placed on
determining reaction coordinates and transition states. Extensive use will be made of modern
computational chemical computer programs for calculating potential energy surfaces and transition
states. PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
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M.S. Chemistry Student Handbook
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CHEM 540 SPECTROMETRIC IDENTIFICATION (3-0-3) (S). Identification of compounds
using modern spectrometric techniques. PREREQ: CHEM 309 and CHEM 321.
CHEM 551 BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (S) (EVEN YEARS). Exploration of the
vital roles that metals play in biochemical systems. Emphasis is on transition metals in biology.
Course will focus on structural, regulatory, catalytic, transport and redox functions of bioinorganic
systems. PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 552 ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (S) (ALTERNATE YEARS). An
examination of the organometallic chemistry of the main group and transition elements. Topics to
include: structure and bonding of complexes having pi ligands, transition metal mediated organic
synthesis, homogeneous catalysis. PREREQ: CHEM 401 or 501 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 560 INTRODUCTION TO NMR SPECTROSCOPY (1-3-2) (DEMAND). This course
will instruct students on the theory and practice of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.
Emphasis will be placed on using the NMR spectrometer to solve a variety of chemical and
biological problems. PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
CHEM 561 INTRODUCTION TO MOLECULAR MODELING AND COMPUTATIONAL
CHEMISTRY (1-3-2) (DEMAND). Overview of modern computational chemistry. Use of
computational chemistry tools and their application to problems of chemical and biological interest.
PREREQ: CHEM 322 or PERM/INST.
Biochemistry Course Offerings
BCHM 510 ADVANCED PROTEIN CHEMISTRY (3-0-3) (S) (EVEN YEARS). An in-depth
study of proteins that focuses on amino acid chemistry, protein structure, protein folding, and protein
function. This course will discuss modern methods of protein characterization and the use of
bioinformatics in understanding the chemistry/function of proteins. Given the recent developments
in the proteomics, several of the high-throughput approaches to identifying proteins assessing
function will also be investigated. Extensive use of primary literature is expected. PREREQ: CHEM
431 and CHEM 322 OR PERM/INST.
BCHM 511 NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM (3-0-3) (DEMAND). An in-depth study of the
metabolism of both DNA and RNA at the molecular/mechanistic level. This course will cover the
mechanisms DNA replication, transcription, translation, transposition and repair, as well as those for
RNA splicing, catalysis, silencing and interference RNA. Bioinformatics approaches and modern
techniques for studying DNA/RNA and their interactions with proteins will be discussed. Extensive
use of primary literature is expected. PREREQ: CHEM 431 or PERM/INST.
BCHM 512 INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM (3-0-3) (DEMAND). An investigation into
several anabolic, catabolic, and signaling processes in the cell. Special attention will be given to
molecular mechanisms and regulation. Extensive use of primary literature is expected. PREREQ:
CHEM 431 or PERM/INST.
BCHM 513 ADVANCED ENZYMOLOGY (3-0-3) (S) (ODD YEARS). A deeper look into the
catalytic and kinetic mechanisms of enzymes. Modern methods for studying enzymes will be
included as well as learning strategies for studying steady state and transient enzyme kinetics.
Extensive use of primary literature is expected. PREREQ: CHEM 431 and CHEM 322 or
PERM/INST.
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