■ Chemistry and Biochemistry

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

Faculty

Professors: Cozzens, Davies, Foster, Hussam, Mose, Mushrush

Associate professors: Bishop, Born, Honeychuck, Schreifels (Chair), Slayden, Weatherspoon (Associate Chair)

Term associate professor: Hatton

Assistant professors: Cooper, Couch

Term assistant professors: Kort, Pettigrew

Course Work

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

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 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.

Premedical, Predental, Prepharmacy, and Preveterinary Students

Web: prehealth.gmu.edu

Many students planning medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, or other health professional careers choose to pursue a major in chemistry. These students should consult the health professions advising web site on required course work and overall preparation.

Prepharmacy Society

Mason students who are interested in pursuing careers in pharmacy are encouraged to participate in the Prepharmacy Society. This student organization organizes supplemental programming focused toward pharmacy as a career.

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 College of Education and Human Development 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.

Graduate Degree Programs

The department offers an MS in chemistry with a research project (thesis option) or an all-course-work program (nonthesis option). Within the MS, students may pursue a concentration in biochemistry. The PhD in all branches of chemistry is available through the PhD program in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students may also pursue Chemistry-related PhD research through the Environmental Science and Policy PhD program and the Bioscience PhD program. An area of emphasis in computational chemistry is available through the PhD in computational sciences and informatics program offered in conjunction with the School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences.

Chemistry, Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degree

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated master’s program and obtain both a BS and an MS in Chemistry within an accelerated time frame. Students admitted to this program may take graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate credits, and up to 6 credits of graduate work may be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the undergraduate degree. If students earn at least a 3.00 GPA in these classes, they are granted advanced standing in the master’s program and must then complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met, including a minimum of 18 credits taken for the master’s degree after the bachelor’s degree is complete.