Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS
Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors
and graduate degree programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in
narrative form, using the following outline. Guidelines are on the following page.
PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE:
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY
REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE):
DEGREE:
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S):
CHEMISTRY
CONTACT PERSON:
COLLEGE(S):
TIMOTHY BREWER
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM FALL
YEAR
ARTS AND SCIENCES
CONTACT PHONE:
734-487-9613
CONTACT EMAIL:
TBREWER@EMICH.EDU
2015
I. Rationale
The Master of Science in Chemistry is being revised to meet the needs of the students in order to
provide the desired professional training before entering the job market or a doctoral program.
The first major change of the revised program will require all students to take a chemical safety class
and a scientific writing course. These two items are deemed as academic imperatives by the American
Chemical Society for all students in order to be properly trained for the job market.
Another major change is the development of an enticing and flexible non-thesis track that we believe
will increase the number of students joining the program. The number of credit hours required for the
non-thesis track will be reduced from 34 to 30 while the rigor of the program will be maintained by
requiring a minimum of six credit hours of practical training. The latter requirement can be satisfied by a
structured laboratory experience as provided by the new graduate laboratory courses that are being
proposed along with this program revision, or by a limited research experience under the guidance of a
faculty member.
The number of credit hours for the thesis track will be stay at 30 credits. However, students will be
required to take a directed reading/proposal writing course in addition to the chemical safety and
scientific writing classes mentioned above. These changes are geared toward ensuring that students will
dedicate a larger proportion of their time and efforts toward their research project and completion of the
required thesis.
The proposed graduate laboratory courses (CHEM 533, CHEM 553, and CHEM 563) will allow
students to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the lecture courses through laboratory experiences.
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This emphasis on laboratory experiences will allow students in the non-thesis track to gain valuable
practical experience without requiring an intensive research project associated with a thesis. The current
proposal keeps the thesis option for students who wish to pursue a research project as their main
emphasis in the program by allowing a maximum of ten credit hours in Independent Research courses.
The Master of Science in Chemistry is being revised to meet the needs of the students in order to
provide the desired professional training before entering the job market or a doctoral program.
II. Description of Current Program
This program provides advanced study in chemistry for individuals who are currently employed in chemistry-related industrial or
governmental positions, or desire professional training before entering the job market or a doctoral program.
Admission Requirements
1.
2.
3.
An undergraduate degree with a major or a strong minor (approximately 25 hours) in chemistry.
Advanced undergraduate courses corresponding to CHEM 371/373, CHEM 361 or CHEM 461 and CHEM 481, along with
either CHEM 432 or CHEM 451/452. The graduate coordinator may use examinations to ascertain competency and the need for remedial work
in any deficient areas. A maximum of 4 credit hours of graduate credit will be allowed for courses taken to correct deficiencies.
One year of calculus-based college physics (PHY 223, PHY 224) and calculus.
4.
Satisfaction of the Graduate School’s admission requirements.
5.
Submission of Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test scores.
6.
GPA of at least 2.75, but 3.00 preferred.
Degree Requirements
Students in this program follow either the Thesis Plan or the Non-Thesis Plan. Each includes a research seminar and a research
experience, a course in chemical literature and four courses to satisfy distribution requirements, and additional courses to complete
the stated minimum number of hours.
Thesis Plan
Thesis plan students must submit a written thesis based on original research; an oral presentation of the research to the Department of Chemistry
is required. A maximum of 10 hours of CHEM 697/698/699 - Research in Chemistry may be used toward thesis.
Non-Thesis Plan
This plan requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 34 hours of graduate credit. It is intended for the part-time student whose
professional experience constitutes a reasonable substitute (as determined by the graduate committee) for the laboratory research of the thesis
plan.
Course Requirements:
The M.S. in chemistry requires the completion of 30 to 34 hours of course work to be distributed among required courses, distribution
requirement courses, elective courses, a research requirement and cognate courses as follows:
Required Courses: 2 hours
CHEM 610 - Information Retrieval in Chemistry 1 hr
CHEM 693 - Seminar in Chemistry 1 hr
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Distribution Requirement Courses: 8-12 hours
Select at least one course from four of the following six areas of chemistry (courses are listed below). A grade point average of B (3.0) or better
in all distribution courses is required.
