About the MNS Program

About the Applied Chemistry Area of Emphasis

About the Forensic Chemistry Option

How am I going to pay for all of this?

About the MNS Program

The College of Science and Mathematics offers the Master of Natural Science degree. Admission to the degree requires 30 undergraduate hours in science and mathematics.  Areas of emphasis include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Science Education.  Students may enjoy a close relationship with an advisory committee of three persons helping to plan the course of study.  Curriculum A requires the thesis while under Curriculum B the thesis is optional.

More information about the MNS Programs is found in the Graduate Bulletin and on the website of the School of Graduate Studies HERE.  The Graduate Bulletin also features important information on the a number of topics, some of which are:

The MNS in Applied Chemistry at Southeast Missouri State University is designed to give students broad exposure to the instruments, techniques, and methods favored by today's forensic, environmental, industrial, and research labs. 

The course offerings and the internship experience work together to make the MNS an APPLIED degree.

About the Forensic Option

The forensic option emphasizes laboratory skills and modern instrumentation used by forensic scientists. These instruments are used to identify and characterize physical and biological evidence obtained by law enforcement.

Chemical analysis is normally required for most cases submitted to crime labs involving drugs, murder, arson, rape, and criminal use of firearms.

How am I going to pay for all of this?

A limited number of assistantships to support graduate education are available through the Graduate School. Stipends for these assistantships are $6,100 per award. Additionally, graduate assistants are granted a full waiver of tuition and fees for up to nine (9) hours of graduate level coursework per semester and up to six (6) hours of graduate level coursework in the summer.  Assistantship requests are made at the departmental level and students should make inquiries regarding the availability of GA positions directly to a particular department. Other information regarding assistantships may be requested directly from the Graduate School.

To be eligible for an assistantship, students must meet one of the following criteria: 1) a cumulative undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 2.7 (on a 4 point scale); 2) a previous master's degree; or 3) 9 hours of completed graduate level coursework on his/her degree program with at least a 3.5 graduate g.p.a.  The maximum time limit for a student to hold an assistantship is 2 years.  If you are interested in applying for a graduate assistantship, you can DOWNLOAD THE GA APPLICATION FORM HERE, complete it, and return it to the Department of Chemistry.

Related information is available in the Graduate Assistant Handbook.

Besides the graduate assistantship, there are other financial aid options available to students.  See the School of Graduate Studies website for more details.