The Masters in Professional Studies in Chemistry is a coursework-based program intended for students who need additional courses in Chemistry, but who are not planning on pursuing a research career in the field.

M.P.S. students take courses in any of the subject areas of the department: Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Natural Products/Organic Chemistry and Polymer Chemistry. The curriculum is sufficiently flexible to allow a student interested in specializing in one of these areas to take the core sequence in that area, although this is not required. Students who have taken any of these courses as undergraduates may not repeat them for graduate credit.

All students entering graduate programs at ESF are expected to be proficient in communication skills, including technical writing and library skills. This requirement can be met by completing at least one course in technical writing and one course in library usage, either as an undergraduate or as a graduate student. Alternatively, graduate students can meet the requirement by demonstrating the equivalent in experience in writing and library skills, as determined by the steering committee.

In addition to the formal coursework, the M.P.S. program also requires an integrative experience that allows the student to synthesize their knowledge. This can be a detailed analysis of one particular area of chemistry, an independent study, internship with industry, or work in a research laboratory. The integrative experience should be approved by the student's steering committee prior to starting. The student will be expected to present a written final report on the integrative experience.

M.P.S. Program Requirements

The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) degree requires a total of 30 credits (minimum) in the following configuration:

• 15 credits of graduate chemistry courses, including chemistry courses are available at ESF and Syracuse University.
• 6 credits of graduate coursework in Science, Mathematics or Engineering. These may include graduate courses offered at ESF or Syracuse University in physical or biological sciences, mathematics (including statistical analysis), or any area of engineering. Courses must be approved by the student's steering committee.
• 3 credits of seminar: Either FCH 797 Graduate Seminar may be repeated, or students may choose seminars offered in other departments with approval of the advisor.
• 3 credits for an integrative experience as FCH 898, Professional Experience/Synthesis in Chemistry.
• 3 credits of additional graduate coursework: These remaining three credits may be drawn from additional graduate level coursework, seminars, internships and research experience as approved by the student’s steering committee.