The Department of Chemistry offers the master's degree to those graduate students who have decided not to continue pursuing a PhD. The awarding of the master's is considered a terminal degree and usually takes about 3 semesters of coursework to achieve.
M.S. Coursework Requirements
Students may choose either to pursue the master's under Plan I, a formal thesis or Plan II by comprehensive examination. The requirements under each Plan are summarized below:
Plan I (Thesis)
Under Plan I, the requirements are a thesis and 20 semester units of which at least 8 are letter grade coursework in 200 series or upper division courses approved by the department plus 6 units in CHEM 299 and 6 units in CHEM 298.
Plan II (Comprehensive Examination)
Under Plan II, the requirements are 12 semester units of upper division and graduate letter grade coursework and a comprehensive examination approved by the department plus 6 units in CHEM 299 and 6 units in CHEM 298.
Courses in the 300 or higher series do not count in the unit requirement for either Plan I or II.