Department of Chemistry
M.S. in Chemistry
Dr. David Frank, Department Chair
Dr. Kin Ng, Graduate Program Coordinator
- Graduate Study in Chemistry | Degree Requirements | Facilities | Our Students | Faculty | Quick Facts
Graduate Study in Chemistry
The Master of Science degree program in Chemistry is designed to provide the first graduate degree for students who expect to continue on to advanced graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry. It is also used to extend the competence of students who anticipate employment in chemical industries, in government laboratories, or as secondary school or junior college teachers.
At California State University, Fresno, the advanced degree in Chemistry is unique because of its emphasis on breadth of training in the classic subdivisions of chemistry, as opposed to more specialization. We feel that this philosophy has been most successful in achieving the department's goals for our students, namely to provide a broad-based academic background that will prepare both the student who will pursue further graduate study and the individual who will enter the workplace as a professional chemist.
Degree Requirements
The degree program course requirements are rigorous, and the approach to an M.S. curriculum is a demanding one. But as the quality of training in all of chemistry's subdivisions remains high, we perceive this diversity as the primary strength of the program.
Each new student is required to take the Diagnostic Placement Examination in four fields of chemistry (physical, organic, analytical, and inorganic or biochemistry) to provide a basis for program planning. The program itself is designed by the student under the direction of a graduate adviser, and follows one of two tracks, depending upon the objective of the individual. In Plan A , 24 of the 30 units must be in graduate level chemistry courses, with the remaining 6 either in chemistry or related fields. The culminating experience for Plan A is a research thesis. The parameters for Plan B are similar. In lieu of a thesis however, a comprehensive examination must be taken. This examination consists of two parts: (a) a general written examination in chemistry; (b) an examination dealing with a specific area of chemistry. Plan B has been observed in previous years to be excellent training for students wishing to pursue careers in teaching.
Other courses may be specified after examination of the student's record and his or her performance on the departmental diagnostic examinations.
Facilities
The graduate chemistry laboratories and support areas are housed in the science building. Students are assigned space in one of eight four-station graduate laboratories. These laboratories are well equipped, with access to modern instrumentation, including two FTIR spectrophotometers, GC/FTIR, ICP and MIP atomic spectrometers, 200 MH z FT-NMR, GC/Mass Spectrometer, LC Mass Spectro-meter, atomic absorption spectrometers, liquid scintillation counter, Pye-Unicam, Lambda 6 and Cary 17D UV-VIS spectrometers, and refrigerated centrifuges. Library facilities include over 100 journal subscriptions in chemistry plus numerous texts and related books. Extensive computing facilities are available.
Our Students
The graduate enrollment is relatively small at 20 students, a number we have found optimal in providing the maximum focus on the individual student's needs. With the only M.S. degree program in chemistry in the San Joaquin Valley, we have established strong ties with the campuses at Stanislaus and Bakersfield. Therefore, many of our students are from the Central Valley.
In recent years, international students also have applied to our graduate program in increasing numbers. The department has been very active in the recruitment of students from all over the world, with the highest concentration of foreign students coming from the Pacific Rim countries. It is the belief of the department that in order to provide most diverse advanced degree program possible, the student population must reflect that diversity.
Graduate Study in Chemistry | Degree Requirements | Facilities | Our Students | Faculty | Quick Facts