Chemistry

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Philip Oldham, Dean

Dr. Keith Mead, Department Head

Dr. Stephen Foster, Graduate Coordinator

115 Hand Chemical Laboratory

662-325-3584

Email:  grad@chemistry.msstate.edu

The Department of Chemistry provides a flexible and dynamic environment in which to pursue a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in chemistry.  Students have the opportunity to work with faculty with interests in Biochemistry and Materials Science, as well as in Environmental, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry.  The faculty has active research programs in synthesis (inorganic, organic, polymer and supramolecular synthesis), surface chemistry (catalysis and corrosion studies) and spectroscopy, (pollution studies by IR laser spectroscopy, active-site structural studies by nmr spectroscopy). Major environmental studies of pesticide and herbicide transport are being carried out, as are studies of protein crystal growth in the lab and on the space shuttle. 

Lab-on-a-chip chemistry is being explored, and theoretical chemical methods are under active development.  Ab initio and semiempirical methods are used to study complex, biologically relevant systems and important chemical processes.  The research is supported by an array of in-house equipment.  NMR spectrometers include 600-MHz and 300-MHz instruments. Optical spectrometers include Bruker, Midac and Jeol FTIR instruments, a Bruker laser Raman spectrometer, and several dynamic light scattering spectrometers.  An X-ray diffractometer with CCD detection is housed in the department.  Departmental students also have access to a wide range of mass spectrometers, including liquid chromatography-MS, several other quadrupole ion trap instruments, and numerous gas chromatography‑MS systems.  Individual labs maintain lasers, an atomic force microscope, a scanning electrochemical microscope, HPLC’s, and GPC’s.  Research and teaching assistantships are available. The department also offers five GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) fellowships to underrepresented students. For more information access http://www.msstate.edu/dept/chemistry or write to the Graduate Coordinator, Department of Chemistry, Box 9573 , Mississippi State , MS 39762 , or send electronic mail to grad@chemistry.msstate.edu.

Admission Criteria—Although not required, the admissions committee encourages students to take the GRE general test.  Foreign students may be admitted with TOEFL scores as low as 475 (University minimum), but a score of at least 550 is required for a student to be considered for financial aid.

Program of Study/Completion Requirements— For the M.S. degree, the department requires 30 hours of credit (six hours of research, 23 hours of course work and one seminar credit).  For the Ph.D., the department requires one core course in each of the four major areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical) and three seminars. In addition, each student must pass a series of cumulative exams and take additional coursework as determined in consultation with the doctoral committee.  Each graduate student must complete a research project, write a thesis or dissertation, and defend results before a faculty committee.

Provisional Admission—Provisional admission is granted to a student with some deficiency in her/his chemistry background.  Students admitted to provisional status are eligible for advancement to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of regular graduate level courses taken after admission to the program.  Neither transfer credits nor unclassified graduate credits may be used to fulfill this requirement.  The specific courses used to overcome these deficiencies are chosen by the department’s graduate committee on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Performance—All entering students take placement exams to demonstrate competency in the four major areas of chemistry.  Competency is demonstrated by scoring at or above the 50th percentile level on each exam.  If the student fails to show this level of knowledge, he or she is required to take advanced undergraduate classes in the failing area(s) and achieve a B or better in each course.  If the student does not achieve a B in the remedial class, he or she can retake the placement exam.  Failure to score above the 50th percentile on a second attempt will result in dismissal from the program.

An overall GPA of 3.00/4.00 on all graduate courses taken after being admitted to the program is required by the University to remain in good standing.  The Department of Chemistry requires a B average on all chemistry courses above the 6000 level.  If a student fails to meet either criterion, he or she is placed on probation.  If the student does not correct the deficiency within one  semester, the student may be dismissed from the program.

