Master's Degree Requirements
For a Master's degree, the student is required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours. In the thesis program at least 18 hours must be in formal lecture or lecture/laboratory courses. The remaining 12 hours are accomplished by completing research leading to a written thesis. In addition, the student registers for Graduate Seminar each semester in residence. A student presents a seminar to the Department each year. At the end of the student's studies, the thesis is defended in an oral examination. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a scale of 0. to 4.00 must be maintained for a student to receive the M.S. degree. The student's course of study and progress toward a degree are monitored and supervised by the thesis advisor and committee.
The Department also has non-thesis M.S. programs requiring a minimum of 30 hours of formal course work and a short project (5 hours) in the laboratory or library. Graduate Seminar is also required. Students in the non-thesis programs are not usually eligible for assistantships.
The doctoral degree requirements vary depending upon whether the Ph.D. studies are carried out in the joint Ph.D. program with UMass Lowell or in the co-op Ph.D. program with UMass Amherst. The student is referred to the appropriate university graduate catalog for specific details.
Admission
(Also visit Graduate Studies at UMass Dartmouth for more information.)
Although undergraduate training in chemistry or biochemistry is the usual background of graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, students from other disciplines (such as physics, biology, etc.) with a strong chemistry emphasis are encouraged to apply.
The required materials for consideration include the application forms, two confidential letters of recommendation from chemistry professors (a third letter is recommended), official transcripts, and application fee.
Students whose native language is not English must submit recent TOEFL scores or have received a college degree in the United States. A minimum score of 550 is required for admission and for a teaching assistantship.
The General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required for admission. However, the Advanced (Chemistry) GRE is required for international students, who do not hold a chemistry degree from a
While there is no formal application deadline, applicants are encouraged to submit and complete their applications early to place themselves in the best position for consideration for assistantships. Applications from international students for the fall semester will only be considered if they have been completed by May 1 (November 1 for spring semester). International applications completed after those dates will be considered for the following semester. In any case, the Chemistry Graduate Programs Committee will consider an applicant for admission and an assistantship only when the application is complete. The applicant will be notified of the decision as soon as possible. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the Chemistry Graduate Programs Committee can only consider an application when all application materials have been submitted.
Application materials and further information may be obtained by writing to the Chemistry Graduate Programs Committee or the Graduate Admissions Office, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747 (e-mail to graduate@umassd.edu). Please send application materials to the Graduate Admission Office.
It is the policy of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth not to discriminate against any applicant for admission or employment or against any employee or in any educational programs on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, handicap, sex, or sexual orientation.
Last Updated On: 2/20/07
