Acadia's Graduate Chemistry Program

At the graduate level, the Chemistry Department offers a Masters degree program in in various chemistry subdisciplines. Those interested in extending their education in this way are encouraged to identify a faculty member whose research is of interest. Broadly speaking, the research interests of faculty members fall in the areas of Health Science, Environmental Science and Materials Science.

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate programs is competitive and possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Candidates must possess an honours degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an approved university. Graduates holding degrees with high academic standing in fields that are closely related to Chemistry such as Biology, Physics, Geology and Engineering may also be accepted for graduate work in Chemistry although such students may be asked to take additional course work to improve their background in Chemistry. Candidates must have at least a B- average (70%) in the courses taken in the major field in the last two undergraduate years.

Admission is dependent on the ability of an individual faculty member to fund additional students so it is important to contact those persons with whom you might wish to work before submitting a formal application for graduate study.

More information regarding the M.Sc. program may be found on the Acadia Graduate Studies website.

Courses Offered

Students who have an honours degree are expected to take courses of an advanced nature to complete 12h credit. Normally the minimum time required for completion of the degree requirements is two calendar years.

Students not having an honours degree must complete sufficient courses with satisfactory standing to give them the equivalent of an honours degree in chemistry and then at least another 12h credit.

In addition to their course work, all students will complete a thesis (CHEM 5960). Research on a thesis under the supervision of a member of faculty is obligatory. However, this research project may be done in an industrial or other external setting as a collaborative partnership with a faculty member within the department of chemistry.

Each of the following courses will normally be offered in alternate years or when there is sufficient demand. Topics are subject to change depending on the faculty member's interests.

CHEM 5010 RESEARCH SEMINARS
Graduate students are required to attend all departmental seminars. This is a non-credit course required for all full-time graduate students in Chemistry.

CHEM 5013 QUALIFYING EXAM (Click Here for Course Outline)
Oral presentation on a research topic that relates to the thesis sub-discipline. The oral presentation will be followed by an oral examination on the student's general chemistry knowledge. Required course for the MSc degree in Chemistry that should be attempted during the first term of the program.

CHEM 5023 RESEARCH PROPOSAL (Click Here for Course Outline)
Oral defence of a written research proposal (using the format of an NSERC Discovery Grant) that should be attempted during the second term of the MSc program. Required course for the MSc degree in Chemistry.

CHEM 5106 ADVANCED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 1
Advanced topics in chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics.

CHEM 5113 ADVANCED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 2
Advanced topics in electrochemistry and surface science.

CHEM 5303 ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 1
Specific topics of current interest are discussed in some detail.

CHEM 5313 ADVANCED INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2
Recent developments in the area are studied from the current literature.

CHEM 5403 ADVANCED COORDINATION AND ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY 1
Specific topics of current interest are discussed in some detail.

CHEM 5413 ADVANCED COORDINATION AND ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY 2
Recent developments in the area are studied from the current literature.

CHEM 5503 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 1
Special topics in organic synthesis. Recent literature is discussed.

CHEM 5513 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2
Recent developments in the area are studied from the current literature.

CHEM 5703 ADVANCED TOPICS IN BIOCHEMISTRY 1
Enzymology of hydrolases.

CHEM 5713 ADVANCED TOPICS IN BIOCHEMISTRY 2
Regulatory enzymes.

CHEM 5803 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 1
Modern methods of applying chemometrics, sampling, mass spectrometry and electrochemistry.

CHEM 5813 ADVANCED ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2
An overview of state-of-the-art analytical methods and applications.

CHEM 5960 THESIS