The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in chemistry with a concentration in environmental chemistry will give you the opportunity to obtain a highly marketable chemistry degree and prepare you for a career as an industrial chemist or for further study in professional schools or doctoral programs. Employment opportunities include:
- Field chemist monitoring air/water/soil
- Bench chemist monitoring effluent
- Emergency response chemist
- Inspector
- Risk assessor
The emphasis of the program is on environmental chemistry in our local region, the Southern Appalachians, although research opportunities are available in all major areas of chemistry: inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, polymer, environmental, and biochemistry.
The program is designed for students to finish in two years, including an original research project and a thesis. Teaching assistantships are available for graduate students, and there are a limited number of in- and out-of-state tuition waivers.
Although a baccalaureate degree is required, a degree in chemistry is not! We encourage applications from mathematics, computer science, physics, biology, environmental health, natural resources management, and clinical laboratory sciences undergraduates.
The department has purchased more than $500,000 of new instrumentation since 1998. Faculty research currently focuses on three areas: biochemistry and biotechnology, chemical synthesis, and environmental chemistry. These research areas include diverse topics outside the traditional chemistry disciplines.
Curriculum
The program for the M.S. degree in chemistry requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate study, including a thesis as specified by the Department of Chemistry and Physics. An oral defense of the thesis is required.- Required core courses, 14 semester hours: CHEM 532, 541, 621, 652, and 2 hours of CHEM 696.
- Elective courses, 7 semester hours, excluding CHEM 698 and 699.
- Required research courses, 9 semester hours: 6 hours of CHEM 698 and 3 hours of CHEM 699.
- Additional information and requirements of graduate students are specified by the WCU Graduate School.
To learn more about the curriculum, read the degree and concentration requirements (catalog) and course descriptions (select "CHEM" prefix).
How to Apply
Graduate applications (online and downloadable) are available on the graduate admissions website.
Contact Information
For more information, contact:
Brian Dinkelmeyer, coordinator
Natural Sciences 229
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723
E-mail: dinkelmeyer@email.wcu.edu
Phone: 828-227-3675
FAX: 828-227-7647