Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (ACS)/Master of Science in Chemistry
This program will provide strong, qualified undergraduates an avenue to accelerate their time to the MS degree. The program allows undergraduates to begin taking graduate level courses when they have completed 90 credit hours toward their baccalaureate degree, but no undergraduate course may count toward the accelerated Master’s degree. This accelerated program is also a financial and time saving degree plan.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
Possessing a Master’s degree in Chemistry will meet a job market that increasingly demands advanced education. Jobs for individuals with Master’s degrees in Chemistry include positions in the private sector, such as the pharmaceutical industry, analysis labs, quality control, R&D, and the energy sector (both renewables and oil & gas).
Admissions
Admission Requirements
To apply to the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's program in Chemistry, students must:
- Be currently enrolled as a TWU Chemistry major.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Have successfully completed a minimum of 72 but no more than 90 hours of coursework toward the bachelor's.
- Have a minimum of 12 hours remaining in chemistry courses toward the major.
How to Apply to the Accelerated Program
To apply, students must:
- Receive approval from the Division Lead.
- Once admitted to the Accelerated Program students must apply to the graduate M.S. in Chemistry program. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.
Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policy Guidelines
Students may apply to an approved accelerated degree program once they have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. Upon admission to an accelerated program, students may enroll in graduate courses for credit once they have attained at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.
Conditions
- Up to 12 SCH of designated graduate courses may apply to both the Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree program comprised of 45 or fewer SCH; and up to 15 graduate SCH may apply toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree program comprised of more than 45 SCH (Master’s, Specialist or Doctoral degree.)
- Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
- No undergraduate-level course may count toward a graduate degree.
- Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Academic components may set higher requirements for their program.
- Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.
- Prior to applying to an accelerated degree program, students must have completed a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at Texas Woman's University.
Graduate Application Process
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 55 SCH
Program Code: BIOCHEM.BS.ACS.ACC CIP Code: 26.0202.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1001 | Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry I: Career Possibilities | 1 |
| CHEM 1101 | Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry II: Current Applications | 1 |
| CHEM 1213 & CHEM 1211 | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 1223 & CHEM 1221 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 2213 & CHEM 2211 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 3223 & CHEM 3221 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 3413 & CHEM 3411 | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 3423 & CHEM 3421 | Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 3333 & CHEM 3331 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 3633 & CHEM 3632 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 3643 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3713 & CHEM 3711 | Environmental Chemistry I and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 4001 | Research Presentations in Chemistry and Biochemistry | 1 |
| CHEM 4311 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 5323 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4511 | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 5523 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4983 | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| CHEM 4991 | Senior Thesis | 1 |
| Total SCHs | 55 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2014 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 2024 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 2153 & PHYS 2151 | General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| PHYS 2163 & PHYS 2161 | General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| Total SCHs | 16 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 7 SCH not already taken | 7 | |
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Matrix Methods | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Advanced Physical Chemistry | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry I | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total SCHs | 7 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| CHEM 1001 | Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry I: Career Possibilities | 1 | |
| CHEM 1213 & CHEM 1211 | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 | |
| MATH 2014 | Calculus I | MATH 2413 | 4 |
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1106 | 4 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 1101 | Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry II: Current Applications | 1 | |
| CHEM 1223 & CHEM 1221 | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 | |
| MATH 2024 | Calculus II | MATH 2414 | 4 |
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1106 | 4 |
| Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 2213 & CHEM 2211 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | 4 |
| PHYS 2153 & PHYS 2151 | General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I | PHYS 2325 & PHYS 2125 | 4 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 14 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 3223 & CHEM 3221 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 | |
| PHYS 2163 & PHYS 2161 | General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | PHYS 2326 & PHYS 2126 | 4 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| CHEM 3333 & CHEM 3331 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory | 4 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 3413 & CHEM 3411 | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 | |
| CHEM 3633 & CHEM 3632 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Laboratory | 5 | |
| CHEM 4313 & CHEM 4311 | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (OR: CHEM 4513/4511 Inorganic Chemistry) | 4 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 3423 & CHEM 3421 | Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 | |
| CHEM 3643 | Biochemistry II | 3 | |
| CHEM 3713 & CHEM 3711 | Environmental Chemistry I and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 | |
| SCHs | 11 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 4983 | Undergraduate Research | 3 | |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| CHEM 3643 | Biochemistry II | 3 | |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| CHEM 5323 & CHEM 4311 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (OR: CHEM 5523/4511) | 4 | |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 4991 | Senior Thesis | 1 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| CHEM 4001 | Research Presentations in Chemistry and Biochemistry | 1 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| Elective | 5 | ||
| Creative Arts Core Course | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
