Joint BS/MS Degree Program

Source: https://chemistry.uchicago.edu/undergraduate-major-and-research/joint-bsms-degree-program Parent: http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/biologicalchemistry/

Students interested in the Joint BS/MS Degree Program in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry should contact Vera Dragisich for detailed information and discussion of eligibility.

Students who achieve advanced academic standing through their performance on the Department of Chemistry's advanced placement examinations, and have sufficient space in their schedule, may consider the formulation of a four-year joint degree program that leads to the concurrent award of the BS in either Chemistry or Biological Chemistry and the MS in Chemistry. In consultation with Vera Dragisich, special programs are developed for such students. Following consultation, students who are interested in pursuing the joint degree will fill out the application.

The Department requires students who are admitted as prospective candidates for the Joint BS/MS Degree Program in Chemistry or Biological Chemistry to pass a series of Basic Examinations. These examinations are based on material covered at most accredited universities and four-year colleges: one year of general chemistry (including qualitative and quantitative analysis), organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry. Exams must be taken prior to Spring quarter of the graduation year and students have three opportunities to pass each exam. Exams are regularly scheduled the first week of each quarter. However, special testing arrangements can be made with a week’s prior notice to Vera Dragisich.

In addition to satisfying the Basic Examination requirement, the following are specific departmental requirements for the Master of Science degree in Chemistry:

• Each candidate shall satisfactorily complete nine courses selected from the graduate offerings (300-level for lecture courses; 200, 300 or 400-level for research courses) in the Department of Chemistry and related departments in the Physical and Biological Sciences Divisions. Six of these shall be 300-level courses with grades of C or better from the offerings of the Department of Chemistry or related departments in the Physical and Biological Sciences Divisions. Four of these courses must be taken in Chemistry, and at least two of these four courses must be a Chemistry course designated as foundational. The two courses that may be taken outside the department to satisfy this requirement must be approved in advance. Absolutely no undergraduate level courses can be used to satisfy the six graduate level course requirement. Three courses will be research courses in order to satisfy the nine required courses.
• Grades of C or better are required for all courses except research courses, where a grade of P is acceptable.
• Candidates must do an honors BS paper and participate in the Spring honors symposium.