Get a Master's in Chemistry

Chemistry is central to all sciences, providing the mechanism of life processes that explains our interactions with the material world. Chemistry answers the fundamental questions about the nature of matter and its transformations. With a strong math, physics, and chemistry foundation, graduates with a master’s in chemistry find diverse career options in any number of fields including medicine, research and development, forensics, consumer products, food chemistry, and industry.

Science Is Hands-on at Florida Tech

Accredited by the American Chemical Society, Florida Tech’s course of study includes organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry, as well as mathematics and physics. Research is at the heart and soul of the program, giving students a chance to focus on an industry topic that most interests them. Small class sizes and one-on-one mentorship with faculty reflects a learning environment dedicated to providing the type of experiences students with a master’s in chemistry will face when on the job. Fieldwork, lab work, instrument analysis, and internships develop a graduate’s expertise in topics such as nanomaterials, chemical counter-measures for biological threat agents, toxicology, cancer research, and more.

The diversified learning environment at Florida Tech makes its academic community very different from other chemistry graduate programs. From fieldwork, faculty-led research opportunities, internships, and assistantships to peer networking, one-on-one professor mentorship, and more, Florida Tech’s focus on an integrated and professional learning environment has proven to be a key to success for its graduates.

A Program of Excellence

The department has strong professional ties to Kennedy Space Center and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, which results in more opportunities for students. Many Florida Tech graduates have published their work in prestigious industry journals, while others undertake teaching assistantships or participate in research assistantships when available.

Dedicated Experienced Faculty

Florida Tech is one of the top chemistry graduate programs because of its experienced staff of professors, who engage in their own research relevant to the industry and bring to the classroom their years of industry knowledge. These same professors have earned numerous teaching and service awards. Students work collaboratively with faculty members from the chemistry department on both funded and non-funded research projects to develop research that could potentially enhance society’s understanding of topics such as disease pathology, neurological disorders, the design and application of nanomaterials, and more. External collaborations and internships occasionally lead to international travel for dedicated industry research.

Professors at Florida Tech work hand-in-hand with students to develop chemistry research experiences that concentrate on topical issues in chemistry. This often leads to meaningful contributions to the industry by Florida Tech students. Topics include:

• Degenerative disease approaches
• Disease pathology
• Neurological disorders
• Vision
• DNA Analysis and chromosome replication
• Plant molecular biology
• Biotechnology
• Counter-measures for biological threat agents
• Design and application of nanomaterials
• Toxicology
• Cancer research

Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-tech Corridor

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a master’s in chemistry. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us). The area has one of the largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

Field chemistry research is a valuable part of the Florida Tech experience. By working hands-on using the tools and techniques use of professional chemists, students gather valuable knowledge that extends beyond the classroom and into the types of scenarios students will face in professional settings.

A few research programs unique to Florida Tech exist in medical chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and space-related chemistry. Research is a vital link to gain experience, work with professional scientific instrumentation, and expand professional collaboration.

State-of-the-Art, Advanced Research Laboratories and Facilities

Laboratories and facilities are an important facet of chemistry graduate programs. As a top-tier research university, Florida Tech provides the type of advanced technology chemistry students need to conduct advanced, innovative research, including spectrometers, high-resolution microscopy, photochemistry, and computational chemistry equipment. The F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center is 70,000 square feet of research and teaching labs, including:

• Research laboratories
• Teaching laboratories
• Conference facilities
• Instrumentation rooms
• NMR facility with two NMR spectrometers (400 and 60 MHz)
• DART (Direct Analysis in Real Time) spectrometer
• Atomic force microscopy
• Scanning tunneling microscopy
• Scanning emission microscopy
• Laser-scanning confocal microscopy
• Photochemistry
• Glassblowing
• Computational chemistry

The Nanoscience–Nanotechnology Lab was recently developed by chemical engineering and chemistry faculty with grants from the National Science Foundation, and is already a valuable asset to the students at Florida Tech.

Chemistry is a diverse field of study that ultimately provides career opportunities in range of disciplines including academia, private industry, and the pharmaceutical and medical industries. Students with an MS or PhD in chemistry demonstrate their knowledge of research methods and processes providing employers with the type of expertise they need to fill leadership roles and solve challenging chemistry issues in such fields as manufacturing, alternative energy, food chemistry, and biotechnology.

Florida Tech Graduates Are in Demand

Florida Tech builds leaders encouraging students to build their own career path and command of cutting-edge industry subject matter. Employers that have recruited Florida Tech master’s in chemistry students include Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Florida Solar Energy Center, Merck & Company, Motorola, NASA, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Sherwin Williams.

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides detailed information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things.

According to the bureau, careers in chemistry are projected to grow 6% through 2020. This includes a wide range of specializations including inorganic, medicine, physical, theoretical, and analytical chemists. Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are projected to have openings at research laboratories, while many other chemists will be employed in colleges and universities. Chemists with advanced degrees will continue to fill senior research and upper-management positions. Industries such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, medicine, and food technology are also growth areas for chemists.

Career Field Options

• Chemist and material science
• Biochemistry
• Medical research
• Pharmaceutical research
• Plastics
• Geochemistry
• Hazardous waste management
• Military systems
• Oceanography
• Petroleum and natural gas
• Technology
• Forensic science
• Food science
• Pharmacology
• Textiles
• Education

Earn A Doctoral Degree

After receiving a master’s in chemistry, some students continue their research and study at Florida Tech to earn a PhD in chemistry. Full-pay tuition scholarships are available to full-time doctoral graduate research assistants.

Not all chemistry graduate programs offer a doctoral program, but Florida Tech gives students a chance to further their research and collaborate with peers and professors in research. Graduates with a PhD are prepared to enter the workplace as subject matter experts, increasing their lifelong earning potential and leadership opportunities.