Plan of Study

Recommended Plan of Study – MS Programs

Students should complete the Plan of Study, accessed through My ASU, by the end of the first semester. The Plan of study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes to the Plan of Study after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. If you need assistance completing the Plan of Study, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

MS Requirements

30 Total credits

4 500-level courses (2-4 credits) – CHM or BCH (no more than 1 from outside SMS) (~12 credits)

2 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (4 credits)

6 credits CHM/BCH 599 thesis (must be able to add up to exactly 6) (6 credits)

~8 credits CHM/BCH 592 research (will be used to bring the total credits to at least 30)

*Research/Thesis credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab

*Continuous enrollment required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion

Allowances:

1 course from outside SMS

1 400-level course with approval of advisor (rare since most 400-level courses of interest will have a 500-level section)

Recommendations:

Maximize credits in first 2 semesters to allow reduced enrollment (lower fees) in later semesters 

First Semester (9 credits)

CHM/BCH 501 – topic of your choice (2 credits)

1 500-level course – CHM or BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3 credits)

4 credits – CHM/BCH 592

Second Semester (9 credits)

CHM/BCH 501 – topic of your choice (2 credits)

1 500-level course – CHM/BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3 credits)

4 credits CHM/BCH 592 research

Third Semester (6 credits)

1 500-level course – CHM/BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3 credits)

3 credits of CHM/BCH 599 thesis

Fourth Semester (6 credits)

1 500-level course – CHM/BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3 credits)

3 credits of CHM/BCH 599 thesis

Fifth Semester and Beyond

Following the completion of all degree requirements, enrollment can be reduced to 1 credit of CHM/BCH 592/599 research/thesis. To maintain health insurance eligibility, enrollment for at least 1 credit of thesis is required.

NOTE: The above is just one recommendation to meet the required 30 credits. Multiple courses can be taken in a single semester and the CHM/BCH 501 seminars can be taken in later semesters. Students have significant flexibility in completing the degree requirements. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Coordinator to discuss the specifics of your case and to develop a customized Plan of Study to best accommodate your needs.

Recommended Plan of Study – MS Programs (Coursework & Capstone)

Students should complete the Plan of Study, accessed through My ASU, by the end of the first semester. The Plan of study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes to the Plan of Study after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. If you need assistance completing the Plan of Study, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

MS Requirements

30 Total credits

6 500-level courses (2-4 credits) – CHM or BCH (no more than 2 from outside SMS) (18 credits)

3 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (6 credits)

3 credits CHM/BCH 591 Seminar (3 credits)

3 credits CHM/BCH 597 Capstone (3 credits)

*Continuous enrollment required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion

Allowances:

2 courses from outside SMS

1 400-level course with approval of advisor (rare since most 400-level courses of interest will have a 500-level section)

First Semester (11 credits)

CHM 501 – topic of your choice (2 credits)

3 500-level courses – CHM or BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (6 credits)

Second Semester (11 credits)

CHM 501 – topic of your choice (2 credits)

3 500-level courses – CHM or BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (6 credits)

Third Semester (5 credits)

CHM 501 – topic of your choice (2 credits)

CHM/BCH 591 Seminar (3 credits)*

Fourth Semester (3 credits)

CHM/BCH 597 Capstone (3 credits)*

NOTE: The above is just one recommendation to meet the required 30 credits. Fewer courses could be taken in a given semester and shifted to later in the program. Students have significant flexibility in completing the degree requirements. CHM/BCH 591 and CHM/BCH 597 must be taken in the final two semesters. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Coordinator to discuss the specifics of your case and to develop a customized Plan of Study to best accommodate your needs.

Recommended Plan of Study – Med Chem Program

Students should complete the Plan of Study, accessed through My ASU, at the beginning of the first semester in the MS program. The Plan of study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes to the Plan of Study after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. Students should schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator when joining the Med Chem program and again when transitioning to the MS program in or to determine the courses to be completed.

Med Chem MS Requirements

30 Total credits

4 500-level courses (2-4 credits) – CHM or BCH (no more than 1 from outside SMS) (~12 credits)
  Must include CHM 535 Medicinal Chemistry

2 CHM 501 seminars (4 credits)

2 credits BCH 593 Applied Project (must be able to add up to exactly 2) (2 credits)

6 credits BCH 592 research (6 credits)

6 credits of electives – can be additional research credits or 500—level coursework (will be used to bring the total credits to at least 30) (6 credits)

*Research/Applied Project credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab

*Continuous enrollment required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion

Allowances:

1 course from outside SMS

1 400-level course with approval of advisor (excludes BCH 461, BCH 462, BCH 463, BCH 467)

Up to 12 credits can be “transferred” in from the BS degree.

Up to 9 credits can be “shared” between the BS and the MS degree (counted toward the BS on DARS)

Recommendations:

Students in the Biochemistry (Medicinal Chemistry) BS should take CHM 433 (Advanced Organic) as CHM 531 and CHM 435 (Medicinal Chemistry) as CHM 535.

Take potential BCH/CHM 494 courses as CHM/BCH 500-level courses if offered.

Undergraduate Semesters following Notice of Acceptance (up to 12 credits)

CHM/BCH 501 – topic of your choice (2-4 credits)

500-level courses – CHM or BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3-12 credits)

BCH 592 research credits (1-10 credits)

Graduate Semesters following BS conferral (balance of 30 credits)

CHM/BCH 501 – topic of your choice (2-4 credits)

500-level courses – CHM or BCH (can also be from outside SMS) (3-16 credits)

BCH 592 research credits (1-12 credits)

BCH 593 applied project (2 credits) (taken in final semester)

NOTE: Students have significant flexibility in completing the degree requirements. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Coordinator to discuss the specifics of your case and to develop a customized Plan of Study to best coordinate the coursework for the BS and MS degrees.