Program Mission: The Master of Science in Chemistry program at EIU is designed to provide solid training to permit graduates to obtain responsible positions in industry, governmental agencies and educational institutions while also providing strong preparation for post-graduate study in PhD and other professional programs. The program's formal coursework for the thesis option centers on 15 semester hours that are designed to give students a broad background in modern chemistry. Six additional semester hours of elective courses, six semester hours of research, and three semester hours of thesis complete all credit requirements for the degree. An option in Biochemistry is also available. Both the Chemistry and Biochemistry options offer a non-thesis track of study. The non-thesis option provides an alternative pathway for students to complete the master's without completing a research project or thesis, this option requires 32 semester hours.
Five year accelerated BA/MS and BS/MS programs are available. Detailed information is available at http://www.eiu.edu/eiuchem
Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the "Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates" section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include those outlined for the Master's Degree by the Graduate School (see "Requirements for the Master's Degree"). All thesis students must take a core of courses which total 24 semester hours and elective courses which total 6 semester hours. With permission of the graduate coordinator, one or more elective courses may be taken in departments outside Chemistry. Non-thesis students must take a core of 20 semester hours and 12 hours of electives.
Five year accelerated BA/MS and BS/MS programs are available. Detailed information is available at http://www.eiu.edu/eiuchem
An option in Biochemistry is also available.
Thesis Option
The following courses are required for thesis students:
Total hours: 24
CHM 5000
Graduate Seminar I.
CHM 5001
Graduate Seminar II. (1 credits)
CHM 5002
Introduction to Graduate Chemical Research. (1 credits)
CHM 5003
Critical Reading of Chemical Literature. (1 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
CHM 58901
Graduate Research I (1 to 6 credits)
This course is repeated by using subsequent course numbers, please consult adviser.
CHM 5950
Thesis. (3 credits)
Elective Courses for Thesis Option
Thesis students must take a total of 6 hours of elective courses chosen from the following list of Chemistry courses or, with permission of the graduate coordinator, courses chosen from other disciplines.
Total hours: 6
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
CHM 5200
Chemical Thermodynamics. (3 credits)
CHM 5250
Special Topics. (3 credits)
CHM 5300
Molecular Spectroscopy. (3 credits)
CHM 5350
Organometallic Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 5410
Organic Mechanisms and Synthesis. (3 credits)
CHM 5460
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
Non-Thesis Option
Core Courses for the Non-Thesis Option
Total Hours: 20
CHM 5001
Graduate Seminar II. (1 credits)
CHM 5003
Critical Reading of Chemical Literature. (1 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Choose 6 more hours at the 5000 level from Chemistry, Biochemistry, and/or another department. Courses must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
CHM 5280
Bioanalytical Problem Solving (3 credits)
Elective Courses for Non-Thesis Option
Courses from departments other than the Chemistry/Biochemistry department require approval from the faculty adviser, graduate coordinator and the host department. EDU, MBA courses and PSY courses may require admission to additional programs. CHM 5700 or any courses with the BCT prefix cannot be applied to this degree.
Choose 12 hours from the following courses:
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
CHM 58901
Graduate Research I (1 to 6 credits)
CHM 5250
Special Topics. (3 credits)
CHM 59901
Independent Study I (1 to 6 credits)
CSM 4880
Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3 credits)
CSM 4885
Theory of Computation (3 credits)
CSM 4970
Principles of Operating Systems. (3 credits)
CSM 4980
Networking and Distributed Computing (3 credits)
CSM 4985
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (3 credits)
EDU 5200
Research Methods II (3 credits)
EDU 5300
Educational Technology (3 credits)
EDU 5680
Educational Assessment. (3 credits)
MAT 4760
Linear Algebra. (4 credits)
MAT 4920
Concepts of Algebra for Elementary and Middle Level Teachers. (3 credits)
MBA 5660A
Operations Management (3 credits)
MBA 5680A
Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics (3 credits)
MBA 5550
Marketing Management. (3 credits)
MBA 5000
Strategic Management (3 credits)
MBA 5640
Financial Management. (3 credits)
PHY 4750
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (4 credits)
PHY 4855
Quantum Mechanics (3 credits)
PHY 4865
Advanced Quantum Mechanics (3 credits)
PSY 4810
Neuropsychopharmacology (3 credits)
PSY 5170
Theories of Learning. (3 credits)
Option in Biochemistry Thesis Option
The option in Biochemistry allows for the substitution of two of a select group of core courses with biology courses.
Total Hours: 30
Core Courses Thesis Option
Total Hours: 24
CHM 5000
Graduate Seminar I.
CHM 5001
Graduate Seminar II. (1 credits)
CHM 5002
Introduction to Graduate Chemical Research. (1 credits)
CHM 5003
Critical Reading of Chemical Literature. (1 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
This course may be substituted with a biology course.
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
This course may be substituted with a biology course.
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
This course may be substituted with a biology course.
