The Department of Chemistry offers two master of science degrees. The non-thesis M.S. program has an emphasis on coursework, while the thesis-based degree has an emphasis on both coursework and original research. Graduating chemistry M.S. students will be exposed to the most recent advances in chemical sciences. In addition, thesis-based M.S. students will experience the excitement of performing guided research.

The following student learning outcomes are expected for our educational process:

Non-Thesis Master of Science in Chemistry

At the end of their studies, students will:

• Have an extensive knowledge of the basic areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry).
• Be familiar with the recent advances in the basic areas of chemistry.
• Have the ability to communicate scientific information clearly and precisely, both written and oral forms.
• Have the ability to read, understand, and use scientific literature.
• Have had the opportunity to work with others as part of a team to solve scientific problems.

Thesis-Based Master of Science in Chemistry

At the end of their studies, students will:

• Have an extensive knowledge of the basic areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry) with an extensive knowledge in at least one area.
• Have done extensive research through a project.
• Have the ability to recognize scientific problems, formulate questions and answers, and carry out strategies for solving them.
• Have the ability to read, understand, and use scientific literature.
• Have the ability to communicate scientific information clearly and precisely, both written and oral forms.
• Have some understanding of the principles and applications of modern instrumentation, computation, experimental design, and data analysis.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants should have the equivalent of an American Chemical Society (ACS)-approved bachelor's degree in chemistry. This degree includes the equivalent of: one year of general chemistry, quantitative analysis, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physical chemistry, physical chemistry laboratory, instrumental analysis, inorganic chemistry, one year of physics, and three semesters of calculus, and the ACS-recommended distribution of advanced courses and course credits. (For example, see UMKC's B.S. program in chemistry in the undergraduate catalog.) Applicants should take particular note of the physical chemistry requirement. They may be admitted as provisional students if they have a limited number of undergraduate deficiencies. At the time that admission is offered, applicants will be notified of any requirements to be met for reclassification as fully admitted. Undergraduate courses included in these requirements must be completed with grades of C- or higher.

Applications are only accepted through the online system, and include:

1. Official, confidentially transmitted transcripts.
2. Statement of purpose.
3. Two confidentially transmited letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional).
4. Official Graduate Record Exam (General Test) score, less than six (6) years old.
5. English language proficiency requirement.

An official Graduate Record Exam score (general test) is required as part of the application to the program. The GRE score will be evaluated as part of the entire application.

Applicants from foreign countries, who have an official language other than English, must achieve scores of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based)on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be considered for admission.

Placement Examinations

Incoming students must take placement examinations in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Placement examinations are typically administered the week before the first week of classes of the fall and spring semesters. Students scoring below the 50th percentile in the organic and/or physical chemistry exams are required to enroll in CHEM 5520R and/or CHEM 5530A/CHEM 5530B, respectively. Enrollment in other graduate organic or physical chemistry courses is not permitted until CHEM 5520R or CHEM 5530A/CHEM 5530B, respectively, is (are) successfully completed. CHEM 5530A/CHEM 5530B is currently offered concurrently with CHEM 431 or CHEM 432. A student is required to take either CHEM 5530A/CHEM 431 or CHEM 5530B/CHEM 432 or both, depending on his/her performances in the various sub-disciplines of the physical chemistry placement exam. Should a student be required to take both CHEM 5530A/CHEM 431 and CHEM 5530B/CHEM 432, the average grade of the two CHEM 5530 courses will be considered for the fulfillment of the physical chemistry deficiency. Two grades of C+ (2.3 out of 4.0) or lower, or one grade of less than C- (1.7 out of 4.0) in CHEM 5520R or CHEM 5530, will result in termination from the degree program. These courses may not be counted toward the M.S. coursework requirements listed below. Students must complete all additional coursework required as a result of the placement exams by the end of their first three regular semesters.

Graduate Program Committee

Upon admission to M.S. program in chemistry, students will be advised by the department's principal graduate adviser, acting on behalf of the chemistry graduate program committee. Based on the committee's evaluation of the students' transcripts and placement exam scores, the principal graduate adviser will inform students of any deficiencies and how they should be removed. The principal graduate adviser also will advise students on course curriculum. For the thesis degree, the curriculum advising is performed by the research adviser(once they have been selected). The graduate program committee serves as the supervisory committee for non-thesis M.S. students.

