M.S. in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Oregon State University

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemistry at Oregon State University offers advanced study and research across analytical, inorganic, nuclear, organic, physical and solid-state chemistry, with students working alongside research-active faculty and gaining access to advanced laboratory technology and instrumentation. It suits students seeking deeper expertise for careers in industry, national laboratories, research institutes or academia, as well as those planning further graduate study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced knowledge in their selected chemistry area through graduate-level coursework while beginning research under faculty mentorship. Depending on their specialization, coursework can include CH 511 – Inorganic Chemistry, CH 521 – Analytical Chemistry, CH 535 – Structure Determination by Spectroscopic Methods, CH 540 – Physical Chemistry, CH 550 – Introductory Quantum Chemistry, and CH 553 – Chemical Thermodynamics.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization through advanced courses and research, with options including CH 616 – Crystallography and X-Ray Diffraction, CH 625 – Materials and Surface Characterization, CH 630/631/632 – Advanced Organic Chemistry, CH 651 – Quantum Mechanics of Atoms and Molecules, and CH 652 – Quantum Mechanics of Molecular Spectroscopy. The program also provides master's-level opportunities through CH 501 – Research, CH 503 – Thesis, CH 506 – Projects, CH 510 – Internship, CH 572 – Research to Innovation, and CH 574 – Innovation to Impact, allowing students to connect advanced chemistry with research and professional applications.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, solid-state chemistry, materials chemistry, computational chemistry and bioorganic chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Students develop advanced chemical knowledge, creative scientific experimentation and research skills, while learning to apply chemistry to areas such as human health, environmental sustainability, energy-efficient technologies and new materials and chemical processes.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Oregon State states that its undergraduate Track One chemistry options are ACS-approved and lead to ACS-certified chemistry degrees; the official graduate sources do not state separate ACS accreditation or certification for the M.S. in Chemistry.

Reputation (research standing): Oregon State describes its chemistry graduate program as internationally renowned, with more than 100 graduate students and research conducted with faculty across multiple chemistry disciplines. The department also reports Tier I university-level faculty publication rates and strong research funding performance.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemistry at Oregon State University gives students opportunities to build practical research skills through graduate-level laboratory work, independent research and close interaction with faculty across analytical, biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Students can work with advanced instrumentation and research facilities within the Department of Chemistry and across OSU, allowing them to apply chemical theory to laboratory-based investigations and specialized research projects.

Research laboratories: Graduate students can conduct research in faculty laboratories covering areas such as analytical chemistry, chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and materials-related chemistry.
Advanced instrumentation: Chemistry research at OSU uses specialized analytical and characterization equipment, including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and chromatography for chemical analysis and structural characterization.
NMR facility: Students can gain experience with nuclear magnetic resonance techniques through OSU's chemistry research infrastructure, supporting molecular structure determination and studies of chemical processes.
Mass spectrometry: The department provides access to mass spectrometry capabilities for identifying and characterizing chemical compounds, supporting research in areas including analytical, organic and biological chemistry.
X-ray crystallography: Research facilities support X-ray diffraction and crystallographic analysis, giving students practical exposure to determining molecular and solid-state structures.
Research projects: The M.S. program includes a substantial research component, allowing students to work with a faculty adviser on an original chemistry research project and develop skills in experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication.
Interdisciplinary research: Chemistry graduate research can connect with OSU's wider research environment, including areas such as materials science, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering and pharmaceutical-related research.
Computational tools: Chemistry research at OSU also incorporates computational approaches where appropriate, particularly within physical, theoretical and materials chemistry research, allowing students to complement experimental work with molecular and materials modelling.
Graduate research environment: Students benefit from OSU's broader research infrastructure and access to shared scientific facilities that support advanced chemical characterization and interdisciplinary projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemistry at Oregon State University can prepare graduates for advanced laboratory, research, analytical, pharmaceutical, materials and environmental chemistry careers, while the department also supports progression into research-intensive doctoral study. OSU states that its chemistry graduate students have a strong record of employment in leading R&D firms, technology companies, national laboratories, research institutes, industry and academia.

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

Career Development: Oregon State’s Career Development Center supports graduate students through career counselling, job fairs, the Beaver Recruiting Program, workshops, internship opportunities and job-search tools; graduate students can also use resources such as Beyond the Professoriate and Beyond Graduate School.

Employment & salary figures: OSU does not publish a chemistry M.S.-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure on the official sources reviewed. For context, OSU reports a $91,240 median annual wage for chemists in 2024 using national occupational data, while materials scientists earned $117,790 and medical scientists $103,410; these are national figures rather than OSU alumni salaries.
Industry connections: OSU Chemistry describes unique university-industry partnerships through which graduate research can be translated into commercial applications, including startups and licensing. OSU chemistry alumni have also worked with organizations including Intel, HP, Schrödinger, Lonza, Genentech, Fujimi Corporation, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, demonstrating connections across technology, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials and national research laboratories.
Professional value: The official OSU sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation for the M.S. Chemistry degree. The university does identify its ACS-certified Advanced Chemistry pathway at the undergraduate level, so ACS certification should not be presented as accreditation of this master's program.
Graduation outcomes: Chemistry graduates have progressed into research and development, laboratory science, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, materials and semiconductor industries, quality assurance, environmental chemistry, national laboratories and academia. OSU also identifies alumni working as research chemists, R&D scientists, principal investigators, research managers and senior chemistry professionals.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can continue into a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Oregon State University or pursue doctoral study at another institution. OSU's graduate chemistry program offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees across concentrations including analytical, inorganic, nuclear, organic, physical and solid-state chemistry, while its alumni have continued to universities including UC Berkeley, Northwestern, University of Michigan, University of Washington, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, ETH Zurich and Technical University of Munich.