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University Catalog 2012-2013 
    
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University Catalog 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry, M.S.

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Admission to the Program

Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate in chemistry or biochemistry from an accredited college or university or a baccalaureate in a related field with a strong background in chemistry. Applicants interested in the biochemistry option should have a preparation equivalent to that required for the Cal State L.A. baccalaureate in biochemistry, which includes, among other requirements, 15 units of introductory biology and 8 units of upper division biology or microbiology.

All applicants are required to have a 2.5 grade point average in their last 90 quarter units attempted. Applications for any quarter must be submitted early in the previous quarter. Students must apply to both the department and the University.

Placement Examinations

All new graduate students must take placement examinations administered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at first registration. The department offers five examinations: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Entering students must take three examinations. The time and location of the examinations will be announced by the department.

Prior to taking the examinations, students must declare a specialization in one of the following: analytical, biochemistry, chemical education, inorganic, organic, or physical. Students entering the program must take the placement examination appropriate to their specialization and two other examinations of their choice. Students in Chemical Education must declare a content specialization from among analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical for their placement examination. Students must pass the examination in their specialization. The other two examinations will be used primarily for advisement purposes.

If students do not take or pass an examination, it is presumed that they are not proficient in that particular area of specialization, and they may be required to take the complete undergraduate sequence for that area as corequisite or qualifying courses. Students who do not take or do not pass an examination may, upon approval by the principal graduate adviser, be allowed to retake the examination the next time it is given.

Requirements for the Degree (46 units)

A total of 46 units are required for the degree. Both the thesis option and the Biochemistry option consist of required courses, electives, research (590, 597) and thesis (599), with a minimum of 23 units in 500-level courses, including 590, 597 and 599.

The comprehensive examination option in chemistry consists of required courses, including advanced laboratory courses and elective courses, with a minimum of 23 units in 500-level courses. Students must comply with college and departmental requirements.

Each student’s program is designed with the assistance of a faculty adviser and the student’s advisory committee.

Additional Requirements

Thesis option and Biochemistry option candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a thesis, which must be approved by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as a part of the program.
  • Pass a final oral examination, primarily about the thesis, administered by the department.

Comprehensive examination option candidates must pass written comprehensive examinations on the subjects of the required courses.

Options

Thesis Option (46 units)

Basic Requirements (5 units)

Courses required of all students:

Core and Elective Requirements (26 units minimum)

A minimum of 26 units of adviser-approved coursework is required. At least twelve of these units must be core courses in the student’s specialization. Other 400 or higher level courses can be used as core courses on approval of the adviser and the department graduate adviser.

Core courses (12 units minimum)
Analytical and Physical Specialization
Biochemistry Specialization
Inorganic and Organic Specialization
Chemical Education Specialization

Students in Chemical Education must choose from the above list a content specialization they will follow for their core courses.

Electives (14 units)

Eight elective units must be from courses not in the list of core courses for the student’s specialization. Six additional units may be taken from either within or outside the area of specialization. Elective courses in the chemical education specialization may include but are not limited to CHEM 505  Special Topics in Graduate Chemistry: Chemical Education, and EDFN 500  Evaluation of Education Research.

Research and Thesis (15 units)

Biochemistry Option (46 units)

Students in this option must declare upon entrance into the graduate program that they wish to pursue the biochemistry option. They will adhere to all of the requirements for the Biochemistry Specialization in the thesis option.

Comprehensive Examination Option (46 units)

Basic Requirements (5 units)

Courses required of all students:

Core and Elective Requirements (30 units minimum)

A minimum of 30 units of adviser-approved coursework is required. At least twelve of these units must be core courses in the student’s specialization. Twelve additional units must be from courses not in the list of core courses for the student’s specialization. Six additional units may be taken from either within or outside the area of specialization.

Research (11 units)
Comprehensive Examination (0 units)

Students who select the comprehensive examination (CHEM 596) should expect to take it the quarter they complete all course work on their program and must comply with college and departmental requirements.

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