MasterofChemicalSciences

StudentHandbook

UniversityofPennsylvania

CollegeofLiberalandProfessionalStudiesAugust2017

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TableofContentsI. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..3

II. ProgramOverview..............................................................................................4

III. Curriculum...........................................................................................................5

IV. ProgramPolicies……………………............................................................................8

V. DesigningYourProgramandCourseRegistration..............................................15

VI. CapstoneandGraduationProcedures...............................................................20

VII. UniversityPoliciesandResources......................................................................23

VIII. Appendices

A. MCSCurriculum………………………………………………………………………………….30

B. MCSForms………………………………………………………………………………………….38

C. CapstoneGuidelines…………………………….…………………….…………….…..……42

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I.IntroductionThepurposeofthishandbookistoprovidestudentsintheMasterofChemicalSciences(MCS)Programwithinformationvitaltothesuccessfulcompletionoftheprogram.Inthishandbookyouwillfindinformationonacademicrequirements,recommendedcourses,programandUniversitypolicies,andresourcesbothinsideandoutsideofPenn.ThishandbookisdesignedtoprovidegeneralinformationanddoesnotsupplantofficialUniversitypublications,Universitywebpages,orregularmeetingswithyouradvisor.Youshouldplantomeetwithyouracademicadvisoratleastoncepertermtodiscussyourprogressandcourseselection.TheMCSAssociateDirectorisavailableforgeneral,logistical,academic,andcareeradvice.Inaddition,shouldyouhavequestionsthatarenotansweredhereorproblemsthatyoucannotresolve,youshouldconsultyouracademicadvisorortheMCSAssociateDirectorimmediately.

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II.ProgramOverviewTheMasterofChemicalSciences(MCS)attheUniversityofPennsylvaniaisa10CreditUnit(CU)non-thesisgraduateprogramdesignedtopreparestudentsforvariousprofessionsinchemistry-relatedindustries.TheMCSisdesignedtogiveyouawell-rounded,mechanisticfoundationinablendofchemistrytopics.Thecurriculumisstructuredwithacombinationofcoreconcentrationandelectivecourses,whichallowyoutofocusontopicsbestsuitedtoyourinterestsandgoals.Asaculminatingexercise,studentsmustcompleteanindividualcapstoneprojectthatdemonstratestheirabilitytodefineaproject,developappropriatemethods,completeresearch,andpresentresultsinaclearandconcisemanner.ManyMCSstudentsselectaprojectthatcomplementstheprofessiontheyplantopursue.StudentsmaystudyintheMCSprogrampart-timeorfull-timeandmaytakeeitherdayoreveningcoursespre-approvedbythestudent’sadvisorand/ortheMCSAssociateDirector.Part-timestudentsareexpectedtocompletetheirdegreeinnomorethanfouryears.RelationshipwithintheUniversityTheMCSProgramishousedintheSchoolofArtsandSciences(SAS),overseenbytheSASfaculty,administeredbytheMCSAssociateDirector,andlocatedintheDepartmentofChemistry.TheprogramisofferedthroughtheCollegeofLiberalandProfessionalStudies(LPS),whichispartofSAS’divisionofProfessionalandLiberalEducation.Yourenrollmentstatus(part-timeorfull-time)willdetermineforwhichPennservicesyouareeligible.Full-timestudentsareenrolledin3or4coursespersemesterorresearchcourses,whilepart-timestudentsareenrolledin1or2coursespersemester.Studentsarepermittedtochangetheirstatusfromfull-topart-timeandviceversaatanypointintheircareerwithoutseekingpriorpermission.However,internationalstudentsshouldbeawarethattheymustmaintaintheirfull-timestatustomeetvisarequirements.

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III.CurriculumStudentsarerequiredtocompleteatleast10CUsofgraduate-levelcourseworkfortheMCSdegree.TherearetworequiredcoursesfortheMCSprogram:

• MCS540–Pro-seminartaughtduringfallsemesterofthe1styear,and• MCS699–Capstone,whichstudentsregisterforfollowingcompletionoftheirresearch.

MCS540–Pro-seminarArequiredcourseduringastudent’sfirstyear,thisclasswillreviewfundamentalconceptsregardingresearchdesign,thescientificmethod,searchingscientificdatabases,ethicalconduct,andprofessionalscientificcommunication.Studentswillberequiredtogiveoralpresentationsandsubmitwrittenassignments.Thiscoursewillalsoacquaintstudentswithissues,debatesandcurrentopinionsinthestudyofchemistry,whichshouldhelpthemstartdefiningtheircapstoneproject.MCS699–CapstoneTheresearchproject,expectedtospantwotothreetermswithadvisorapproval,willculminateinawrittenscientificreport,whichwillcountas1CUtowardsthedegreerequirement.Studentsalsotake4-6corecoursesinanareaofconcentration,whichwillallowthemtoacquiretheskillsnecessarytomasterasub-disciplineandwillhelpthempreparefortheirfinalcapstoneproject.Ideally,eachstudentbuildsonpreviousacademicandprofessionalexperiencewhenpursuingaconcentration.TheacademicplanbasedonthechosenconcentrationshouldbepreparedinconsultationwithanacademicadvisorandtheMCSAssociateDirector.Areasofconcentrationinchemistryinclude:• Biological• Inorganic• Organic• Physical• Materials• EnvironmentalChemistrySpecificcoursesthatfulfilleachconcentrationarelistedinAppendixA.Studentsalsoregisterfor2-4electivesinotherconcentrationsinchemistry,physics,biology,orengineeringwithpriorapprovaloftheMCSAssociateDirector.StudentscompletingtheEnvironmentalChemistryconcentrationwillcompleteaminimumof4-6CUsinoneof fivemajor chemistry disciplines (biological, inorganic, organic, physical, ormaterials) and thenhavetwochoices:- Addaminimumof2CUsinenvironmentalscience(eitherModeling(M)orPolicy(P)asshownin

appendixA)asanemphasis,or- Addaminimumof4CUsinenvironmentalscienceasasecondconcentration.Inbothcases,studentswilldesignacapstoneprojectthatbringstogetherthechemistrydisciplineandenvironmental scienceconcentrationswithemphasisonthechemistryaspectof theproject.Studentswillbeco-advisedbyfacultyadvisorsfromboththeChemistryandEnvironmentalScienceprograms.

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AnoptionalIndependentStudiescourse(MCS599)providesopportunitiestoconductlaboratoryresearchintheDepartmentandlearnspecificanalyticaltechniquesappropriateforafuturecapstoneproject.Thecoursemayberepeatedforcreditwithpermissionoftheinstructor,butonly1CUmaycounttowardtheminimum10CUsrequiredfortheMCSdegree.ProgramofStudyStudentsshouldmeetwiththeiracademicadvisorandMCSAssociateDirectoratleastonceasemestereachsemesterpriortoregisteringforcourses.Thisisespeciallyimportantduringastudent’sfirstsemesterwhenanAcademicPlanningSheetshouldbecompleted.TheMCSAssociateDirectorisalwaysavailableforgeneral,logistical,academic,andcareeradvice.Belowisasamplecoursescheduleforafull-timestudentcompletingtheMCSdegreewithanareaofconcentrationinPhysicalChemistry.FALL COURSE CUs SPRING COURSE CUsCHEM521 StatisticalmechanicsI 1 CHEM522 StatisticalmechanicsII 1CHEM523 QuantumchemistryI 1 CHEM524 QuantumchemistryII 1MCS540 Pro-seminar 1 MCS599 Independentstudies 1 SUMMER MCS698 Capstoneresearch 1 FALL COURSE CUs SPRING COURSE CUsMCS697 Workoncapstoneproject 0.15 CHEM525 Molecularspectroscopy 1 CHEM526 Chemicaldynamics 1 STAT500 Appliedregressionand

analysisofvariance1

MCS699 Capstone 1 TotalCUs 11 MCS697doesnotcounttowardstheminimum10CUsrequiredfortheMCSdegree.

