MS Chemistry

The M.S. in Chemistry at American University places strong emphasis on research and hands-on laboratory training, with students learning to design, conduct, and analyze original research under individual faculty mentorship. The program’s modern teaching and research laboratories contain specialized chemical instrumentation, while the three study tracks—Applied Chemistry, Clinical Biochemistry, and Chemistry & Society—provide opportunities to develop practical skills relevant to research, clinical laboratories, pharmaceuticals, biodefense, and other chemistry-related fields.

• Research laboratories: Students can work in specialized laboratories for inert-atmosphere chemistry, biochemistry, polymer chemistry, nanomaterials chemistry, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry, alongside modern teaching and research laboratories.
• Instrumentation: Chemistry research facilities include a 400 MHz Bruker NMR spectrometer, JEOL scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), 3200 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer, Shimadzu UV-2550 UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and Buchi Sepacore preparative column system.
• Clinical laboratory experience: Students following the Clinical Biochemistry Track receive hands-on experience in a clinical laboratory setting and learn to operate analytical instrumentation used in clinical environments, safely handle clinical samples, and interpret and communicate results.
• Original research: Students design, conduct, and analyze their own research and complete a master’s thesis of publishable quality, giving the program a substantial research component rather than relying solely on classroom learning.
• Research proposal skills: Students learn to write grant proposals for research funding, building practical skills in developing and communicating scientific research projects.
• Internships: The Chemistry & Society Track allows students to connect advanced chemistry with broader societal issues through an internship or independent study, and students can also take a for-credit internship as part of the capstone experience.
• External research opportunities: American University students have opportunities for internships, work-study arrangements, special research arrangements and cooperative programs with major Washington-area laboratories, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NASA, Naval Research Laboratory, and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
• Specialized research exposure: These external opportunities can give students experience with specialized equipment and research scientists outside the university, extending practical training beyond the American University laboratory environment.
• Computational chemistry: American University identifies computational chemistry as a dedicated research area and maintains specialized computational chemistry laboratory capability within the Chemistry Department.
• Research facilities: The Department of Chemistry's research facilities include microscopy, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chromatography and other instrumentation supporting faculty and student research; its microscopy facilities also provide training and support for advanced electron microscopy.
• Research network: The department's Washington, DC location provides access to a broader scientific research environment, with students able to attend seminars and use research facilities at organizations such as NIH, FDA and NIST. 

The M.S. in Chemistry at American University is designed to prepare graduates for careers in research, development, education, administration, pharmaceuticals, clinical laboratories and biodefense, while also building the laboratory and computational skills needed for doctoral study. The program emphasizes specialized laboratory research, individual mentorship and experience with research scientists outside the university, giving students a direct connection to Washington, DC’s scientific and biotechnology ecosystem.

Typical job roles: Research Chemist, Laboratory Scientist, Biochemist, Quality Control/Research and Development Scientist.

• Career services: American University's Career Center supports graduate students with one-to-one career advising, job and internship searches, resume and cover-letter development, interview preparation, networking and employer events; students can also use Handshake to access AU-specific jobs and internships and register for recruitment events.
• Employment opportunities: The university reports 90% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation for the M.S. Chemistry program; AU notes that because of the small number of responses for this major, the outcome is reported for the broader area. The department also reports that 100% of graduates were employed, in graduate school, or both, based on 2021–2023 graduates whose status was confirmed six months after graduation.
• Salary figures: A program-specific graduate salary figure is not stated on the official American University M.S. Chemistry sources reviewed, so no salary figure is provided.
• Industry and research connections: Chemistry students can gain exposure to Washington, DC research institutions including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The department also identifies alumni working for Solenis and PolyLC, as well as government laboratories and agencies including NIST, the Department of State, the DEA and Prince George’s County Police Department.
• Internship and employer access: American University's Career Center reports that 56% of graduate students complete one or more internships before graduation, and the university facilitates employer connections through job and internship fairs, on-campus interviews, employer information sessions, networking receptions and Handshake.
• Professional accreditation: The Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), providing an established professional connection to the chemistry discipline; however, the official university source does not separately state that the M.S. Chemistry degree itself carries ACS certification.
• Graduation outcomes: American University reports that graduates have progressed to respected PhD and MD programs, including Princeton University, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of Delaware and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, while others have entered private-sector and government laboratory careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S. in Chemistry, students can apply to PhD programs in chemistry or related scientific disciplines, with the program explicitly designed to prepare students for doctoral study. The university's graduate outcomes include students progressing to PhD and MD programs, while the research and laboratory experience gained through the master's can support applications to advanced research-focused programs.