MS Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Maryland College Park

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park is a 30-credit graduate program designed for students seeking advanced study and research experience in chemistry, with thesis and non-thesis options. Students build expertise through graduate chemistry and biochemistry coursework while developing professional scientific skills, with the thesis route involving original research and a defended master's thesis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the graduate professional foundation through CHEM611: Professional Skills for New Graduate Students and CHEM612: Scientific Presentations, while progressing into 600-level chemistry or biochemistry coursework. Depending on their interests, courses can include CHEM601: Structure and Bonding of Molecules and Materials, which examines molecular and solid-state bonding, or CHEM623: Optical Methods of Quantitative Analysis, which applies optical spectroscopy to quantitative analysis.

Year 2: Students complete their advanced coursework and culminating requirements, with the thesis option incorporating CHEM799: Master's Thesis Research and requiring a thesis, seminar presentation and oral defense. Students choosing the non-thesis pathway complete CHEM699: Special Problems in Chemistry and produce an original scholarly paper reviewed by a three-member faculty committee; the department also offers advanced subjects such as CHEM690: Quantum Chemistry I, CHEM691: Quantum Chemistry II and CHEM689B: Introduction to Colloids and Interfaces—From Fundamentals to Nanoscience.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical physics, nanoscience, chemical biology, energy sciences, materials chemistry, theoretical chemistry and supramolecular chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Advanced graduate-level knowledge of chemistry; professional scientific communication skills; experience interpreting and presenting scientific work; and, for thesis students, the ability to conduct original research and defend the resulting thesis.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official UMD sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation or ACS certification for the M.S. in Chemistry; the program instead emphasizes graduate coursework, research and scholarly preparation.

Reputation (employability rankings): UMD was ranked No. 82 among 2,250 universities worldwide and No. 13 among U.S. public institutions in the 2026–27 U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking; UMD also reported that chemistry was among the disciplines that advanced in that year's ranking. The Chemistry and Biochemistry department states that its graduates pursue careers in academia and teaching, government, public policy and industry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park combines graduate coursework with substantial research activity, requiring students to complete chemistry core courses, research credits and an original scholarly paper. Students can gain practical experience through UMD’s dedicated research facilities and may have opportunities to conduct part of their research at nearby national laboratories because of the university’s proximity to organizations such as NIH, NRL, NASA and NIST.

Research projects: Students complete 6 credits of CHEM 699 research and submit an original scholarly paper of at least 20 double-spaced pages, giving the M.S. a direct research component rather than being limited to classroom study.
National laboratory experience: The M.S. requirements specifically allow students to conduct part of their research off campus at national laboratories, subject to approval of the proposed research and administrative arrangements.
NMR facilities: The Analytical NMR Service & Research Center provides access to high-resolution solution and solid-state NMR instrumentation, including 400, 500 and 600 MHz Bruker systems, with capabilities such as multinuclear, variable-temperature and advanced two-dimensional NMR experiments.
NMR digital tools: Students receiving training in the Biomolecular NMR Facility can work with TopSpin for data processing and viewing, while advanced training includes techniques such as HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY, NOESY and DOSY; a dedicated data-processing computer is available in the facility.
Mass spectrometry: The Mass Spectrometry Facility provides hands-on training with instruments including Bruker Maxis-II QTOF, Bruker Autoflex Speed MALDI-TOF, JEOL MStation and JEOL AccuTOF, supporting LC-MS/MS, MALDI, GC-MS and other analytical approaches.
Hands-on instrument training: Mass spectrometry users can receive lectures and practical training to independently operate instruments, including the JEOL AccuTOF, Bruker MALDI, Bruker Maxis-II QTOF and JEOL MStation.
X-ray crystallography: The department maintains dedicated X-ray crystallographic instrumentation, giving chemistry researchers access to structural-analysis capabilities alongside NMR and mass spectrometry.
Surface analysis: UMD’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Core Facilities include a dedicated Surface Analysis facility, supporting research alongside analytical NMR, biomolecular NMR, mass spectrometry, optical instrumentation and X-ray crystallography.
Interdisciplinary research: Graduate students can work across areas such as materials chemistry, theoretical chemistry, environmental chemistry, nanoscience, chemical biology, catalysis and energy science, and molecular biophysics, with collaborations involving programs such as Biophysics, Chemical Physics, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Physics.
Research institutes: Students can benefit from interdisciplinary research environments connected with the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, NanoCenter and Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research.
Research facilities: The department operates six Core Research Facilities with expert scientist-managers and describes these facilities as supporting hands-on operation and collaboration with researchers from external institutions and companies.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park combines advanced chemistry coursework with either thesis research or a non-thesis scholarly-paper pathway, giving graduates preparation for scientific careers, government research and continued doctoral study. The department reports that its graduate students progress into careers in academia and teaching, government, public policy and industry, supported by collaborations with federal laboratories and corporate partners.

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

Career services: UMD’s University Career Center provides Handshake, internship support, resume and cover-letter guidance, interview preparation, career exploration and graduate/doctoral-study advising; the Chemistry Department also provides graduate students with advice and support for job searches.
Employment statistics: UMD’s 2025 Graduation Survey reported a 91% career outcomes rate for the graduates for whom outcomes were identified, with 59.4% employed full-time and 23.3% continuing education; these figures cover UMD graduates overall and are not specific to M.S. Chemistry.
Salary figures: UMD’s Career Center reports a $77,000 median salary for the Class of 2025; this is a university-wide figure rather than a Chemistry M.S.-specific salary.
Industry partnerships: The Chemistry Department reports interactions with Agilent, Coherent, Danaher, DuPont, MedImmune/AstraZeneca, W.R. Grace, Lockheed Martin, Saft and Shimadzu, as well as smaller companies and startups. These connections complement collaborations with nearby federal laboratories including NIH, NIST and FDA, creating opportunities for research and professional development.
Research partnerships: UMD graduate students can participate in collaborations with federal laboratories, international academic laboratories and corporate partners, while departmental research is connected with the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, UMD NanoCenter and Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research.
Long-term accreditation value: UMD states that its Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate majors can complete ACS-certified programs; however, the official sources reviewed do not state separate ACS certification for the M.S. Chemistry degree, so no specific ACS accreditation claim is made for this master's program.
Graduation outcomes: The M.S. requires 30 credits and can be completed through a thesis option involving six credits of CHEM799: Master's Thesis Research, or a non-thesis option involving six credits of CHEM699: Special Problems in Chemistry plus a scholarly paper. The department reports that its graduate students publish in journals including Nature, Science, PNAS and JACS and move into academic, government, public-policy and industry careers.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into doctoral-level research, particularly the Ph.D. in Chemistry or Ph.D. in Biochemistry at UMD, where research areas include materials chemistry, theoretical and environmental chemistry, nanoscience, chemical biology, catalysis and energy science, and molecular biophysics. The M.S. can also provide preparation for related doctoral fields such as chemical physics, materials science, bioengineering, medicinal chemistry, toxicology or environmental chemistry.