MS in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemistry at Illinois Institute of Technology is designed for students who want to deepen their chemistry knowledge, develop creative and critical thinking skills, and gain advanced exposure to state-of-the-art chemical techniques. The program suits students targeting careers in academia, industry or government, with research spanning physical, polymer, organic, inorganic, analytical and biological chemistry and applications in catalysis, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, materials and sustainable energy.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced chemistry expertise through courses selected according to their interests, with options such as CHEM 455: Advanced Organic Chemistry, CHEM 503: Survey of Analytical Chemistry, and CHEM 520: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. The curriculum also includes CHEM 584: Graduate Seminar in Chemistry and CHEM 585: Chemistry Colloquium, giving students exposure to graduate-level chemical research and professional scientific discussions.

Year 2: Students continue with specialized coursework or research depending on their chosen pathway, including subjects such as CHEM 535: Polymer Synthesis and CHEM 550: Theoretical and Computational Quantum Chemistry. Thesis-option students undertake CHEM 591: Research and Thesis, complete original research and defend their thesis, while non-thesis students complete coursework and an oral comprehensive examination by the end of the fourth semester.

Focus areas: Physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biological chemistry, catalysis, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, materials, sustainable energy, chemical sensing and computational chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to think creatively and critically, broaden and deepen their knowledge of state-of-the-art chemical techniques, and apply advanced chemistry to real-world problems in areas including catalysis, pharmaceuticals, materials and sustainable energy.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Illinois Tech is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university's official accreditation information identifies ABET accreditation for its B.S. in Chemical Engineering, but does not state a separate professional accreditation for the M.S. in Chemistry.

Reputation (employability rankings): Illinois Tech reports #1 in Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings, while its 2026 TIME/Statista ranking places the university #91 in the U.S. and #265 worldwide. The university also reports 85.6% of graduate-degree recipients employed full-time six months after graduation in its 2025 First-Destination Survey, although this figure is university-wide rather than specific to M.S. Chemistry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemistry at Illinois Institute of Technology gives students opportunities to develop practical skills through advanced laboratory coursework, research projects, laboratory rotations and specialized instrumentation. Depending on their chosen pathway, students can undertake original research through CHEM 591: Research and Thesis, while the coursework-only option includes hands-on subjects such as CHEM 526: Graduate Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM 560: Advanced Chemistry Projects and CHEM 561: Laboratory Rotations. The program’s research environment spans analytical, biological, computational, inorganic, materials, organic, polymer, surface, physical and medicinal chemistry.

Research laboratories: Students can access state-of-the-art chemistry laboratories for inorganic, organic and polymer synthesis and characterization, along with facilities supporting analytical and materials research.
Advanced instrumentation: Research facilities include X-ray diffraction, high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV-Vis spectrometers, FTIR spectrometers, Raman spectrometer, fluorescence spectrometer, mass spectrometers, atomic force microscope, fluorescence microscope, differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer.
Analytical techniques: Graduate chemistry coursework exposes students to practical analytical methods involving high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), atomic spectrometry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.
Research projects: The coursework-only pathway includes CHEM 560: Advanced Chemistry Projects, while the thesis pathway requires 6–8 credit hours of CHEM 591: Research and Thesis and an original research thesis followed by an oral defense.
Laboratory rotations: CHEM 561: Laboratory Rotations provides a dedicated mechanism for students in the coursework-only option to gain exposure to different laboratory environments and research activities.
Computational tools: The department maintains high-performance computer clusters for computational chemistry and related research, supporting work in areas including computational chemistry, materials chemistry and theoretical research.
Sensor research: The International Center for Sensor Science and Engineering (ICSSE) brings together researchers from academia, industry and research laboratories, with facilities including an atomic force microscope, thermal evaporator, cell culture facility, research computing cluster and Quantum Design Physical Properties Measurement System.
Industry and national-lab collaboration: Illinois Tech's Chemistry Department has a strong collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, giving researchers access to advanced research and instrumentation facilities; collaborative programs also extend to the Advanced Photon Source.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemistry at Illinois Institute of Technology can support progression into chemistry and laboratory-based careers while also providing preparation for further graduate-level study. The program can be particularly relevant to students seeking advanced chemistry knowledge for research, analytical and industrial applications.

Typical job roles: Research Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Laboratory Scientist, Quality Control Chemist.

Career Services: Illinois Tech’s career support provides graduate students with career advising, employer connections, recruiting opportunities, job-search resources and preparation for professional applications. The university also provides access to career events and employer interactions designed to connect students with professional opportunities.
Employment statistics: Illinois Tech’s official sources reviewed do not publish a chemistry-specific employment rate for M.S. Chemistry graduates, so a program-specific percentage is not stated.
Salary figures: A chemistry-specific graduate salary figure is not stated in the official Illinois Tech sources reviewed; therefore, no external salary estimate is included.
Industry connections: Illinois Tech’s career infrastructure provides opportunities for students to engage with employers through recruiting and career events, while the university’s Chicago location places students in a major research, healthcare and technology environment. A specific named industry partnership exclusive to the M.S. Chemistry program is not stated in the official sources reviewed.
Professional accreditation: The official sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation for the M.S. Chemistry degree; therefore, no program-specific accreditation claim is made.
Graduation outcomes: Illinois Tech supports graduate students in moving toward employment, professional development and continued education through its graduate and career-support infrastructure. The university also provides graduate admissions and advising resources for students considering advanced academic pathways.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S. in Chemistry, students can pursue doctoral-level chemistry or related scientific study, including Ph.D. programs where their academic preparation and research interests align with the institution's admission requirements. Illinois Tech's graduate ecosystem also provides pathways for students interested in continuing their education beyond the master's level.