Master of Science in Chemistry

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

Northeastern University

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Northeastern University is a flexible, rigorous graduate program designed for students and working professionals seeking advanced knowledge in both fundamental and applied chemistry, with full-time and part-time study available over 2–3 years. Students can tailor their studies through Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Chemical Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry concentrations, or pursue the coursework option, with subjects spanning analytical separations, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, molecular modeling, bioorganic chemistry, materials, medicinal chemistry, polymers, and environmental chemistry.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced expertise through graduate-level chemistry courses selected according to their concentration or coursework pathway. For example, the Analytical Chemistry concentration includes CHEM 5611 Analytical Separations, CHEM 5612 Principles of Mass Spectrometry, and CHEM 5628 Principles of Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds, while the Chemical Biology concentration develops biological chemistry knowledge through CHEM 5621 Principles of Chemical Biology and CHEM 5676 Bioorganic Chemistry.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization with advanced electives and interdisciplinary subjects. Depending on their chosen pathway, coursework can include CHEM 5638 Molecular Modeling, CHEM 5648 Chemical Principles and Application of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, CHEM 5640 Biopolymeric Materials, CHEM 5692 Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage, or CHEM 5670 Global Biogeochemistry.

Year 3: The university does not prescribe a separate third-year curriculum; the MS is officially listed as 2–3 years, allowing students to complete the required 30 semester hours according to their full-time or part-time study plan. Students choosing the optional thesis route can undertake CHEM 5984 Research, complete CHEM 5904 Seminar or CHEM 8504 Graduate Seminar, take CHEM 5501 Chemical Safety in the Research Laboratory, and complete CHEM 7990 Thesis.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, chemical biology, chemical toxicology and environmental chemistry, medicinal chemistry, polymer and materials chemistry, inorganic chemistry, environmental chemistry, computational chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Develop advanced chemistry expertise, strengthen analytical and applied chemistry capabilities, build knowledge relevant to industry and research, and develop the professional skills needed for broader leadership opportunities in chemistry.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Northeastern’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology offers an American Chemical Society-certified undergraduate BS in Chemistry; the official MS Chemistry information does not state that the MS itself carries separate ACS program accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings): Northeastern states that its MS in Chemistry ranks in the top 20 nationally and describes the university as a top producer of chemistry MS and PhD degrees in Boston. Northeastern also reports that 96% of its graduates are employed or in graduate school within nine months of graduation, based on its 2025 graduate outcomes data updated in July 2026; this is a university-wide figure rather than an MS Chemistry-specific rate.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Northeastern University combines advanced chemistry coursework with practical, industry-oriented learning and optional co-op experience. Students can tailor their studies through areas such as analytical chemistry, chemical biology, chemical toxicology and environmental chemistry, while research-active faculty connect classroom learning with current applications in chemistry and chemical biology. The program also places students within Northeastern’s Boston research ecosystem, where dedicated facilities provide access to advanced analytical instrumentation and research technologies.

Hands-on learning and specialist resources include:

