Accelerated MSc Program

Overview

The Department of Chemistry offers a combined program of Bachelor and MSc/MASc in Chemistry. This program offers an opportunity for students in the 4th year of their Honours or Specialization program in Chemistry to take up to four 1.5-unit modules (or two 3-unit courses, for a total of 6 units) in Chemistry at the graduate level. Having completed graduate courses in advance, these students can then enter the graduate program with advanced standing. Research begun in the summer of your third year and/or for your 4th year thesis project can be carried forward as a foundation for the graduate thesis, which would create an opportunity for exceptional students to complete the Master's earlier.

Master's students have the option of promotion to the PhD program without completing the Master's. To seek promotion, a Master's student must first pass the PhD candidacy/comprehensive exam. This exam is held within 16-20 months of registration in the Master's program and requires that the student has an A- (80%, 3.7) average in CHEM 803 and in 6 units of elective graduate courses. Doing the Accelerated Master's and then later seeking promotion once in the Master's can lead to finishing the PhD earlier.

For a May start, research will begin in May of your third year. This research will be funded through SWEP or a Research Assistant position.

For both May or September starts, you will do your fourth-year thesis project from September to April. There is no research funding for a September start because the research is part of CHEM 497.

Application

The application due dates are:

• May Start: April 15 (this is to start the combined program in the summer of your third year and the Master's in the next May, after completion of your undergraduate degree requirements)
• September Start: July 15 (this is to start the combined program in the fall of your fourth year and the Master's in the next September, after completion of your undergraduate degree requirements)

To apply for the combined program, complete this form.

Eligibility

• You must be entering the fourth year of your Major or Specialization program in Chemistry in the next academic year.
• Your cumulative GPA must be a minimum A- (80%, 3.7).
• You must secure a supervisor before admission to the combined program. You should contact a prospective supervisor before applying. The expectation is that your CHEM 497 and Master's supervisor will be the same. In exceptional cases, there could be a change of supervisor and/or research direction.

Applications will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Chair and the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Assistant will email you to let you know their decision.

The combined program allows you to take graduate courses and to start research that can be used towards your Master's thesis, but it does not guarantee admission into the Master's. You will later need to apply for admission into the Master's using the SGSPA application portal. Note that you will need to have achieved a final grade of at least B- (70%, 2.7) in each graduate course you have taken during your fourth year.

After you are admitted to the Master's, graduate funding will start in the month (May/September) that you are officially registered as a graduate student and is guaranteed for two years at the Master's level. Check Financial Support for more information on graduate student stipends.

Course Options

In the combined program, you will take graduate courses in the fourth year of the undergraduate. Students should meet with the Undergraduate Chair prior to selecting their courses to discuss course requirements for the BSc degree.

Students cannot enrol themselves in graduate courses. After you are admitted to the Accelerated MSc program, you will be added to the Chemistry Grad Platform in onQ. There will be information on this platform for how to request registration in graduate courses. The list of graduate courses will be available in July/August.

• Required course: CHEM 801 Safety in the Laboratory (runs in Fall and is Pass/Fail)
• Other courses: You can take up to 6 units of graduate courses. For example, you can take CHEM 803 Principles of Scientific Communication (3 units, runs in Fall), which will be a required course for the Master's degree. For the remaining 3 units, you can take two 1-5-unit graduate modules (these run for half a term).
• You are also encouraged to attend the Departmental Seminar, which runs on Fridays at 11:30 AM.

Contacts

Undergraduate Chair

Dr. Anne Petitjean and Dr. Diane Beauchemin

Email: ugchair@chem.queensu.ca

Graduate Coordinator

Dr. Avena Ross

Email: grad.coordinator@chem.queensu.ca

Timelines