CapstoneProjectThecapstoneprojectlaststwotothreetermsandrepresentstheculminationofanMCSstudent’sgraduatestudy.Itreflectseachstudent’sconcentrationandthecourseworkthatpreparedhim/hertoundertaketheproposedcapstoneproject.Itmayalsobuilduponthestudent’spreviousacademicorprofessionalexperience.Undernocircumstanceswillpreviousworkexperienceexcludestudentsfromthecapstonerequirement.ThecapstonecomponentmaybeachoiceofaPennlaboratoryresearchproject,anoff-campuslaboratoryresearchproject,oraliterature-basedreviewproject,butALLcomponentswillrequireanapprovedproposalpriortoinitiationandacompletedscientificreport(seeguidelinesinAppendixB).Thecapstoneproposalwillbedevelopedbythestudentincollaborationwiththestudent’sacademicadvisor,andeitherasecondaryreaderoranoff-siteprojectsupervisor.Proposalsforthecapstoneprojectaredueatleast3weekspriortothestartoftheproject,typicallyattheendofthespring

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semester.ApprovalfromtheMCSAssociateDirector,theacademicadvisor,andeitherasecondaryreaderoranoff-sitesupervisorisrequiredbeforetheprojectcanbegin.Moststudentsareexpectedtostarttheircapstonesattheendofthefirstacademicyearinthesummerandconcludeattheendofthespringsemesterofthesecondyear.Forliteraturereviews,thetimespentonthecapstonewillvarydependingonthecapstoneproposal.Dependingonthecapstoneoptionselected,studentsmaybeginworkingontheprojectasearlyasthespringsemesteroftheirfirstyearintheprogram.Thecoursegradeforcapstonecreditwillbeassignedbytheacademicadvisor,takingintoconsiderationfeedbackreceivedfromthesecondaryreaderoranoff-siteprojectsupervisor(seeSectionsVandVIandAppendixCforadditionaldetails).NOTE:Ifastudentiscurrentlyworkinginthechemicalindustry,itisacceptableforthemtocompletetheircapstoneprojectwiththeircurrentemployer;however,theymustclearlydemonstratewhatnewskillstheywillacquirethroughtheexperience.

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IV.ProgramPoliciesAcademicStandardsStudentsintheMCSprogramareexpectedtomaintainthehighestpossibleacademicstandards.Toensurethatstudentsaremakingsatisfactoryprogresstowardtheirdegree,theacademicadvisorandMCSAssociateDirectoreverysemesterreviewstudentperformance.TheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommitteehasadoptedthefollowingrequirementsforMCSstudentstoremaininGoodAcademicStandingastheyprogresstowardtheirdegree:• Allstudentswilltakeaplacementtestintheirchosenconcentrationpriortoregisteringforfall

semestercoursesduringtheirfirstyearintheprogram.Anacademicplanwillbedevisedbasedontestresults,admissionstatus,andcareergoalsusingtheAcademicPlanningSheet.Insomecases,astudentmayberequiredtotakeoneormoreundergraduatecoursestobetterpreparethemforgraduate-levelcoursework.StudentsmustcompletetheseundergraduatecoursesearningasatisfactorygradeofBorhigherinordertoregisterforgraduatecourses.Studentswhodonotmeettheserequirementswillnotbeabletocontinueintheprogram.

• Studentsmusttakeallcoursesthatwillcounttowardsthedegreerequirementsforalettergrade.Pass/Failcourseswillnotbecountedtowardthedegree.Thelettergradeof“S”alsodoesnotcounttowardthedegree.

• Studentsmustmaintainacumulative2.7GPAinordertobeingoodstandingandtograduate.• StudentsmustearngradesofB-orbetterinallgraduatecourses;however,onecoursewitha

gradeofC+maybecountedtowardgraduationrequirements.• StudentsmustmakesatisfactoryprogresswiththeircapstoneprojectasdeterminedbytheMCS

AssociateDirectorandtheiradvisor(supervisor)toremainingoodacademicstanding.• Whenthesamecourseistakenagaintomeettheacademicrequirementsoftheprogram,both

coursesandgradesappearinthetranscript,butonlythefirstcourse’sCUcontributestothetotalnumberofCUsandonlythegradeforthefirstcourseisincludedinthecumulativeGPA.

• MCSstudentsarelimitedtooneincomplete(I,GR,U,orNR)atatime.Studentswithtwoormoreincompletesontheirtranscriptwillhavetheirregistrationautomaticallyblockeduntiltheycompletethosecourses.

• Studentsmustfollowallguidelinesforethicalconduct,research,andpublication–pleasereviewtheseresources:

o Penn’sCodeofAcademicIntegrityo PennHandbookforStudents:EthicsandOriginalResearcho ResponsibleConductofResearch(NationalScienceFoundation)o “OnBeingaScientist”(NationalAcademyofSciences)

• ThePennbookisacollectionofpoliciesthatrelatetostudentlifeattheUniversityofPennsylvania.Thesepoliciesgovernacademicactivitiessuchasgradingandexams,provideguidanceontheuseofcampusresources,andexplainexpectationsformembershipintheuniversitycommunity.StudentscanrefertoPolicyonCommonMidtermExaminationsandRulesGoverningFinalExaminationsforadditionalinformation.

StudentsmustmaintainregularcontactwiththeiracademicadvisorandMCSAssociateDirector.Academicadvisorshelpstudentsselectcoursesappropriatefortheirareaofconcentrationandfacilitatecareerdevelopmentbyhelpingstudentsbuildconnectionsonandoffcampus.Pleasereferto

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page15formoredetailedinformationregardingacademicadvisingandfacultyadvisorselectionprotocol.AcademicWarningStudentswillbegivenanacademicwarning,deliveredviae-mail,iftheyfailtomeettherequirementsofGoodAcademicStandingdescribedabove.Specifically,iftheyhave:• ReceivedonegradeofC+orlowerinanycourse(onecoursewithagradeofC+maybecounted

towardgraduationrequirements).• ReceivedasemesterGPAlowerthan2.7foronesemester.• Unsatisfactoryprogresswiththecapstoneproject.StudentsgivenanAcademicWarningmaycontinueintheprogramwithoutformalreview;however,itisrecommendedthattheymeetwiththeMCSAssociateDirectortodiscussstrategiestoimprovetheiracademicperformance.AcademicProbationStudentswhofailtherequirementsforGoodAcademicStandingformultiplesemestersorbysignificantmarginsasdefinedbelowwillbeplacedonAcademicProbation;specificallyiftheyhavereceived:• MorethanonegradeofB-orlowerinanycourse.OnecoursewithagradeofC+maybecounted

