Phone: 703-993-1070
Web: gmu.edu/departments/chemistry

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• Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
  • Chemistry, BA
    • Concentration in Biochemistry
  • Chemistry, BS
    • Concentration in Biochemistry
  • Writing-Intensive Requirement
  • Honors Program in Chemistry
  • Minor in Chemistry
  • Certificate in Environmental Chemistry
  • Premedical, Predental, and Preveterinary Students
  • Chemistry Club
  • Teacher Licensure
  • Chemistry, Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree
• Graduate Program
  • Chemistry, MS
    • Admission Requirements
    • Degree Requirements

Faculty

• Professors: Blaisten-Barojas (School of Computational Sciences), Cozzens, Davies, Foster (chair), Mose, Mushrush
• Associate professors: Chen, Davis (associate chair), Honeychuck, Hussam, Schreifels, Slayden, Weatherspoon
• Assistant professors: Born, Bishop, Hatton, Kort

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated CHEM in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Chemistry, BA

This program, when coordinated with the necessary courses in education, meets requirements for teacher licensure (see below). It also meets requirements for entrance to medical and other professional schools.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the BA degree in CAS, students majoring in chemistry must complete the following. (Through the course work below, chemistry majors satisfy the university-wide general education requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

• 37 credits of chemistry: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331, 332, 336, and 337; and 5 credits of electives in chemistry
• 11 credits of math: MATH 113, 114, and 213
• 8 to 12 credits of physics: PHYS 243–246 (8 credits) or PHYS 160, 260–263 (12 credits)

Concentration in Biochemistry

This program is for students interested in studying chemistry at its interface with the biological sciences. Those interested in health science careers can obtain an exceptionally good science background through this concentration.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the BA degree in CAS, students majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry must complete the following. (Through the course work below, majors satisfy the university-wide general education requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

• 37 credits of chemistry: CHEM 222, 212,313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 333, 334, 446, 463, 465
• 11 credits of math and statistics: MATH 113, 114; STAT 250
• 8 credits of physics: PHYS 243–246
• 4 credits of biology BIOL 213

Chemistry, BS

This program is approved by the American Chemical Society; upon completion, students are certified to the society. Students planning professional careers in chemistry should choose this degree.

In addition to satisfying university-wide general education requirements for the BS degree, students majoring in chemistry must complete the following with a minimum GPA of 2.00. No more than two courses with a grade of D (1.00) may be applied to the major. (Through the course work below, chemistry majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

• 52 credits of chemistry: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331, 332, 336, 337, 350, 422, 423, 441, 445, and 463; and 3 credits of electives in chemistry
• 14 credits of math: MATH 113, 114, 213, 214
• 8 to 12 credits of physics: PHYS 243–246 (8 credits) or PHYS 160, 260–263 (12 credits)

Concentration in Biochemistry

Students planning professional careers in biochemistry, the pharmaceutical industry, medicine, biotechnology, or related fields with a chemistry emphasis should choose this program instead of the traditional BS in chemistry. This concentration provides students with a focus on biochemistry while retaining a strong chemistry foundation. Students are allowed to tailor the concentration to their interests with 9 credits of electives.

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for the BS degree, students majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry must present the following with a minimum GPA of 2.00. No more than two courses with a grade of D (1.00) may be applied to the major. (Through the course work below, they satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.)

• 45 credits of chemistry courses: CHEM 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331 or 333, 332 or 334, 336, 350, 446, 463, 464, 465
• 8 credits of math: MATH 113, 114
• 8 to 12 credits of physics: PHYS 243–246 or PHYS 160, 260–263.
• 8 credits of biology: BIOL 213, 305, 306
• 9 credits of approved science electives chosen from chemistry or biology courses at the 302-level or above. Courses from other disciplines may be submitted as electives, subject to approval of the coordinator.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Mason requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in chemistry fulfill this requirement by successfully completing CHEM 336, 337, or 465.

Honors Program in Chemistry

Chemistry majors who have completed the prerequisites for CHEM 455 and 456 Honors Research in Chemistry and have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.00 in mathematics and science courses are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. To graduate with honors in chemistry, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in mathematics and science courses, and successfully complete the two semesters of CHEM 455 and 456 with a minimum GPA of 3.50.

