Graduate Bulletin

Chemistry, M.A.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15; January 1 international

Spring: September 15; August 1 international

Application review is semi-rolling: Initial selection for Fall admission is January 15, with a final review on March 30; initial selection for Spring admission is September 15, with a final review on October 30.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from faculty or people in industry who are familiar with the academic and/or research aptitude of the candidate.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

The vast majority of applicants hold an undergraduate degree in Chemistry or a related field.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree is required. Typically, the undergraduate degree has been earned in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

Standardized Test Scores:

If the applicant's GPA is below 3.25, s/he can be considered for appointment as a Teaching Assistant if her/his percentile scores on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the GRE sum to at least 100%.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted:  88 iBT or 575 PBT. Regardless of score, all international students are required to take a SPEAK test upon arrival at Temple.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

All graduate credits earned by a student prior to matriculation in the Chemistry Graduate Program are subject to evaluation and approval by the Chemistry Graduate Committee. A Transfer of Credit Form must be completed. It must be supplemented with an official transcript, sent directly by the Registrar of the institution where the credits were earned. All transfer credits must be "B" or higher and must be from an accredited institution. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 24

Required Courses:

Six graduate courses totalling 18 semester hours are required. Three of these courses must be in the student's area of concentration, which depends on the track. An additional 6 semester hours of research are also required.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Comprehensive Examination:

The comprehensive examination is usually the last requirement to be fulfilled. Its purpose is to demonstrate a breadth and depth of knowledge in the core concepts of Chemistry as given in the "Course Masters" track. The exam is based on the student's major track in Chemistry. Faculty members in the student's track write the questions for the comprehensive exam. The faculty members who write the questions grade the exam. Students should schedule the exam though the Graduate Secretary.

Thesis:

The M.A. thesis should be an original piece of research. Often, but not always, the research described in the M.A. thesis can be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The student coordinates the time with her/his Graduate Advisory Committee. The student's committee is responsible for evaluating the thesis and its defense. No thesis should go to defense unless it is ready for public scrutiny.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.chem.temple.edu

Department Information:

Dept. of Chemistry
130 Beury Hall

1901 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
cstgrad@temple.edu
215-204-7118

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Graduate Secretary

cstgrad@temple.edu
215-204-1980

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Frank Spano

spano@temple.edu

215-204-5203

Graduate Chairperson:

Dr. Frank Spano

spano@temple.edu

215-204-5203

Chairperson:

Dr. Robert Levis
rjlevis@temple.edu
215-204-5241

About the Program

The Chemistry graduate program has been designed to provide a solid background in the chosen area of specialization. It emphasizes the acquisition of skills that enable students to gain further knowledge in their research and professional careers. For this reason, the graduate degree programs are research oriented, and seminar attendance and familiarization with the chemical literature are considered integral. The course requirements are comparatively light, although a wide variety of intermediate and advanced courses in related areas are offered. Students are encouraged to take courses in related areas, such as Biology, Computer Science, and Physics, according to their research interests.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Chemistry
130 Beury Hall

1901 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
cstgrad@temple.edu
215-204-7118

Interdisciplinary Study:

A Chemical Physics program is offered jointly with the Physics Department.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

The Department of Chemistry offers programs leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. Areas of specialization include environmental chemistry, materials and polymers, medicinal, nanoscience, photonics, and surface science.

Job Placement:

The majority of students find employment in the chemical industry. A lesser fraction go on to academic positions or positions in government laboratories.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students are allowed to take up to 9 credit hours before admission into a degree program must be sought.

Financing Opportunities

The duties of a Teaching Assistant typically involve leading recitation sections and/or overseeing laboratories. The TA, in general, is also involved with the grading of lab assignments, tests, and quizzes, when applicable.

After their first year, most students are supported by a research assistantship.

Updated 10.16.12