Master of Science in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of New Mexico

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at the University of New Mexico is designed for students seeking advanced knowledge of chemistry through either a research-focused thesis pathway or a coursework-focused non-thesis pathway, with study spanning modern chemistry and chemical biology. It suits students preparing for professional chemistry careers, research positions or further graduate study, with opportunities to work in nationally and internationally recognized research laboratories and collaborate with nearby organizations such as Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced foundations through graduate core courses such as CHEM 501: Molecular Structure Theory, CHEM 511: Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry, CHEM 521: Biological Chemistry and CHEM 536: Synthesis and Mechanisms in Inorganic Chemistry. Students following the thesis pathway also begin developing their research direction, while the coursework pathway concentrates on advanced classroom study.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization through electives and advanced topics such as CHEM 503: Optical Properties of Materials, CHEM 505: Molecular Simulation, CHEM 514: Organic Synthesis, CHEM 525: Structural Biology, CHEM 526: Genome Technologies and Bioinformatics and CHEM 573: Intro to Quantum Tech for Chemists and Engineers. Under M.S. Plan I, students complete 18 credits of coursework plus 6 thesis credits and conduct research culminating in a master's thesis, while M.S. Plan III requires 30 credits of coursework and no thesis.

Focus areas: Chemical biology and biochemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, molecular biophysics, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, theoretical and computational chemistry, electronic and photonic materials.

Learning outcomes: Mastery of current chemical knowledge and techniques, advanced understanding of specialized chemistry areas, research capability for thesis students, and professional preparation for students completing the non-thesis M.S. pathway.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official UNM source identifies ACS certification for the B.S. Chemistry program, but does not state separate ACS accreditation or certification for the M.S. Chemistry degree.

Reputation (employability rankings): U.S. News & World Report: UNM's graduate Chemistry program was ranked No. 111 in the 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings; UNM's official rankings page also records the program at No. 91 in the 2023 Best Graduate Chemistry Programs.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of New Mexico’s M.S. in Chemistry gives students practical exposure through graduate research, advanced laboratory work and access to specialized instrumentation within the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology. Students can work alongside faculty across active research areas and use dedicated research facilities and shared analytical resources to develop hands-on skills in modern chemical investigation; the program’s research environment spans analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical and materials chemistry.

Research laboratories: Graduate students can conduct research in faculty laboratories covering areas such as organic synthesis, catalysis, chemical biology, spectroscopy, materials chemistry, computational chemistry and environmental chemistry.
Analytical instrumentation: The department provides access to advanced analytical capabilities including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and other spectroscopy and characterization techniques, supporting experimental research across multiple chemistry disciplines.
Research computing: Students involved in computational chemistry can use computational methods and university research-computing resources to model molecular structures, reactions and materials.
Graduate research: The M.S. program allows students to develop practical research skills through faculty-supervised research and advanced chemistry coursework, with research opportunities aligned with the department’s active research groups.
Specialized facilities: Chemistry research is supported by departmental facilities for NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy and materials characterization, enabling students to work with instrumentation used in contemporary chemical research.
Interdisciplinary opportunities: Chemistry research at UNM connects with areas including chemical biology, materials science, nanoscience, environmental science and biomedical research, allowing students to apply chemistry beyond a single discipline.
Research environment: Students benefit from UNM’s wider research infrastructure and collaborations with research-oriented institutions in the region, including opportunities associated with national laboratories and interdisciplinary research centers.
Libraries and research resources: Graduate students have access to the University Libraries, including scientific databases, journals, electronic resources and research-support services used for literature research and scholarly work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of New Mexico offers both thesis and non-thesis pathways, allowing graduates to build either research-oriented expertise or preparation for professional chemistry careers. The department reports that graduates obtain positions in research and other scientific fields, supported by UNM's interdisciplinary research environment and proximity to major national laboratories.

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

Career services: UNM Career Services provides career resources for chemistry students, while the department's graduate environment connects students with faculty research and scientific networks; the university also provides alumni employment and earnings data through its Steppingblocks and U.S. Census PSEO resources.
Employment & salary figures: UNM's chemistry career material reports 2013 national chemistry employment data of 91.4% full-time employment and an MS-level average salary of $88,654; these figures are national chemistry data from 2013 rather than current UNM M.S. Chemistry graduate outcomes, so they should not be interpreted as a current program-specific salary.
University–industry partnerships: UNM Chemistry benefits from its proximity to Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, with UNM faculty holding joint appointments and participating in collaborative projects with these organizations. Faculty research is also supported by agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy and Department of Defense.
Research opportunities: The department states that students work on cutting-edge projects in nationally and internationally recognized laboratories, with interdisciplinary research providing preparation for scientific careers. The thesis M.S. specifically develops research skills, while the non-thesis M.S. is designed for professional chemists who do not intend to conduct research.
Accreditation value: The official UNM sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation for the M.S. in Chemistry; therefore, no program-specific accreditation claim is made here.
Graduation outcomes: UNM identifies chemistry-related career destinations across industry, government, healthcare, education and research, including applied research and product development, quality control/regulatory work, pharmaceuticals, environmental and health agencies, forensic science and laboratory careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can progress to the Ph.D. in Chemistry at UNM or pursue doctoral programs at other universities. UNM's Ph.D. is research-focused and culminates in an original dissertation, preparing graduates for careers as independent investigators and group leaders in academia, research institutes, national laboratories and industry.