Frequently Asked Questions about
our Graduate Program
The following 15 questions seem to be the ones
most
asked by students
considering advanced stuies in Chemistry at YSU. Hopefully they
help
you make a good decision.
Fifteen Questions:
Click
on the question to
see the responses.
INFORMATION ABOUT CAREERS
1. Why is the
Graduate Program in
Chemistry at YSU necessary
for professional and personal success and how do you view the demands
of
Chemistry in the context of today’s changing marketplace?
2. What is the
goal of the Chemistry
Program at YSU
in preparing graduate students for the demands that will be placed upon
them after graduation?
3. How does YSU’s
Graduate Chemistry
Program prepare
students to enter further advanced graduate studies, professional
programs,
or the workforce?
4. What career
options are enhanced by
an M.S. degree
in Chemistry?
5. Describe the
reputation of the
Chemistry Department
Graduate Program at YSU.
INFORMATION ON THE DEGREE AND COURSE OFFERINGS
6. What is the
name of the degree
offered by the Chemistry
program?
7. What areas of
specialization within
chemistry are
available for study?
8. Briefly, what
course selections
available in the
Chemistry program.
9. What is the
class format in the
Chemistry program?
10. How flexible
are the class
offerings in the Chemistry
program?
11. What is the
role of technology in
the Chemistry
program?
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACULTY
12. How are the
Chemistry Department
faculty members
accessible to students and describe some ways that they interact with
students.
Also, how does the relatively high level of personal attention
available
in the Chemistry Program benefit graduate students?
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
13. What areas of
studies are
available, what demands
are placed upon students, and what is unique about the YSU Chemistry
graduate
program?
14. How does the
Chemistry graduate
program make students
competitive while they are enrolled in graduate school and after they
graduate?
15. Why should
prospective graduate
students choose
the Chemistry program at Youngstown State University for their graduate
degrees?
INFORMATION ABOUT CAREERS
1. Why
is the
Graduate Program
in Chemistry at YSU necessary for professional and personal success and
how do you view the demands of Chemistry in the context of today’s
changing
marketplace?
The M.S. program in chemistry is important for
professional and personal
success in several ways. Chemistry is among the most marketable of all
degrees in higher education, but while some of the reasons for this may
seem obvious, not all of them may be immediately obvious. The obvious
marketability
comes from the sheer usefulness of chemistry. Many manufacturers
utilize
chemists to make things. The not so obvious comes from the fact that
along
with perceived marketability within a particular discipline comes what
can be termed “learning skills”.
Most people view college as preparation for a
particular job, much like
technical school. This is simply not a true statement. A degree in
chemistry,
especially an advanced degree, gives a person much more than technical
training. It gives one a wide range of problem solving skills and, most
important of all, the ability and discipline to learn anything
effectively.
Many of the demands of the workplace are focused not on knowing a
particular
piece of body of information, but on knowing how to obtain that
particular
information and then synthesize new knowledge with that information. We
give those skills with our degree. In addition, since chemistry is a
discipline
that gives not only knowledge, but also gives learning skills, one
finds
that as the marketplace changes, these skills help individuals change
with
it and adapt themselves appropriately.
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2. What is the goal of the
Chemistry
Program at YSU
in preparing graduate students for the demands that will be placed upon
them after graduation?
Our goal is to give students a broad-based
advanced
education in the
chemical sciences that prepares them for “real-world” situations. We
try
to do this from two perspectives. An increase in their general
knowledge
from advanced coursework along with an increase in problem solving
skills
from individual research projects. Mostly, we try to teach independence
and self-reliability.
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3. How does YSU’s Graduate
Chemistry
Program prepare
students to enter further advanced graduate studies, professional
programs,
or the workforce?
Our program is very appropriate for preparation
for
advanced graduate
study in chemistry, for professional school, and for the workplace. One
of the missions of our program is to take students who might be
“late-bloomers”
and make them marketable to professional and graduate schools. Our
philosophy
is that students who perform poorly or are deemed unsuccessful as
undergraduate
students for whatever reasons occasionally wake-up after receiving
their
bachelors degrees and perform quite well in graduate school. Our track
record in this regard is excellent. We have also had excellent success
in our graduate program in taking B.S. students who have majored in
disciplines
other than chemistry (e.g., medical technology, biology, combined
science,
etc.) and after successfully completing the M.S. degree in chemistry,
go
on to excellence in professional schools and graduate schools, and as
practicing
M.S. chemists in the workplace.
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4. What career options are
enhanced
by an M.S. degree
in Chemistry?
With a M.S. degree in chemistry, students find
that
they become more
competitive in their careers and obtain the key to a broader choice of
job positions. For example, upon graduation with a B.S. degree in
chemistry,
students are generally suited for jobs at the entrance level primarily
for technical work. Most times they begin working for a supervisor who
tells them what to do, and many times how to do it. There is thus
little
job independence. Generally, only after years of experience does this
situation
change for B.S. degree chemists and only with time and effort do they
“climb
the ladder”.
