Master of Science in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Brandeis University

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Brandeis University is a two-year, research-focused graduate program designed for students who want to deepen their chemistry knowledge and develop advanced research skills under the guidance of faculty mentors. The program combines graduate-level coursework across areas such as inorganic, materials, organic, physical chemistry and chemical biology with a second year devoted to research culminating in a master’s thesis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced knowledge through six graduate-level chemistry lecture courses selected from at least two areas among inorganic, materials, organic, physical chemistry and chemical biology. The first year also includes CHEM 300c: Chemistry Colloquium, a specialty seminar such as CHEM 230b: Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Seminar or CHEM 240b: Physical Chemistry and Materials Seminar, and training in responsible scientific research.

Year 2: The second year shifts from primarily structured coursework to intensive independent research under the guidance of a chemistry faculty member, allowing students to apply advanced chemical concepts and laboratory techniques to an original research project. Students complete research leading to a master’s thesis and continue participating in the department’s scientific community through colloquia and specialty seminars.

Focus areas: Inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical biology, with research opportunities supported by advanced NMR, X-ray, spectroscopy, chromatography and other analytical facilities.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, develop graduate-level expertise in at least one chemistry subarea, locate and evaluate scientific literature, communicate scientific results orally and in writing, conduct research using technical and problem-solving skills, and practice ethical scientific research.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official Brandeis sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation or ACS certification for the M.S. in Chemistry.

Reputation (employability rankings): Brandeis reports that its chemistry graduate students have achieved continued success in professional careers in academia and industry, supported by research productivity, high-quality publications, close faculty mentoring and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation. The university also reports that 98% of its Class of 2025 undergraduates were employed, attending graduate school or engaged in meaningful activities six months after graduation; this figure is university-wide and is not specific to M.S. Chemistry graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The two-year M.S. in Chemistry at Brandeis is strongly research-oriented: students continue beyond coursework to carry out a research project under the guidance of a chemistry faculty member and present a seminar in their chosen specialty. Students work in a close-mentoring environment, with individual faculty typically directing groups of 4–6 graduate students, and have access to advanced instrumentation spanning spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, crystallography, chromatography and materials characterization.

Research projects: Each M.S. student completes a research project under the supervision of a chemistry faculty member, providing direct experience in designing and conducting research rather than completing coursework alone. Students also participate in the departmental colloquium and present a seminar in their selected specialty.
NMR facility: The Brandeis University Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility (BrUNMR) provides access to four well-equipped spectrometers ranging from 400 to 800 MHz, including instruments used for small-molecule analysis and multidimensional structural and dynamic studies of biomolecules. NMR facility staff also establish training protocols and train users in spectrometer operation.
Mass spectrometry: The Brandeis University Mass Spectrometry Facility supports proteomic, metabolomic and structural-confirmation analyses, with capabilities covering sample preparation, mass spectrometry and data analysis.
Advanced instrumentation: Chemistry students can access ESR, UPLC-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, solid-state NMR, circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometers, GC/MS, computerized UV-visible and Fourier-transform IR spectrometers. The department also provides controlled-atmosphere dry boxes, continuous-flow stirred-tank reactors, gas and liquid chromatography equipment and laser sources.
Structural analysis: The Brandeis X-ray Structure Determination Facility uses a Bruker-Nonius Kappa Apex II CCD instrument for determining the molecular structures of small-molecule crystalline samples, while the Laboratory for Structural Enzymology and Neurology houses two high-end protein crystallography systems for macromolecular structure determination.
Materials characterization: Students can apply powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism and chromatography techniques including GC-MS, LC-MS and HPLC to research problems.
Research areas: Experiential research can be aligned with Brandeis faculty work in biophysical chemistry, chemical biology, materials science, organic chemistry and physical chemistry, allowing students to develop practical expertise within a specific research group.
Technical facilities: The Chemistry Department's Machine Shop provides custom fabrication capabilities for research projects, giving students and research groups access to specialized fabrication support when experimental equipment or components need to be developed or modified.
Research computing: Brandeis maintains a School of Science, Engineering and Technology Research Computing Office that supports the computational needs of research laboratories and research staff, complementing experimental chemistry work with computational resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Brandeis University develops advanced scientific and research capabilities that can support careers in chemistry, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, as well as further academic research. The Chemistry Department reports that its graduate students have established professional careers in both academia and industry, with research spanning organic, physical, biophysical and materials chemistry.

Typical job roles: Analytical Scientist, Research Scientist, Chemist, Pharmaceutical Scientist.

Career services: Brandeis’ Hiatt Career Center provides access to internships, research and job opportunities, career-focused appointments, application and interview preparation, employer networking, career fairs and more than 12,000 organizations posting opportunities for Brandeis students. Graduate students can also use the Office of Graduate Affairs, which provides science-specific job-search resources such as Handshake and myIDP.
Employment statistics: Brandeis reports that 98% of the Class of 2025 was employed, attending graduate school or engaged in another meaningful activity within six months of graduation; the reported first-destination breakdown was 56.9% employed, 39.1% in graduate school, 2.3% in other activities and 1.7% seeking employment. This is university-wide graduate outcome data rather than an M.S. Chemistry-specific statistic.
Salary figures: Brandeis’ 2024–25 Hiatt Annual Report reports an average starting salary of $65,364 for the Class of 2024, with 26% receiving a first-year bonus averaging $15,031. These figures represent Brandeis graduates overall and are not reported specifically for M.S. Chemistry graduates.
University–industry connections: Brandeis places students within the Boston-area scientific and innovation ecosystem, with the Chemistry Department specifically noting opportunities for internships, research and employment in the surrounding region. Chemistry alumni examples include an analytical scientist at SEQENS, while the department has also documented a chemistry PhD graduate's industry internship with Indium Corporation focused on thermal-interface materials and nanofabrics.
Industry career preparation: The Chemistry Department reports that graduate education combines rigorous coursework, seminars and research with training in communication, teaching and collaboration, helping students develop skills relevant to both academic and industrial careers.
Graduation outcomes: Brandeis' centralized outcomes data shows graduates moving into employment, advanced study and other meaningful activities, while its Chemistry Department specifically highlights continued professional success in academia and industry. The university's Class of 2025 data also records admission to advanced programs including a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Emory University.
Accreditation value: The official Brandeis Chemistry sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation or ACS certification specifically for the M.S. in Chemistry, so no program-specific accreditation claim is made here.

Further Academic Progression: After the M.S., students can pursue doctoral-level study in chemistry or related scientific fields. Brandeis itself offers a Ph.D. in Chemistry, with research opportunities in areas including organic, physical, biophysical and materials chemistry; the doctoral program also connects with fields such as biochemistry, biology, computer science, mathematics and physics.