Chemistry MS

Major: Chemistry
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: Available for full-time, on-campus master's-level students
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 40.0501
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-2031

About the Program

The Department of Chemistry offers graduate programs in analytical chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, materials & polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, chemistry education, and biochemistry. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the research and practical application of chemistry to challenges facing society. The department also encourages interdisciplinary activities. Many faculty members maintain active collaborations with colleagues in the College of Arts and Science, the School of Education, the College of Engineering, and the College of Medicine.

The chemistry faculty wants graduate students to understand the purpose of and need for fundamental research while working on problems of practical interest and application to the challenges facing society in the modern world. Areas of research include photochemical air pollution, synthesis and characterization of compounds of medicinal and industrial interest, drug discovery, and biologically-relevant macromolecules.

The Department of Chemistry strives to maintain a community of research scholars (faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students) that is large enough to provide a variety of experiences within chemistry, yet small enough to give each student individual attention. Both full- and part-time study are available.

Additional Information

For more information, contact:

Ezra Wood, PhD
Graduate Program Committee Chair
215.895.1681
Email: ew456@drexel.edu

Admission Requirements

Requirements for Admission

For admission to graduate study, the department requires a BS in chemistry or the equivalent. This requirement applies to full-time and part-time students working toward either the MS or PhD. Generally, in order to be considered for admission, a successful applicant should have taken two semester courses of organic, analytical and physical chemistry with corresponding laboratory courses. In addition, they should have taken an upper-level inorganic chemistry course. All entering MS and PhD students are required to take a series of two-hour exams in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry to help assess their preparation for graduate work in chemistry. The scores obtained on these exams are used as a basis for course selection.

Forms, details about requirements, and information about application deadlines are all available on the Chemistry page of Drexel's Graduate Admissions website.

Degree Requirements

The MS degree is awarded after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 45.0 credit hours in chemistry and related fields, at least 30.0 credits of which must be taken at Drexel. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.

Course Requirements

The course requirements for both thesis and non-thesis options are one complete sequence in the major area of interest; one of the sequence courses from each of analytical, organic, polymer, and inorganic chemistry; and two courses in physical chemistry. The remaining credits may be chosen from graduate courses within the department or from other departments offering courses related to the student’s major areas.

Program Requirements

Major Sequence9.0
Select one of the following sequences:
Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry I
Inorganic Chemistry II
Inorganic Chemistry III
Analytical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry I
Analytical Chemistry II
Mass Spectrometry
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry III
Physical Chemistry *
Quantum Chemistry Of Molecules I
Physical Chemistry I
Physical Chemistry II
Polymer Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry I
Polymer Chemistry II
Polymer Chemistry III
Additional Sequence Courses12.0
CHEM 767Chemical Information Retrieval3.0
CHEM 865Chemistry Research Seminar3.0
Electives **18.0
Total Credits45.0
*

 Each of these courses can be replaced by CHEM 554 or CHEM 752.

**

The remaining 18.0 credits may be satisfied by any graduate Chemistry courses. In some cases, course substitutions may be made with courses from other departments. Elective courses taken outside the department must receive prior departmental approval in order to be counted toward the degree.

Graduate cooperative education placement is available for this major. Register for COOP 500 for 1.0 credit. The credit will count toward student's elective credits.

Thesis Option

Up to 9.0 credits of CHEM 997 Graduate Research may be counted towards a master’s thesis. No later than the spring term of the first year of coursework, a student should choose a research advisor with whom to work in carrying out an original investigation in chemistry. The results will be written up in thesis form and submitted to an MS thesis committee consisting of the research advisor and two other departmental faculty appointed by the advisor. The acceptance by this committee of the MS thesis completes the thesis option requirements for the MS degree. Students in the MS program receiving financial aid from the department are generally required to elect the thesis option if they do not pursue the PhD program at Drexel.

