Combined BS/MS Program in Chemistry

The combined BS/MS curriculum in chemistry at Idaho State University consists of required course work, research experience, and presentation of the student's research through both written and oral communication.

Admission Requirements

Students may be admitted to the program after having completed 64 credit hours. Application for admission must be made to the chemistry department. In addition the student must have completed the following courses or the equivalent:

CHEM 121            General Chemistry I           5 cr
CHEM 122            General Chemistry II          4 cr
CHEM 126            Cations and Anions            1 cr
CHEM 211            Inorganic Chemistry I         2 cr
CHEM 232            Quantitative Analysis         2 cr
CHEM 234            Quantitative Analysis
                    Laboratory                    2 cr
CHEM 301            Organic Chemistry I           3 cr
CHEM 302            Organic Chemistry II          3 cr
CHEM 303            Organic Chemistry Lab I       1 cr
CHEM 304            Organic Chemistry Lab II      1 cr
PHYS 221-222        Engineering Physics           8 cr
PHYS 223-224        Engineering Physics
                    Laboratory                    2 cr
MATH 121            Calculus and Analytic
                    Geometry I                    4 cr
MATH 222            Calculus and Analytic
                    Geometry II                   4 cr
MATH 223            Calculus and Analytic
                    Geometry III                  4 cr

First Year Requirements

(Junior Year) See the suggested schedule During the first semester each student is expected to select three faculty members to serve as his/her advisory committee subject to the approval of the Department Chair. The research advisor may be selected from another institution such as Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) with the approval of the Chemistry Department. The student is expected to begin his/her research no later than the beginning of the summer session. Progress reports will be required thereafter. Students must apply and be admitted to the Graduate School prior to their final year in the program. Continuation in the program requires that the student maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 from date of admission and annual approval of his/her committee.

Other Requirements

A typical sequence of courses will include:

MATH 230            Introduction to 
                    Linear Algebra                2 cr
MATH 360            Differential Equations        3 cr
CHEM 305            Organic Chemistry Lab III     2 cr
CHEM 313            Instrumental Analysis         2 cr
CHEM 334            Instrumental Analysis
                    Laboratory                    2 cr
CHEM 351-352        Physical Chemistry            6 cr
CHEM 407            Inorganic Chemistry II        2 cr
CHEM 408            Preparative Inorganic
                    Chemistry                     1 cr
CHEM 435            Senior Research               8 cr
CHEM 453            Modern Experimental
                    Physical Chemistry            2 cr
CHEM 466            Structural Analysis in
                    Chemistry                     2 cr
CHEM 491            Seminar                       1 cr
CHEM 510            Advanced Inorganic
                    Chemistry                     3 cr
CHEM 530            Advanced Analytical
                    Chemistry                     3 cr
CHEM 555            Advanced Physical Chemistry   3 cr
CHEM 571            Advanced Organic Chemistry    3 cr
CHEM 601            Seminar                       2 cr
CHEM 635            Master's Research             10 cr

The student must complete an additional 3 credit hours of 600 level courses and additional electives for a total of 158 credit hours. This corresponds to 128 credit hours for the BS degree and 30 credit hours for the MS degree. The final course selection must be approved by the candidate's BS/MS committee. Students are required to have completed all general education requirements by the end of their second year in the combined BS/MS program. They will be permitted to take 500-level courses in the fall and spring semesters of that year. It is the intent that all students will finish within the period of 3 years after admission to the program. Successful competion of the program requires that the student write and defend a summary embodying his/her research before a faculty committee.

Suggested Schedule

The following schedule will show how a typical student might progress through the BS/MS program.

Third Year (Junior)

Fall/Spring

*CHEM 305           Organic Chemistry Lab III     2 cr
*CHEM 313           Instrumental Analysis         2 cr
*CHEM 334           Instrumental Analysis
                    Laboratory                    2 cr
*CHEM 351-352       Physical Chemistry            6 cr
MATH 230            Introduction to
                    Linear Algebra                2 cr
MATH 360            Differential Equations        3 cr
                    Electives                     11 cr
                                                  TOTAL: 28 cr

*Must be completed by the end of the junior year.

Summer

CHEM 435            Senior Research               8 cr

Fourth Year (Senior)

Fall/Spring

CHEM 407            Inorganic Chemistry II        2 cr
CHEM 408            Preparative Inorganic
                    Chemistry                     1 cr
CHEM 453            Modern Experimental
                    Physical Chemistry            2 cr
CHEM 466            Structural Analysis in
                    Chemistry                     2 cr
CHEM 491            Seminar                       1 cr
CHEM 510            Advanced Inorganic
                    Chemistry                     3 cr
CHEM 571            Advanced Organic Chemistry    3 cr
ELECTIVES                                         14 cr
                                                  TOTAL: 27 cr

Summer

CHEM 635            Master's Research             6 cr

Fifth Year

Fall/Spring

CHEM 530            Advanced Analytical
                    Chemistry                     3 cr
CHEM 555            Advanced Physical Chemistry   3 cr
CHEM 601            Seminar                       2 cr
CHEM 635            Master's Research             4 cr
ELECTIVES                                         12 cr
                                                  TOTAL: 24 cr