The SCSU Chemistry Department has developed a couple of new formulas designed to bolster student success in the workforce.
The department now offers an accelerated B.S./M.S. degree program, commonly referred to as the “Four plus One” program. It will allow students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Typically, it would take a student six years (four years for the bachelor’s and two years for the master’s).
Students can apply for acceptance into the program after their junior year. If accepted, they will be required to start graduate courses, as well as M.S. degree thesis research, during their senior year (in addition to the normal requirements for a B.S. degree). During their fifth year, students complete their course work, as well as a second year of research to finish their M.S. thesis. Students are required to have and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Two major advantages of this program are that students can enter the workforce a year earlier than they would normally, which reduces the cost of their education, and they work closely with faculty on research projects intended to improve their chances of landing a job.
Meanwhile, the Chemistry Department also recently started a professional science track within the current Master of Science degree program. The track is designed for students who seek advanced training in both chemistry and business. The 36-credit curriculum is divided equally between credits in chemistry and business administration.
The program is geared toward students who are in the chemistry field and wish to pursue a managerial position.
Among the benefits are the development of analytical and critical thinking skills needed when interpreting data, and improving communication skills for the dissemination of chemical information to colleagues and the public. It is intended primarily for students seeking a career in the sciences in business, government or non-profit organizations.
The new graduate-level chemistry track follows the creation of an M.S. in applied physics program, which also includes a curriculum that combines science and business courses. That program has two focus areas – materials science/nanotechnology and optics/optical instrumentation.
Both are part of a university effort to enhance students’ marketability upon graduation and to meet Connecticut’s changing workforce needs for the years ahead.
