Chemistry
Department Head: Dr. Dennis W. Smith, Jr.
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. David Wipf
1115 Hand Chemical Laboratory
Box 9573
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-3584
E-mail: grad@chemistry.msstate.edu
Website: http://www.chemistry.msstate.edu
The Department of Chemistry provides a flexible and dynamic environment in which to pursue a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry. Students have the opportunity to work with faculty that have interests in the traditionally defined areas of Analytical, Biological, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. Additionally, active research in the interdisciplinary areas of Chemistry Education and Polymer and Materials Science are also available. For more information write to the Graduate Coordinator or visit the Department of Chemistry's website.
Students wishing to pursue a program leading to a Master of Science degree in Chemistry are required to complete a thesis or non-thesis option outlined below. The thesis concentration requires M.S. students to engage in research with a member of the Graduate Faculty. This unique experience gives students hands-on knowledge in research and develops practical skills associated with regular laboratory practices. The non-thesis concentration requires additional coursework broadening M.S. students' educational experiences and technical knowledge. Both concentrations, however, will refine the student's knowledge in chemistry and serve as preparation for challenges in academic settings and industrial careers.
The thesis option requires a minimum of 6 hours of chemistry research (CH 8000) under the supervision of a Graduate Faculty member (research advisor) in the Department of Chemistry. Students choosing the thesis option must generate and defend an original thesis as part of a final examination for the M.S. degree program. All thesis-track students are required to complete at least 12 hours of 8000-level courses, exclusive of research hours, and 1 hour of chemistry seminar (CH 8711).
The non-thesis option requires additional coursework to generate a minimum of 30 hours. Students choosing the coursework-only option will pass a comprehensive chemistry examination directed by a Graduate Faculty member (academic advisor) in the Department of Chemistry with Graduate Coordinator approval. All non-thesis track students are required to complete at least 15 hours of 8000-level coursework, to which research credits do not apply, and 1 hour of chemistry seminar (CH 8711).
Admission Criteria
All students who have earned a B.S. in chemistry, biochemistry, or other closely related field will be given full consideration for admission and the award of an assistantship. All applicants should report their scores for the GRE general exam as part of their required application materials. International students may be admitted with a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 500 PBT (78 iBT) or an IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) score of 6.0, but generally a TOEFL score of at least 550 PBT (79 iBT) or an IELTS score of 6.5 is required for a student to be considered for financial aid.
Provisional Admission
An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis. The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C). The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study. The specific courses used to overcome these deficiencies are chosen by the Department’s Graduate Affairs committee on a case-by-case basis. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from the graduate program. A student cannot remain on provisional status for more than two semesters. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.
Academic Performance
An overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale is required for all graduate courses taken after admission to the program is required by the University to remain in good standing. The Department of Chemistry requires grades of B or better on all chemistry courses in the student's program of study. If a student fails to meet either criterion, he or she is placed on probation. If the student does not correct the deficiency within one semester, the student may be dismissed from the program.
Master of Science in Chemistry - Thesis
| CH 8000 | Thesis Research/ Thesis in Chemistry | 6 |
| CH 8711 | Seminar | 1 |
| 6000-level or above courses chosen in consultation with the research advisor/committee 1 | 11 | |
| 8000-level CH courses chosen in consultation with the research advisor/committee | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | A minimum of 12 hours at the 8000 level is required. Coursework outside the department at the 6000 level may be deemed acceptable by a student's graduate committee but cannot constitute more than 50% of the total program. Students are allowed to earn up to 6 hours of CH 7000 Directed Individual Study as part of the thesis option. |
Each graduate student must complete a research project, write a thesis, and defend their results before a graduate committee.