Seminar Attendance

Full-time M.S. students are required to attend all regularly scheduled and special departmental seminars and colloquia. Part-time students are also required to attend these seminars but may petition the Chair of the Department of Chemistry to waive this requirement all but one semester. Such students will be required either to attend and participate fully during one semester, including the presentation of a one-hour seminar (see details below), or to present two one-hour seminars in lieu of full participation.

Minimum Requirements for Master of Science Degree

In addition to the requirements listed here, all M.S. students are subject to the all general M.S. requirements of the University. See the School of Graduate Studies section of this catalog for a complete listing.

Time Constraints and Financial Assistance

The non-thesis M.S. degree program is intended primarily for students currently employed in a chemically related industry. Full-time, non-thesis M.S. students are required to complete all of the requirements for their degree within four years. Part-time non-thesis M.S. students are required to complete all requirements for their degree within seven years. Non-thesis M.S. students are not eligible for financial support from the Department of Chemistry.

Coursework

The emphasis of this program is coursework. Non-thesis M.S. students are required to complete a minimum of 31 credit hours of graduate-level coursework. Non-thesis M.S. Students are required to complete:

1. Three credit hours must be from Organic Chemistry courses: CHEM 5521R or CHEM 5522.
2. Three credit hours from Physical Chemistry courses: CHEM 5531, CHEM 5532, CHEM 5533, CHEM 5534, or CHEM 5535.
3. Nine additional credit hours from graduate level chemistry courses numbered CHEM 5521 - CHEM 5589, excepting CHEM 5520, CHEM 5530 and CHEM 5540.
4. One credit hour seminar presentation (CHEM 5611).
5. The remaining 15 credit hours, among which up to 6 credit hours of CHEM 5590, CHEM 5599, or CHEM 5699 may be applied, may be taken from courses approved by the graduate program committee.

Students who receive a grade of C+ (2.3) or less in more than two courses applicable to the M.S. program, or who have a cumulative grade-point average of less than 3.0 on courses applicable toward the M.S. degree after completing 18 or more credit hours of such courses, will be terminated from the degree program. Grades received for CHEM 5590 and any undergraduate-level courses are not included in the minimum GPA calculation.

Students who have received a grade of B- (2.7) or better in graduate chemistry coursework taken as part of a degree program at another institution may have up to 6 credit hours of equivalent required coursework waived upon approval of a majority of the graduate program committee. A written request for this approval must be submitted within one year of full admission to the M.S. program.

Seminars

Students must present a one-hour literature seminar based on a topic of their choice which has been approved by the Department of Chemistry Chair (or a designee). Students must register for CHEM 5611 the semester of this presentation. This seminar will include an exhaustive review of the pertinent literature and discussion of both present and future implications of research in this area. An abstract is to be posted and distributed one week prior to the presentation date.

Time Constraints and Financial Assistance 

Full-time thesis M.S. students are required to complete all of the requirements for their degree within four years. In compelling circumstances, and on the written recommendation of a majority of the Supervisory Committee, a single extension for up to one year may be requested for approval by the Chair of the Department of Chemistry. Part-time thesis M.S. students are required to complete all of their requirements for their degree within seven years.

Full-time thesis M.S. students may receive financial support from the Department of Chemistry for a maximum of two-and-one-half years. Students from countries having an official language other than English, and who wish to be supported as GTAs, must take the SPEAK test before the end of their first semester on campus if necessary. Part-time thesis M.S. students are not eligible for financial support from the Department of Chemistry.

Research Adviser and Supervisory Committee 

Full-time students must select a research adviser from the graduate faculty of the Department of Chemistry and a supervisory committee by the end of their first regular (i.e., fall or spring) semester on campus. Part-time students must select their research adviser and supervisory committee by the end of their third year after enrollment in their first course as an M.S. student at UMKC.

The research adviser becomes the chairperson of the supervisory committee, which includes at least two additional members of the graduate faculty. Students and their supervisory committee shall plan a program of study which, when met, will qualify students for the M.S. degree. This program of study must be approved by the supervisory committee, the department chair, and the principal graduate adviser prior to the completion of 15 hours of coursework applicable to the degree. The supervisory committee is responsible for conducting the final thesis examination for students in the thesis program.

