University of Missouri-St. Louis

M.S. in Chemistry

The Chemistry & Biochemistry Master of Science degree is a 30 credit hour program that is customizable depending on the interests of the student. Students may choose to focus their coursework in a few, some, or all chemical disciplines including organic, inorganic, biochemical, physical, and analytical chemistry.

A BS or BA in a scientific discipline is the most compatible baccalaureate degree for the MS program, although other degrees will be considered for strong candidates.

Master of Science in Chemistry degrees can be obtained either by graduate coursework only (MS non-thesis) or by a combination of graduate coursework and research culminating in a written thesis (MS thesis). These degree programs may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis with entry to the program possible in August or January of each year. The part-time MS non-thesis is a particularly popular option for chemists with bachelor’s degrees who are employed locally in St. Louis and are looking to upgrade their qualifications. Contact us by email or phone for an application package, for more information or to arrange a visit to campus.

As you are on the path to a Master of Science degree, you can obtain certificates in various chemical disciplines. Each certificate is 12 credit hours and are stackable towards the MS degree. 

The Chemistry and Biochemistry department has a strong research emphasis as well as a dedication to teaching, but is of medium size allowing substantial interaction between faculty and students. There is an international make-up to the faculty and postdoctoral fellows, and there are graduate students presently in the department from the United States and abroad. The department is very well equipped with modern instrumentation and computing resources. These include outstanding NMR, microscopy, X-ray and mass spectrometry facilities, with two 300 MHz and one 600 MHz NMR spectrometers, two single-crystal and one powder X-ray diffractometers, a Bruker Maxis Plus and GC-MS facilities. Areas of research specialization include the traditional areas of inorganic, organic, physical, and biological chemistry, as well as organometallic, supramolecular, surface chemistry, computational chemistry, laser spectroscopy and the study of new materials. Former graduates are employed in research positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in academic positions, and in other areas such as high-tech computer applications.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is situated on landscaped grounds in suburban St. Louis and has a student body of about 15,000. UMSL is a growing campus. Recent additions include a new Computer Science building, the Center for Nanoscience, the Millenium Student Center, the Touhill Performing Arts Center, and a new Science Learning Building containing state of the art teaching laboratories. UMSL is located in suburban St. Louis County about 5 miles from the St. Louis airport, near the intersection of interstates 70 and 170. There are two Metrolink stations on the campus that provide easy light-rail access to the airport, downtown St. Louis, Forest Park (which houses the Zoo, the Art Museum and the History Museum) and to the popular dining/shopping areas in the Delmar Loop and the Central West End.

St. Louis is a major center for the chemical industry, and is home to many companies including Millipore-Sigma, Bayer Crop Sciences, ThermoFisher Scientific, Zoltek, Novus International, Mallinckrodt, Anheuser-Busch, and major components of Pfizer and the Boeing Company.