The Early Entry Program for the M.S. in Chemistry leads to completion of all requirements for the B.S. and M.S. degrees in only five academic years and one or two summers. In this program, students complete requirements for the B.S. degree and begin graduate coursework and research in their Senior, or fourth, year. The Chemistry Early Entry Program is accelerated; that is, up to six credit hours may be taken at the graduate level and double counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students may leave the program after four years with the B.S. degree, or they may complete an additional academic year and summer of full-time study and research to earn both the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry.

Admission Requirements

B.S. students may be admitted to the M.S. program without entrance examinations if they have a 3.2 overall GPA and at least 3.0 in their chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses, have completed the standard B.S. curriculum through at least Physical Chemistry, and have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The application process and all the required documentation (e.g., test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation) are the same for Early Entry students as for other applicants to the program. The status of the accepted Early Entry applicant is provisional pending the award of the baccalaureate degree. Early Entry M.S. students will be expected to complete the requirements for the undergraduate degree by the time they have completed 15 hours of graduate work. Students should consult with the Chemistry M.S. Graduate Coordinator about their eligibility for this program and to discuss requirements for selection of a research advisor during their Junior year.