Master of Science in Chemistry

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Washington State University Pullman

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Washington State University’s Pullman campus provides advanced training through either a thesis or non-thesis option, combining graduate-level scholarship, professional development and research experience in the chemical sciences. Students conduct a faculty-supervised research project and develop expertise in modern experimental techniques, scientific problem-solving, data analysis and professional scientific communication, making the program suitable for research careers, industry positions or progression to doctoral study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin building advanced knowledge in their chosen chemistry area while undertaking graduate research under the supervision of a Chemistry Department faculty member. The program covers major areas including Analytical, Environmental and Radiochemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Chemistry; Organic and Chemistry of Biological Systems; and Physical Chemistry, with students completing graduate coursework appropriate to their selected division or research direction.

Year 2: Students deepen their specialization through advanced coursework and sustained research, applying chemical theory and modern methodologies to an independent scientific problem. Thesis-option students develop and complete their research thesis, while both pathways emphasize scientific communication through research presentations, seminars and participation in the department’s scholarly community.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, radiochemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, chemistry of biological systems, physical chemistry.

Learning outcomes: Graduate students develop expertise in fundamental chemistry, conduct independent research using sound data-collection and analysis methods, communicate findings through scientific publications and oral presentations, and prepare to compete for academic, industrial and government laboratory positions.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The official WSU sources reviewed do not state a separate professional accreditation or certification for the M.S. in Chemistry.

Reputation (research standing): Washington State University describes its Chemistry Department as a research-focused department with faculty-led research across multiple chemistry fields and access to advanced facilities and instrumentation; the official program page currently lists 17 graduate faculty.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemistry at Washington State University Pullman gives students opportunities to build practical research skills through both thesis and non-thesis pathways, with the thesis option centered on faculty-mentored research and the non-thesis option emphasizing advanced coursework and professional training. Students can work across analytical, environmental, radiochemistry, materials, inorganic, organic and bioorganic, and physical chemistry, using WSU’s research laboratories and advanced instrumentation to develop experimental, analytical and scientific communication skills.

Research laboratories: Graduate students can undertake faculty-led research using specialized laboratories and instrumentation across the Department of Chemistry, with research opportunities spanning seven major chemistry fields.
Nuclear & Chemical Science Core Facility: The NUCS Core Facility provides access to a 1 MW nuclear reactor, NMR spectrometers, alpha- and gamma-spectrometers, X-ray diffraction equipment, X-ray absorption instrumentation and dynamic light scattering for advanced chemical and nuclear research.
Radiochemistry facilities: Students interested in radiochemistry can work with laboratory facilities in Fulmer Hall and the Nuclear Science Center, including facilities for radiotracer experiments, actinide research and radioactive-sample analysis.
Advanced materials characterization: Research facilities support techniques including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), infrared and Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, XPS and UPS for materials and surface chemistry research.
High-pressure research: The Yoo research group uses specialized diamond anvil cells, including membrane, 3L, SAX and dynamic DAC systems, for high-pressure experiments reaching pressures above 200 GPa and for studying phase transitions and material properties.
Research training: The MS Thesis pathway provides faculty-mentored research and thesis work, while the MS Non-Thesis pathway provides advanced coursework and professional training aimed at developing industry experience.
Teaching experience: First-year chemistry graduate students are supported through teaching assistantships in first-year general chemistry classes, providing an opportunity to develop practical teaching and scientific communication skills.
Research collaboration: WSU Chemistry researchers collaborate across disciplines and have access to university-wide resources, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) partnership, which connects WSU research and academic activities with national-laboratory science.
Library resources: The Owen Science and Engineering Library on the Pullman campus is identified by WSU as the largest science and engineering library of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, supporting students' scientific study and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in Chemistry at Washington State University prepares graduates for technical and research-focused careers through faculty-supervised research, advanced scientific training, data analysis and professional communication. The program offers both thesis and non-thesis pathways, with the thesis option particularly suited to students targeting research careers or doctoral study, while the non-thesis option supports advancement into industry, government, education and related fields.

Typical job roles: Research Chemist, Laboratory Scientist, Analytical Chemist, R&D Scientist.

Career services: WSU’s Academic Success and Career Center helps students develop CVs and cover letters, build networking skills and access job opportunities, while Handshake serves as the university’s primary student employment and engagement platform. Chemistry students also receive access to Versatile PhD, job-search databases and resources for national laboratory careers.

Employment statistics & salary: WSU Chemistry does not publish a program-specific employment rate or median salary for M.S. Chemistry graduates on its official program pages, so a chemistry-specific figure is not stated. The department does report that graduates move into industry, government and research positions, including careers at national laboratories such as Argonne, Idaho, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

University-industry connections: The Chemistry Department provides dedicated resources for careers in industry, government and national laboratories, including links to employment opportunities at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Professional accreditation: WSU's official accreditation information lists Chemistry MS among accredited programs at the Pullman campus. The department separately identifies ACS certification for its undergraduate Professional Chemistry degree; the official sources reviewed do not state that the M.S. itself carries ACS certification.

Graduation outcomes: The program's stated learning outcomes prepare graduates to conduct independent research, analyze scientific data, communicate findings through peer-reviewed publications and oral presentations, and compete for academic, industrial and government laboratory positions.

Further Academic Progression: The M.S. can provide a direct foundation for doctoral study, including the Ph.D. in Chemistry at Washington State University, which offers research opportunities in analytical, environmental, radiochemistry, materials, inorganic, organic and bioorganic, and physical chemistry. WSU specifically describes the M.S. as a pathway to Ph.D. study, with research experience, technical skills and scholarly development preparing students for advanced independent research.