Chemistry (MS)

2 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Central Florida

Program Overview

The Chemistry (MS) at the University of Central Florida prepares students for careers in the chemical industry or further graduate study, combining a broad perspective of the chemical sciences with an emphasis on applying chemical principles. The program is suited to students seeking advanced preparation in areas including materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, forensic science and chemistry education research, with thesis and nonthesis options available.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The program requires 31–32 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, depending on the thesis or nonthesis route. Students build advanced chemistry knowledge through required graduate coursework and electives, while the thesis option incorporates at least 6 credit hours of thesis research and the nonthesis option includes 1 credit hour of independent study culminating in a research report.

Year 2: UCF's official program information does not state a fixed two-year sequence of courses for the Chemistry MS; therefore, specific Year 2 course units are not stated as a universal requirement. Students complete the remaining approved graduate coursework and, where applicable, thesis research or the nonthesis independent-study research report, with course selection supporting areas such as Materials Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science and Chemistry Education Research.

Focus areas: Materials Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science, Chemistry Education Research (CER).

Learning outcomes: Develop advanced knowledge of chemical sciences, apply chemical principles to scientific problems, undertake independent research or advanced coursework, and prepare for professional careers in the chemical industry or further graduate study.

Professional alignment (accreditation): UCF's official accreditation inventory lists ACS accreditation for the Chemistry BS, but does not list a separate programmatic accreditation for the Chemistry MS.

Reputation (employability rankings): UCF's official rankings page reports the Chemistry graduate program at #111 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings and #73 among public universities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Chemistry (MS) at the University of Central Florida emphasizes research alongside advanced coursework, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills in chemical analysis, experimentation and scientific problem-solving. Students in the M.S. program select a research advisor by the end of their first semester, and the university states that a significant portion of the graduate program involves research; thesis students can undertake dedicated thesis research, while non-thesis students complete independent study culminating in a research report.

Research instrumentation: The Chemistry Department provides access to advanced analytical and characterization equipment, including Agilent HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, ICP-OES, Raman systems, FT-IR spectrometers, NMR, fluorescence spectrometers, DSC, TGA and rheometers, with instrument training available before independent use.
Research laboratories: The Chemistry Building contains instructional and research laboratories supporting graduate chemistry programs, providing students with a dedicated environment for laboratory-based study and research.
Research areas: Graduate students can engage with faculty research in areas including analytical chemistry, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, forensic science and chemistry education research, depending on their selected research direction.
Research institutes: Chemistry students can connect with university research centers including the National Center for Forensic Science, NanoScience Technology Center, Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, Biomolecular Science Center, Florida Solar Energy Center and Florida Space Institute.
Nanoscience facilities: The NanoScience Technology Center provides more than 20,000 square feet of advanced chemical, materials-development and biological laboratories, including chemistry and biochemistry laboratories and specialized equipment such as lithography systems and multi-electrode arrays.
Internships: UCF Chemistry students have participated in external research internships, including an internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where a Chemistry Ph.D. student conducted nuclear-waste research; UCF also notes that its nearby Central Florida Research Park provides opportunities for sponsored research, internships and employment.
Collaborative research: Chemistry research at UCF is highly collaborative and connects with areas including forensic science, nanoscience, renewable energy, optics and photonics, engineering and computer science.
Professional research training: Before joining a research group or conducting degree-related laboratory research, graduate students must complete required laboratory-safety training, reinforcing safe and professional laboratory practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemistry M.S. at the University of Central Florida is designed to prepare graduates for careers in the chemical industry or further graduate study, with broad preparation across the chemical sciences and specialist opportunities in areas such as materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry and forensic science. The program's research environment can support progression into laboratory, scientific and research-oriented careers.

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

Career services: UCF's Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center provides career coaching, résumé and interview preparation, career fairs and employer partnerships, while its Labor Market Insights platform provides occupation, employment-trend, employer and salary information.
Employment opportunities: UCF regularly connects students with employers through Industry Days and career events, where employer representatives provide one-to-one résumé reviews and interview preparation; the university also promotes chemistry-relevant laboratory and R&D opportunities through its career platform.
Salary figures: A chemistry-specific graduate salary figure is not stated on the official UCF Chemistry M.S. pages reviewed. UCF's career platform provides occupation-level salary and employment data through its Labor Market Insights tool rather than publishing a single salary outcome for Chemistry M.S. graduates.
Industry connections: UCF Chemistry's research environment is highly collaborative, with partnerships and research links involving the National Center for Forensic Science, Nanoscience and Technology Center, REACT cluster, College of Optics and Photonics, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Community Innovation and Education. UCF's career platform also lists chemistry-related opportunities with employers such as Novelis, Pace and Elanco Animal Health, providing examples of industry roles involving laboratory analysis, materials chemistry and quality operations.
Professional accreditation: UCF's official specialized-accreditation inventory lists ACS accreditation for the Chemistry B.S., but it does not list ACS accreditation for the Chemistry M.S.; therefore, a separate ACS accreditation claim for this master's program is not stated by UCF.
Graduation outcomes: UCF explicitly identifies the M.S. Chemistry program as preparation for chemical-industry careers or further graduate studies. Students completing the thesis option develop research experience, while the nonthesis option culminates in an independent-study research report, providing different routes toward professional or academic progression.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into a Ph.D. in Chemistry at UCF or pursue doctoral study at another university. UCF's Chemistry Ph.D. covers organic, analytical, inorganic, physical and environmental chemistry alongside nano/materials chemistry, biochemistry, forensic science and chemistry education research; the Ph.D. includes advanced coursework, qualifying examinations, original research and a dissertation.