The upper-division courses are designed to educate the chemistry major for graduate studies or industrial work. Loyola programs are unique because of the close contact between students and faculty, due to smaller class sizes in advanced classes. Chemistry faculty members spend significant time assisting students both in and out of the classroom.
The Department of Chemistry provides graduate students a unique atmosphere, with state-of-the-art instrumentation, talented teachers, and motivated researchers. Much of the current research transcends traditional boundaries to include fields such as bioorganic, bioinorganic, biophysical, and environmental chemistry. Weekly seminars and the annual Denkewalter Lecture, which brings the winner of either the American Chemical Society's Pure Chemistry or Eli Lilly awards to campus, provide opportunities to learn about recent advances from respected academic and industrial scientists.
The Department of Chemistry offers both Ph.D. and the M.S. degrees
Ph.D. Degree Program
The Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago encompasses the traditional fields of specialization, including:
Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.
Students complete five formal courses: three are taken in the areas of specialization and two outside the areas of specialization. A total of 60 credit hours with an average grade of "B" is required. Students are encouraged to become proficient in statistics, computer programming, or languages of scientific importance as needed to conduct their research. Students must write and orally defend a research dissertation of publishable quality.
Length of Program: Full-time students usually complete the program in 4.5 years. Part-time students generally complete the program in 7 years.
Applications are initially evaluated on February 1st though applications are considered until April 1st.
M.S. Degree Program
Students may choose from either a thesis-based master's degree program or a course-based master's degree program.
Thesis-based Program: This program requires at least five courses in chemistry, with at least two courses completed in the student's major field and three in the student's minor fields. The remaining credits are earned in research courses. A total of 24 credit hours is required. To complete the degree, students must write and defend a research thesis.
Length of Program: Full-time students usually complete the program in 2 years. Part-time students generally complete the program in 3.5 years.
Course-based Programs: This program requires eight graduate level courses in chemistry for a total of 24 credit hours. One course must be taken in four of the following five areas: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical. The remaining four courses may be distributed among the different areas, or a student may specialize in a particular area.
Length of Program: Full-time students usually complete the program in 1 year. Part-time students generally complete the program in 2 years.
Please take a few minutes to investigate the exciting opportunities available for you at Loyola University's Department of Chemistry. To receive more information by mail, about Chemistry and the University itself, please visit LUC.edu/gpem/rfi/.