Course Requirements

Required courses (minimum 24 credits):

• CHEM 650  - Graduate Studies in Chemistry I (2 credits)
• CHEM 651  - Graduate Studies in Chemistry II (1 credit)
• CHEM 693  - Introduction to Graduate Research (3 credits)
• CHEM 504  - Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3 credits)
• GEOL 516  - Environmental Geochemistry or an approved MSCI  course (3 credits)
• Additional graduate coursework (12 credits)
  • Graduate lecture coursework (6 credits)
  • CHEM 695  - Directed Thesis Master’s Research (6 credits)
  • CHEM 700 may not be used to satisfy this requirement

Thesis Requirement

CHEM 700  - Thesis (minimum 6 credits required) 

M.S. students must successfully complete and defend a thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. 

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

All students must pass a comprehensive examination covering basic and advanced principles of chemistry. This examination is administered in the context of CHEM 651  and is usually taken in the student’s second semester in residence. 

Residence Requirement

There is no residence requirement.  

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement.  

Satisfactory Progress

To be eligible to graduate, all students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all courses undertaken for graduate credit at William & Mary after admission to a degree program. No credit toward a degree will be al­ lowed for a course in which a student receives a grade below C (grade point= 2.0).  

All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within six years from the first term of enrollment in the master’s program, excluding periods of approved leave and military service. Requests for extension beyond the six-year limit must be filed following the procedures outlined in Time Limits for Degrees and Extensions in the Graduate Arts & Sciences Catalog.  

Each student will be evaluated at the end of every academic semester for satisfactory progress towards degree by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student’s research advisor. Students with questionable progress to­ wards degree will be referred to the department’s Graduate Committee for formal review of continuing financial aid eligibility and other sanctions. All fees must be paid in accordance with university guidelines to maintain active status in the program.