Master of Science in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Georgia Tech is designed for students who want advanced training across traditional chemistry disciplines while developing the research and analytical skills needed for scientific careers or further graduate study. Students can choose a thesis or non-thesis pathway, with coursework spanning chemistry, biochemistry and interdisciplinary areas and the thesis option providing an opportunity to conduct original research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their specialization through graduate-level coursework and begin developing advanced knowledge in areas such as inorganic, analytical, organic and physical chemistry. Depending on their interests, coursework can include CHEM 6170 Inorganic Chemistry I, CHEM 6271 Analytical Chemistry I, CHEM 6370 Organic Reaction Mechanisms, or CHEM 6470 Physical Chemistry I, while CHEM 7001 Introduction to Research introduces students to research activities.

Year 2: Students deepen their chosen specialization and complete the remaining degree requirements through advanced coursework, research and seminars. Thesis students complete CHEM 7000 Master's Thesis, CHEM 8002 Information Resources for Chemists and Biochemists, and CHEM 8003 Student Seminar, culminating in a thesis based on original research; non-thesis students complete additional specialization/elective coursework alongside CHEM 7001 Introduction to Research and CHEM 8003 Student Seminar.

Focus areas: Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Polymer Chemistry, plus interdisciplinary and other specialization areas approved by the director of graduate studies.

Learning outcomes: Advanced chemical knowledge, research skills, scientific literature and information-resource skills, analytical problem-solving, research communication, seminar presentation, and—through the thesis option—the ability to conduct and document original chemistry or biochemistry research.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Georgia Tech states that its B.S. in Chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS); the official M.S. Chemistry page does not state that the M.S. itself carries ACS certification, so no separate M.S. accreditation is claimed here.

Reputation (employability rankings): Georgia Tech's official 2026 rankings report places its graduate Chemistry program No. 20 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings; Georgia Tech also reports Analytical Chemistry No. 11, Physical Chemistry No. 14, Theoretical Chemistry No. 18 and Inorganic Chemistry No. 20 in the cited U.S. News specialty rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Master of Science in Chemistry at Georgia Tech can develop advanced practical and research skills through the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s interdisciplinary research environment. The program provides access to specialized facilities for chemical synthesis, molecular characterization, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, computational chemistry and materials research, with research activities involving faculty, graduate students and other research teams. M.S. students following the thesis plan can select a research advisor, develop an approved thesis project and use Georgia Tech’s research infrastructure to investigate contemporary chemistry problems.

Key experiential learning opportunities include:

Research thesis: The M.S. offers a thesis plan in which students select a research advisor, obtain approval for their thesis topic and complete research leading to an M.S. thesis.
Interdisciplinary research: Students can engage with research spanning organic electronics, chemical evolution, optical and mass spectrometry imaging, computational chemistry, astro-biochemistry, molecular biophysics, biomaterials and laser dynamics, giving the degree a strong cross-disciplinary dimension.
NMR Center: The Georgia Tech NMR Center provides access to solution NMR instruments up to 800 MHz, solid-state NMR capabilities up to 700 MHz and small-specimen imaging, supporting advanced molecular and materials characterization.
Mass spectrometry: The Campus Mass Spectrometry Facility provides molecular mass analysis for Georgia Tech researchers and external academic and industrial institutions, giving chemistry researchers access to sophisticated analytical capabilities.
Materials characterization: Georgia Tech’s research environment includes specialized instrumentation for synthesis and characterization of chemicals, biomolecules and materials, supporting experimental research across multiple chemistry fields.
Computational chemistry and software: Research at the School includes computational chemistry and the development of new theoretical methods and software, providing opportunities to work with computational approaches alongside experimental chemistry.
Scientific equipment engineering: The School’s Equipment Engineering and Support Services provides design, fabrication and repair services for scientific equipment, exposing researchers to a research environment where specialized instrumentation can be developed and maintained.
Scientific glassblowing: Georgia Tech operates scientific glassblowing services through the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, supporting specialized laboratory and research equipment needs.
Collaborative research facilities: Chemistry research is distributed across facilities including the Molecular Science and Engineering Building (MoSE), Institute for Bioscience and Bioengineering (IBB), Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T), Boggs Building and Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST), encouraging interaction with researchers from chemistry, biochemistry, engineering and other disciplines.
Research centers: Students can benefit from research communities working on areas such as functional materials, molecular interfaces, disease-related biochemical signatures, bio-renewable fuels and chemical origins of life.
Research presentations: The School provides a research-focused graduate environment where students can participate in scholarly research activities; Georgia Tech also provides in-house poster printing for faculty, researchers and graduate students presenting their work.
Industry-linked analytical resources: Georgia Tech’s chemistry mass spectrometry facility provides services not only to campus researchers but also to academic and industrial institutions, connecting the research environment with external scientific and industrial users.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Science in Chemistry at Georgia Tech can pursue advanced chemistry careers across industry, government laboratories and research organizations, with the thesis option providing direct experience in original chemical or interdisciplinary research. Georgia Tech reports that School of Chemistry and Biochemistry graduates work with major corporations, federal agencies, national laboratories and academic institutions, creating pathways into research, laboratory and scientific roles.

