Chemistry M.S. – Education Concentration Thesis Option

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.

Location: Ross Hall 3480

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.

Degree Requirements — 30 Credits

Research Credits — 9 credits

CHEM 600	Seminar in Chemistry	1
	and either
CHEM 695	Thesis Proposal	1

CHEM 699	Thesis	1- 6
	or
CHEM 693	Chemical Research	1- 9

Note: All students must take CHEM 600 two separate times for a total of 2 credits. Students completing a thesis must also take 1 credit of CHEM 695 and 6 credits of CHEM 699.

Chemistry Elective Credits — 6-15 credits

CHEM 522	Advanced Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 523	Chemical Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 533	Organic Synthesis and Stereochemistry	3
CHEM 534	Theory and Mechanisms of Organic Reactions	3
CHEM 543	Organometallic Chemistry	3
CHEM 560	Environmental Chemistry	2
CHEM 581	General Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 582	General Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 590	Advanced Topics in Chemistry	3
CHEM 693	Chemical Research	1- 9

Pedagogy Credits — 6-15 credits

CHEM 682	Problems in Teaching Chemistry	3
SCED 694	Science Education Research	3

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.”