MA Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Kent State University

Program Overview

The M.A. in Chemistry at Kent State University is a flexible, non-thesis graduate program designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry beyond the bachelor’s degree while developing expertise relevant to professional advancement or further academic study. Students complete at least 30 credits through advanced chemistry coursework and a CHEM 60099: Masters Capstone Project, with the flexibility to build their studies around biochemistry, chemical education, or industrial chemistry interests.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish advanced knowledge through advisor-selected 50000- and 60000-level chemistry courses, with at least 21 credits of classroom coursework required. Depending on their goals, students can follow the biochemistry pathway with courses such as CHEM 50109, CHEM 50261, and CHEM 50262, or begin the industrial chemistry sequence with courses including CHEM 50093, CHEM 50352, and CHEM 50451.

Year 2: Students deepen their chosen area while completing the program's CHEM 60099: Masters Capstone Project, which carries 6 credits and forms the culminating requirement of the non-thesis degree. Students interested in chemical education can take courses such as CHEM 50093, CHEM 50795, and CHEM 60894, while industrial chemistry students can continue with advanced options such as CHEM 50571 and CHEM 50559.

Focus areas: Biochemistry, chemical education, industrial chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology and environmental science.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop core knowledge of chemical and/or biochemical concepts, deeper expertise in selected chemistry areas, critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities, and the ability to communicate chemical and biochemical concepts clearly and effectively.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official Kent State M.A. Chemistry sources do not state a separate professional accreditation or ACS certification for this graduate program. The program is designed for career advancement, with the industrial chemistry interest area specifically intended to provide additional preparation for employment in the chemical industry.

Reputation (employability): Kent State's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry states that graduates of its M.S. and Ph.D. programs are employed in a variety of industrial settings, including Fortune 500 companies, and at colleges and universities around the world; the department does not publish a specific employability ranking for the M.A. Chemistry program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.A. in Chemistry at Kent State University combines advanced chemistry coursework with opportunities to build practical skills through research projects and interdisciplinary study in areas such as materials science, nanotechnology and environmental science. Students can gain direct experience designing experiments, analyzing data and working with specialized analytical equipment, while the department’s research environment supports work across organic, inorganic, analytical, physical and biochemistry.

Research laboratories: Chemistry research laboratories are located primarily in Williams Hall and the attached Science Research Laboratory, with facilities supporting spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, X-ray analysis and other experimental techniques.
Analytical instrumentation: The Analytical Instrumentation Facility provides hands-on access to NMR, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, HPLC/MS, DSC, TGA, elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-VIS techniques; students without previous experience can receive instrumentation training.
NMR spectroscopy: Students can work with Agilent 500 MHz, Bruker AVIII 400 MHz with solid-state capabilities and Bruker AV 400 NMR systems available through the Analytical Instrumentation Facility.
Mass spectrometry: Research facilities include Thermo ESI/MS/HPLC, Thermo GC/MS, MALDI-TOF and other mass-spectrometry systems, supporting chemical characterization and analytical research.
X-ray analysis: The department houses Siemens D5000 powder diffraction and Bruker AXS single-crystal X-ray diffraction instrumentation, providing opportunities for structural characterization.
Materials research: Students interested in materials and nanotechnology can benefit from collaboration with Kent State’s Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, including access to characterization resources and advanced analytical training.
Proteomics research: The Proteomics Core Facility supports isolation, purification, fractionation and DNA sequencing, creating opportunities for chemistry research that intersects with biological and biomedical applications.
Computational tools: Kent State’s chemistry research environment includes molecular-modeling resources and access to high-performance computing for computational chemistry and molecular research. The department’s graduate research brochure identifies software packages including Cerius, Felix, HyperChem, InsightII/Discover, Macromodel and Spartan.
Industrial research: The Analytical Instrumentation Facility conducts pilot and short-term industrial research projects for the local industrial community, particularly in separations, surface chemistry, materials science and coatings, giving students exposure to applied analytical work.
Technical facilities: Students and faculty can use the department’s glassblowing and electronics shops, as well as the Physics/Chemistry machine shop in nearby Smith Hall for specialized machining support.
Chemistry library: Williams Hall houses the Chemistry-Physics Library, providing access to chemistry and biochemistry journals and chemical databases, including Chemical Abstracts and SciFinder.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.A. in Chemistry at Kent State University is a flexible, non-thesis degree designed to deepen students’ chemistry and biochemistry knowledge while supporting different professional directions, including industrial chemistry, biochemistry and chemical education. Graduates can move into chemistry, laboratory, quality-control and education careers, while the program can also provide preparation for further doctoral study.

Typical job roles: Chemist, Chemical Technician, Quality Control Specialist, Chemistry Teacher.

Career services: Kent State’s Career Exploration and Development provides graduate students with resume and cover-letter reviews, job-search strategies, internship or shadowing searches, mock interviews, networking support and graduate-school preparation; students can also use Handshake to find jobs, internships and university career events.
Employment & salary figures: Kent State lists national occupation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for careers associated with the M.A.; Chemists: $84,150 median annual wage and 4.9% projected growth; Chemical Technicians: $57,790 and 3.7%; Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary: $86,220 and 2.2%; Food Scientists and Technologists: $85,310 and 6.5%; Forensic Science Technicians: $67,440 and 12.8%. These are national occupation figures, not salaries or employment rates specifically for Kent State M.A. graduates.
University–industry connections: Kent State reports that graduates from its Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate programs work in a wide range of industrial settings, including Fortune 500 companies, as well as colleges and universities around the world. The department also highlights interdisciplinary research in biomedical chemistry and materials science, including nanomedicine, nanomaterials, photonic materials, spectroscopy and surface science.
Career experience: Graduate students can pursue on-campus employment and graduate assistantships, including teaching and research assistantships; Kent State notes that graduate assistantships can provide a tuition waiver and monthly stipend when awarded.
Accreditation value: The official M.A. Chemistry sources reviewed do not state a separate ACS accreditation or certification for this graduate program, so no additional graduate-level accreditation claim is made here.
Graduation outcomes: Kent State states that its M.S. and Ph.D. chemistry graduates work in industrial settings, including Fortune 500 companies, and at colleges and universities globally. The M.A. specifically prepares students for professional growth in areas such as chemical industry employment and chemical education, while its biochemistry pathway can support preparation for medical or dental school.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.A., students can pursue doctoral-level study in chemistry or a related discipline. Kent State offers a Ph.D. in Chemistry with research areas including analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry and biochemistry, with interdisciplinary opportunities in biomedical research and materials science; the university also notes that its chemistry graduates progress to graduate and professional programs.