Coursework

The emphasis of this program is research. A minimum of 31 credit hours (including research and thesis) is required. Full-time, research M.S. students should be able to complete the formal coursework requirement no later than the end of their second year. Thesis M.S. students are required to complete:

1. Three credit hours in one of the following Physical Chemistry courses:  CHEM 5531, CHEM 5532, CHEM 5533, CHEM 5534, or CHEM 5535.
2. Three credit hours in Organic Chemistry:  CHEM 5521R or CHEM 5522.
3. Six additional credit hours from graduate level chemistry courses numbered CHEM 5521 - CHEM 5589, excepting CHEM 5520, CHEM 5530, and CHEM 5540.
4. Two additional graduate-level courses for a minimum of 6 credit hours.
5. One credit hour seminar presentation (CHEM 5611).
6. In addition to the formal course work requirements, a minimum of 6 credit hours of research and thesis (CHEM 5599) are required.  Research and thesis (CHEM 5599) work must be done under the direction of the student's research adviser.
7. Up to 6 credit hours of directed studies (CHEM 5590) may be applied toward the degree requirements.  Additional coursework may be substituted for part or all of CHEM 5590 on approval of the student's supervisory committee.

The selected courses must be approved by the student's supervisory committee. Students who receive a grade of C+ (2.3) or lower in more than two courses applicable to the M.S. program or who have a GPA lower than 3.0 on courses (not including CHEM 5590, CHEM 5599 or any undergraduate courses) applicable toward the M.S. degree after completing 18 or more credit hours of such courses, will be terminated from the degree program.

Students, who have received a grade of B- (2.7) or better in graduate coursework taken as part of a degree program at another institution, may transfer up to 6 credit hours of this work on approval of a majority of the student's committee. A written request for this approval must be submitted within one year of full admission to the program.

Seminar Presentation (CHEM 5611)

Students must present a one-hour seminar based on their thesis research project. This seminar will include an exhaustive review of the literature pertinent to their project, a description of the objectives, the proposed methodology, and the significance of this research. Students must register for CHEM 5611 and present this seminar during the semester following selection of their research adviser and committee.

Thesis Defense 

The candidate's thesis must be prepared following all of the guidelines required by the UMKC School of Graduate Studies. All supervisory committee members must receive a final draft of the thesis for approval of form and content at least two weeks before submission to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates should submit preliminary drafts of their thesis to their supervisory committee well in advance of this deadline. After the thesis is certified for acceptance by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the student must present an oral defense of his/her research in the form of a thesis seminar. The supervisory committee will make a final determination of the acceptability of the thesis immediately following this presentation. Only minor changes may be made to the thesis at this point.

Analytical

Research in analytical chemistry is focused on:

• Gas chromatography.
• Mass spectrometry.
• Fourier transform infrared, Raman and positron annihilation spectroscopy techniques.

Inorganic

Research in inorganic chemistry is focused on:

• Bioinorganic chemistry, including synthetic and mechanistic coordination chemistry of essential and toxic metal ions.
• Inorganic reactions including thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of metal-ligand interactions in aqueous and other media.
• Correlation of electronic structure calculations with experimental measurements.
• Bioinorganic chemistry of the heaviest metals.
• Development of new synthetic methodology to novel organic-inorganic hybrids.
• Polymer-silicate composites.

Organic

Research in organic chemistry is focused on:

• Synthesis and molecular architecture of bile acids and benzenoid hydrocarbons.
• Synthesis and physical studies of novel host-guest systems.
• Total synthesis of complex natural products.
• Development of new synthetic methods.
• Development of new scaffolds and reagents for combinatorial chemistry.
• Medicinal chemistry.
• Chemical biology.
• Synthesis and elucidation of natural products and antitumor agents.
• Biomimetic materials chemistry of cyclodextrin derivatives.
• Immobilized enzymes for "green" enantioselective catalysis.

Physical

Research in physical chemistry is focused on:

• Using infrared and Raman spectroscopy to determine molecular conformations.
• Developing infrared spectroscopic techniques for the analysis of environmental pollutants.
• Using ab initio and semiempirical computational methods to predict chemical and physical properties of interesting chemical species.
• Quantitative structure activity relationships.
• Physical and biological properties of dental materials.
• Characterization of electronic and free-volume properties in materials.
• Positron and positronium chemistry.
• Organic conductivity and superconductivity.
• Brownian dynamic simulation.
• Developing and using solid-state NMR methods for structural and dynamical studies of proteins and peptides.

Polymer

Research in polymer chemistry is focused on:

• Synthesis of novel organic and organometallic polymers.
• Novel dendrimers and their applications.
• Core-shell nanoparticles as functional materials.
• Hybrid polymers for molecular electronics.
• Characterization of electronic/optical/photophysical properties of polymers.
• Study of free volume, phase transition, relaxation phenomena, and gas diffusion of polymers and polymer blends.
• Semiconducting polymers.