Optional co-op: MS Chemistry students can choose an optional co-op to gain real-world professional experience while completing the degree. Northeastern’s graduate co-ops place students in paid positions with companies, government organizations, and nonprofits, providing direct workplace experience and professional connections.
Laboratory-based learning: Northeastern’s experiential-learning model incorporates laboratory work using advanced technologies and techniques, allowing students to apply chemistry concepts to practical problems.
Mass Spectrometry Facility: The department’s facility houses advanced liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry instrumentation, including three Thermo Orbitrap systems for proteomics, small-molecule analysis, and native-protein analysis, plus a Thermo triple quadrupole for targeted analysis.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility: Students involved in relevant research can work within a facility containing five NMR spectrometers and one EPR spectrometer supporting teaching and sponsored research.
Advanced analytical methods: Chemistry research at Northeastern includes techniques involving NMR, LC-MS, molecular modelling, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and chemical analysis, particularly within analytical, medicinal, environmental, and chemical-biology research.
Barnett Institute: The Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis provides an advanced research environment focused on biopharmaceutical characterization, proteomics, systems biology, analytical chemistry, and development of new instrumentation and analytical methods.
Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory: The BATL provides practical training covering the biomanufacturing process, including biologics production and analysis, quality control, medical devices, and end-product testing.
Research laboratories: Northeastern’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology has more than 30 laboratories and research groups, covering areas such as analytical chemistry, chemical biology, computational chemistry, environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, organic and medicinal chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Interdisciplinary institutes: Students can engage with research environments such as the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, which develops imaging technologies for studying chemical processes in living systems, and the Center for Renewable Energy Technology/Laboratory for Electrochemical Advanced Power, which focuses on renewable energy and green chemistry.
Wet Lab Makerspace: Northeastern’s Wet Lab Makerspace includes a flow cytometer, inverted fluorescent microscope, UV/Vis spectrophotometer, and equipment for pH, conductivity, and dissolved-oxygen measurement, supporting chemistry and molecular-biology projects.
Real-world projects: Northeastern’s experiential-learning approach can incorporate case studies, experience-based projects, discussions, and scenario-based simulations into coursework, allowing students to apply technical knowledge to practical situations.
Industry-connected research: Northeastern has maintained technology and research relationships with organizations including Thermo Fisher Scientific, while the Barnett Institute conducts research with industrial applications and collaborations in biopharmaceutical analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Northeastern University is designed to deepen advanced chemistry expertise and prepare graduates for broader professional and leadership opportunities across analytical chemistry, chemical biology, environmental chemistry, materials, medicinal chemistry, and related fields. The optional co-op also gives students a route to gain professional experience alongside their graduate studies, supporting career paths such as Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Research Scientist, and Laboratory Scientist.

Career development and opportunities:

Career services: Northeastern’s Employer Engagement and Career Design provides graduate students with career coaching, resume and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, job and co-op search support, career exploration, industry guides, virtual career tools, employer events, and access to NUworks for job, internship, and co-op opportunities.
Employment statistics: Northeastern reports that more than 50% of its graduates who participate in co-op secure full-time offers from their co-op employers. This is a university-wide co-op statistic rather than a Chemistry MS-specific placement rate.
Salary information: Northeastern's official career platform provides annual earnings, employment trends, top employers, job titles, and technical-skill data through its Lightcast-powered Job Market Trends tool. The MS Chemistry program page itself does not publish a program-specific graduate salary figure, so a Chemistry MS salary should be recorded as not stated by Northeastern rather than inferred from another source.
Co-op opportunities: The MS Chemistry curriculum includes an optional co-op experience, with required preparation through courses such as EESC 6400 Pre-co-op Work Experience and EESC 6500 Pathways to Professional Success. Depending on the chosen chemistry pathway, students can also develop preparation in chemical biology, spectroscopy, molecular modeling, computational chemistry, or chemical-science data analytics.
University–industry partnerships: Northeastern’s Chemistry and Chemical Biology community has established industry connections, including a documented collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) involving chemistry and chemical biology research and industry mentoring. Northeastern faculty also conduct research with Boston-area pharmaceutical industry partners, including work involving Seropeutics, demonstrating connections between university chemistry research and pharmaceutical development.
Industry-facing research: Northeastern states that its Chemistry and Chemical Biology research spans areas including medicinal chemistry, polymer and materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, computational chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical biology, giving graduates skills relevant to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, materials, environmental, and research organizations.
Accreditation value: Northeastern University has maintained institutional accreditation with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 1940; the university's current accreditation was reviewed in 2018, with another review scheduled for fall 2028. This provides continuing institutional recognition of the university's academic quality and standards.
Graduation outcomes: Northeastern describes the MS Chemistry as preparing students for industry leadership and broader professional opportunities, while the department's wider chemistry ecosystem supports careers across academia, industry, and research. The university also offers an advanced-entry Chemistry PhD pathway for students who already hold a master's degree in chemistry or a related field.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MS in Chemistry, students can pursue a PhD in Chemistry at Northeastern or another institution. Northeastern's Chemistry PhD accepts students with a bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry or related areas and offers research strengths in clean energy, polymers, materials, medicinal chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, and chemical biology; master's-level study can also provide a route into Northeastern's advanced-entry PhD option with fewer required course credits.