Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply to this Early Entry Program to begin work toward a graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  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.  Students should consult with the Chemistry M.S. Graduate Program Coordinator about their eligibility for this program and to discuss requirements for selection of a research advisor during their Junior year.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of at least 75 undergraduate credit hours (although it is expected that close to 90 credit hours will have been earned by the time the first graduate course is taken)
• Completed the standard B.S. in Chemistry curriculum through at least Physical Chemistry
• Minimum 3.2 overall undergraduate GPA
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses
• Acceptable scores on the appropriate graduate standardized test (e.g., GRE)
• Submit application online at mygradschool.uncc.edu and provide supporting documents
• Recommendation by the Graduate Program Director and approved by the Graduate School

Continued Enrollment Requirements

• Completion of Early Entry Program Form, and approved by the Undergraduate Coordinator, Graduate Program Director, and Graduate School, prior to registering for graduate coursework each semester
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA
• Undergraduate students are allowed to take only 15 hours of graduate credit before they have completed their baccalaureate degree

Accelerated Program/Double-Counted Courses

This Early Entry Program is also accelerated; up to 6 credit hours earned at the graduate level may be substituted for required undergraduate hours.  In other words, up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework may be “double counted” toward 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.

More Information

For additional details on Early Entry to Graduate Programs, see the “Degree Requirements and Academic Policies” section of the Graduate Catalog and the Graduate Admissions website at gradadmissions.uncc.edu/admissions/early-entry.

For details about the full requirements for this degree program, see the program listing in the Graduate Catalog.