Core Courses

Graduate Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

CH 6212        Advanced Inorganic Laboratory (prior credit or concurrent enrollment in CH 4213/6213). 2 hours

CH 6213        Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I (consent of the instructor and CH 4413/6413). 3 hours

CH 6303        Environmental Chemistry I (CH 4523/6523). 3 hours

CH 6351        Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (concurrent registration in CH 4353/6353). 1 hour

CH 6353        Instrumental Analysis (CH 4423/6423). 3 hours

CH 6411        Physical Chemistry Laboratory I (CH 4413/6413). 1 hous 

CH 6413        Physical Chemistry I (CH 1223, PH 2213 and MA 2733). 3 hours

CH 6421        Physical Chemistry Laboratory II (CH 4413/6413). 1 hour

CH 6423        Physical Chemistry II (CH 4413/6613).  3 hours

CH 6511        Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (CH 2221 and CH 2223). 1 hour

CH 6513        Organic Chemistry I (CH 2223). 3 hours

CH 6521        Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (CH 4511/6511 and CH 4513/6513). 1 hour

CH 6523        Organic Chemistry II (CH 4513). 3 hours

CH 6533        Intermediate Organic Chemistry (CH 4523/6523). 3 hours

CH 6990        Special Topics in Chemistry. 1-9 hours

CH 7000        Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

CH 8000        Research/Thesis. 6 hours

CH 8711-8741   Seminar. 1-4 hours

CH 8990        Special Topics in Chemistry. 1-9 hours

CH 9000        Research/Dissertation. 20 hours

Analytical Chemistry:

CH 8313        Advanced Analytical Chemistry (consent of instructor). 3 hours

CH 8333        Advanced Instrumental Analysis (CH 4353/6353 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

CH 8343        Electroanalytical Chemistry (consent of instructor). 3 hours

Biochemistry (These courses accepted also as major credit.):

BCH 6414                Radioisotope Techniques I. 4 hours

BCH 6603-6613      General Biochemistry. 3 hours

BCH 6623                Biochemistry of Specialized Tissues (coregistration in BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 6713                Molecular Biology (coregistration in BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 6805                Biochemical Methods (coregistration in BCH 4613/6613). 5 hours

BCH 6990                Special Topics in Biochemistry. 1-9 hours

BCH 8101                Seminar. 1 hour

BCH 8133                Biochemical Oxidations and Bioenergetics (BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 8243                Molecular Biology of Plants (Coregistration in BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 8613                Membrane Biochemistry (BCH  4603/6603). 3 hours

BCH 8623                Physical Biochemistry (CH 4423/6423 and coregistration in BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 8633               Enzymes (BCH 4613/6613). 3 hours

BCH 8643               Molecular Genetics ( PO 3103 or ZO 3103 and coregistration in BCH 4613/6613) [same as GNS 8643, PHY 8643]. 3 hours

BCH 8654               Intermediary Metabolism (BCH 4613/6613). 4 hours

BCH 8990               Special Topics in Biochemistry. 1-9 hours

BCH 9000               Research/Dissertation.  20 hours

Inorganic Chemistry:

CH 8203        Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (CH 4213/6213, and CH 4423/6423). 3 hours

Organic Chemistry:

CHE 6323     High Polymer Theory and Practice (CHE 3123, CH 4521, and CH 4523). 3 hours

FP 8121         Advanced Wood Chemistry Laboratory (concurrent registration FP 8123). 1 hour

FP 8123         Advanced Lignocellulosic Chemistry. 3 hours

CH 8513        Synthetic Organic Chemistry. 3 hours

CH 8553        Theoretical Organic Chemistry. 3 hours Physical Chemistry:

CH 8423        Molecular Structure (CH 4423/6423 and MA 2913). 3 hours

Chemical Physics (These courses accepted also as  major credit.):

PH 6713        Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (PH 3613 and MA 2913). 3 hours

PH 6723        Applications to Quantum Mechanics (PH 4713/6713). 3 hours

PH 6813        Introduction to Solid State Physics (PH 3613). 3 hours

PH 8213        Mechanics (a good undergraduate training in physics and mathematics-consent of instructor). 3 hours

PH 8233        Methods of Theoretical Physics I (consent of instructor). 3 hours

PH 8243        Methods of Theoretical Physics II (PH 8233). 3 hours

PH 8313        Electromagnetic Theory I (PH 4333/6333 or equivalent). 3 hours

PH 8613        Nuclear Physics I (PH 4723). 3 hours

PH 8623        Nuclear Physics II (PH 8613, PH 8743). 3 hours

PH 8743        Quantum Mechanics I (PH 4723 and MA 2113). 3 hours

PH 8753        Quantum Mechanics II (PH 8743).3 hours

PH 8803        Molecular Structure (PH 8743). 3 hours