COURSE CURRICULUM

The graduate Chemistry program at California State University, Sacramento requires a total of 30 units, structured to provide a balance of core knowledge, specialization, and research experience. The program begins with 11 units of required core courses that build a strong foundation in advanced chemical techniques and methodologies. These include research methods, spectrometric identification of compounds, and separation methods in chemistry. In addition, students participate in a seminar series across four semesters, which supports continuous engagement with current research topics and helps develop presentation and communication skills.Students must also complete 9 units of elective coursework, allowing them to specialize in areas such as physical organic chemistry, computational chemistry, synthetic chemistry, applied chemistry, biochemistry, or chemistry education. These electives provide flexibility for students to tailor their studies according to their career goals and research interests.A significant portion of the program is dedicated to completion requirements, totaling 10 units. This includes 6 units of “Special Problems,” where students engage in supervised research or independent study, gaining hands-on experience in experimental or computational chemistry. The program concludes with a 4-unit culminating experience, which may involve a research project or similar scholarly work demonstrating the student’s ability to apply advanced chemical knowledge.