MA in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of California Santa Barbara

Program Overview

The M.A. in Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara is part of a two-year joint program designed for students who want advanced chemistry knowledge and preparation to teach chemistry at the secondary level. Students spend the first year earning the Chemistry M.A. through graduate chemistry study, SciTrek science outreach and teaching-assistant experience, then spend the second year in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education completing education coursework and student teaching for a Single Subject Teaching Credential; an M.Ed. is also available in the second year.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced chemistry knowledge through graduate chemistry courses while developing education-research and outreach experience. The M.A. structure includes CHEM 290, a chemistry seminar connected to research, and CHEM 293, alongside graduate-level chemistry coursework; students also work with SciTrek and TA for general chemistry, giving them experience communicating chemistry to learners at different educational levels.

Year 2: The second year moves into the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, where students combine education graduate courses with supervised student teaching. This practical phase develops the pedagogical skills needed for secondary chemistry teaching and leads to the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Chemistry, with the option to add an M.Ed.

Focus areas: Chemical education, advanced chemistry, STEM education, informal STEM education, curriculum design, inquiry, science outreach, three-dimensional teaching practices and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Learning outcomes: Advanced chemistry knowledge; experience conducting and communicating science education research; practical teaching experience through TA work, SciTrek outreach and student teaching; and preparation to teach chemistry at the secondary level.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The program combines the M.A. in Chemistry with a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Chemistry, providing a direct academic and professional pathway into secondary chemistry teaching.

Reputation (research standing): UCSB Chemistry & Biochemistry reports that its department has two Nobel laureates among its faculty and that its publications were the 7th most cited in the nation among chemistry departments, according to Chemical & Engineering News.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.A. in Chemistry at UC Santa Barbara provides a strongly research-oriented learning environment where students can build practical expertise through laboratory research, research-group rotations and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students can work with advanced analytical and characterization equipment, supported by dedicated technical staff and facilities spanning mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, optical characterization and X-ray crystallography. The department also provides access to computational chemistry resources and research infrastructure connected with major UCSB interdisciplinary institutes and laboratories.

Research rotations: Graduate students are required to survey at least three research groups through group meetings and can undertake laboratory rotations to explore potential research directions and faculty groups before selecting a research advisor.
Mass spectrometry: The in-house Mass Spectrometry Facility provides MALDI-TOF, GC/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry capabilities, with techniques including EI, CI, FI/FD and MALDI; trained users can receive instrument training, experimental-design consultation and data-interpretation support.
NMR spectroscopy: Students can access five solution-state NMR spectrometers operating at 400, 500 and 600 MHz, including a 500 MHz Bruker instrument with a cryoprobe and automatic sample lift. Trained researchers receive 24/7 user access and hands-on training, with additional campus capabilities in solid-state NMR, EPR and NMR imaging.
Optical characterization: The Optical Characterization Facility supports hands-on materials research using transient absorption spectroscopy with sub-100-femtosecond resolution, Raman spectroscopy and microscopy, photoluminescence, nonlinear optical spectroscopy, optical harmonics and high-power laser processing.
X-ray crystallography: The department's X-Ray Facility supports single-crystal structure determination and powder X-ray diffraction, including a Rigaku Synergy diffractometer with Mo/Cu sources, photon-counting detection and temperature-dependent measurements from 80 K to 500 K. Shelx software and specialist crystallography equipment are also available.
Computational chemistry: The department maintains a Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling Laboratory equipped with 25 Dell Linux workstations, giving students access to dedicated computing resources for computational chemistry and molecular modelling.
Research institutes: Chemistry students can engage with interdisciplinary research units including the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), BioPACIFIC MIP, California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), Center for Bioengineering, Center for Polymers and Organic Solids (CPOS), Center for Energy Efficient Materials (CEEM) and Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies.
Research collaboration: UCSB encourages cross-departmental research, with chemistry graduate students able to work with joint advisors and participate in research spanning chemistry, materials science, biotechnology, bioengineering and quantitative biosciences.
Scientific fabrication: The department operates an in-house glass shop and machine shop supporting research and graduate students, including custom scientific-glass fabrication, repairs and specialized research equipment development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.A. in Chemistry at UC Santa Barbara provides a focused route for students interested in advanced chemistry knowledge, chemical education and teaching. The university’s two-year joint MA/TEP pathway combines graduate chemistry coursework with research through the SciTrek program and teaching experience as a general-chemistry teaching assistant, preparing students particularly for secondary-level chemistry education.

Typical job roles: Chemistry Teacher, Chemistry Instructor, Laboratory Scientist, Research Assistant.

Career services: UCSB Career Services supports graduate students with academic and non-academic career planning, professional-document preparation, job-search strategies, industry resources and Handshake opportunities; the Chemistry Department’s Professional Development organization also runs an annual Chemistry Career Symposium, workshops and networking activities connecting students with industry, alumni and other professionals.
Employment statistics & salary: A chemistry-specific employment rate or salary figure for the M.A. in Chemistry is not published on the official UCSB sources reviewed, so no program-specific figure is stated here.
Industry connections: UCSB Chemistry identifies interdisciplinary research connections with units including the Materials Research Laboratory, BioPACIFIC MIP, California Nanosystems Institute, Neuroscience Research Institute, Marine Science Institute and the Mitsubishi Chemical–Center for Advanced Materials. The university also provides corporate-facing recruitment and research opportunities through its broader science and engineering ecosystem.
Accreditation value: The official UCSB sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation or ACS certification for the M.A. in Chemistry. The department does, however, offer graduate study within a nationally and internationally collaborative chemistry research environment.
Graduation outcomes: The joint MA/TEP pathway is specifically structured for students pursuing secondary-level chemistry teaching: students complete graduate chemistry coursework, participate in SciTrek research and serve as general-chemistry teaching assistants in the first year, followed by teacher preparation in the second year. Students can also earn an additional Master’s in Education during the second year.

Further Academic Progression: Students completing the M.A. can continue into further graduate study or professional education. At UCSB, the joint MA/TEP pathway can lead to an additional Master’s in Education, while the department’s graduate research environment can support students considering doctoral-level chemistry study; importantly, UCSB currently states that its Chemistry and Biochemistry Department does not offer a standalone M.S. and accepts graduate students into its Ph.D. program.