Sample Plan of Study

Without Co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 521, 530, 541, 557, or 561*3.0CHEM 522, 522, 531, 542, 558, or 562*3.0CHEM 523, 755, 543, 555, or 563*3.0VACATION
CHEM 8653.0Two Graduate CHEM Courses**6.0Two Graduate CHEM Courses**6.0 
Graduate CHEM Course**3.0   
 9 9 9 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CHEM 7673.0Two Graduate CHEM Courses**6.0Two Graduate CHEM Courses**6.0 
Graduate CHEM Course**3.0   
 6 6 6 
Total Credits 45
*

In the Fall quarter, complete one course in one of the major areas: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, or Polymer Chemistry.

In the Winter and Spring quarters, complete two other sequence courses in the major area. For the Physical Chemistry major area, CHEM 554 OR CHEM 752 can replace CHEM 557, CHEM 558 or CHEM 555.

**

SUGGESTED OPTIONS: major area electives and non-major area sequence electives not previously taken, CHEM 997 (Research, up to 9.0 credits).

At least one sequence course from each of the major areas, a total of 12.0 credits, should be completed as part of the required CHEM electives.

With Co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 521, 530, 541, 557, or 561*3.0CHEM 522, 531, 542, 558, or 562*3.0CHEM 523, 755, 543, 555, or 563*3.0GRADUATE COOP EXPERIENCE
CHEM 7673.0CHEM 8653.0Two Graduate CHEM Courses**6.0 
COOP 5001.0Graduate CHEM Course**3.0  
Graduate CHEM Course**3.0   
 10 9 9 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
GRADUATE COOP EXPERIENCEThree Graduate CHEM Courses**8.0Three Graduate CHEM Courses**9.0 
 0 8 9 
Total Credits 45
*

In the Fall quarter, complete one course in one of the major areas: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, or Polymer Chemistry.

In the Winter and Spring quarters, complete two other sequence courses in the major area. For the Physical Chemistry major area, CHEM 554 OR CHEM 752 can replace CHEM 557, CHEM 558 or CHEM 555.

**

SUGGESTED OPTIONS: major area electives and non-major area sequence electives not previously taken, CHEM 997 (Research, up to 9.0 credits).

At least one sequence course from each of the major areas, a total of 12.0 credits, should be completed as part of the required CHEM electives.

Facilities

There are seven undergraduate teaching laboratories in the department: three freshman Chemistry Laboratories, two advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratories, a Physical Chemistry Laboratory, an Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory, and a combined Analytical/Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory.
 

Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

The Chemistry Department maintains a professionally staffed mass spectrometry facility available to all members of the University community. Current operating instrumentation is listed below.

  • Bruker Autoflex III matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI TOFMS NSF CRIF-MU #0840273)
  • Thermo-Electron LTQ-FT 7T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectrometer with both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) sources interfaced with a Thermo-Finnigan Surveyor high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system
  • Micromass AutoSpec M high-resolution magnetic sector MS with fast atom bombardment, desorption chemical ionization and electron impact capability
  • Sciex API3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer also equipped with both ESI and APCI sources interfaced to a Perkin-Elmer series 200 HPLC system
  • Varian Saturn 2000 gas chromatograph/ion-trap mass spectrometer system with both electron impact and chemical ionization capability

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility (NMR)

  • 500MHz Varian Unity Inova NMR with multi-nuclear capability, a cryogenically cooled triple resonance model (1H {13C/15N}) probe suitable for protein analysis.
  • 400 MHz Varian Mercury (2 RF channels) with double resonance auto-switchable broadband probe (1H/19F/13C/31P, 1H/19F{15N-31P})
  • 90MHz Anasazi Eft-90 MHz NMR
  • Varian E-12 X-band CW Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrometer (with 77 K cryogenic capability)

Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory

Mass Spectrometry

  • Bruker Autoflex III matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI TOFMS NSF CRIF-MU #0840273)
  • Thermo-Electron LTQ-FT 7T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) spectrometer with both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) source interfaced with a Thermo-Finnigan Surveyor high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system
  • Micromass AutoSpec M high-resolution magnetic sector Mass Spectrometer with fast atom bombardment, desorption chemical ionization and electron impact capability
  • Varian Saturn 2000 gas chromatograph/ion-trap mass spectrometer system with both electron impact and chemical ionization capability
  • Shimadzu 2030 Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) capable of Liquid, Headspace, and Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME)
  • Shimadzu 8050 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), electrospray ionization (ESI), and Dual Ionization (DUIS) sources interfaced to a Shimadzu Prominence high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with additional Diode Array Detector (DAD).
  • Shimadzu 8020 Benchtop Linear matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF)
  • PerkinElmer Clarus 500 Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)

Chromatography (Liquid and Gas)

  • Shimadzu 2030 Gas Chromatography with both Flame Ionization (FID) and Barrier Discharge Ionization (BID) detectors
  • PerkinElmer Clarus 500 GC with both Flame Ionization (FID) and thermal conductivity (TCD) detectors
  • Shimadzu iSeries high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with diode array (DAD) and refractive index (RI) detectors
  • Shimadzu Nexera ultra high-performance liquid chromatography system (UHPLC) with diode array (DAD), and evaporative light scattering (ELSD) detectors. This system is additionally interfaced to a Shimadzu Fraction Collector.
  • SciEX PAC/E MDQ Plus Capillary Electrophoresis with single wavelength UV/Vis, and Diode Array detectors (DAD)

Absorbance Spectroscopy

  • Thermo NanoDrop One UV/Vis Spectrometer
  • Shimadzu UV1900 UV/Vis Spectrometer with temp. control
  • Shimadzu UV2600 UV/Vis Spectrometer with temp. control
  • Shimadzu UV3600Plus NIR/UV/Vis Spectrometer with temp. control and can additionally be interfaced with a 150mm integrating sphere
  • Jasco J-1500 Spectropolarimeter (Circular Dichroism) with Temp. control
  • Shimadzu AA-2000 atomic absorption spectrometer capable of Flame, Graphite Furnace, or Hydride Vapor Generator

Infra-Red Spectroscopy

  • Shimadzu Tracer-100 FTIR spectrometer can be interfaced with Transmission, ATR, HATR, or Diffuse/Specular Reflectance accessories
  • Shimadzu Tracer-100 interfaced with the AIM-9000 IR Microscope capable of measurements in the Near, Mid and Far IR region of the spectrum
  • PerkinElmer Spectrum One FTIR can be interfaced with ATR, Transmission, or Diffuse/Specular Reflectance accessories
  • PerkinElmer Spectrum 2 FTIR can be interfaced with ATR, Transmission accessories

Fluorescence Spectroscopy

  • Shimadzu RF-6000 Fluorescence Spectrometer can be interfaced with sample temp. controller
  • ISS Chronos DFD Digital Frequency and Time Domain Spectrometer capable of SteadyState and picosecond Lifetime measurements, can also be interfaced with sample temp. controller
  • PerkinElmer LS-55 Luminescence Spectrometer
  • Kin-Tek SF-2004 Stopped Flow Fluorescence Spectrometer, also interfaced with diode array absorbance detector
  • Promega Qubit 4 Fluorimeter (470nm and 635nm LED excitation sources – for biological and protein applications)

Raman Spectroscopy

  • Renishaw RM-2000 Vis Raman Spectrometer
  • Renishaw RM-2000 UV Raman Spectrometer (Currently NOT operational)

Microscopy

  • Veeco diNanoScope 3D Multimode Atomic Force Microscope
  • Leica Inverted Fluorescence Microscope
  • Zeiss Epi-Fluorescence Microscope
  • Camaag TLC Plate Imager

Physical Measurements

  • Shimadzu SALD 7500Nano Particle Size Analyzer equipped with a wet measurement, small volume and high concentration accessories
  • Shimadzu TGA-50 Thermogravimetric analysis
  • Brookfield DV-II+ Viscometer and Rheometer can be equipped with spindle, or cone/plate attachments
  • Horiba LB-550 Dynamic Light Scattering