CHM 58901
Graduate Research I (1 to 6 credits)
CHM 5950
Thesis. (3 credits)
Biology Courses
A maximum of two core courses may be substituted with two biology courses. The core courses which can be replaced are CHM 5210, 5360, and 5420. Biology courses available for substitution:
BIO 5250
Biological Microtechnique (3 credits)
BIO 5400
Cell Physiology. (4 credits)
BIO 5406
Endocrinology. (4 credits)
BIO 5433
Neurobiology of Diseases (4 credits)
BIO 5434
Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 5435
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
Elective Courses for Thesis Option
The following courses may be selected as electives in the Biochemistry Option for thesis students:
Total Hours: 6
(CHM 4860 is highly recommended)
BIO 4751
Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. (3 credits)
BIO 4818
Applied and Environmental Microbiology (4 credits)
BIO 4836
Pathogenic Microbiology. (4 credits)
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
CHM 5250
Special Topics. (3 credits)
CHM 5300
Molecular Spectroscopy. (3 credits)
Option in Biochemistry Non-Thesis Option
Total Hours: 32
Core Courses Non-Thesis Option
Total hours: 8
CHM 5001
Graduate Seminar II. (1 credits)
CHM 5003
Critical Reading of Chemical Literature. (1 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
OR
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
OR
CHM 5300
Molecular Spectroscopy. (3 credits)
OR
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Biology Courses
Total hours: 12
BIO 5400
Cell Physiology. (4 credits)
BIO 5404
Advanced Plant Physiology II, Metabolism. (3 credits)
BIO 5406
Endocrinology. (4 credits)
BIO 5433
Neurobiology of Diseases (4 credits)
BIO 5434
Neurobiology (3 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
CHM 59901
Independent Study I (1 to 6 credits)
Elective Courses for Non-Thesis Option
Total hours: 12
BCT 5000
Techniques in Biotechnology (3 credits)
BIO 4751
Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. (3 credits)
BIO 4818
Applied and Environmental Microbiology (4 credits)
BIO 4836
Pathogenic Microbiology. (4 credits)
BIO 5250
Biological Microtechnique (3 credits)
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
CHM 58901
Graduate Research I (1 to 6 credits)
CHM 5250
Special Topics. (3 credits)
CHM 59901
Independent Study I (1 to 6 credits)
CSM 4880
Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3 credits)
CSM 4885
Theory of Computation (3 credits)
CSM 4970
Principles of Operating Systems. (3 credits)
CSM 4980
Networking and Distributed Computing (3 credits)
CSM 4985
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (3 credits)
EDU 5200
Research Methods II (3 credits)
EDU 5300
Educational Technology (3 credits)
EDU 5680
Educational Assessment. (3 credits)
MAT 4760
Linear Algebra. (4 credits)
MAT 4920
Concepts of Algebra for Elementary and Middle Level Teachers. (3 credits)
MBA 5660A
Operations Management (3 credits)
MBA 5680A
Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics (3 credits)
MBA 5500
Quantitative Modeling. (3 credits)
MBA 5550
Marketing Management. (3 credits)
MBA 5000
Strategic Management (3 credits)
MBA 5640
Financial Management. (3 credits)
PHY 4750
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (4 credits)
PHY 4855
Quantum Mechanics (3 credits)
PHY 4865
Advanced Quantum Mechanics (3 credits)
PSY 4810
Neuropsychopharmacology (3 credits)
PSY 5170
Theories of Learning. (3 credits)
Graduate Assistantships
Information on graduate assistantships may be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Graduate Studies or Chair, Chemistry, 3154 Physical Science Building, EIU.
Accelerated Graduate Program
Admission to the accelerated MS in Chemistry requires that a student have completed a minimum of 60 hours of undergraduate course credit and have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.25. In addition, applicants must have completed a minimum of 15 hours of Chemistry or Biochemistry courses.
To apply for the accelerated MS in Chemistry applicants meeting the above requirements must contact the Graduate Coordinator for Chemistry and complete the Graduate School's Accelerated Program Application.
A maximum of 9 credit hours may be shared with the undergraduate degree with 6 hours at the 5000 level and above.
If the total credit earned from shared courses is greater than 9 hours, only 9 hours will count toward both degrees, with remaining hours only counting as undergraduate credit.
The following courses are acceptable as shared credit:
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
CHM 5100
Advanced Analytical Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 5200
Chemical Thermodynamics. (3 credits)
CHM 5210
Bonding and Reactivity (3 credits)
CHM 5250
Special Topics. (3 credits)
CHM 5300
Molecular Spectroscopy. (3 credits)
CHM 5360
Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology. (3 credits)
CHM 5420
Modern Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
CHM 5460
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
Exception for BS/MS in Biochemistry. Approved Biology courses:
BIO 4750
Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data (4 credits)
BIO 4818
Applied and Environmental Microbiology (4 credits)
BIO 4835
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 4751
Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. (3 credits)
BIO 4836
Pathogenic Microbiology. (4 credits)
BIO 5250
Biological Microtechnique (3 credits)
BIO 5400
Cell Physiology. (4 credits)
BIO 5406
Endocrinology. (4 credits)
BIO 5433
Neurobiology of Diseases (4 credits)
BIO 5434
Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 5435
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
Information sourced from the 2025-2026 EIU Graduate Catalog.