towardgraduationrequirements;othersmayhavetobereplacedortakenagain.• AcumulativeGPAbelow2.7formorethanonesemester.• Consistentunsatisfactoryprogresswiththecapstoneproject.StudentsonAcademicProbationwillbeplacedonregistrationholdandrequiredtomeetwiththeMCSAssociateDirectorandtheiradvisor.Theymustdevelopaplantoremedytheconditionsthatplacedthemonacademicprobation,andtheplanmustbeapprovedbytheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommittee.Studentswillnotbeallowedtoregisterforcoursesduringtheirprobationwithoutanapprovedplaninplace.StudentsremedyinglowGPAswillhaveanopportunitytoregisterforcourses;however,studentswith2ormoreincompleteswillnotbepermittedtoenrollinadditionalcoursesuntiltheirincompleteshavebeenresolvedandgradesposted(seebelow).WiththepermissionoftheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommittee,studentsmaytakeadditionalcoursesinordertoincreasetheirGPAortofulfillrequirementsincourseswherethestudentreceivedagradebelowa“B-”.ProgramdismissalStudentsplacedonAcademicProbationwillbereviewedoncepersemesterthereafterbytheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommittee.If,afteraminimumofonesemesteronAcademicProbation,theCommitteedecidesthatthestudentisunlikelytocompletetheirdegreeprogramsuccessfully,thestudentwillbesentanacademicdismissalletterviaemailandU.S.postalmail.ReceivingtwoCgradesmayleadtodismissalfromtheprogram.IncompletesMCSstudentsarelimitedtooneincomplete(I,GR,U,orNR)atatime.Anincompletegradeindicatesthatastudenthasnotcompletedalltheworkinacourseandhasdonesowiththeinstructor’spermission.AninstructorwhochoosestograntanextensiontoastudentwhohasnotcompletedacoursebytheendofthetermmaygranteitheranIncomplete(I)oranExtendedIncomplete(II).AnIncompletemustbemadeupwithinthefirstfourweeksofthestartofthenextterm,andanExtendedIncompletemustbemadeupbytheendofthenextterm(includingthesummerterm).Ineithercase,iftheIncompleteisnotmadeupbythedeadline,itwillbecomeanF.AnIncompleteismadeuponlywhentheofficialgradeisreceivedbytheLPSOfficeandrecordedbytheRegistrar’sofficeonthe

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student’sofficialtranscript.OnceanIncompletegradeisconvertedtoanF,theinstructormaychangethegradeafterthestudenthascompletedallrequiredwork.StudentswithtwoormoreIncompletegradesaresubjecttoregistrationholdandarerequiredtomeetwiththeMCSAssociateDirectortoexplainthecircumstancesoftheIncompletesanddevelopaplantoresolvethem.StudentswithtwoormoreoutstandinggradesofIncompletewillnotbeallowedtoregisterforcourses;studentswithtwoormoreoutstandinggradesofIncompletewhohavealreadyregisteredwillbedroppedfromcourses.AcademicGrievancesEvaluationofastudent'sperformanceinacourseistheresponsibilityofthecourseinstructor.Shouldafinalgradeinacoursebedisputed,thestudentmustsubmitawrittenappealtotheinstructorwithinthefirsttwoweeksoftheacademicsemesterimmediatelyfollowingthesemesterinwhichthegradewasreceived.Theinstructormustrespondinwritingtothestudentwithintwoweeksofreceivingthewrittenappeal.If,afterreceivingthewrittenresponsefromtheinstructor,thestudentstillbelievesthatthegradehasbeenunfairlyassigned,thestudentmustsubmitawrittenappealtotheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommittee.IftheCommitteebelievestheappealdemonstratesevidenceofnegligenceordiscriminatorybehavior,asub-committeewillbeformedtoreviewthestudent'sappealandmakearecommendationtothefullAcademicCommittee.TheSchoolofArts&SciencesandtheProvost’sOfficehavepoliciesgoverningacademicgrievances.StudentsshouldconsultthePennProvost’sinformationonAcademicGrievancesandSASpolicyforgraduatestudents'grievancesforadditionalinformationaboutthegrievanceprocedure.EnrollmentStatusInactiveStatusStudentswhodonotenrollincoursesforfourconsecutivetermsduringthefourthterm,includingsummer,willbeinactiveandwillbeautomaticallywithdrawnfromtheprogram.Studentswhoarewithdrawnfromtheprogramwillberequiredtoapplyforreadmissiontotheprogram.Standardapplicationfeeswillapply.LeaveofAbsenceStudentstaketimeawayfromtheirstudiesforawidevarietyofreasonsincluding:• Manageamedicalconcern• Fulfillafamilyobligation• Pursuecareer-relatedopportunities• Completemilitaryservice• WorkonapoliticalcampaignWhileinterruptingyourstudiestotaketimeawaymayseemintimidating,aleaveisameanstothesuccessfulcompletionofadegree,notabarriertograduating.Morethanthreequartersofstudentswhotakealeavereturntocompletetheirdegreewithintwoyears.Ifyouareconsideringaleave,taketimetothinkcarefullyaboutyourgoalsforyourtimeawayandforwhenyoureturn.SpeakingwithanLPSprogramdirectorisanimportantfirststep.Dependingonyourcircumstancesyoushouldgetadvicefromothersourcesaswell.Studentstakingtimeawayinordertomanageamedicalconditionshoulddiscusstheleavewiththeirhealthcareprovider.YourLPSprogram

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directorwillhelpyouconnectwithothercampusresourcesasyoupreparetotakealeaveofabsence,suchasStudentFinancialServices,Housing,andInternationalStudentandScholarServices.Studentstypicallytakealeaveforafullacademicyear.Individualcircumstancesmayrequiremoreorlesstime;thelengthoftheleaveisdeterminedbytheschool.StudentsonleaveshouldremainincontactwiththeirLPSprogramdirectorandupdatethemaboutchangesinplans.Thereturnfromleaveprocesssupportsstudentsinasuccessfulre-entrytoacademiclifeatPenn.Whenpreparingtoreturn,studentsmustconsulttheirLPSprogramdirectortodevelopaplanthatincludesconnectionwithappropriateresources.RequestingaLeaveofAbsence:• Studentsmustmeetwithaprogramdirectortodiscussaleaverequest.• Thestudentmustsubmitawrittenrequestforleaveofabsence,detailingthereasonsforthe

desiredleave.• TheleaverequestwillbeevaluatedbytheProgram.Iftherequestisapproved,theProgramwill

stipulateconditionsthatmustbemetbythestudentbeforereturningfromleave.• Thestudentwillbenotifiedwiththeresultoftheleaverequest.TheProgrammaydenyany

requestforleave.Ingrantingleaves,thedecisionoftheProgramisfinal.• AstudentonleavemaynotbeenrolledinPennclassesandwillnotreceivecreditforclassestaken

elsewhereduringtheleaveunlessspecialapprovalbytheProgramisgiven.StudentsonleavemaynotliveinUniversity-ownedhousingduringthetermoftheirleave.Inaddition,astudentmaynotparticipateinand/orholdaleadershippositioninaregisteredUniversityorganization.

• DiscontinuanceofstudywithoutpermissionfromtheUniversitydoesnotconstitutealeaveofabsence.StudentswhohaverequestedaleaveofabsenceforagivensemestermaystillbedroppedfromtheUniversityrollsiftheirpreviousterm'sgradesqualifythemforthisaction.