I. Analytical
CHEM 581 - Advanced Analytical Chemistry 3 hrs
II. Inorganic
CHEM 632 - Structural Inorganic Chemistry 3 hrs
III. Organic
CHEM 571 - Advanced Organic Chemistry 3 hrs
IV. Physical
CHEM 561 - Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy 2 hrs
CHEM 562 - Statistical Mechanics and Chemical Kinetics 2 hrs
V. Biochemistry:
CHEM 554 - Protein Structure and Function 2 hrs
CHEM 555 - Neurochemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 655 - Advanced Biochemistry Topics 2 hrs
VI. Polymer
CHEM 665 - Physical Chemistry of Polymers 2 hrs
CHEM 675 - Advanced Organic Polymer Chemistry 3 hrs
Elective Courses: 6-20 hours
Six to 20 hours selected from among graduate courses at the 500- or 600-level, or from approved 400-level CHEM courses. Courses are selected
in consultation with the graduate coordinator and student’s thesis research director.
Research Requirement: 6-10 hours
Thesis Plan:
An approved written thesis and an oral presentation of the research to the Department of Chemistry is required.
CHEM 697 - Research in Chemistry 1 hr
CHEM 698 - Research in Chemistry 2 hrs
CHEM 699 - Research in Chemistry 3 hrs
Non-Thesis Plan
Students must complete a satisfactory written report, in thesis style, on a project carried out in the student’s job in the off-campus setting.
Industrial research experience must be judged by the department head and the graduate committee to be a reasonable substitute for a typical
academic research project. Students will also present to the chemistry faculty a seminar that meets the standards for the research seminar set out
in the department’s Graduate Student Handbook.
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Cognate Courses: 0-6 hours
Zero to six hours selected from courses outside the Department of Chemistry in consultation with the graduate coordinator. Cognates chosen
from 400-level courses will be included in the nine-hour limit.
Program Total: 30-34 hours
III. Proposed Revision
This program provides advanced study in chemistry for individuals who are currently employed in chemistry-related industrial or
governmental positions, or desire professional training before entering the job market or a doctoral program.
Admission Requirements
1.
An undergraduate degree with a major or a strong minor (approximately 25 hours) in chemistry.
2.
One year of calculus-based college physics (PHY 223, PHY 224) and calculus.
3.
Advanced undergraduate courses corresponding to courses in organic, physical, and analytical chemistry, along with
either inorganic or biochemistry. The graduate coordinator will use examinations to ascertain competency and the need for remedial work
in any deficient areas. A maximum of 4 credit hours of graduate credit will be allowed for courses taken to correct deficiencies.
Students who do not meet the minimum academic admission requirements may be admitted conditionally to the
MS in Chemistry degree program and will be expected to complete the conditions by the end of the first year.
4.
5.
Satisfaction of the Graduate School’s admission requirements of GPA of 2.75 with 3.00 preferred.
Submission of Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test scores is required for all students and additional TOEFL or
MELAB scores must be submitted if international student.
Degree Requirements
Students in this program follow either the Thesis Plan or the Non-Thesis Plan. All students must take one-credit hour courses in
information retrieval, safety, and scientific writing in addition to distribution requirements of three graduate chemistry courses in various
disciplines.
Required Courses: 2 hours
CHEM 610 - Information Retrieval in Chemistry 1 hr
CHEM 620 – Chemical Safety 1 hr
Distribution Requirement Courses: 6 – 9 hours
Courses from at least three areas of chemistry must be taken.
I. Analytical
CHEM 581 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 591 – Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry 2 hrs
II. Inorganic/Environmental
CHEM 632 – Structural Inorganic Chemistry 3 hrs
III. Organic
CHEM 571 – Advanced Organic Chemistry 3 hrs
IV. Physical
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CHEM 561 – Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy 2 hrs
CHEM 562 – Statistical Mechanics and Chemical Kinetics 2 hrs
V. Biochemistry:
CHEM 555 – Neurochemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 556 – Cell Signaling and Disease 3 hrs
CHEM 558 – Chemical Biology 3 hrs
CHEM 557 -- Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design 3 hrs
VI. Polymer
CHEM 665 – Physical Chemistry of Polymers 2 hrs
CHEM 675 – Advanced Organic Polymer Chemistry 3 hrs
Thesis Plan
This plan requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit.
Students will be accepted into the thesis plan after two semesters of enrollment and at least one credit taken under an advisor. The student
will be approved to continue with the thesis plan based upon the recommendation of their graduate advisor and approval of the graduate
committee.