An advanced degree in chemistry gives individuals
more
latitude in the
workplace earlier in their careers. During graduate education in
chemistry,
students learn to approach research problems, which are often problems
from the real world, from a better perspective and considerably more
independently
than they were able before they began their advanced education. In the
workplace those types of skills translate into opportunities: to be
independent,
to perform and direct research, to act in supervisory roles, and to be
more promotable. Advanced degree chemists have much more opportunity to
be “where the action is”. Many times these types of opportunities are
available
at the entry level for advanced degree chemists. Also, a good chemistry
background enhances not only a career in chemistry, but also in
chemical
and science related careers such as technical writing, technical sales,
technical advising and consulting, etc.
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5. Describe the reputation of
the
Chemistry Department
Graduate Program at YSU.
Our graduate program has an excellent reputation.
Our
excellent reputation
is the result of several factors.
· Many of our faculty are known nationally
and
several are known
internationally for their work.
· Our graduate students place well and
succeed
in graduate and
professional schools, as well as in the workplace.
· Faculty-student interaction within the
department is significant.
Students learn first-hand from faculty and faculty freely give their
time
to teach graduate students both inside of and outside of the
classroom.
· Our program offers a terminal M.S.
degree. We
do not offer
a Ph.D. degree, so the perception that students graduating with M.S.
degrees
have received them as “consolation prizes” is not present. Our
graduates
come to us with the full intention of getting a M.S. degree only.
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INFORMATION ON THE DEGREE AND COURSE OFFERINGS
6. What is the name of the
degree
offered by the
Chemistry program?
Master of Science degree in Chemistry.
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7. What areas of
specialization
within chemistry
are available for study?
Coursework and faculty research interests within
the
department cover
the five traditional areas of chemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry,
Inorganic,
Organic, and Physical), as well as interdisciplinary areas of chemistry
such as Environmental, Materials, Medicinal, Polymer, and Theoretical
Chemistry.
Of particular interest to secondary level science teachers is the new
area
of Chemistry Education.
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8. Briefly, what course
selections
available in the
Chemistry program.
We offer courses that cover fundamental aspects
of the
four traditional
areas of chemistry: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical. We
also
offer fundamental courses in Biochemistry and Chemistry Education. The
range of course offerings beyond the fundamental core courses cover
specialization’s
within each area. In addition, we offer coursework in current topics of
interest in the field of chemistry (our Special Topics courses within
each
division of chemistry) that may be within the five traditional areas,
but
may also cross disciplinary boundaries. We continually update all
courses
to reflect the state-of-the-art in chemistry.
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9. What is the class format in
the
Chemistry program?
The most typical format for classes is a formal
lecture. Some classes
offer laboratories or are laboratory classes themselves. These tend to
be much less formal and more hands on, with group interaction. There
has
been a trend in the department to move class formats to less formal
settings,
however. Research is taught on a one-to-one basis, with strong
interaction
between students and faculty members. Through teaching interactions in
research students learn the most important skills in graduate school:
problem
solving and application of knowledge.
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10. How flexible are the
class
offerings in the
Chemistry program?
A portion of our curriculum is inflexible, but
most of
it is extremely
flexible. We require 35 semester hours (s.h.) of coursework for a M.S.
degree in chemistry. The inflexible portion of the curriculum involves
required courses. Each student in the program must take 6 s.h. of
courses
in laboratory orientation, introduction to chemical research, and
seminar.
Also a research thesis (6 s.h.) is required. Teaching assistants must
register
for a teaching practicum course, but this is not part of the 35 s.h.
total.
The more flexible portion of the curriculum is the 15 s.h. of content
courses
in any chemistry disciplines the student chooses, usually in
consultation
with a faculty advisor. To further broaden the program, up to 8 s.h. of
electives may be in or outside of chemistry.
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11. What is the role of
technology
in the Chemistry
program?
Technology is central to the success of our
program.
Chemistry is a
technically driven discipline. We rely upon measurements to perform
experimentation
and calculations for results of experimentation and for theoretical
explorations.
Measurements require state-of-the-art instrumentation. Calculations
require
state-of-the-art computers. We have been very successful in maintaining
state-of-the-art instrumentation and computerization for graduate
student
use. All graduate students have accessible to them the wide range of
instrumentation
and computer facilities within the department.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACULTY
12. How are the Chemistry
Department faculty members
accessible to students and describe some ways that they interact with
students.
Also, how does the relatively high level of personal attention
available
in the Chemistry Program benefit graduate students?
Each faculty member within the Chemistry
Department
maintains regular
weekly office hours. However, the accessibility of graduate students to
faculty far exceeds any time that may be spent in formal office hours.
Most of our students are Graduate Teaching Assistants who have
responsibilities
for teaching laboratory sections of lower division chemistry classes.