Checklist:LeaveofAbsence,DroporWithdrawalOncealeaveofabsenceorwithdrawalhasbeenapproved,oryouhavebeendropped,thatactionwillbepostedtoyourtranscript.YourPennCardwillbedeactivatedassoonastheleave,drop,orwithdrawalhasbeenprocessed.NotificationsBesuretonotifyallrelevantofficesofyourleaveordrop.Theseofficesmayincludethefollowing,ifapplicable:• StudentRegistrationandFinancialServices• HousingandConferenceServices• InternationalStudentandScholarServices(ISSS)• StudentTelephoneServices• StudentHealthService• OfficeofStudentConduct

WhileOutDuringthetermofyourleaveordrop,youmaycallyourprogramofficeifyouhaveanyquestions.Pleasebeawareoftheconditionsforreturnoutlinedinyourleaveordropletter,sinceyouwillberequiredtofulfillthembeforeyoumayre-enroll.ApplyingtoReturn

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Youmustapplytoreturnfromleaveordropbytherelevantdeadline(forthefallsemester,July15;forthespringsemester,November15;forthesummer,April15).Atthattimeyoumustfilloutarequesttoreturnfromleaveordropformandshowthatyouhavefulfilledalloftheconditionsforreturnasoutlinedinyouroriginalletterfromyourprogram.Tobeginthisprocess,contactyourprogramadvisor.ReturnfromLeaveofAbsenceWhenastudentwishestoreturnfromaleaveofabsence,heorshemustsubmitarequesttoreturnbythedeadline(July15forthefallsemester,November15forthespringsemesterandApril15forthesummer),orbeforethebeginningoftherelevantAdvanceRegistrationperiod,ifthestudentwishestoadvanceregister.Thisisdonebycontactingaprogramadvisorandaskingfortherequesttoreturnfromleaveform.Anyreturnrequestsubmittedtotheprogramadvisorlaterthantheabove-indicateddeadlinesmaybedenied.Timelysubmissionofrequestsanddocumentationisaconditionofallleaves.ThestandardlengthofanLPSleaveofabsenceisoneyear.Studentsmayrequestanearlyreturnfromleaveafteronefullsemesteronleave,butshouldbearinmindthatthisrequestmaybedenied.ProvisionalAdmissionSomestudentsseekingadmissiontotheMCSarereturningtoschoolafteralongabsenceorhaveundergraduaterecordsthatdonotaccuratelyreflecttheiracademicability.ThoseapplicantsmaybeacceptedintotheMCSprovisionally.Applicantsacceptedasprovisionaladmitsmustadheretothefollowingprocedure:• Full-timestudentsmustcompletetworequiredcoregraduate-levelcoursesatPennintheMCS

programandtheMCS540Pro-seminar.• Thestudentmustreceiveagradeof"B-"orbetterinallcoursesandmustreceiveafavorable

recommendationfromtheinstructorsofcorecourses.• Ifastudenttakesmorethanthreecoursesintheirfirstsemester,theymustreceivea“B-”orbetter

gradeinallofthecourses.• StudentsmaynotreceiveanIncomplete(I,NR,GR)inanyofthesecourses.Studentswhomeettheserequirementswillbefullyadmittedintotheprogram.Ifaftercompletingthesecorecourses,studentsdonotmeettheacademicrequirementsoutlinedabove,theywillnotbeabletocontinueintheMCSprogram.ConditionalAdmissionSomestudentsseekingadmissiontotheMCSprogrammaynothavemetalloftheadmissionrequirementsthatwouldhavepreparedthemforsuccessfulcompletionofthegraduateprogram.Suchstudentsmaybeadmittedconditionally,andwillhavetosatisfythecriteriaforfulladmissionintotheprogramasdescribedintheirletterofadmission.Studentswhosatisfactorilycompletetherequirementswillbefullyadmittedintotheprogram.Studentswhodonotmeettherequirementsanddeadlinesasdescribedwillnotbeabletocontinueintheprogram.DeferredEnrollmentStudentswhoareadmittedtotheMCSprogrammaydefertheirmatriculationforoneyear.StudentswhowishtodefershouldnotifytheMCSAssociateDirectorinwritingoftheirintentionsasearlyaspossible.Itisnotnecessaryfordeferredstudentstoreapply.However,studentsmustinformtheMCSProgramiftheyenrollatanyotherinstitutionpriortotheirmatriculationattheUniversityofPennsylvania,andtheymustsubmitfinalofficialtranscriptsofanycourseworkcompletedpriortotheirenrollmentattheUniversityofPennsylvania.

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TransferCreditStudentswhoentertheMCSprogramfromPennChemistrysubmatriculation,Non-TraditionalGraduateProgramortheUniversity’sPost-BaccalaureateUndergraduateStudiesmaycountupto2graduate-levelcoursestowardstheirMCSdegree.ThesePenncoursesmustbesubmittedtotheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommitteeorAdmissionsCommitteeforapprovalpriortothefirstsemesterofmatriculationintheMCSprogram.Onlycoursesappropriatetothestudent’sdegreeprogramwillbeconsideredforapproval.Coursesfromothergraduateprogramsorcompleteddegreesarenoteligiblefortransfer;however,studentsmayrequesttowaiveacoreMCScourseifagraduate-levelcourseofequivalentcontenthasbeentakenatPenn.Torequestawaiver,astudentmustsubmitarequestform,coursedescription,andsyllabusbeforethefirstsemesterofmatriculation.ThewaiverrequestwillbereviewedbytheMCSAssociateDirector.Ifapproved,thestudentshouldtakeanelectivetoreplacethecorecourse.Completionof10CUsatPennarestillrequiredtocompletethedegree.CoursestakenoutsideoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniaduringastudent’smatriculationintheMCSarenoteligibleforawaiverortransfer.FinancialAidMCSstudentshavelimitedeligibilityforUniversity-basedfellowships,teachingandresearchassistantships,orscholarships;however,studentscanseekoutsidescholarshipsupport(e.g.,NationalScienceFoundation,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration).U.S.citizensorpermanentresidentsareeligibletoapplyforloansthroughPenn’sOfficeofStudentFinancialServices.Full-timestudents(taking3ormorecoursesinasemester)maybeeligibleforfullloansupport,andpart-timestudents(taking1-2coursesinasemester)maybeeligibleforpartialloansupport.InternationalstudentsarenoteligibleforloansthroughtheUniversity.ResearchSupportTheMCSprogramdoesnothavefundingtosupportcostsincurredduringtheconductofstudentresearch.Fundingforcompletionofresearchforthecapstoneprojectmustbeprovidedbytheon-campusacademicadvisorand/ortheoff-campusorganizationsponsoringthestudent.AdditionalPoliciesSexualHarassment,SexualViolence,RelationshipViolence,andStakingPoliciesTheUniversityofPennsylvaniaiscommittedtoprovidingasafeandhealthyenvironment,freeofgender-basedmisconduct,toallmembersofourcommunityandvisitorstoourcommunity.Assuch,sexualassault,sexualviolence,relationshipviolence,andstalkingwillnotbetolerated.TheUniversityhasestablishedpoliciesonbehaviorsthatinterferewithfreedomofthought,discourseandspeech,andtheattainmentofthehighestqualityofacademicandeducationalpursuitsanddailywork.Inordertoensurethecreationofaclimatewherestudentsareabletothriveandachievetheirfullpotential,theUniversityhasdevelopedawiderangeofpolicies,including:• SexualHarassmentPolicy,• SexualViolence,RelationshipViolence,andStalkingPolicy,and

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• StudentDisciplinaryProceduresforresolvingcomplaintsofsexualassault,sexualviolence,relationshipviolenceandstalking.GeneralinquiriesregardingthesepoliciesandprocedurescanbedirectedtotheOfficeoftheProvost,1CollegeHall,Room122PhiladelphiaPA19104-6381;or(215)898-7227(Voice)orprovost@upenn.edu(e-mail).

