Location:

Amherst, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Chemistry

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst has a faculty of approximately 30, most of whom conduct active research programs and direct graduate research. The Graduate Program in Chemistry is coherently designed to allow students to acquire the knowledge and skills that are necessary to become independent researchers in their chosen area(s). The first year of study consists of course work that includes both an interdisciplinary core course taken by all first year graduate students as well as several chosen advance-level and special topics courses; a teaching assignment designed to introduce students to both classical and novel teaching methods; and a series of short rotations in several research groups. After a research topic has been selected, the student's research advisor helps plan the remainder of the program. In subsequent years, students focus on research, present seminars, participate in journal clubs and group meetings, and write research proposals as part of their training. PhD. Candidacy is attained after passing an oral defense of an outline of the proposed research. The Ph.D. is awarded for the production and successful defense of a dissertation that describes original, publishable research.