Three additional required courses for this thesis plan are
CHEM 530 – Scientific Writing 1 hr
CHEM 690 -- Directed Readings 1 hr
CHEM 691 – Seminar in Chemistry 1 hr
Thesis plan students must submit a written thesis based on original research along with an oral presentation of the research to the
Department of Chemistry. A maximum of 10 hours of CHEM 697/698/699 – Research in Chemistry may be used toward the degree
in the thesis plan. For research credits to be awarded, a written report of research must be submitted to and approved by the research
advisor
Non-Thesis Plan
This plan requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credits. Students must complete a total of six to ten
hours of graduate based laboratory courses CHEM 413, 433, 453, 463 and/or of CHEM 697/698/699 – Research in Chemistry. A
maximum of six research credits can be completed under the non-thesis plan. For research credits to be awarded, a written report of
research must be submitted to the research advisor and approved by the research mentor.
*Elective Courses
Courses selected from among graduate courses at the 500- or 600-level, or from approved 400-level CHEM courses. Courses are
selected in consultation with the graduate coordinator and student’s thesis research director.
Courses that are offered include those in the distribution requirements along with those below:
CHEM 515 – Industrial and Environmental Chemistry 2 hrs
CHEM 565 – Nuclear Chemistry 2 hrs
CHEM 572 – Advanced Organic Spectrophotometric Determination 2 hrs
CHEM 581 – Special Topics 2 hrs
CHEM 610 – Computer Applications in Chemistry
The following laboratory courses may be taken with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator:
CHEM 533 – Inorganic-Organic Synthesis Laboratory, 2 hrs
CHEM 553 – Biochemistry Laboratory, 2 hrs
CHEM 563 – Physical Chemistry Laboratory, 2 hrs
CHEM 530 – Scientific Writing, 1 hr (for non-thesis students)
Students interested in teaching may take the following elective courses with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator:
Education Teaching/Research
CHEM 520 – Advanced Methodology for Secondary Chemistry Teachers
CHEM 525 – Modern Chemistry for Educators I
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CHEM 526 – Modern Chemistry for Educators II
*Laboratory Courses
Courses offered to students who wish to advance their knowledge through laboratory courses. Students who have taken undergraduate
courses of CHEM 433, CHEM 453, and CHEM 463 are not eligible to take these courses for credit towards their program of study.
CHEM 533 – Inorganic/Organic Synthesis Laboratory
CHEM 553 – Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 564 - Physical-Chemical Characterization of Materials
Research Credits
An approved written thesis and an oral presentation of the research to the Department of Chemistry is required with six to ten hours of
research credit.
CHEM 697 - Research in Chemistry 1 hr
CHEM 698 - Research in Chemistry 2 hrs
CHEM 699 - Research in Chemistry 3 hrs
Cognate Courses: 0-6 hours
Zero to six hours selected from courses outside the Department of Chemistry with the approval of the graduate coordinator.
Note students interested in educational research may take the following cognate courses with the approval of the graduate coordinator.
EDPS 621 – Statistical Applications in Educational Research
EDPS 667 – Principles of Educational Research
EDPS 674 – Survey Research and Data Analysis
EDPS 677 – Methods in Quantitative Research
EDPS 678 – Qualitative/Interpretive Research
Undergraduate Courses for Academic Deficiencies
Students are expected to meet the requirement of an undergraduate granted ACS Chemistry Degree. If not they must take courses to meet
their deficiencies during their first year of graduate studies (by the time they have earned 18 credit hours).
THESE COURSES CAN BE REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS WITH ACADEMIC DEFICIENCIES BUT WILL NOT COUNT
TOWARDS CREDITS IN THEIR PROGRAM OF STUDY TO EARN A MASTER’S DEGREE
CHEM 361 - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 371 - Organic Chemistry I, 3hrs
CHEM 372 - Organic Chemistry II, 3hrs
CHEM 373 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2hrs
CHEM 432 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 451 - Biochemistry I 3 hrs
CHEM 452 - Biochemistry II 3 hrs
CHEM 461 – Thermodynamics and Kinetics, 3hrs
CHEM 465 - Quantum and Statistical Mechanics 3 hrs
CHEM 481 - Instrumental Analysis 4 hrs
CHEMISTRY MASTER REVISION PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Current program requirements in parenthesis
Students will meet with a member of the graduate committee after working under an advisor for one
semester. The advisor and graduate committee will approve the applicant to continue their research
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efforts. At any time under the advisor’s suggestions the student can be switched to non-thesis work if
their research progress is not proceeding in a timely manner.
