The Master of Arts in Chemistry is aimed at students who do not wish to pursue laboratory research or are unable to pursue laboratory research due to their work related issues. The M.A. in Chemistry is a non-thesis program that permits students to design programs of study, in consultation with the program advisor, that are compatible with the individual's goals and ambitions. The program is intended to be flexible; elective course work may be drawn from chemistry, science education, business, geological and environmental sciences or biological sciences, among others.
Admission requirements
The following criterion are required for the M.A. in chemistry:
- Application must be made both to the Office of Admissions - Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Chemistry.
- International students may be asked to take a test of spoken English proficiency based upon application materials and references.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources should accompany the application.
- Application materials, including GPA, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation will be used in the determination of admission.
Application instructions
The Department of Chemistry at Western Michigan University has rolling admissions. As such, students may submit a graduate application at any time. However, it is highly recommended that applicants submit completed applications no later than six weeks before the semester for which they are applying. This allows sufficient time for your required documents to be mailed, received, processed and uploaded to your application; for the committee to review your application and reach an admission decision; for the department and university to process the decision; for you to consult with your graduate advisor and, finally, enroll in courses. All of this must happen ahead of semester deadlines. As such, applications submitted without sufficient time will be considered for the following semester.
IMPORTANT: Applications are due February 1 for fall admission. The committee reviews applications in mid-February. You can expect a decision by March 15. *NOTE: Applications for self-funded students are accepted for ALL admission terms (spring, summer I, and fall). If you are self-funded please email Courtney.Buckmaster@wmich.edu immediately after submitting your application.
Western Michigan University has a new online graduate application system that allows all students (domestic and international) to submit required documentation into one system. General application information for the University, as well as specific requirements for individual programs, are captured into this system. Applicants are asked to include some program-specific information. Applicants are encouraged to bookmark this information for quick reference while working through the graduate application process.
Financial Assistance
- Information about additional assistantships and fellowships, special assistance for minority graduate students, tuition grant and research funds may be obtained from the Graduate College.
- Information about student loads and other federal, state and University need-based financial aid programs may be obtained from the Student Financial Aid and Scholarship office.
Program Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate course work with at least 15 hours at the 6000 level or above.
- A total of 18 credit hours in chemistry are required from the list of courses provided below, including compulsory core courses.
Among electives, students must take a minimum of six credit hours in chemistry at the 6000 level from the following list of eligible courses. Remaining 6000-level courses (minimum of nine credit hours) can be taken based on the field of interest from chemistry, science education, business, geological and environmental sciences or biological sciences, among others.
See the WMU catalog for program requirements.
Questions
Contact the following faculty:
Dr. Ramakrishna Guda, graduate advisor