Electrochemistry

  • BASi Epsilon Eclipse (Potentiostat | Galvanostat | Biopotentiostat) with Rotating Disk Electrode and C-3 cell stand accessories
  • BASi PalmSens4 portable (Potentiostat | Galvanostat | Impedance Analyzer)

Synthesis

  • CEM MARS6 Microwave Digestion System
  • UCT Positive Pressure Manifold for Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)
  • BioTage TurboVap LP Evaporator

Electronics Tools

  • National Instruments ELVIS III with Complete Labview system
  • Quanser Analog Electronics Lab interface Board for the ELVIS system
  • Keysight InfiniiVision X-series Oscilloscope 4 channel 100MHz, with 20MHz arbitrary waveform generator, and 3-digit multimeter

Atomic Force Microscopy

The department has a Veeco multimode Atomic force microscopy (AFM) for research and education. AFM, also called scanning force microscopy (SFM), is one of the foremost tools for imaging, measuring, and manipulating matter at the nanoscale. It is when a fine tip is scanned across a surface the tip-surface force is measured to provide topographic, frictional, and adhesion information of a surface. With the ability to perform non-invasive, high-resolution surface imaging and force measurement, AFM has become an essential characterization tool in multiple disciplines in life science, biomedical engineering, nanoengineering, chemistry, materials science, and other related fields. 

Other Departmental Facilities

The department has a VEECO INNOVA N3 Multimode scanning probe microscope and also maintains a computational chemistry laboratory equipped with nine Dell Optiplex 620 computers running Hyperchem v 8.0. Research laboratories for each of the department faculty members are located in Disque and Stratton Halls as well as in the Bossone Research Center. Instrumentation available in the research laboratories is described on individual faculty web pages. Additional full-time support includes two instrument specialists (for NMR, the Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory and the Mass Spectrometry facility).

Program Level Outcomes

Non-Thesis Option

  • Develop deeper knowledge in at least two areas of modern chemistry
  • Add some knowledge in fields other than chemistry, which are related to the student’s area of specialization
  • Broaden the student’s knowledge of experimental techniques and theoretical concepts
  • Acquaint the student with research literature in their field of study

Thesis Option

  • Develop deeper knowledge in at least two areas of modern chemistry
  • Add some knowledge in fields other than chemistry, which are related to the student’s area of specialization
  • Broaden the student’s knowledge of experimental techniques and theoretical concepts
  • Acquaint the student with research literature in his/her field of study
  • Conduct independent research under limited supervision within a research group
  • Acquire a broader understanding of research strategies, scientific thinking and data analysis

