Chemistry
Overview
Illinois State University is one of only a handful of institutions that offer a terminal M.S. degree in Chemistry. Our graduate program is aimed exclusively at the master's level, and so all of the students in the graduate program enter seeking the master's degree.
Illinois State's Department of Chemistry is consistently one of the largest producers of master's degrees for institutions not offering a Ph.D. degree.
Point of Pride
80 percent of students in the Department of Chemistry are involved in research with faculty, internships, or student-teaching.
Advising
Rick Nagorski
(309) 438-8978
Science Laboratory Building 219
Jon Friesen
(309) 438-7850
Science Laboratory Building 318
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
- present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- submit a personal statement of about 250-300 words (not more than 500) explaining your accomplishments, interests, reasons for pursuing graduate work in chemistry, and your career objectives. Mention research or related work experience and explain any special points about your preparation for graduate work that are important for us to know.
- submit names and email addresses of two references for letters of recommendation within the online application.
- GRE scores (general test) will be considered, but are not required. They can be submitted to Illinois State University, school code 1319.
International students applying to the master's in Chemistry must have a TOEFL score of at least 100 iBT, 250 computer-based, or 600 paper-based; the minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.0 band.
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — March 1 - Application review begins
- Spring (January) Term — October 1 - Application review begins
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.