Chemistry (CHEM)

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Abstract

The Department of Chemistry offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science or the Doctor of Philosophy degrees with specialization in the fields of analytical chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, chemical physics (in cooperation with the Institute of Physical Sciences & Technology and the Department of Physics), environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry.

Admissions Information

Admission to graduate study at the University of Maryland requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or equivalent degree. While the area in which the degree has been earned need not be chemistry or biochemistry, previous coursework must normally include a minimum of 30 semester or 40 quarter hours of chemistry, with at least 1 year of physical chemistry, 1 year of organic chemistry and 1 semester of inorganic chemistry, as well as laboratory courses in organic chemistry and physical chemistry. A laboratory course in analytical chemistry is also preferred. Typical overall grade point averages for successful applicants are 3.0 or greater (on a scale where the average grade is 2.0), and averages in science and math courses are generally higher than this. Three letters of reference indicating a potential for independent, creative scientific research are also required.

The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all applicants. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must also present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE).

The above requirements represent minimum requirements and the competition for available space may limit admissions to persons with credentials above these minimum requirements.

Application Deadlines

Type of Applicant	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants; US Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials; International Applicants seeking admissions under A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants	Deadline: February 1	Deadline: June 1
International Applicants seeking admission under F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas	Deadline: February 1	Deadline: June 1

Application Requirements

1. GRE General required
2. GRE Subject recommended
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation (sent electronically)
4. TOEFL scores for international students
5. Transcripts (Originals must be sent to Enrollment Services Operations, Room 0130 Mitchell Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
6. "Statement of Goals & Research Interests" and "Statement of Experiences". (These can be submitted separately or as a single document.)

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)

The M.S. degree program offers both the thesis and non-thesis options. Twenty-four course credits, including 2 seminar credits and six research credits are required for either option. The thesis option requires one seminar presentation and an oral defense of the thesis. Copies of specific regulations are available from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry or on the internet at: www.chem.umd.edu.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Twenty-one course credit hours, with twelve credits of research, two seminar presentations, an oral exam for advancement to candidacy, and a dissertation defense are required for the doctoral degree.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Department has many state-of-the-art research facilities to support research in the fields listed above. Facilities include "clean" rooms for environmental sample analysis, X-ray crystallographic instrumentation, five mass spectrometers, five NMR spectrometers including 400 (3), 500 (1), 600 (1) MHz Fourier-transform NMR spectrometers; an XPS spectrometer, Atomic Force Microscopes, ultracentrifuges, analytical optical spectrometers, and a state-of-the-art computer graphics facility.

Departmental research is supported by a departmental server and many individual faculty work stations. The Department has an electronics shop, a student-faculty machine shop and access to other campus machine shops. The Chemistry Library has an extensive collection in chemistry, biochemistry and other fields. Electronic access to journals and literature search databases is available. A Macintosh workstation facility (25 units) is available in the Department for student/faculty use.

Financial Assistance

Ph.D. candidates are normally supported on graduate teaching assistantships during their first year in graduate school. Teaching assistants usually instruct undergraduate laboratory and recitation classes and receive in return a tuition waiver of ten credits each semester, a salary and health care benefits. In subsequent years, Ph.D. candidates are typically supported on graduate research assistantships. Financial assistance is not generally available to M.S. candidates.

Contact Information

Information on requirements and research interests of the faculty may be obtained at www.chem.umd.edu or from:

Graduate Programs Office
0129 Chemistry Building,
University of Maryland- College Park,
MD  20742
Telephone: (301) 405-7022 and (301)405-1028
Fax: (301) 314-9121
chembchmadm@umd.edu

http://www.chem.umd.edu/

Courses: CHEM

Related Programs and Campus Units

Biophysics
Biological Sciences
Biochemistry
Chemical Physics