Program Description

Application Requirements

Program-Specific Instructions

Program Overview

This master’s degree provides advanced training for recent college graduates, educators, and technical professionals working in research organizations who have an interest in chemistry or biochemistry.

The Thesis Option is designed for students seeking a research-intensive experience. Students conduct original research under the supervision of a faculty advisor and complete a master’s thesis. This pathway is well suited for those planning to pursue a PhD or careers in industry, academia, or national laboratories.

The Non-Thesis Option offers a more course-based approach and is often chosen by students preparing for professional degree programs or those intending to teach chemistry at the secondary school level.To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field and meet the university’s general graduate admission requirements.

Applicants with degrees in other disciplines may also be considered if they have completed at least three years of coursework in chemistry or biochemistry. In some cases, students may be admitted provisionally and required to complete designated remedial coursework, which does not count toward the master’s degree.

Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive departmental review of each applicant’s academic and professional background, including transcripts, résumé, and letters of recommendation.

English Proficiency Requirements

All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship. Click here to view the requirements.

International Transcript Requirements

All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts, however, some programs may request an outside evaluation be completed. Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. You should submit your application 6 weeks prior to the deadline if you plan to utilize Mason’s free evaluation service. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. If you decide to use an external evaluation service or if your program requires an outside evaluation, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. Mason evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants. For information on international transcript requirements, go here.