Career opportunities: Research Scientist, Chemist, Laboratory Manager, Materials Scientist.

Career support and progression:

Career advising: Georgia Tech's Graduate Career Development team provides master's students with one-to-one career advising, workshops, employer events and access to the Graduate Internship Program, with support covering industry, government, nonprofit and other non-academic careers.
Employment resources: Students can use CareerBuzz, résumé and CV resources, AI-powered résumé feedback through BigResume, networking guidance, job boards, career fairs and employer information sessions.
Internships: Georgia Tech's Graduate Internship Program supports MS/PhD students seeking internship experiences and provides opportunities to work with industry and government leaders.
Employment outcomes: The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry reports graduates working at companies including Intel, Dow, DuPont, Phillips 66, Solvay, Celanese, Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola, as well as NASA, CDC, the Department of Homeland Security, NIST and U.S. national laboratories.
Employment statistics and salary: Georgia Tech's published 2023–24 Career and Salary Outcomes Report does not provide a reported employment percentage or salary figure for the Chemistry master's in the available chemistry row; therefore, a program-specific master's salary or employment rate is not stated. Georgia Tech does publish a $100,450 average salary for chemists from the U.S. Department of Labor on its undergraduate chemistry information page, but this is not an MS-specific outcome and should not be treated as the graduate program's salary figure.
Industry and research connections: Georgia Tech's School of Chemistry and Biochemistry maintains strong connections with industry and government through graduate employment and research activity. Its research ecosystem includes interdisciplinary centers in organic electronics, optical and mass spectrometry imaging, computational chemistry, biomaterials and other areas; Georgia Tech also participates in BioMADE, a large bioindustrial manufacturing collaboration involving companies, universities and government partners.
Research partnerships: A current example is the 2026 collaboration between Georgia Tech and Savannah River National Laboratory, involving School of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty research in mass spectrometry.
Accreditation value: Georgia Tech is institutionally accredited to award master's degrees. The university specifically states that the B.S. in Chemistry is ACS-certified; an ACS professional certification is not stated for the M.S. in Chemistry, so no ACS accreditation claim is made for this master's degree.
Graduation outcomes: The M.S. is available through thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis pathway requires original research and a master's thesis, while the non-thesis option is a terminal degree; Georgia Tech describes the School's graduates as progressing into corporate, government, national-laboratory and academic positions.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue to doctoral-level study after the M.S., including the Ph.D. in Chemistry at Georgia Tech. The School also offers doctoral pathways in areas such as Bioinformatics and Quantitative Biosciences, while the M.S. can provide a bridge toward further graduate or professional education; the thesis option is particularly relevant for students seeking research-intensive doctoral study.