THESIS
30 total credit hours (30)
BREAKDOWN OF CREDIT HOURS
15 Lecture/lab courses (18)
5 Requirements (2)
10 Research (10)
NON-THESIS
30 total credit hours (34)
BREAKDOWN OF CREDIT HOURS
17-21 Lecture/lab courses (18)
3
Requirements (2)
6-10 Research/Lab (10) – maximum of six research credits
Requirements
Basic (for all students)
CHEM 610 – Information Retrieval
CHEM 620 – Chemical Safety in the Research Environment*
Advanced (for Thesis students)
CHEM 530 – Scientific Writing for Chemists*
CHEM 690 – Directed Readings and Thesis Proposal*
CHEM 693 – Seminar
LAB CLASSES: Inorganic/Organic*, Physical*, and Biochemistry*
Student can take lab courses only with departmental permission
* New courses being proposed for revisions
IV. Impact
The educational classes for education research emphasis may increase the enrollments in EDPS classes. The
other impact is to attract more non-thesis students by reducing credit hours to 30 hours while offering lab
based experiences and skill classes in safety and writing that will be more valuable to student enrolled in this
program.
V. Budget
The only impact on departmental teaching hours is the additional one-credit courses of chemical safety and
scientific writing offered once a year. The new laboratory course offerings of CHEM 533, 553, and 563 will
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be offered concurrently with their respective undergraduate courses which should provide additional student
credit hours to those historically low student credit hour courses especially of CHEM 433 and CHEM 463.
The program also may increase enrollment due to the wider diversity of options than presently offered in the
current program.
VI. Action of the Department/College
1. Department/School:
Vote of faculty*:
For
18
Against
1
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
I support this proposal. The proposed revision can
X
cannot
Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources.
Abstentions
1
be implemented within the affected
02/15/2015
Department Head/School Director Signature
Date
*Note: Vote on motion to approve correction of error to program admission requirements, which is now the same for
the “current” and “revised” programs, and to remove proposal for CHEM630 and replace with CHEM530.
2. College/Graduate School:
A. College
I support this proposal. The proposed program can
College without additional University resources.
cannot
College Dean Signature
be implemented within the affected
Date
B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
VII. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
VIII. Appendices
A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment
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Date
Program Revision Guidelines
B. Mandates
C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms
D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments
E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in
Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.)
Estimated Resources:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Faculty / Staff
$__0_______
$___0______
$___0______
SS&M
$__0_______
$___0______
$___0______
Equipment
$__0_______
$___0______
$___0______
Total
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$____0_____
$___0______
$___0______
Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING PROPOSALS TO REVISE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Departments/Schools intending to submit proposals for revising programs are encouraged to consult with the
Course and Program Development Office and, if appropriate, the Graduate School prior to submitting such
proposals. Proposals for program revisions should be submitted in narrative form, according to the following
guidelines:
I. Rationale: Explain completely the rationale for the proposed revision. If it is the result of a market analysis or needs
assessment, include documentation as Appendix A. If the revision is the result of state of Michigan, federal or accrediting
agency mandate, attach documentation, including required implementation date, as Appendix B.
II. Description of Current Program: Describe the current program as it appears in the most recent University catalog.
Include information about major/minor requirements, restricted and general electives, and the minimum number of total credit
hours students completing the program will have taken by the time they graduate.
III. Proposed Revision: Provide a complete description of the revised program, organized so that the current and revised
programs can easily be compared. Include a list of any new or revised courses. Indicate whether the proposed revision will
increase the number of credit hours in the program, and provide a rationale for any increase.. Attach completed Request for New
Course and/or Request for Course Revision form for each proposed new or revised course as Appendix C.
IV. Impact: Indicate whether and how the proposed revision will impact other University programs. Attach letters of support
from affected departments as Appendix D.
V. Budget: Describe the budgetary impact of the proposed revision. If new resources will be needed, indicate their source.
If the revision will require resources beyond those the department/school or college can provide, attach a cost analysis as
Appendix E. (Note: If a significant portion of the cost of the revised program will be borne by Continuing Education, include
evidence of Continuing Education’s willingness to bear those costs.)
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