These
students interact on a weekly basis with faculty course coordinators
who
instruct them on how to teach their classes, how to safely conduct
their
classes, how to cover the material that they will present during those
classes, and how to grade. Graduate students receive regular advisement
on coursework and progress through the program either from the Graduate
Program Director during their first couple of quarters or from their
faculty
mentors in subsequent quarters. Additionally, faculty members within
the
Chemistry Department generally try to make themselves available as much
as possible for general consultation with graduate students. This
interaction
is not limited only to those students enrolled in graduate level
classes.
Most of the faculty/student interaction in graduate school is between
faculty
member mentors and their student mentees. This strong interaction
between
faculty mentors and their students results from the fact the in
chemistry,
student research and faculty research are so strongly intertwined as to
be inseparable. The result of this inseparability of student and
faculty
research is that faculty have a very strong interest in their student’s
research and thus spend large amounts of time with them on their
projects.
However, significant time is spent consulting with students about other
matters as well. Faculty are keenly aware of the fact that students
need
advice and guidance on choosing careers after graduate school. Most
faculty
consult with and advise their students about things such as writing
resumes,
the ins and outs of job searching, interviewing, presentation of papers
at meetings, writing papers for journals, etc.
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
13. What areas of studies are
available, what demands
are placed upon students, and what is unique about the YSU Chemistry
graduate
program?
Some of the unique aspects of our program:
· Intense interaction with faculty. The
Chemistry Department
faculty members take their role as mentors very seriously. Students can
expect to have access to faculty when they need it, not only in direct
regard to coursework, but also for advice and guidance.
· Availability of instrumentation. Unlike
many
Chemistry Departments
around the country, we make fully available for student use ALL
instrumentation
within the department. From the most sophisticated to the mundane,
students
can use what they need and when they need it.
· Availability of a full range of fields.
The
research and teaching
interests of the Chemistry Department faculty cover all of the major
disciplines
of chemistry, and many major interdisciplinary areas, such as
environmental,
theoretical, and materials chemistry, are available for study as
well.
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14. How does the Chemistry
graduate
program make
students competitive while they are enrolled in graduate school and
after
they graduate?
Competitiveness while enrolled in graduate
school, as
well as in the
workplace, is fostered by independence, creative thinking, and a
demonstrated
ability in problem solving. Our graduate program allows students to
develop
these important traits within themselves. Development of such skills
requires
a good knowledge base to build upon. We require students to take a
range
of core courses that covers the major aspects of their discipline.
Further
knowledge within the various concentration areas of chemistry is then
gained
by more specialized courses. After development of a knowledge base,
students
are then challenged to apply themselves by working on a research
thesis.
It is during the thesis phase of their tenure as a graduate student
that
independent working occurs, and creative thinking and problem solving
skills
are developed. These skills apply to every aspect of a students career
and to their everyday lives.
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15. Why should prospective
graduate
students choose
the Chemistry program at Youngstown State University for their graduate
degrees?
Students should choose the Graduate Program in
Chemistry at YSU because
of several situations that exist here that are unique, both within the
state of Ohio and nationally.
· We can offer students an extremely
marketable
degree. There
are several reasons that this is true. Contrary to popular belief,
chemical
manufacturing is not the only employer of chemists. Chemists find jobs
in every sector of manufacturing, from home products to
pharmaceuticals.
Chemists also find employment in such diverse fields as medicine,
forensic
science, biotechnology, and environmental science. A Master of Science
degree in chemistry is increasingly being seen by all industries to be
an attractive starting level for new hires. This is true primarily
because
M.S. degreed chemists have many of the same problem solving and
research
skills of Ph.D. chemists, but at a lesser cost to industry, because of
their fewer years of schooling. Additionally, many positions in
chemistry
and chemically related industries are becoming increasingly technical
and
some study beyond the B.S. level makes an individual more attractive
for
these types of positions.
· Because the YSU Chemistry Department
offers a
terminal M.S.
degree, the stigma of being a “wash-out” from a Ph.D. program does not
exist. We do not offer the Ph.D. degree, so students who come here,
come
with the intention of an M.S. only. The result is that marketing
yourself
as a M.S. chemist from YSU is considerably easier than trying to market
from other, larger schools, where Ph.D. programs coexist with M.S.
programs.
· Because YSU Chemistry Department offers
a
terminal M.S. degree,
facilities for research are readily available for M.S. student
research.
At schools with Ph.D. programs in Chemistry, research dollars,
laboratory
equipment and laboratory space are intended primarily for students in
the
Ph.D. program. M.S. students in many instances are afterthoughts. That
is not true at YSU. M.S. Students are our graduate program.
· The student to faculty ratio within the
YSU
Chemistry Department
is extremely favorable for students. Students can expect much time and
attention from their faculty mentors, both in the laboratory for
performing
research and outside of the laboratory for guidance and advice.
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