Northern Illinois University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Students in the Biochemistry emphasis undertake extensive lab and coursework, with an increased focus on biochemistry and biology. Students are suitably prepared for graduate school and industry, particularly in the life sciences and health specialties. Students in this emphasis are also prepared to apply to medical school and other professional schools. This program is ACS certified. In addition, the required classes fulfill the requirements for a biology minor with no additional coursework.

Students in the Secondary Teaching emphasis complete a four-semester program to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License, qualifying them to teach chemistry in grades 9-12. Additionally, they are also prepared to teach introductory level biology, earth and space science, environmental science, and physics. Through coursework and clinical experiences, students are immersed in research-based best practices in science education, guided by faculty with extensive high school teaching experience.

Students in the Pre-Professional emphasis have an increased focus on biochemistry and biology coursework with a lighter load in higher-level chemistry courses. Students are well prepared for professional (medical, pharmacy, dental, veterinary) schools and industry, particularly in the life sciences and health specialties. In addition, the required classes fulfill the requirements for a biology minor with no additional coursework.

Program Overview

Third year
You must begin undergraduate research during the Fall or Spring semester by enrolling in CHEM 498 or 499. From this point on, all research must be done in the same research group until the M.S. degree completion.

Summer term following your third year
If you started your research in the Fall semester of the third year, you may optionally enroll in at least 3 credits of undergraduate research. If you started your research in the Spring semester of the third year, you must enroll in at least 3 credits of undergraduate research. In both cases the credits will count only toward your bachelor’s degree.

Fourth year
You will continue undergraduate research in both Fall and Spring. In your last semester before your Bachelor’s degree you may enroll in up to six credit hours of content coursework that will count toward your master’s degree. You will choose these credits in consultation with your research advisor and DGS.

Summer term following your fourth year
After receiving your bachelor’s degree, you will enroll in CHEM 698 (MS research) at the 6 credit level. At this time, your status will change to graduate student. You must create a research committee consisting of your research director and two other members of the faculty of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Fifth year
You will enroll in a rigorous curriculum combining course work and research credits. You will plan your schedule in consultation with your research advisor and the DGS, which will ensure mastery of chemistry at an advanced level in both breadth and depth. Each semester (Fall and Spring) you will take two content courses (2x3=6 credits), one “skills” course (1 credit), graduate seminar (CHEM 615, 1 credit) and 4 credit hours of research (CHEM 698).

You may apply for graduation at the beginning of the seventh term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) of research with research director approval. The Master’s of Science degree will be awarded at the end of the seventh term if one of the following options is accomplished:

• If you have an accepted peer-reviewed publication or a patent, you may present a research seminar based on it (no thesis required).
• In the absence of a publication/patent, you must write and defend a thesis. If a thesis is defended, you will register for CHEM 699 instead of CHEM 698. Normal Graduate School deadlines apply in both cases.

Summer term following your fifth year
If you have not accumulated seven terms, or if your research progress requires additional time, you may enroll in CHM 699 (MS thesis & research) during this term. It is expected that this will allow for completion of the MS degree requirements, and that you will graduate at the end of the term.

Program-Specific Admission Requirements

• Overall NIU GPA of 3.0 or greater, and enrollment in either the Chemistry Emphasis 1 (ACS-accredited Professional Chemistry) or Emphasis 2 (ACS-accredited Biochemistry) programs.
• Letter of Recommendation and Agreement from a member of the faculty of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry who agrees to act as the research director.
• Résumé/Curriculum vitae.

Admissions

• Students may apply for admission to the Chemistry Accelerated Master’s (BS-MS) program any time after sophomore-level class standing is attained and before a bachelor’s degree is awarded.
• Only students who intend to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at NIU are eligible to apply to the accelerated MS program.
• Only students enrolled in the Chemistry Emphasis 1 (ACS-accredited Professional Chemistry) and Emphasis 2 (ACS-accredited Biochemistry) programs are eligible to apply to the accelerated MS program.
• If you are an interested third- or fourth-year student, see the graduate program assistant for an audit of your credits to date. You will then discuss your degree options with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
• Students must apply for admission to the accelerated MS program through the standard Graduate School application process.
• Students already enrolled in a graduate program may not retroactively enroll in the Chemistry Accelerated Master’s (BS-MS) program.
• Students enrolled in the Chemistry Accelerated Master’s (BS-MS) program are not eligible for teaching assistantships.