Minor in Chemistry

The department offers a minor in chemistry. The program requires 16 credits of chemistry at the 300 level or above with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.

Certificate in Environmental Chemistry

The department offers an undergraduate certificate program in environmental chemistry. The program consists of 35 credits of course work dealing directly with environmental studies. To receive the certificate, students must hold a baccalaureate degree in any major or be earning one from Mason at the time they receive the certificate. Substitutions from the following list of required courses are allowed, but require permission from the environmental chemistry certificate director: BIOL 377; CHEM 313, 314, 315, 318, 321, 331 or 333, 505, 554; EVPP 301, 454; STAT 344. To optimize employment and graduate school opportunities, students are encouraged to take additional courses in natural science, computer science, and environmental law.

Premedical, Predental, and Preveterinary Students

Students planning medical, dental, or veterinary careers may meet the requirements of these professional schools by majoring in chemistry. Students should consult with the premedical advisor for chemistry.

Chemistry Club

The Chemistry Club provides a social and informational network for students. It serves the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry by sponsoring informational programs, and allowing students to work at university events.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the CEHD chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.

Chemistry, Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree

A five-year bachelor's/accelerated master's degree program leads to a research-based MS degree following satisfactory completion of 144 credits. It allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to research to obtain BS and MS degrees within five academic years plus the summer of the last year. On completion of this program, students will be exceptionally well prepared for entry into a professional school or a PhD program in chemistry or a related discipline. Well-prepared students can enter this program after completing 90 credits, and can enroll in graduate courses when they have successfully completed the prerequisites. This flexibility makes it possible for students to complete some of their graduate classes during their junior and senior years. Consult the department for details on the program.

Graduate Program

The department offers an MS in chemistry with a research project (thesis option), or an all-course-work program (nonthesis option). The PhD in all branches of chemistry is available through the degrees in environmental science and policy, bioscience, and physical sciences, while an area of concentration in computational chemistry is available through the PhD in computational sciences and informatics program offered in conjunction with the School of Computational Sciences.

Chemistry, MS

The MS in chemistry provides advanced training for recent college graduates, professionals in teaching, and technical workers in research organizations who have an interest in chemistry.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to degree status, student must have a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field from an accredited institution, and must meet general admission requirements for graduate study. Admission is based on a departmental evaluation of the applicant's background as evidenced by transcripts and letters of recommendation. Applicants who received a bachelor's degree more than five years before the application date must submit a resume. Students must present evidence of computer literacy before completing 12 graduate credits.

Degree Requirements

Students may elect to complete a thesis or a project. The thesis option is for students planning to pursue a doctoral degree or a career in chemical research. The nonthesis option is for those seeking to go on to professional school, teach chemistry in secondary schools, or pursue other careers in which advanced work in chemistry is necessary or advantageous.

Students in the thesis option are required to complete 30 credits of graduate work, including 6 credits of thesis CHEM 799. The thesis is based on research that must be preapproved by the thesis or advisory committee, appointed during the first semester of registration in CHEM 799. Students who select the thesis-option must defend the thesis at an oral exam (following submission of the first approved draft of the thesis) and present an exit seminar. Students in the nonthesis option are required to complete 32 credits of graduate work.

All students must complete 12 credits in core courses in chemistry (physical chemistry and one in each of three different areas chosen from analytical, biochemical, environmental, inorganic, and organic chemistry) and at least 3 credits of Graduate Seminar CHEM 690. Minimum credits for each option are as follows:

	Thesis Option	Nonthesis Option
Core curriculum	12	12
Electives in chemistry	3	9
Electives in chemistry or related fields	6	6
CHEM 670	-	2
CHEM 690	3	3
CHEM 799	6	-
Total credits	30	32

 

Core courses (CHEM 513, 521, 614, 624, 633, 646, 651, 663, and 732) may also be taken as electives beyond the 12-credit requirement. CHEM 500 and 501 may not be applied toward the MS degree. CHEM 502 through 510 may be applied toward the MS degree only with prior written approval of the department.