This program has been discontinued. No new students will be admitted.
L. Paul Rosenberg, Department Head
(585) 475-6159, lprsch@rit.edu
Program overview
Polymer science is an increasingly important area of modern science. When the MS program includes the Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Lab (1012-765), the curriculum meets the requirements for approval by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. The program is one of a handful in the nation and provides students with a solid background in the traditional areas of chemistry (general, analytical, organic, physical, and inorganic) supplemented with advanced courses and intensive laboratory experiences in polymer science. The polymer program may be completed in four or five years, depending on the number of cooperative education blocks, which may begin as early as the summer of the first year. It is highly recommended that students take the undergraduate chemistry research courses as university-wide electives in this program. Because two-thirds of all chemists work with polymers during their professional lives, this program provides the background important for success in many industrial research areas. It also enables graduates to pursue further education in chemistry, polymer chemistry, or materials science and engineering.
Curriculum
Polymer chemistry, BS degree, typical course sequence (ACS certified) (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 1010-200 | Chemical Safety | 1 |
| 1010-230 | Introduction to Cooperative Education and Chemical Careers | 1 |
| 1010-251, 252 | General Chemistry I, II | 7 |
| 1010-255 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| 1008-261, 262 | Quantitative Analysis I, II | 7 |
| 1008-265, 266 | Quantitative Analysis Lab I, II | 3 |
| 1016-281, 282, 283 | Calculus I, II, III | 12 |
| Liberal Arts* | 16 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education (optional, summer) | Co-op |
| Second Year | ||
| 1008-311 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| 1008-318 | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 1 |
| 1008-312 | Separations Techniques | 3 |
| 1008-319 | Separations Techniques Lab | 1 |
| 1016-305 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| 1013-431, 432, 433 | Organic Chemistry I, II, III | 9 |
| 1013-435, 436 | Preparative Organic Chemistry Lab I, II | 2 |
| 1013-437 | Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds III Lab | 2 |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education (optional) | Co-op |
| Third Year | ||
| 1029-301 | Introduction to Polymer Technology | 2 |
| 1016-306 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| 1017-311, 312, 313 | University Physics I, II, III | 12 |
| 1014-441 | Chemical Thermodynamics | 4 |
| 1010-401 | Chemical Literature | 2 |
| 1014-445 | Chemical Thermodynamics Lab | 1 |
| Liberal Arts*‡ | 4 | |
| Cooperative Education 1010-499 (optional) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1014-442 | Quantum Chemistry | 4 |
| 1014-446 | Quantum Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| 1014-443 | Chemical Kinetics | 4 |
| 1014-447 | Chemical Kinetics Lab | 1 |
| 1029-501 | Organic Chemistry of Polymers | 4 |
| 1029-505 | Synthesis of High Polymers Lab | 2 |
| 1012-562 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 4 |
| 1029-502 | Polymer Chemistry: Chains and Solutions | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 8 | |
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education§ (optional) | Co-op |
| Fifth Year | ||
| 1009-502 | Biochemistry** | 3 |
| 1029-503 | Polymer Chemistry: Properties of Bulk Materials | 4 |
| 1029-504 | Polymer Characterization Lab | 2 |
| 1012-765 | Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Lab** | 3 |
| Chemistry Electives** | 4 | |
| University-wide Electives†† | ||
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education§ (optional) | Co-op |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 182 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ ACS highly recommends a foreign language (preferably German).
§ Students must take A-block co-op.
** Required only for ACS certification
†† Chemistry Research (1010-541, 542, 543) may be used as a university-wide elective and is highly recommended. Electives are necessary to bring the total quarter credit hours to 180 for graduation. Twelve credits are necessary for full-time status.
Accelerated dual degree option
ADMISSION TO THIS OPTION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THE 2011-2012 ACADEMIC YEAR.
The polymer chemistry program may be combined with the MS chemistry program, allowing undergraduate majors to acquire both degrees in a total of five years. Undergraduate students with both an overall and professional field-of-study GPA of 3.0 or above may apply to the chemistry graduate committee for entry as early as the third year. Students in a combined BS/MS program will be advised to complete only three quarters of cooperative education and to take graduate-level chemistry elective courses and thesis guidance (1010-879) during the fourth and fifth years. Students will complete the undergraduate degree requirements and 45 quarter credit hours toward the MS chemistry degree.
Polymer chemistry, combined BS/MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 1010-200 | Chemical Safety | 1 |
| 1010-230 | Introduction to Cooperative Education and Chemical Careers | 1 |
| 1010-251, 252 | General Chemistry I, II | 7 |
| 1010-255 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| 1008-261, 262 | Quantitative Analysis I, II | 7 |
| 1008-265, 266 | Quantitative Analysis Lab I, II | 3 |
| 1016-281, 282, 283 | Calculus I, II, III | 12 |
| Liberal Arts* | 20 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education (optional, summer) | Co-op |
| Second Year | ||
| 1008-311 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| 1008-318 | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 1 |
| 1008-312 | Separations Techniques | 3 |
| 1008-319 | Separations Techniques Lab | 1 |
| 1016-305 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| 1016-306 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| 1013-431, 432, 433 | Organic Chemistry I, II, III | 9 |
| 1013-435, 436 | Preparative Organic Chemistry Lab I, II | 2 |
| 1013-437 | Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds III Lab | 2 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education (optional, summer) | Co-op |
| Third Year | ||
| 1029-301 | Introduction to Polymer Technology | 1 |
| 1010-401 | Chemical Literature | 2 |
| 1017-311, 312, 313 | University Physics I, II, III | 12 |
| 1014-441 | Chemical Thermodynamics | 4 |
| 1014-445 | Chemical Thermodynamics Lab | 1 |
| Liberal Arts*‡ | 4 | |
| Chemistry Electives§ | ||
| 1010-499 | Cooperative Education (optional, summer) | Co-op |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1014-442 | Quantum Chemistry | 4 |
| 1014-446 | Quantum Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| 1029-701 | Organic Chemistry of Polymers | 4 |
| 1029-702 | Polymer Chemistry: Chains and Solutions | 4 |
| 1029-704 | Polymer Characterization Lab | 2 |
| 1029-705 | Preparative Polymer Chemistry | 4 |
| 1014-443 | Chemical Kinetics | 4 |
| 1014-447 | Chemical Kinetics Lab | 1 |
| 1008-711 | Advanced Instrumental Analysis** | 3 |
| 1008-621 | Advanced Instrumental Analysis Lab** | 2 |
| 1012-562 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 4 |
| 1012-765 | Preparative Inorganic Chemistry Lab** | 3 |
| Chemistry Electives§ | ||
| 1010-879 | Research and Thesis Guidance** | 3 |
| Fifth Year§ | ||
| 1009-702 | Biochemistry** | 3 |
| 1029-703 | Polymer Chemistry: Properties of Bulk Materials | 4 |
| 1010-870 | Chemistry Seminar | 2 |
| 1010-879 | Research and Thesis Guidance†† | 6–13 |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 225 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ ACS highly recommends a foreign language (preferably German).
§ Course work in the fifth year will be determined by the graduate committee and will need to fulfill the requirement of 225 total credit hours. A minimum of 36 hours of 700-level or higher chemistry courses is required to graduate with both a BS and MS degree in chemistry.
** Required only for ACS certification.
†† A student will normally have 9 to 16 credit hours of Research and Thesis Guidance (1010-879).