Master of Science in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Missouri University of Science and Technology is designed for students seeking advanced expertise in chemistry through graduate-level coursework, with options for either a thesis or non-thesis pathway. Students can develop specialized knowledge in areas such as analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical and polymer chemistry, while the non-thesis degree also offers focused tracks in biochemistry, chemical instrumentation and quality control, and quantum science.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish advanced knowledge across multiple chemistry disciplines through graduate courses and departmental qualifier preparation in Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry. Depending on their pathway and interests, coursework can include CHEM 5210: Fundamentals of Synthetic Organic Reactions, CHEM 5310: Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 5410: Advanced Chemical Thermodynamics and CHEM 5510: Introduction to Chemical Analysis, giving students a broad graduate foundation before developing a more specialized direction.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization through 5000- and 6000-level chemistry courses and, for the thesis option, undertake graduate research leading to a written thesis and defense. Advanced options include CHEM 6220: Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry, CHEM 6250: Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds, CHEM 6320: Solid State Chemistry and CHEM 6450 in physical chemistry, while the non-thesis program requires at least 30 graduate credit hours with at least nine hours from 6000-level lecture courses.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science, environmental science, chemical instrumentation, quality control and quantum science.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to identify, explain and evaluate scholarly work and its methodology and conclusions, evaluate arguments and assumptions, synthesize knowledge, and demonstrate professional and ethical conduct; thesis students additionally develop greater independence in identifying and developing scholarship around open research questions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Missouri S&T is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which covers all departments and programs; the Department of Chemistry’s ACS approval applies to its B.S. chemistry program, while the official sources do not state separate ACS accreditation for the M.S. in Chemistry.

Reputation (employability rankings): Missouri S&T’s official Chemistry sources state that chemistry graduates work for prestigious companies and that the university’s graduate chemistry programs prepare students for careers in industry, education, government and academia. A current QS, Guardian or other official university-published employability ranking specifically for the M.S. in Chemistry was not stated on the official sources reviewed.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Missouri S&T gives students opportunities to build practical research skills through advanced laboratory work and faculty-led research in areas including analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Students can work with specialized instrumentation and research facilities on the Missouri S&T campus, gaining experience with techniques used in modern chemical research and collaborating across science and engineering disciplines. The program's research environment connects chemistry with materials, environmental, energy and other applied areas:

Research laboratories: Graduate students can conduct research in faculty laboratories covering analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, allowing them to apply advanced chemical concepts to active research projects.
Analytical instrumentation: Students have access to advanced analytical equipment used for chemical characterization and research, including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and chromatography capabilities.
Materials Research Center: The Materials Research Center provides an interdisciplinary research environment where chemistry students can work alongside researchers in materials science and engineering on characterization and materials-related projects.
Electron microscopy: Missouri S&T's research facilities include advanced microscopy capabilities that support chemical and materials characterization, giving students exposure to techniques used to investigate materials at very small scales.
Environmental research: Chemistry research at Missouri S&T includes environmental applications, providing opportunities to apply laboratory and analytical techniques to problems involving environmental chemistry and related fields.
Interdisciplinary projects: Because Missouri S&T combines chemistry with strong engineering and materials-science programs, students can participate in research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries and applies chemistry to technological and industrial problems.
Faculty research: Graduate students work closely with chemistry faculty whose research spans analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, allowing students to gain hands-on experience within a specialized research area.
Library and research resources: Students can use the Curtis Wilson Law Library and Library & Learning Resources for access to scholarly literature, databases, research support and other academic resources needed for graduate-level chemistry research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Missouri S&T combines advanced coursework with the option to undertake graduate research, preparing students for professional roles across industry, research, government and higher education. The department specifically reports recent graduate employment with organizations including Regeneron, AbbVie, Intel, Lam Research, Brewer Science, Evonik and Battelle, demonstrating pathways into pharmaceutical, semiconductor, materials and research-related careers.

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

Career services: Missouri S&T's Career Opportunities and Employer Relations (COER) provides personalized career coaching and connects students with employers through Handshake, career fairs, employer information sessions and workshops. Handshake allows students to search and apply for internships, co-ops, part-time and full-time positions, receive personalized recommendations and schedule one-to-one appointments with career advisers.
Employment statistics: Missouri S&T's career outcomes process tracks employment, graduate-school enrollment, continuing employment and other post-graduation plans, as well as average starting salaries and top hiring employers. A current chemistry-specific employment rate or average salary is not stated on the official sources reviewed.
Salary figures: The Chemistry Department states that chemistry graduates have some of the highest starting salaries among S&T graduates and cites a $89,000 median salary for chemists from the American Chemical Society's 2010 ChemCensus; this is historical, occupation-wide data rather than a current M.S. Chemistry graduate salary.
Industry connections: Missouri S&T's COER maintains employer relationships through career fairs, Employer Days, information sessions and recruitment activities, while chemistry graduate employment records specifically identify employers such as Regeneron, Lam Research, Brewer Science, AbbVie, Intel, Evonik, Battelle and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
Internship and co-op opportunities: COER facilitates degree-related summer internships and paid, credit-eligible co-ops; co-ops can provide 8–9 months of full-time work experience, giving graduate students opportunities to build professional experience alongside their academic preparation.
Accreditation value: Missouri S&T's Chemistry Department has ACS approval for its undergraduate B.S. Chemistry program, with the next periodic report due in 2027. The official accreditation page does not state that the M.S. Chemistry degree itself is ACS-accredited, so the ACS approval should not be represented as accreditation of this master's program.
Graduation outcomes: The department maintains graduate employment and alumni records and reports M.S. graduates alongside Ph.D. graduates; its recent employment listings show graduates moving into university, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, materials and industrial research environments.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can progress from the M.S. into the Ph.D. in Chemistry at Missouri S&T, which focuses on original research and requires advanced coursework, qualifying/comprehensive examinations, dissertation research and an oral defense. The department also offers both thesis and non-thesis M.S. pathways, while its Grad Track Pathway allows eligible S&T chemistry undergraduates to apply up to 9 credits of 5000- or 6000-level coursework toward the master's degree.