MS in Environmental & Green Chemistry

 

GW Chemistry researcher in lab goggles and gloves at work in Voutchkova's Green Chemistry lab

 

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.

 

 

 

"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

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.

 

 

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

Specific admission requirements are shown on the Graduate Program Finder.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

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.

Required
CHEM 6280Energy and the Environment
CHEM 6281Environmental Chemistry: Air, Water, and Soil
CHEM 6282Green Industrial Chemistry
CHEM 6283Chemical Toxicology and Rational Design of Safer Chemicals
CHEM 6284Environmental Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 6298Capstone Seminar in Environmental and Green Chemistry
Electives
12 credits from the following:
CHEM 6350Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 6251Advanced Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 6320Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 6238Chemistry of Inorganic Materials
CHEM 6278Molecular Spectroscopy
CHEM 6257Physical-Organic Chemistry
STAT 6202Mathematical Statistics II
IAFF 6153Science, Technology, and National Security
IAFF 6141International Science and Technology Policy Cornerstone
IAFF 6142Technology Creation/Diffusion
IAFF 6151Environmental Policy
IAFF 6158Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy (Science, Technology and International Development)
IAFF 6158Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy (International Issues in Energy)
IAFF 6158Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy (Science, Technology and Complexity)
IAFF 6158Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy (Environmental Security)
SMPP 6290Special Topics (Strategy for Sustainable Enterprise )
SMPP 6290Special Topics (Sustainability Management and Policy)
SMPP 6290Special Topics (Clean Tech and Competitive Energy Markets)
PUBH 6004Environmental and Occupational Health in a Sustainable World
PUBH 6126Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards
PUBH 6002Biostatistical Applications for Public Health
PPPA 6066U.S. Environmental Policy
ECON 6237Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
EMSE 6200Policy Factors in Environmental and Energy Management
ENRP 6101Environmental Sciences I: Physical Sciences
ENRP 6102Environmental Sciences II: Life Sciences
Alternate elective courses may be selected subject to program director's approval.

 Visit the program website for additional information.