Master of Science in Chemistry - Non-Thesis
| CH 8711 | Seminar | 1 |
| 6000-level or above courses chosen in consultation with the academic advisor/committee 1 | 14 | |
| 8000-level CH courses chosen in consultation with the academic advisor/committee | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | Coursework outside the department at the 6000 level may be deemed acceptable by a student's graduate committee but cannot constitute more than 50% of the total program. Students are allowed to earn up to 6 hours of CH 7000 Directed Individual Student as part of the non-thesis option. |
Each non-thesis M.S. student must pass three comprehensive exams from the five traditional areas of chemistry, which include Analytical, Biological, Inorganic, Physical, and Organic chemistry. Student must also pass an oral exam given by their graduate committee.
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
| CH 8111 | Professional Chemistry | 1 |
| Coursework at 8000-level or higher 1 | 18 | |
| 3 seminars | 3 | |
| CH 9000 | Dissertation Research/ Dissertation in Chemistry | 20 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
| 1 | Coursework outside the department at the 6000 level may be deemed acceptable by a student’s graduate committee but cannot constitute more than 50% of the total program. |
In addition, each Ph.D. student must pass a series of cumulative exams and an oral proposal examination.
Each Ph.D. student must complete a research project, write a dissertation, and defend their results before a graduate committee.
CH 6213 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Grades of C or better in CH 3213 and either CH 4523 or CH 4564). Three hours lecture. Primarily the study of the elements in light of the periodic law; emphasis on coordination number, molecular complexes, and nuclear chemistry
CH 6303 Environmental Chemistry I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CH 1223 or in CH 1244, junior standing). Three hours lecture. A systematic study of the basic concepts of environmental chemistry. Topics include air, water, soil chemistry, pollution, and environmental regulations
CH 6351 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory II: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CH 3311. Concurrent registration in CH 4353/6353). Three hours laboratory. Laboratory course to accompany CH 4353/6353
CH 6353 Analytical Chemistry II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CH 3313). Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. A study of instrument-based methods in analytical chemistry
CH 6413 Thermodynamics and Kinetics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 2213 or PH 1113, MA 1723, grade of C or better in CH 1223 or CH 1244). Three hours lecture. A study of the quantitative and theoretical properties of matter. Topics include chemical thermodynamics and kinetics, and solutions
CH 6423 Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: PH 2213 or PH 1113, MA 1723, grade of C or better in CH 1223 or CH 1244). Three hours lecture. Topics include solid state, surface chemistry, macromolecules, quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics
CH 6461 Practical Optical Spectroscopy: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Sophomore (4461) or Graduate standing (6461) or permission from instructor). One hour lecture and one hour lab. Practical applications of spectroscopy focused on techniques utilizing UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and polarimetry. Students must illustrate fluency in data acquisition and extrapolation for professional presentation
CH 6471 Practical Vibrational Spectroscopy: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Sophomore (4471) or Graduate standing (6471) or permission from instructor). One hour lecture and one hour lab. Practical applications of spectroscopy focused on vibrational techniques utilizing infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Students must illustrate fluency in data acquisition and extrapolation for professional presentation
CH 6511 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I: 1 hour.
(Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CH 1221 and CH 1223 or in CH 1244. Prior credit or concurrent enrollment in CH 4513). Three hours laboratory. A laboratory course to accompany CH 4513/6513
CH 6513 Organic Chemistry I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CH 1223 or in CH 1244). Three hours lecture. A systematic study of organic chemistry including aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic compounds
CH 6521 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II: 1 hour.
(Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in CH 4511/6511 and CH 4513/6513 or in CH 4554. Prior credit or concurrent enrollment in CH 4523). Three hours laboratory. A laboratory course to accompany CH 4523/6523
CH 6523 Organic Chemistry II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CH 4513/6513 or in CH 4554). Three hours lecture. A systematic study of organic chemistry including aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic compounds
CH 6713 Study Abroad Tour: 3 hours.
