MAS in Materials Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Master of Chemistry in Materials Chemistry (M.A.S.) at Illinois Institute of Technology is a professional graduate program focused on the design, synthesis, characterization, and properties of advanced materials and chemical systems, combining modern materials chemistry with computational and simulation methods. It suits students and working professionals seeking deeper expertise for careers in materials chemistry, research and development, chemical manufacturing, and related technical fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build the core scientific foundation through courses such as CHEM 505 Spectroscopic Methods I, CHEM 509 Physical Methods of Characterization, and CHEM 521 Structural Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, developing knowledge of analytical techniques, physical characterization, and the molecular structure of materials. The curriculum also introduces CHEM 522 Efficient Chemical and Materials Synthesis, giving students a stronger understanding of strategies used to create functional chemical and material systems.

Year 2: Students can deepen their specialization through CHEM 535 Polymer Synthesis, CHEM 542 Polymer Characterization and Analysis, CHEM 548 Electrochemical Methods, or other approved electives, depending on their interests. Options such as CHEM 454 Computational Quantum Chemistry, CHEM 524 Synthesis and Intellectual Property Management, and CHEM 539 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry allow students to connect materials chemistry with computational, commercial, pharmaceutical, and innovation-focused applications. The official curriculum requires 32 credit hours overall.

Focus areas: Materials synthesis, materials characterization, inorganic materials, polymers, computational chemistry, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, intellectual property and applied materials science.

Learning outcomes: Develop advanced understanding of materials synthesis and characterization; apply modern characterization and computational approaches; analyze the properties of chemical and material systems; design and manage technical projects; communicate technical information; and apply intellectual-property concepts to materials innovation.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Illinois Institute of Technology is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which evaluates the university’s academic offerings, governance, resources, finances, and continuous improvement. Illinois Tech states that its undergraduate chemistry degree is approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training; the official materials do not identify separate ACS accreditation for the M.A.S. in Materials Chemistry, so this should not be represented as accreditation of the master's program.

Reputation (employability rankings): Illinois Tech reports 85.6% full-time graduate employment six months after graduation in its 2025 First-Destination survey, based on self-reported responses from 90% of graduate degree recipients. The university also reports #1 in Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings and #1 in Illinois for highest eight-year median graduate earnings according to the 2025 Carnegie Foundation/American Council on Education data.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.A.S. in Materials Chemistry at Illinois Institute of Technology is designed around advanced materials chemistry, giving students opportunities to develop practical laboratory and research skills alongside graduate-level coursework. Students can engage with research in areas including materials chemistry, nanomaterials, polymers, energy materials, catalysis, and related chemical sciences, using Illinois Tech’s laboratory and instrumentation resources. The program’s Chicago location also places students within an ecosystem of technology, engineering, and scientific research, supporting interdisciplinary exposure.

Practical learning and research opportunities include:

Materials chemistry research: Students can participate in research involving nanomaterials, polymers, energy materials, catalysis, and advanced functional materials, connecting chemical principles with real materials-development challenges.
Advanced characterization: Illinois Tech provides research infrastructure supporting materials characterization and chemical analysis, allowing students to develop practical experience with modern analytical techniques and instrumentation.
Nanotechnology facilities: The university’s Microfabrication and Microfluidics Laboratory supports research involving micro- and nanoscale fabrication and characterization, providing an interdisciplinary environment relevant to materials and chemical research.
Materials research environment: Students can connect their materials chemistry studies with research conducted across chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, physics, and engineering, creating opportunities to apply chemistry knowledge to multidisciplinary materials problems.
Research laboratories: Illinois Tech’s Department of Chemistry maintains research laboratories where faculty and students investigate areas such as materials chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
Interdisciplinary research: The university’s research centers and institutes provide opportunities to work at the intersection of chemistry, materials, engineering, and technology rather than limiting students to a single disciplinary laboratory environment.
Chicago-area exposure: Illinois Tech’s location in Chicago provides access to a major research and technology ecosystem, supporting opportunities for professional networking and connections with organizations working in science, engineering, technology, and materials-related fields.
Library and digital research resources: Students have access to the Galvin Library, which provides electronic journals, databases, research guides, and other scholarly resources needed for graduate-level materials chemistry research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Chemistry in Materials Chemistry prepares graduates for careers spanning materials development, product and process development, research, and technical roles across industry, government, and academic environments. The curriculum combines advanced materials synthesis and characterization with areas such as polymers, electrochemical methods, computational chemistry, intellectual property, and project management, supporting roles such as Materials Chemist, Materials Engineer, Research Scientist, and Product/Process Development Scientist.

Career development and progression: Illinois Tech provides several university-wide resources that can help Materials Chemistry graduates translate their technical training into internships, industry connections, and full-time employment:

Career Services: Students receive career coaching, internship and co-op guidance, résumé and cover-letter reviews, mock interviews, networking support, and access to employer events and career fairs.
Handshake: Illinois Tech’s primary career platform connects students with job and internship postings, résumé services, on-campus interviews, employer events, and recruiting opportunities. Employers can post internships, co-ops, and full-time positions for Illinois Tech students and alumni.
Industry-connected opportunities: The IL Tech Career Network provides internships, co-ops, and experiential-learning opportunities specifically with Illinois Tech partner organizations, while Career Services also facilitates employer spotlights, career fairs, company events, and on-campus interviews.
Employment outcomes: Illinois Tech’s 2025 Graduate College Career Outcomes report states that 90% of graduates responded to the First Destination survey, and reports that within six months of graduation, the vast majority of advanced-degree graduates were employed full-time in their intended fields. The published outcomes cover multiple graduate programs rather than Materials Chemistry alone.
Salary figures: Illinois Tech’s official institutional data reports a $83,200 mean starting salary for graduate students in its published graduate outcomes data; this is university-wide graduate data and is not stated as a Materials Chemistry-specific salary. Illinois Tech notes that advanced-degree salary information is based on student-reported starting salaries and OPT data.
Materials and research partnerships: Illinois Tech maintains research connections with organizations such as Argonne National Laboratory through its joint-appointment program. Illinois Tech is also an original partner in the Department of Energy’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) hosted by Fermilab, whose renewed five-year funding phase began in 2026; the center focuses on superconducting quantum materials and quantum-computing technologies.
Applied research environment: Illinois Tech’s research infrastructure connects faculty and students with academic and industry partners through the Office of Sponsored Research, Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property, and corporate-relations staff. This is particularly relevant to Materials Chemistry because the degree itself incorporates synthesis, characterization, materials design, intellectual property management, and project management.
Long-term accreditation value: Illinois Tech is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The university states that HLC accreditation evaluates the institution’s academic offerings, governance, administration, mission, finances, and resources, providing continuing institutional recognition for the Illinois Tech degree.
Graduation outcomes: The Materials Chemistry program is specifically designed to prepare graduates for science careers in industry, business, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. Illinois Tech also offers a broader graduate pathway through its Chemistry portfolio, including the Ph.D. in Chemistry, while its academic programs include a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering for students seeking advanced research specialization.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into doctoral-level study, particularly the Ph.D. in Chemistry at Illinois Tech, where advanced research can build on their chemistry and materials background. Another relevant route is the Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, allowing students to move further into interdisciplinary materials research and development; Illinois Tech’s Chemistry curriculum also provides exposure to materials-focused research areas such as catalysis, energy storage, chemical sensing, and biomedical materials.