PoliciesonMid-TermsandFinalExaminationsThePennbookisacollectionofpoliciesthatrelatetostudentlifeattheUniversityofPennsylvania.Thesepoliciesgovernacademicactivitiessuchasgradingandexams,provideguidanceontheuseofcampusresources,andexplainexpectationsformembershipintheuniversitycommunity.StudentscanrefertothePolicyonCommonMidtermExaminationsandRulesGoverningFinalExaminationsforadditionalinformation.HolidaysTheUniversityobservessevensecularholidays.TheUniversityrecognizesthatthereareseveralreligiousholidaysthataffectlargenumbersofUniversitycommunitymembers.Inconsiderationoftheirsignificanceformanystudents,noexaminationsmaybegivenandnoassignedworkmayberequiredonthesedays.TheUniversityalsorecognizesthatthereareotherholidays,bothreligiousandsecular,whichareofimportancetosomeindividualsandgroupsoncampus.Studentswhowishtoobservesuchholidaysmustinformtheirinstructorswithinthefirsttwoweeksofeachsemesteroftheirintenttoobservetheholidaysothatalternativearrangementsconvenienttobothstudentsandfacultycanbemadeattheearliestopportunity.PleaserefertothePolicyonsecularandreligiousholidaysformoredetails.QuestionsorcomplaintsregardingthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheOfficeoftheProvost,1CollegeHall,Room122PhiladelphiaPA19104-6381;or(215)898-7227(Voice)orprovost@upenn.edu(e-mail).ConfidentialityofStudentRecordsTheUniversityofPennsylvaniacomplieswithFamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA).TheConfidentialityofStudentRecordsPolicydescribestherightsandresponsibilitiesofstudents,facultyandstaffregardingtheconfidentialityofstudentrecords.Thispolicypertainstopersonallyidentifiableinformationcontainedineducationrecords.QuestionsorcomplaintsregardingthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheOfficeoftheProvost,1CollegeHall,Room122PhiladelphiaPA19104-6381;or(215)898-7227(Voice)orprovost@upenn.edu(e-mail).Non-DiscriminationStatementTheUniversityofPennsylvaniavaluesdiversityandseekstalentedstudents,facultyandstafffromdiversebackgrounds.TheUniversityofPennsylvaniadoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,religion,creed,nationalorethnicorigin,citizenshipstatus,age,disability,veteranstatusoranyotherlegallyprotectedclassstatusintheadministrationofitsadmissions,financialaid,educationalorathleticprograms,orotherUniversity-administeredprogramsorinitsemploymentpractices.QuestionsorcomplaintsregardingthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheExecutiveDirectoroftheOfficeofAffirmativeActionandEqualOpportunityPrograms,SansomPlaceEast,3600ChestnutStreet,Suite228,Philadelphia,PA19104-6106;or(215)898-6993(Voice)or(215)898-7803(TDD).ForadditionalinformationaboutPenn’sEqualOpportunityandAffirmativeActionPolicy

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V.DesigningYourProgramandCourseRegistrationStudentAdvisingTheMCSAssociateDirectorwillfacilitatetheselectionandassignmentofanacademicadvisor.EachstudententeringtheMCSprogramwillbeassignedanacademicadvisorbasedontheconcentrationtheyhavechosen.Academicadvisorshelpstudentsselectcoursesappropriatefortheirareaofconcentrationandfacilitatecareerdevelopmentbyhelpingstudentsbuildconnectionsonandoffcampus.TheacademicadvisorassignsthefinalgradeforMCS599IndependentStudies,MCS698CapstoneResearch,MCS697CapstoneResearch,MCS699Capstone,andMCS990CapstoneContinuationwithinputfromtheresearchadvisor.Selectinganacademicadvisorrequirespreparation–priortomeetingwithprofessors,studentsshould:• VisittheChemistryDepartment’swebsitetolearnaboutfacultymemberswhocouldpotentially

serveasacademicadvisorsbasedonsimilarresearchinterests.• Attendseminarsand/orgroupmeetingsduringfallsemester(mid-Septemberthroughmid-

November)whenaweeklyeveningseminarserieswillfeature15-20minutepresentationsgivenby2-3currentfacultymembers.TheseshortseminarsareexcellentopportunitiestolearnaboutresearchbeingconductedintheChemistryDepartment.Studentattendanceattheseseminarsishighlyrecommended,regardlessoftheirareaofconcentration.

• Readrecentpublicationsbytheprofessorandtheircolleaguespriortomeetingwiththem.StudentsshouldthenworkwiththeMCSAssociateDirectorwhowillfacilitatetheselectionandassignmentofanacademicadvisor.Studentsshouldsubmittheon-lineforminCanvasCommunitythenameofthreefacultymemberstotheMCSAssociateDirectornolaterthanthe2ndweekofNovember(seeappendixBforthecontentoftheform).Basedonthesenamesandavailabilityoffacultymembers,anacademicadvisorwillbeassigned.TheMCSAssociateDirectorwillguidethestudentthroughtheinitialcourseregistration,programintroduction,anddefineaProgramofStudyplanfortheirMCScareer.Studentsshouldmeetwiththeiracademicadvisorand/orMCSAssociateDirectoratleastonceasemestertodiscusstheiracademicprogressandchoosecoursesforthefollowingsemester.TheavailableworksheetCanvasCommunitycanhelpdefineastudent’sProgramofStudyandcoursework.StudentsshouldworkwithMCSAssociateDirectorandtheiracademicadvisortoensurethatalldegreerequirementsarefulfilledandtheworksheetiscompletedforgraduation.Full-time1styearstudentswilltypically:• Take6CUsofcoursework,includingMCS540Pro-seminarfallsemester• Incollaborationwiththeacademicadvisorandcapstonesupervisor,definearesearchproject,

draftandgetapprovalofaproposalspringsemester.Full-time2ndyearstudentsareexpectedto:• BeregisteredinCapstoneResearchcourses(MCS697orMCS698)whilecompletingthecapstone

requirement• Completetheirresearchproject,writetheirpaper,andreceiveagradeforMCS699Capstone• Makesureallrequirementsforgraduationaremet(seeSectionVbelow)

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CourseRegistrationProceduresCourseSelectionAppendixAprovidesalistofapprovedcoursesfortheMCSprogram(pleaseseeupdatedrevisedlistsofapprovedcoursesinCanvas).AdditionalchemistryandothertypesofcoursesofferedatPennareavailableonlineattheUniversity’sCourseRegister.TheCourseTimetableisavailableonlineandlistswhencoursesareofferedeachsemester.StudentsmustreceiveapprovalfromtheMCSAssociateDirectortoregisterinanycoursetoensurecoursesareacceptablefortheprogramandwillcounttowardsthedegreerequirement.AdvanceRegistrationThecourseregistrationprocessinvolvestworegistrationperiods.Advanceregistrationallowsstudentstoentertheirrequestsforcoursestheywishtotake.Studentsareencouragedtoregisterduringthisperiodsothattheyhavethebestchanceofgettingintothecoursestheyprefer.Attheendofadvanceregistration,allregistrationrequestsareprocessedandstudentscanthenviewinwhichcoursestheyhaveactuallybeenenrolled.ChecktheLPSAcademicCalendarfortheexactdatesforadvanceregistration.RegistrationTheregularregistrationandadd/dropperiodopensapproximatelythreeweeksaftertheadvanceregistrationrequestperiodhasclosedandstudentshavebeennotifiedoftheirschedules.Duringtheregularregistrationperiod,studentswillknowimmediatelywhetherornottheywillbeabletoenrollinthecoursetheyarerequesting.TheAssociateDirectorwillprovidepermitsforstudentsincoursesaftercompletingtheacademicadvisingsessionsandAcademicPlanningSheet.Someimportantinformationtorememberwhenregisteringforcourses:• CheckwithyouracademicadvisorandtheMCSAssociateDirectortobesurethecourseforwhich

youareregisteringfulfillsarequirementforyourdegree.• CoursesmustbetakenforanormallettergradeinordertocounttowardtheMCSdegree;

“pass/fail”or“audit”arenotacceptableoptions.• Onlycoursesnumbered400andabovemaycounttowardthedegree(thefirstsetofthreedigits

afterthecoursesubjectisthecoursenumber(e.g.,MCS540630).• Asamaster’sstudent,permissionmaybeneededfromtheinstructortoregisterforsomegraduate

coursesinotherdepartmentsorschools.YouwillneedapprovalfromtheMCSAssociateDirectorpriortoregisteringinthesecourses.