Chemistry Faculty

Young-Hoon Ahn, PhD (New York University). Associate Professor. Research in chemical biology and biochemistry focused on redox signaling, cysteine proteomics, and glutathione biology associated with cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Reza Farasat, PhD (University of Alabama). Assistant Teaching Professor. Modification of polymers for diverse applications; utilizing Thermoanalysis techniques to study polymeric and non-polymeric materials; nanotechnology; applying Multi-detector Size Exclusion Chromatography for characterization of polymers; creating composites to improve materials' properties.
Fraser Fleming, PhD (University of British Columbia (Canada)). Professor. Nitriles, Isonitriles, Stereochemistry, Organometallics
Joe P. Foley, PhD (University of Florida) Department Head. Professor. Separation science, especially the fundamentals and biomedical/pharmaceutical applications of the following voltage- or pressure-driven separation techniques: capillary electrophoresis (CE), electrokinetic chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, and high-performance and two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC). Within these techniques, we explore novel separation modes (e.g., dual-opposite-injection CE and sequential elution LC), novel surfactant aggregate pseudophases, and chiral separations.
Lee Hoffman, PhD (Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia). Assistant Teaching Professor. Interfacial studies on the self-assembly of natural organic materials, understanding the nature of each component, and development of a mechanism describing this process;Dendrimer/metal nanocomposite design and synthesis hosting metal nanoparticles, utilizing the multivalent dendritic polymer architecture for further exploitation with other molecules such as antibodies and other targeting species.
Monica Ilies, PhD (Polytechnic University of Bucharest). Associate Teaching Professor. Bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology; bioinorganic chemistry and biochemistry.
Haifeng Frank Ji, PhD (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Professor. Micromechancial sensors for biological and environmental applications; Nanomechanical drug screening technology.
Daniel B. King, PhD (University of Miami) Associate Department Head. Associate Professor. Assessment of active learning methods and technology in chemistry courses; incorporation of environmental data into chemistry classroom modules; development of hands-on activities and laboratory experiments.
Myungwoon Lee, PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Assistant Professor. Application of solid-state NMR and Cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the structure and dynamics of membrane-associated biological macromolecules.
Jamie Ludwig, PhD (UT Southwestern Medical Center). Discovery and optimization of biocatalytic transformations for use inorganic synthesis.
Craig McClure, PhD (University of Michigan). Associate Teaching Professor. Promotion of quantitative literacy in introductory courses; development of guided inquiry activities for introductory chemistry; outreach programs in STEM fields.
Kevin G. Owens, PhD (Indiana University). Associate Professor. Mass spectrometry research, including the development of sample preparation techniques for quantitative analysis and mass spectrometric imaging using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) techniques for both biological and synthetic polymer systems, the development of laser spectroscopic techniques for combustion analysis, and the development of correlation analysis and other chemometric techniques for automating the analysis of mass spectral information.
Susan A. Rutkowsky, PhD (Drexel University) Associate Department Head. Associate Teaching Professor. Development of labs and lecture demonstrations for general and organic chemistry courses; STEM outreach programs.
Jeremiah Scepaniak, PhD (New Mexico State University). Assistant Professor. Design transition metal-based contrast agents for MRI & synthesis of bimetallic complexes to activate small molecules.
Karl Sohlberg, PhD (University of Delaware). Associate Professor. Computational and theoretical materials-related chemistry: (1) complex catalytic materials; (2) mechanical and electrical molecular devices.
Anthony Wambsgans, PhD (Rice University). Associate Teaching Professor.
Ezra Wood, PhD (University of California-Berkeley). Associate Professor. Radical chemistry and formation of secondary pollutants in urban and forest environments, impacts of biomass burning on air pollution and climate change, pollutant emissions, and design and deployment of novel instrumentation for field studies.
Jun Xi, PhD (Cornell University). Associate Teaching Professor. Biomacromolecular interactions both in solution and in confined environment; mechanisms of DNA replication and DNA repair; structure and function of molecular chaperones; drug target identification and new therapeutic development; single molecule enzymology; DNA directed organic synthesis.

Emeritus Faculty

Anthony W. Addison, PhD (University of Kent at Canterbury, England). Professor Emeritus. Design and synthesis of novel biomimetic and oligonuclear chelates of copper, nickel, iron, ruthenium and vanadium; their interpretation by magnetochemical, electrochemical and spectroscopic methods, including electron spin resonance; CD and ESR spectroscopy and kinetics for elucidation of molecular architecture of derivatives (including NO) of oxygen-binding and electron-transfer heme- and non-heme iron metalloproteins of vertebrate and invertebrate origins; energy-transfer by Ru, Ir and lanthanide-containing molecules and assemblies.
Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner, PhD (Universität Bremen (Germany)). Professor. Exploring conformational ensembles of unfolded or partially folded peptides and proteins; determining the parameters governing peptide self-aggregation; structure and function of heme proteins; investigating protein-membrane interactions; use of IR, VCD, Raman, NMR and absorption spectroscopy for structure analysis.
Peter A. Wade, PhD (Purdue University). Professor Emeritus. Exploration of a newly discovered [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement in which O-allyl nitronic esters are thermally converted to γ,δ-unsaturated nitro compounds; development and exploitation of a carbon-based hemiacetal mimic; and exploration of cycloaddition reactions involving nitroethylene derivatives and novel nitrile oxides.