Three hour study abroad. Experiential learning through travel abroad focusing on specialized areas of study in Chemistry
CH 6990 Special Topics in Chemistry: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
CH 7000 Directed Individual Study in Chemistry: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
CH 8000 Thesis Research/ Thesis in Chemistry: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
CH 8101 Current Problems in Chemistry: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. Introduction to chemistry research and the modern problems that are currently under investigation in the Department of Chemistry. Additional topics, including data management, best laboratory practices, laboratory management, and scientific communication skills will also be discussed to engage and empower new researchers
CH 8111 Professional Chemistry: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. Professionalism in chemistry as it applies to research, with emphasis on the different methods used for disseminating research results
CH 8203 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 4213/6213 and CH 4423/6423). Three hours lecture. A systematic study of coordination compounds with emphasis upon the techniques
CH 8213 Organometallic Chemistry: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The preparation, bonding, structure, spectroscopy and reactions of main group or transition metal organometallic compounds and catalysis involving organometallic intermediates
CH 8223 Bioinorganic Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Graduate standing or permission from instructor.) Three hours lecture. This course is focused on the role metal ions play in biology. Topics studied here include the biology of metal ions, biocatalysis and metal-based biological reactions, bio-inspired catalysis, and a discussion of (bio)inorganic spectroscopy and related physical methods
CH 8313 Advanced Analytical Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Basic principles and problems involved with chemical analysis
CH 8323 Mass Spectrometry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor). This course is an introduction to the instrumentation, fundamental principles, and experimental methods associated with mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the course will serve as a survey of applications of mass spectrometry to various fields of chemical research
CH 8333 Advanced Instrumental Analysis: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: CH 4353/6353 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Fourier transform and laser methods of spectroscopy, surface analysis and their application to current analytical probelsm
CH 8343 Electroanalytical Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Fundamentals of electrochemistry and application of electrochemical methods to analytical chemistry
CH 8383 Advanced Environmental Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Graduate standing or permission from instructor). Three hours lecture. This course is designed for graduate students in chemistry or other sciences interested in a systematic study of the basic concepts of environmental chemistry. Topics include air, water, soil chemistry, pollution, and environmental regulations
CH 8423 Molecular Structure: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Three hours lecture. An introduction to various methods for studying molecular structure. Methods covered include quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, molecular spectroscopy, and nuclear chemistry
CH 8433 Theory of Solution NMR Spectroscopy: 3 hours.
An introductory graduate-level course covering the quantum mechanics and physical origins behind NMR spectroscopy, including small and large molecules. Topics include multidimensional NMR, relaxation, and chemical exchange
CH 8513 Synthetic Organic Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: 12 credits in organic chemistry). Three hours lecture. The scope and limitations of commonly employed organic preparative methods. New and unusual reagents
CH 8523 Modern Organic Reactions and Mechanisms: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Eight credits in undergraduate organic chemistry). Three hours lecture. A study of the modern synthetic methodology and tactics with a short introduction to basic disconnection strategies, named reactions, and arrow-pushing mechanisms related to organic chemistry
CH 8543 Organic Spectroscopy: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Eight credits in undergraduate organic chemistry). Three hours lecture. A study of various spectroscopic and spectrometric methods used to elucidate structure of organic compounds. Both theory and applications of these techniques will be discussed
CH 8553 Physical Organic Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: 12 credits in organic chemistry). Three hours lecture. A study of the interrelationships between structure and reactivity in organic molecules, including chemical equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics as related to organic chemistry
CH 8613 Methods in Biophysical Chemistry: 3 hours.
Three hours leceture. Discussion of physical methods and conceptual models used to describe the behavior or biological macromolecules and biochemical reactions
CH 8711 Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. Reports on recent literature by students and staff. All graduate students in chemistry required to attend. One credit for each semester's participation. Up to a total of six credits allowed for Ph.D. candidates, and three for M.S
CH 8721 Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. Reports on recent literature by students and staff. All graduate students in chemistry required to attend. One credit for each semester's participation. Up to a total of six credits allowed for Ph.D. candidates, and three for M.S
CH 8731 Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. Reports on recent literature by students and staff. All graduate students in chemistry required to attend. One credit for each semester's participation. Up to a total of six credits allowed for Ph.D. candidates, and three for M.S
CH 8990 Special Topics in Chemistry: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
CH 9000 Dissertation Research/ Dissertation in Chemistry: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged