Master of Science Program

Master of Science Degree (with Thesis)

This degree requires a minimum of 24 credit hours in course work plus a 6 credit hour thesis class. A minimum of 18 hours in chemistry from courses listed in the Graduate Catalog will be required. Twelve of these hours will be taken from at least four (4) of the chemistry disciplines (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical).

Electives (6 hours) shall be graduate division courses in a science or engineering subject selected by the candidate; any elective requires the approval of the graduate advisor.

The 6 credit hour thesis class (CHEM 5698) is a completion course and must be taken in the final semester.

Master of Science Degree (with Thesis Substitute)

This degree is available for students with at least five years of professional experience in an industrial, government, or other chemistry laboratory at the time the degree is awarded. Admission to the program requires specific approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

The degree plan requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, of which at least 24 must be in coursework and at least 3 in a suitable research project (CHEM 5392). A minimum of 18 hours in chemistry from courses listed in the Graduate Catalog will be required. Twelve of these hours will be taken from at least four (4) of the chemistry disciplines (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical).

Additional electives shall be graduate division courses in a science or engineering subject selected by the candidate; any elective requires the approval of the graduate advisor.

Master of Science Degree (Non-Thesis)

This option requires a minimum of 30 hours of coursework of which at least 24 hours must be in chemistry. Courses in chemistry will be taken from at least four (4) of the chemistry disciplines (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical).

Elective courses (6 hours) shall be graduate division courses selected by the candidate. All courses taken for this degree plan including electives must be approved by the graduate advisor.

Admission Criteria

Admission to graduate programs at UTA is competitive! Each academic department at UTA sets its own admissions requirements and makes independent admission decisions. In evaluating candidates for admission to its graduate degree programs, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry uses the holistic review process—readers give careful consideration to all the credentials presented by the student as they assess the application materials for indicators that the applicant possesses qualities known to contribute to successful completion of the degree program. Such a review seeks to determine if the applicant has not only the academic qualifications for admission but also the skills and experiences that facilitate degree completion and a successful research career. Recommendations from our own faculty, based on first-hand knowledge of the applicant or a faculty member at the applicant’s institution, are also very important when reviewing applications.

Unconditional Admission
Unconditional admission may be granted under any one of the following options. The minimum undergraduate GPA requirement for all options is 3.0, as calculated by Graduate Admissions. Admission to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is not guaranteed if all requirements have been met.

Option 1
A satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, official transcripts, GRE scores, language requirements (if applicable) and three letters of recommendation.

Option 2
A satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, official transcripts, GRE scores, language requirements (if applicable) and two letters of recommendation from a faculty member at the applicant’s undergraduate institution, plus a recommendation from a UTA Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty member.

Option 3
A satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, official transcripts, GRE scores, language requirements (if applicable) and two letters of recommendation from a faculty member at the applicant’s undergraduate institution, plus a recommendation from a UTA Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty member based on a face-to-face interview.

Provisional Admission
An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission. A deferred decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Probationary Admission
In rare cases, probationary admission may be granted as the result of a substandard performance on one or more of the admission criteria. In this case, the Graduate Advisor will set additional conditions for admission including, but not limited to, additional undergraduate coursework and/or achieving a B or better in the first 9 hours of graduate coursework.

Denial of Admission
A candidate may be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of the admission criteria described above.