• Full-timestudentsshouldenrollin3or4coursesorresearchcourses;studentsarenotpermittedtoenrollinmorethan4coursespersemester.

• Part-timestudentsshouldenrollin1or2coursespersemester.AuditingCoursesMCSstudentsmayauditcoursesintheSchoolofArtsandSciences;however,theywillbechargedtuitionandfeesattheMCStuitionlevel.Auditedcourseswillappearonthestudent’stranscript,butnogradewillbeissuedandthecoursewillnotcounttowardthe10CUsneededtocompletetheprogram.Mostcoursesareopentoauditorsonaspace-availablebasis.

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RegisteringforNon-MCSCoursesandPermitsMCSstudentsmayregisterforgraduatecourses(numbered400orabove)inotherPenndepartmentsandschools,ifthosecoursesareappropriatetothestudent’sprogram.StudentsshouldfirstconsultwiththeirMCSAssociateDirectortodetermineifthecourseisappropriatetotheirprogrampriortoregistering.StudentsintheMCSprogramrequirepermissiontoregisterforcoursesoutsidetheDepartmentofChemistry.Insuchcases,studentsshouldcontacttheMCSAssociateDirector.Theymaynotbeabletoregisteruntilallstudentsinthehomedepartmentorschoolhavehadachancetoregister.Permitswillthenbeissuedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Coursesthatrequirespecialpermissionfromthedepartmentorinstructorareindicatedinthecoursetimetableas“PermitRequired”.PermitsareobtainedfromthedepartmentofferingthecourseandenteredelectronicallyintotheStudentRecordSystem(SRS).Apermitisnotaregistration.Studentsmust“claim”thepermitbyactuallyenrollinginthecoursethroughPennInTouch.Afterbothadvanceregistrationandregularregistrationarecomplete,theRegistrar’sOfficeremovesunusedpermitsfromstudents’records.CourseChangesMCSstudentsaresubjecttoLPSregistrationanddrop/adddeadlines,whichmaybedifferentthandeadlinesforotherschoolsanddepartments.StudentsshouldconsultthecurrentLPSCourseGuideortheLPSAcademicCalendarfordeadlinestomakeregistrationchangesandviewfinancialobligations.StudentsareabletomakechangesinPennInTouch.AdherencetoLPSdeadlinesisstrictlyobserved.Shouldstudentsneedtodroporwithdrawfromacoursebeyondthedeadline,theyshouldcontacttheirMCSAssociateDirector.Itmaybenecessarytoprovidedocumentationofthesituationthatnecessitatesthedroporwithdrawal,particularlyifthestudentisrequestingarefundoftuition.AddingaCourseStudentsmayaddanewcoursethroughthesecondweekoftheterm–butthisisnotrecommendedunlessthestudenthasbeenattendingthecourse.Afterthat,itwillnotbepossibletoaddacourse.StudentsshouldusePennInTouchtoaddcoursesduringthistime.DroppingaCourseStudentsmaydropacoursewithnofinancialobligationuntilthepublisheddeadlineinthecurrentLPSCourseGuide(approximatelytwoweeksintotheterm).Studentsmayalsodropacoursebetweenthesecondandfourthweeksoftheterm,butinsodoingtheywillincura50percentfinancialobligationforthetuitionandfeesforthedroppedcourse.Absencefromclassdoesnotconstituteadrop,nordoesnotifyingtheinstructor.StudentscanofficiallydropacoursethroughPennInTouchthroughthesecondweekoftheterm.Afterthesecondweekofthesemester,studentsmustcontacttheMCSAssociateDirectordirectlytodropacourse.WhenmakingregistrationchangesviaPennInTouch,itisalwaysadvisabletodoublecheckandmakesurethechangeshavetakeneffectbeforelogging-out.StudentsmayalsowanttocontacttheMCSAssociateDirectortoconfirmthatthedroppedcoursesarenolongerontheirschedules.StudentswhofailtodropacourseofficiallymayreceiveagradeofFandwillberequiredtopaythefulltuitionrate.ChangingGradeorCreditStatusofaCourse

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AllcoursesmustbetakenforalettergradeiftheyaretobecountedtowardtheminimumCUrequirementforgraduation.However,studentsmayregisterforcoursesthattheydonotwanttocountfortheirprogramonanauditorPass/Failbasis.Beforedoingso,however,theyshoulddiscussthiswiththeirMCSAssociateDirector.Oncetheyhavedoneso,studentsmaychangetheirstatusinacoursefromcredittoaudit,fromalettergradetoPass/Fail,orfromPass/FailtoalettergradeuntilthedeadlinelistedinthecurrentLPSAcademicCalendarfor“Lastdaytochangegradestatusinacourse”.Nochangeispermissibleafterthepublisheddeadline.Auditorspayfulltuitionandfees.WithdrawingfromaCourseStudentsmaywithdrawfromacourseafterthedeadlinetodropacoursehaspassed(approximatelyfourweeksintotheterm).Towithdraw,studentsmustseetheMCSAssociateDirector,submitaWithdrawalFormoutliningthereasonsfortherequest,andobtainwrittenapprovalfromtheinstructor.Normally,permissionisgrantedandaW(withdrawal)isrecordedonthetranscript.Afterthepublishedwithdrawaldeadline,studentsarepermittedtowithdrawonlyunderextraordinarycircumstances,whichmustbedocumented.Studentswhowithdrawfromacoursehavefullfinancialobligation,exceptindocumentedcasesofillness,militaryservice,orotherextraordinarycircumstances,whentheymaypetitionfora50percentrefund.Note:Droppingacourseisnotthesameaswithdrawingfromacourse.Withdrawingfromacourseoccursafterthedropdeadlineandcarrieswithitfullfinancialobligation.Inaddition,thestudent’stranscriptwillhavea"W"nexttothetitleofthecourse.However,ifastudentdropsacourseduringthenormalAdd/Dropperiod,norecordofthatcoursewillappearonthetranscript.IndependentStudiesStudentsinterestedinpursuinganindividualizedstudyprojectoncampusorjoiningafacultymember’sresearchteamtolearnspecificlaboratoryskillsshouldregisterforMCS599IndependentStudies.StudentsshouldfirstcommunicatetheirintereststotheiradvisorandtheAssociateDirectoroftheMCSprogrampriortoapproachingafacultymember.Theywillfacilitatetheprocessofidentifyinganappropriatefacultymemberforthestudent.StudentsshouldbearinmindthatfacultymembersarenotrequiredtosuperviseanIndependentStudiescourse.Anadditionallaboratoryfeeisrequiredforthiscourse.Thiscoursemaybeconsideredpart-timeoffull-timedependingofthenumbersofhoursperweekcommittedtotheclass(20hours/weekorlesswillbeconsideredpart-time;atleast35hours/weekwillbeconsideredfull-time).MCSstudentsmayregisterforuptotwoIndependentStudiescoursesduringtheiracademiccareer;however,only1CUwillcounttowardtheminimum10CUsrequiredforgraduation.StudentsmustcompletetheMCS599RegistrationForm(seeappendixB)andsubmitasignedcopytotheMCSAssociateDirectorforapprovalpriortoregisteringforthisclass.CapstoneResearchandMaster’sContinuationRegistrationStudentsdoingcapstoneresearchmustberegisteredinaresearchcourse.Undernocircumstancesstudentsareallowedtobeworkinginalaboratorywithoutbeingregisteredinaresearchcourse.Studentsareconsideredfull-timeiftheyareenrolledinoneofthefollowingCapstoneresearchcourses:• CapstoneResearch(MCS697)(.15CU)–Maybetakenformultiplecourseunitcreditbystudents

