MS in Environmental & Green Chemistry
Green Chemistry Forges Path Forward
Hear what Professor Voutchkova, co-director of the MS in Environmental and Green Chemistry, plans for the program.
Employers across the public and private sectors are increasingly seeking scientists who specialize in creative ideas with minimal environmental impact. In our unique green chemistry program, students learn the science underlying today’s environmental challenges and develop innovative, greener solutions to address them.
The curriculum builds proficiency in both environmental chemistry and green chemistry, positioning graduates to find employment in this burgeoning field or to continue their education in chemistry and sustainability. Coursework combines intensive study of chemical toxicology, green industrial chemistry and rational design of safer chemicals with related courses in public health, policy and business. Students round off the program with a final capstone project with a real-world client.
“There’s an emphasis on real-world applicability rather than a sole focus on academic exercises. That’s what is most rewarding to me. You can see where your work could be used to benefit health and safety.”
Savannah Sierco
MS '19
Why Pursue This Degree?
Interested in the environment, medical or veterinary professions, product invention or sustainable business practices? There is a growing employer demand for professionals with a passion for sustainability and a sound fundamental scientific background in environmental and green chemistry, toxicology and engineering. Because of the department's green chemistry capstone internship program, our graduates are strong candidates for positions in the private sector, government agencies and NGOs as environmental and sustainability consultants, health professionals, product developers, engineers and patent lawyers. Visit the GW Environmental and Green Chemistry LinkedIn page for current professional opportunities.
"As a GW alumna, being a mentor for the program was a very rewarding experience. The capstone program provides students with a unique real-world research opportunity, allowing them to extend their networks, gain further insights into work environments and help advance efforts that are relevant and important to organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
Sandra D. Gaona
MEM '06
United States Environmental Protection Agency
What You'll Study
Our unique program melds the scientific foundations of environmental and green chemistry with public health, science policy and business perspectives. The core courses set our curriculum apart from any existing program in the United States and provide students with the scientific breadth and depth to evaluate environmental problems and develop sustainable solutions. Students can customize their studies with electives that take advantage of world-renowned GW programs in public health, management, public administration and media and public affairs.
The degree concludes with a capstone project: a real-world group exercise that students carry out with an external partner/client such as a government agency, nonprofit group or faculty member. Students work in small teams with guidance from an external mentor and the program director. At the end of the capstone, students submit a written report and a formal presentation of results to both the external client and faculty.
Praise From Industry Leaders
"Patrick Raya [MS ’18, Environmental and Green Chemistry] worked in our Bethesda office for four plus months. ... He developed a scoring system that quantitated the frequency and prevalence of tissue level effect incidence data for 8000 plus chemicals. … In the relatively short period of time Patrick spent at Verisk 3E, he made a valuable contribution that can be built upon in our future design activities."
Hans Plugge
Manager, Safer Chemical Analytics
Capstone Mentor for Green Chemistry Program
Course Requirements
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
30 credits, including 18 credits in required courses and 12 credits in elective courses.
Note: ACS placement examinations are administered at the start of the program of study to ensure competency in key areas of chemistry.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| CHEM 6280 | Energy and the Environment | |
| CHEM 6281 | Environmental Chemistry: Air, Water, and Soil | |
| CHEM 6282 | Green Industrial Chemistry | |
| CHEM 6283 | Chemical Toxicology and Rational Design of Safer Chemicals | |
| CHEM 6284 | Environmental Analytical Chemistry | |
| CHEM 6298 | Capstone Seminar in Environmental and Green Chemistry | |
| or PPPA 6198 | Environmental Resource Policy Capstone | |
| Electives | ||
| 12 credits in elective courses selected from the following*: | ||
| CHEM 6238 | Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | |
| CHEM 6251 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 6257 | Physical-Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 6278 | Molecular Spectroscopy | |
| CHEM 6320 | Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry | |
| CHEM 6350 | Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry | |
| ECON 6237 | Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources | |
| EMSE 6200 | Policy Factors in Environmental and Energy Management | |
| ENRP 6101 | Environmental Sciences I: Physical Sciences | |
| ENRP 6102 | Environmental Sciences II: Life Sciences | |
| IAFF 6141 | International Science and Technology Policy Cornerstone | |
| IAFF 6142 | Technology Creation/Diffusion | |
| IAFF 6151 | Environmental Policy | |
| IAFF 6153 | Science, Technology, and National Security | |
| IAFF 6158 | Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy ** | |
| PPPA 6066 | U.S. Environmental Policy | |
| PUBH 6002 | Biostatistical Applications for Public Health | |
| PUBH 6126 | Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards | |
| SMPP 6290 | Special Topics ** | |
| STAT 6202 | Mathematical Statistics II | |
*Alternate elective courses may be selected subject to the program director's approval.
**Approved topics only. Consult the Schedule of Classes for current semester offerings. Permission of the advisor must be received prior to enrollment.