Completing an MS at CU Denver can position you for admission to a competitive Ph.D. or health sciences program and the valuable experience gained throughout the program can set you up for success in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.

Our flexible program can accommodate you if you’re looking for a quick route to a graduate degree, if you want to complete a degree while staying at your current job, or if you want to delve into research to see if that is the path for you. A minimum of 20 semester hours must be formal lecture courses in the Department of Chemistry. Other credits can come from research, internships, a thesis, independent study, and transfer credits. The program is divided into three core areas. Students must select a track to pursue during their MS degree. 

• Biochemistry Track – Emphasis on an understanding of biochemical principles governing metabolic diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Synthesis and Measurement Track – Students learn how to prepare and characterize molecules and materials, and how to measure their properties.
• Molecular Modeling Track – Students learn fundamental principles and modern techniques in computer modeling and apply the acquired knowledge to solve practical problems in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and material sciences.

Finally, students interested in gaining experience in a broad range of chemistry are encouraged to consider the traditional track.