MS in Chemistry

The MS in Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago gives students a research-focused graduate experience with opportunities to work closely with faculty in analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Depending on the degree option, students can complete a research thesis or project, gaining hands-on experience in UIC laboratories and using advanced instrumentation through the Department of Chemistry and university-wide research facilities. UIC’s research environment includes specialized spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, microscopy, diffraction, computational and nanotechnology resources, giving students access to equipment used for modern chemical research.

Students can build practical research skills through these program-specific opportunities:

• Research thesis and project: The MS offers a coursework-plus-thesis option in which students conduct research and submit and defend a thesis, as well as a project option requiring an approved project report.
• Faculty research groups: Graduate students work with faculty research advisors and develop skills as independent researchers and problem-solvers. UIC Chemistry research spans analytical, chemical education, inorganic, organic, physical and biochemistry.
• Chemistry Core Facility: Students can access a dedicated facility containing JASCO circular dichroism, UV-visible-NIR and FTIR spectrometers, a FluoroMax-4 spectrofluorometer, Cary spectrophotometer and LC-MS. Users receive training before operating the facility.
• NMR research: UIC has a dedicated NMR Facility with multiple spectrometers. Independent users must complete authorization/training before operating the instruments, providing structured experience with advanced NMR techniques.
• Mass spectrometry: The Mass Spectrometry Core provides access to QTRAP, Agilent QQQ, Q-TOF, MALDI-TOF, ICP and Orbitrap instruments for applications including quantitative analysis, accurate molecular-weight determination, metabolomics, proteomics and metal analysis.
• Advanced research instrumentation: The university’s Research Resource Center provides access to electron microscopy, X-ray, NMR, optical and mass-spectrometry infrastructure. Major chemistry equipment also includes Bruker D8 Discover microdiffractometers, Bruker D8 Advance powder diffractometers and TA Instruments thermal analysis equipment.
• Structural biology research: UIC’s Center for Structural Biology provides access to advanced calorimetry and spectroscopy resources, including a 900 MHz NMR spectrometer, supporting interdisciplinary chemical and biochemical research.
• Nanotechnology: Students whose research intersects with materials, chemical or nanoscale technologies can benefit from the Nanotechnology Core Facility, which supports microfluidic, MEMS/nano, chemical, optical and photonic device research.
• Computational and data support: UIC’s Research Resources Center provides statistical and computational support for data handling, data transfer and interpretation of experimental results.
• Research workshops and technical development: UIC maintains specialized machine, electronics and glass shops. The Machine Shop builds research equipment that is not commercially available, while the Electronics Shop supports digital and analog equipment development and the Glass Shop creates specialized research glassware.
• Chicago research connections: UIC Chemistry identifies collaborative opportunities with institutions including Argonne National Laboratory, adding an external research dimension to the department’s scientific environment.
• Laboratory-based graduate training: The department houses research laboratories in dedicated chemistry buildings, with faculty-led research across several chemistry disciplines. The MS handbook also encourages students to begin research early in the program.
• Internships and group projects: The official MS Chemistry materials emphasize thesis/project research and faculty-led laboratory work rather than specifying a required internship or a particular group-project component; therefore, a mandatory internship or group project is not stated for this program.

The MS in Chemistry combines advanced coursework with the option to complete research and a thesis, giving graduates preparation for laboratory, research, scientific and technical careers. UIC’s chemistry department spans analytical, biochemistry, educational, inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry, with cross-disciplinary work in areas such as catalyst and battery design, drug discovery, neurochemistry and nanoscience.

Career opportunities: Research Scientist, Laboratory Manager, Environmental Specialist, Regulatory Affairs Professional. UIC’s official Chemistry career resources also highlight alumni working in roles such as Research Scientist/Senior Laboratory Manager, Regulatory Affairs Director, Environmental Specialist and Quality Assurance Manager.

Career development and graduate outcomes:

• Career Services: UIC provides individual career advising, career assessments, interview preparation, job and career fairs, workshops, graduate-school advising, and access to job and internship opportunities through Handshake.
• Handshake: Graduate students can use Handshake to find full-time, internship, part-time and on-campus employment opportunities and can schedule appointments with UIC Career Services advisors through the platform.
• Chemistry career guidance: UIC’s Chemistry career resource connects chemistry study with professional pathways and provides examples of alumni careers spanning regulatory affairs, environmental services, research, laboratory management and quality assurance.
• Employment statistics: UIC does not publish a program-specific employment rate for the MS in Chemistry on its official program or Chemistry career pages, so a specific employment percentage is not stated.
• Salary figures: A program-specific graduate salary figure for the MS in Chemistry is not published by UIC on the official program pages, so no salary number is added.
• Research and industry connections: UIC Chemistry has collaborative research links with Argonne National Laboratory, including chemistry research conducted across UIC and Argonne facilities. UIC researchers also collaborate with Argonne and other national laboratories through interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Specific research collaboration: UIC Chemistry researchers have collaborated with Argonne National Laboratory and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on battery research, including work published in Nature Chemistry.
• Industry-connected legacy: UIC’s Paaren and Marino Chemistry fellowship program is connected to the history of Tetrionics, an FDA-approved contract manufacturer of high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients that was later acquired by Sigma-Aldrich; the endowment supports chemistry graduate fellowships and undergraduate summer internships.
• Accreditation value: UIC does not state a separate professional accreditation for the MS in Chemistry on its official program page; therefore, no additional accreditation claim is made. The degree is an official UIC Master of Science offered through the Graduate College.
• Graduation outcomes: The program provides three completion routes—coursework only, coursework plus examination, or coursework plus thesis—allowing students to tailor the master's toward advanced coursework or research experience. UIC also notes that the MS is not a prerequisite for its Chemistry PhD, with students normally admitted directly to the doctoral program.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can progress into the PhD in Chemistry at UIC or pursue doctoral study at other universities and research institutions. At UIC, the Chemistry PhD offers research across analytical, biochemistry, educational, inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry, as well as cross-disciplinary areas such as catalyst and battery design, drug discovery, neurochemistry and nanoscience.