Professional Master's Programs
Master of Chemistry in Materials Chemistry with a Concentration in Inorganic, Organic, or Polymeric Materials
The pace of growth in industry and technology is very closely connected to the development of newer, better, and more efficient materials. Nanomaterials, biomaterials, electronic materials, optical materials, functional organic materials, and polymers are essential in today's world. You can explore these fascinating materials, their design, synthesis, characterization, and application by earning a professional master's degree in materials chemistry. This part-time, non-thesis graduate program is designed for scientists who wish to broaden their background in synthesis and characterization of materials. The curriculum combines modern materials design and synthesis strategies with innovative characterization techniques, computational and simulation methods, and the study of chemical systems and their properties. In addition, you can gain a professional advantage by taking courses in business principles, science communication, and intellectual property management. You will also have the option of taking statistics for chemists and environmental regulations and risk assessment.
The master's program in materials chemistry offers considerable flexibility by allowing you to tailor the suggested curriculum to your specific needs, offering the option of concentrating in organic, inorganic, or polymer materials. The courses are all available online and you should be able to complete the degree in two and a half years of part-time study. A minimum of 31 credit hours and a passing grade on a comprehensive exam are required for graduation. Use the links below to view the list of required courses and electives. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of credit hours per course.
To be considered for the program, you must have a bachelor's degree (ideally in science or engineering), with at least two semesters of organic chemistry and two semesters of calculus. Work experience in any chemistry-related field is highly recommended. The program director will assist you in determining whether any prerequisites are necessary before starting the program. A graduate certificate program is an option for those students not seeking a master's degree.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must have completed two semesters of organic chemistry and two semesters of calculus.
Domestic students are required to hold a bachelor's degree in science or engineering with a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education. International students are required to hold a four-year bachelor�s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All applicants must submit their transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a $55 application fee, and a professional statement. Applicants for spring 2014 and beyond will be required to submit a resume no longer than two pages in length. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all international students, domestic students with an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, or at the request of the admissions committee.
For more information on how to apply, please visit the Office of Graduate Admission. Note that International applicants must meet English Language requirements and submit financial support documents.
Prerequisites
| Required |
| 2 semesters of calculus |
| 2 semesters of organic chemistry |
Required Courses
Students must successfully complete all 8 required courses, earning a "C" of higher in each course while maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 ("B" average). Courses for which students have received a failing grade, "E", do not count toward degree fulfillment and must be repeated.
To earn the degree, students must pass a comprehensive exam. Students are eligible to take this exam with permission of the program director.
Elective Courses
Choose three from the list below:
Certificates
Characterization of Inorganic and Organic Materials
Program Administration
Program Director
M. Ishaque Khan, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Executive Associate Chair, Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Illinois Institute of Technology
Life Sciences 204, 3101 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60616
tel: 312.567.3431
fax: 312.567.3494
email: khan@iit.edu
Program Manager, Professional Science Master's Programs
Elizabeth Friedman, Ph.D.
College of Science and Letters
Illinois Institute of Technology
Engineering 1 Suite 234, 10 W. 32nd St., Chicago, IL 60616
tel: 312.567.7973
fax: 312.567.3802
email: friedman@iit.edu