Master of Science (M.S.) in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Wyoming

Program Overview

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Chemistry at the University of Wyoming is a research-focused graduate program designed for students who want advanced expertise in chemistry and preparation for careers in industry, academia or research. Students develop advanced knowledge across analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry while completing research in their chosen area and building presentation, teaching and professional skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a broad graduate-level foundation through coursework spanning the four major areas of chemistry—analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry—and begin developing the research skills required for independent work. The curriculum includes CHEM 5000: Career Skills and advanced options such as CHEM 5111: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, which covers molecular symmetry, spectroscopy, electronic structure, bonding, magnetism, electron transfer and catalysis.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization while completing substantial research in their selected chemistry area, supported by faculty mentorship and the M.S. committee. Depending on their research direction, students can undertake courses such as CHEM 5320: Spectroscopic Methods of Structure Determination, CHEM 5330: Advanced Organic Chemistry and research courses including CHEM 5190: Research in Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 5290: Research in Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 5390: Research in Organic Chemistry or CHEM 5590: Research in Physical Chemistry.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biological chemistry, chemical synthesis, catalysis, sensing, materials chemistry, spectroscopy and energy-related chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Advanced understanding of at least three major chemistry areas; specialized expertise in the student's research field; ability to conduct independent chemical research; scientific writing and oral-presentation skills; and professional development through teaching, internships and fellowships.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University of Wyoming's Chemistry Department is listed as having American Chemical Society (ACS) accreditation/reaccreditation; the university's accreditation schedule identifies Chemistry with the ACS as its accreditation body.

Reputation (research standing): The University of Wyoming has Carnegie R1 research status, placing it among the leading research universities in the United States and providing graduate students with access to advanced research opportunities, facilities and research mentorship.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Wyoming gives students direct access to advanced chemistry and biochemistry laboratories, where they can develop practical research and analytical skills using specialized instrumentation. Graduate students can work with research-active faculty and use facilities spanning spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, crystallography, chromatography, computational chemistry, nanomaterials synthesis and environmental research. The program also provides access to university-wide research facilities, allowing chemistry students to apply advanced analytical techniques to interdisciplinary research:

Research laboratories: Chemistry research is housed in the Enzi STEM Building, while the department's research-active faculty maintain laboratory spaces designed around their individual research programs.
NMR Facility: Students can gain experience with six NMR spectrometers, including 300, 400 and 600 MHz Bruker Avance III instruments, with capabilities for solution-, solid- and gaseous-state NMR, rheology, diffusion and MRI. The facility provides student training, specialized-method support and remote data access within the university.
Mass spectrometry: The department provides access to an Electrospray Mass Spectrometer, while the Basile Biodetection and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory includes Q-Exactive HF-X LC-MS/MS, GC-high-resolution MS, MALDI-ToF/ToF-MS and GC-MS for applications including metabolomics, proteomics, molecular imaging and chemical structure analysis.
X-ray analysis: Students can use the department's Bruker-AXS Smart Apex II CCD X-ray Diffractometer with an Oxford Cobra Cryosystem, supporting structural characterization of chemical and crystalline materials.
Surface and materials characterization: The department operates a Kratos Ultra DLD X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS), while university materials facilities provide access to electron microscopy and other characterization technologies for studying composition, structure and morphology.
Computational chemistry: The M.S. program specifically lists computational chemistry tools among the resources available to students, supporting computational approaches alongside laboratory-based chemistry.
Specialized synthesis facilities: Students can access clean rooms for nanomaterials synthesis and environmental chambers, providing facilities for controlled experimental work in materials and environmental chemistry.
Microscopy: The Robert A. Jenkins Microscopy Facility provides advanced imaging equipment including transmission electron microscopy, laser-scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy, Raman microscopy and tabletop scanning electron microscopy.
Interdisciplinary research: Chemistry students can draw on university-wide resources such as the High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy Facility, which provides a 200 kV scanning/transmission electron microscope with atomic-resolution imaging and EDX compositional analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Wyoming combines advanced study in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry with independent research, helping graduates build the laboratory, analytical, problem-solving and scientific communication skills valued in research, industry and academic settings. The university specifically identifies career pathways ranging from chemist and analytical chemist to R&D scientist, laboratory manager, pharmaceutical scientist and environmental consultant.

Typical job roles: Chemist, Analytical Chemist, Research & Development Scientist, Laboratory Manager.

Career Services: UW Career Services supports students with resume building, interview preparation, career counselling, networking, internships and employer connections; students can also use Handshake to find jobs and connect with alumni and employers. The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Career Services office additionally provides resume reviews, mock interviews, job and internship-search assistance, and STEM and general career fairs.
Employment statistics: The official university sources reviewed do not publish an M.S. Chemistry-specific employment rate or placement percentage. The Chemistry Department does state that one of its program goals is to place graduates in industry and academic positions.
Salary figures: A chemistry-specific salary figure for M.S. graduates is not published by the University of Wyoming on the official program sources reviewed, so no non-university salary estimate is included.
University–industry connections: UW Chemistry provides direct evidence of alumni working in industry: Vince Martin is a laboratory supervisor at Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company, overseeing laboratory operations and quality-control analysis, while Bryan Ray works at API Technologies developing Raman/SERS products and applications. The department also notes that its NMR facility serves researchers from industry as well as academic institutions.
Professional accreditation: The University of Wyoming states that its Chemistry Department is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS), with the university's current accreditation listing showing an ACS reaccreditation dated October 31, 2022. The official catalog identifies the department as ACS-accredited, providing an established professional-quality framework for chemistry education; the sources do not separately identify the M.S. as an independently accredited degree.
Graduation outcomes: M.S. graduates are expected to demonstrate advanced understanding in at least three major chemistry areas, develop expertise in their research area, communicate scientific results in writing and presentations, and complete an advanced independent research project. The department also encourages professional development through teaching, internships and fellowships, supporting progression into industry or academia.

Further Academic Progression: After the M.S., students can continue into the Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wyoming, with research areas including analytical, biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The Ph.D. develops deeper independent-research capability and prepares graduates for research careers in academia, industry and government, with UW identifying roles such as research scientist, staff scientist, materials scientist, medicinal chemist and university faculty.