developingtheresearchprojectforthecapstonerequirementbutwhowillnotbecompletingorpresentingthefinalreport.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofadvancingthecapstoneproject.Shouldbetakenbystudentswhoarenotengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.Thiscoursedoesnotcounttowardsthe10CUsminimum.

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• CapstoneResearch(MCS698)(1CU)–Maybetakenformultiplecourseunitcreditforstudentsinitiatingtheresearchprojectforthecapstonerequirementbutwhowillnotbecompletingorpresentingthefinalreport.Only1CUwillcounttowardsthe10CUminimum.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofadvancingthecapstoneproject.Shouldbetakenbystudentsengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.

• Capstone(MCS699)(1CU)–Requiredcourseforstudentscompletingtheresearchproject,andsubmittingthefinalreportandpresentations.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofcompletingthecapstoneproject.

• Master’sContinuation(MCS990)(.15CU)–studentsshouldenrollinthiscourseiftheyfailtocompletetheirCapstoneinthetermwhentheyareenrolledinMCS699.

ThecostofregistrationforCapstoneResearch(MCS697),andMaster’sContinuation(MCS990)islessthanthecostofaregularcourseandkeepsthestudentstatusactive(checkwiththeMCSAssociateDirectorforthecurrenttuitionrate).StudentsenrolledinMaster’sContinuationhaveaccesstothelibraryandmaintaintheirPenne-mailaccounts.ShouldastudentwishtoextendMaster’sContinuationregistrationbeyondtwosemesters,theymustreceivepermissionfromtheMCSFacultyAdvisoryCommittee.StudentsnotcompletingtheprogramrequirementsaftertwosemestersofMaster’sContinuationmaybewithdrawnfromtheprogram.Studentswillregisteronthesecoursescompletinganon-lineformintheMCSCanvasCommunity.InordertobeevaluatedandreceiveagradeforMCS697and698,studentsmustsubmitinCanvasatwo-pagepreliminaryreportdescribingtheprogressoftheresearchandsignedbytheadvisor.ToreceiveagradeforMCS699or990,studentsarerequiredtosubmitafinalreport,andgiveanoralandposterpresentation.StudentStatusStudentswithvisa,immigrationrestrictions,and/orloanrequirementsshouldbeawareoftheirstudentstatus.Studentsareconsideredfull-timeiftheyareenrolledin:• 3or4coursesinasinglesemester• CapstoneResearch(MCS697)• CapstoneResearch(MCS698)• IndependentStudies(MCS599)–ifdevoting35hrs./weekonthiscourse• Capstone(MCS699)• Master’sContinuation(MCS990)Ifastudentisenrolledintwoorfewercoursesinasinglesemester(otherthanthosedescribedabove),theyareconsideredpart-time.Studentswhomeettherequirementsofafull-timestudentareautomaticallyenrolledinPenn’sstudenthealthinsurancecoverageunlesstheyshowproofofcoveragethroughanothersource(seeStudentHealthInformation,page28).

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VI.CapstoneandGraduationProceduresFacultyReadersandProjectMentorsTwofaculty/expertacademicreadersarerequiredforthecapstoneproject.Theywillhelpthestudentdevelopthecapstoneprojectproposal,approveboththeproposalandthefinalscientificreport,andwillultimatelyassignagradeforMCS699.Amoredetaildescriptionofthereaders’rolesandresponsibilitiesisincludedinAppendixC.AgraduationchecklistisincludedinAppendixB.Studentsshouldattempttoidentifytheirfacultyreadersasearlyaspossibleintheircareer.Iftheyarehavingdifficultyidentifyingfacultyreaders,theMCSAssociateDirectorcanrecommendlikelyprospectsamongthefaculty.However,itisthestudent’sresponsibilitytocontactthepotentialreadersanddiscusstheirprojectideasindepth.TheproposalmustbesubmittedtotheMCSAssociateDirector,academicadvisor,andprojectsupervisorforfinalapprovalpriortothestudentbeginningtheirresearchwork,otherwisetheworkmaynotcounttowardsthedegree.CapstoneProjectThecapstoneresearchitselfshouldlasttwotothreetermsandrepresentstheculminationofanMCSstudent’sgraduatestudy.Undernocircumstanceswillpreviousworkexperienceexcludestudentsfromthecapstonerequirement.Yourresearchprojectshouldfocusonatopicyoudecideuponinconsultationwithyouracademicadvisor.Youwillneedtoshowagraspofthetheoreticalunderpinningsoftheresearchyouundertakeandbeabletojustifythereasonsfortheresearch.ThecapstonemaybeachoiceofaPennlaboratoryresearchproject,anoff-campuslaboratoryresearchproject,aliteraturereviewordatamanagementbasedproject,butALLcomponentswillrequireanapprovedproposalpriortoinitiation,acompletescientificreport,aswellasoralandposterpresentations.Posterswillbeputondisplayattheendoftheacademicyearforfacultyandstudentstoviewduringaspecialeventpriortograduation.Moststudentsareexpectedtostartattheendofthefirstacademicyearinthesummerandconcludeattheendoffallsemesterofthesecondyear.Dependingonthecapstoneoptionselected,studentsmaybeginworkingontheprojectasearlyasthespringsemesteroftheirfirstyearintheprogram.Forliteraturereviews,thetimespentonthecapstonewillvarydependingonthecapstoneproposal.StudentsshouldenrollinCapstoneResearchcourses(MCS697or698)whiletheyworkontheirprojectbutarenotcompletingorpresentingthefinalreport.StudentsshouldregisterinCapstoneResearch(MCS698)whileengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.StudentsshouldregisterinCapstoneResearch(MCS697)whilecompletingthecapstoneprojectbutnotengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.StudentsshouldregisterforMCS699Capstoneduringthesemesterafinalgradewillbeassigned.Thecoursegradeforcapstonecredit(MCS699)willbeassignedbytheprimaryreader,takingintoconsiderationfeedbackreceivedfromthesecondaryreader.RegisteringfortheCapstoneBeforeastudentbeginsthecapstoneproject,aCapstoneProjectProposalmustbesubmittedtotheMCSAssociateDirector.Thisproposalmustbeapprovedpriortothestudentbeginningtheirresearchwork.Finalcapstonessubmittedwithoutpriorapprovalofsubjectmatterandapprovedadvisors,may

