Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Site: Greeley
Mode: In-person
Start terms: Fall, Spring
Location: Ross Hall 3480
Email: chemistry@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/chemistry-biochemistry/
This Chemistry M.S. extends and builds upon the knowledge and skills learned at the undergraduate level and, through the science education component, develops skills necessary to become increasingly effective in the chemistry classroom.
Successful completion of this degree will enhance advancement opportunities in the education field and provide a teacher advanced training in content and pedagogy. The degree can also qualify graduates to teach at the junior or community college level.
Admission
General Master's Degree Admission Requirements
Program Requirements:
In addition to the Graduate School requirements for consideration of admission, all students should have completed chemistry courses comparable to those required in the B.S. degree in chemistry (ACS Certified) including courses in organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry. If these requirements are not met, a candidate may be admitted to the program but will need to meet specific academic requirements stipulated and monitored by the program faculty within the first calendar year program enrollment.
Degree Requirements — 30 Credits
Research Credits — 9 hours
Note: All students must take CHEM 600 two separate times for a total of 2 hours. Students completing a thesis must also take 1 hour of CHEM 695 and 6 hours of CHEM 699.
Chemistry Elective Credits — 6-15 hours
Pedagogy Credits — 6-15 hours
Pedagogy/Research Methods Electives
In conjunction with their advisor, candidates can select appropriate graduate level courses in supporting areas such as:
- Statistics and Research Methods (SRM)
- Psychology (PSY)
- Educational Technology (ET)
- Science Education (SCED)
Note: In addition to course requirements, all students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination in chemical education that includes the ACS General Chemistry I and II standardized examinations with a grade of 80% or higher.
Qualifier Examinations — Each student must pass qualifying examinations in three of five areas selected from chemistry content (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic or physical chemistry). Students will have two opportunities to pass each area exam. Qualifier examinations are scheduled during the two week period preceding the beginning of the Fall semester. If an examination is failed, the requirement may be satisfied by completing designated undergraduate coursework in the appropriate subdiscipline with a minimum grade of “B.”