Chemistry - 2020-21 Graduate Catalog

Chair: John Cable, Ph.D.
Graduate Coordinator: TBD
Graduate Support: Kristi Brandeberry
Address: 132 Overman Hall
Phone: 419-372-2033
Program Web Page: http://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/chemistry/graduate.html

Degrees Offered
M.S., Ph.D.

Program Offered
M.S. in Chemistry
Ph.D. in Photochemical Sciences - See the separate Photochemical Sciences section of this catalog for information about this interdisciplinary program associated with the Center for Photochemical Sciences.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master's degree, students in the Chemistry program are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to apply quantum mechanical methods to predict observable properties for molecular motions including translation, rotation and vibration.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze molecular electronic wavefunctions to characterize bonding and stability.
• Demonstrate an active knowledge of fundamentals of organic reaction mechanisms and methods for their elucidation, analyzing the mechanism and understand the mechanistic diagrams.
• Demonstrate an understanding of selected topics of physical organic chemistry including stereochemistry principles, and interpret the application of reactive intermediates in chemistry.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze a wide variety of spectral data to determine an unknown molecule's composition and structure.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate previous scientific conclusions as they apply to a new area of investigation.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate original scientific findings.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work
Students admitted to the M.S. in Chemistry program should have completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry that includes one year of college physics and mathematics through calculus.  Remedial work may be required for applicants not meeting these prerequisites.

Admission Procedure
Applicants seeking admission to the M.S. in Chemistry program should follow the instructions outlined in the Graduate Admission webpage.

Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Chemistry program provides an opportunity to pursue studies in the traditional areas of chemistry including organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.  Additionally, through interaction with the Center for Photochemical Sciences, these traditional disciplines may be expanded to include studies on the interaction of light with physical, chemical, and biological systems.  (Note that a separate doctoral program in Photochemical Sciences is also available, Photochemical Sciences.)

Students may pursue the M.S. degree under one of two plans.  Plan I requires 30 credit hours and a thesis.  Plan II requires 33 credit hours and a comprehensive exam.

First-semester students take orientation exams in organic and physical chemistry prior to registration to advise in their initial course selection.

Students must complete at least one approved course from the organic and physical chemistry areas.  Additionally, at least one approved course must be completed from two of the following areas:  inorganic, analytical, biochemistry, or photochemical sciences.  An approved course in biological sciences, mathematics, or physics may be substituted to satisfy one of the additional area requirements.  Plan I students may count up to six credit hours of thesis research, CHEM 6990, toward their degree while Plan II students must complete at least two credit hours of directed research in chemistry, CHEM 6900.

Graduate Courses
Please access graduate courses online by clicking the Browsing Course Catalog button at http://www.bgsu.edu/registration-records/courses-and-classes/class-course-information.html. Graduate courses offered by the Department of Chemistry use the prefix CHEM.