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notbeacceptedforcompletionofthedegreerequirements.StudentsshouldregisterforMCS699Capstoneduringthetermthattheyarefinishingtheresearchproject,submittingthefinalreportandpresentationsthesemester,andreceivingafinalgrade.WritingtheCapstoneThecapstonemaytakeoneoftwoforms:areviewpaperbasedonaspecifictopiccoveredintheliteratureorascientificreportbasedonresearchcompleted.Whileitisnotnecessarythattheworkbepublishableinascholarlyjournal,thisisstronglyencouraged.CapstoneandGraduationTimetablePleasenotethetimelineforkeydegreedeadlinesbelow,andallowplentyoftimeforreview,feedback,andrevisionsofproposalsandfinalreports!Activity DatesCopyofapprovedcapstoneproposaldueinMCSoffice

Lastdayofclassesinthetermpriortothetermthestudentintendstoinitiatethecapstoneproject

Graduationapplication SpringTerm:Feb1SummerTerm:Jun1(Feb1toparticipateinceremony)FallTerm:Oct1

Capstoneprojectoralandposterpresentation

Nolaterthanthreeweeksbeforethelastdayofclasses

Capstoneprojectreportcompletedandapproved

Nolaterthanoneweekafterthelastdayofclasses

Projectsupervisorevaluation SubmitsignedformtoMCSofficenolaterthanoneweekafterthelastdayofclasses

FormsTherearefourforms,whichneedtobecompletedfortheCapstone(allinAppendixCandintheMCScanvascommunity):- CapstoneProjectProposal- ProjectSupervisorEvaluation- CapstoneProjectEvaluation/MCS699coursegrade- ScholarlyCommonsApplication(topublishthestudent’sworkinPenn’sonlinerepository)GraduationProceduresStudentswhofailtocompletetheircapstoneprojectduringthespringsemesterpriortograduation,mustremain“active”inallsubsequenttermsinordertocompletetheirMCSprogramandgraduate.Thefinalcapstonepaperisduetothecapstonereadersandprojectsupervisoratleasttwoweekspriortotheendofterm(studentsshouldcheckwiththeseindividualstoseeiftheywillneedadditionaltimeforreviewandgrading).StudentswhohavenotsubmittedtheirfinalcapstonepaperandCertificationofCompletionofCapstoneProject/CourseGradeformwithinoneweekoftheendofclassesinthesemesterforwhichtheyintendtograduatewillberegisteredautomaticallyforMaster’sContinuation(MCS990)inthesubsequenttermandforeachandeverytermthereafter(includingsummer)untilthecompletedandapprovedcapstoneissubmittedtotheMCSprogram.

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Studentsmustreapplyonlineforgraduationinthetermduringwhichtheyplantocompletethecapstone.Thus,ifastudentdoesnotcompletethecapstoneinthesemesterinwhichtheyoriginallyapplied,theymustre-applyforgraduationinthenextsemester.Thestudent’sgraduationdatewillbepostedfortheterminwhichtheycompletetheircapstoneandreceiveagrade.TheGraduationApplicationFormshouldbecompletedonlineatthebeginningoftheterminwhichthestudentintendstocompletetheprogramandgraduate.SpecificdeadlinestoapplyforgraduationcanbefoundonthewebpagewheretheGraduationApplicationFormisprovided.

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VII.UniversityPoliciesandResourcesEnrollmentStatusMCSstudentswhoareenrolledforthreecoursespertermareconsideredfull-timestudentsandwillbebilledthefullgeneralfee.Thisfeecoversaccesstomanyoftheservicesdescribedbelow.MCSstudentsenrolledinoneortwocoursespertermareconsideredpart-timestudents.However,studentsenrolledintheCapstone(MCS699),Research(MCS698,MCS697),IndependentStudies(MCS599workingatleast35hours/week),orMaster’sContinuation(MCS990)coursesareconsideredfull-time.Undernocircumstancesstudentsareallowedtobeworkinginalaboratorywithoutbeingregisteredinaresearchcourse.Studentswillregisteronthesecoursescompletinganon-lineformintheMCSCanvasCommunity.StudentIdentificationOnceastudentisenrolledatPenn,astudentIDnumber(PennID)willbeissued,andthisIDisusedforregistrationandothertransactionsthroughouttheUniversity.Studentsshouldnevergiveouttheirsocialsecuritynumberviaemailorfax.Oncematriculated,thePennIDnumberorthelastfourdigitsofthesocialsecuritynumberwillbesufficientforidentification.PennCardThePennCardistheofficialUniversityofPennsylvaniaidentificationforstudents,faculty,andstaff.ThePennCardprovidesaccesstoUniversityfacilities,services,cashconvenienceandmore.Toobtainathiscard,studentsshouldbringavalidformofphotoID(e.g.,driver’slicenseorpassport)tothePennCardCenterlocatedupstairsinthePennBookstoreonthecornerof36thandWalnut.OnlyactivestudentsregisteredforcoursesinthecurrentorupcomingtermmayreceiveaPennCard,whichshouldbecarriedatalltimes.PennKeyAPennKeyisrequiredtoauthenticate,orverify,anindividual’sidentityformanyofPenn’snetworkedcomputersystemsandservices.AuthorizedusersneedaPennKeyandpasswordtoaccesssuchresourcesasPennInTouch(courseregistration),Canvas(usedinmostclasses),certainlibraryresources,andpubliccampuscomputers.APennKeyisalsorequiredtoobtainaPennemailaddress.NewstudentsshouldreceiveeitheraletteroranemailwithinformationonhowtocreateaPennKeyandpasswordwithinafewdaysoftheiradmissiontotheMCSprogram.PennInTouchPennInTouchprovidessecureaccessviatheInternettoavarietyofinformation,including:• Onlineregistrationandscheduleplanningtools• Academicrecordsandtranscriptorders• Studentbillingandpaymentinformation• Financialaidapplicationstatusandawards• Studentloanapplicationstatus,disbursementsandloanhistory• Studentemployment/work-studyinformationandjoblistings

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• Updatingyouremergencycontactsandaddressinformation• Privacysettingsforreleaseofacademicandfinancialinformationtoparentsandothers• DirectDepositenrollmentforstudentrefundsandwork-studypayroll.EmailAllstudentsenrolledattheUniversityofPennsylvaniaareeligibleforaPennemailaddressfreeofcharge.Evenifthestudentplanstouseanon-Pennemailaccount,theyshouldalsoestablishaPennaddress.TheMCSAssociateDirectorwillsendprograminformationtothePennaddressandalsocontactstudentswithimportantinformationthroughthissystem.Courseinstructorswillbegiventhisaddressaswellandwillcontactstudentsinthisway.Shouldstudentswish,theymayforwardemailfromtheirPennaddresstoanotheraccountthroughPenn’swebmailsite.InstructionsonhowtocreateanduseaPennemailaccountareavailablethroughSASComputing.AcademicSupportServicesTheWeingartenLearningResourcesCenter,locatedat3702SpruceStreet,Suite300,providesprofessionalconsultationservicesforskillssuchasacademicreading,writing,studystrategies,andtimemanagement.ThisacademicsupportisprovidedthroughavarietyofservicesandprogramsincludingtheverypopularseriesofstudyskillsworkshopsofferedatthebeginningofeachfallandspringtermforLPSstudents.Specialworkshopseriesisalsoofferedforinternationalstudents.FormoreinformationabouttheWeingartenLearningResourcesCenter,visittheirwebsiteorcall215-573-9235.OtherAcademicSupportServicesinclude:• Grad/UndergraduateMentoringProgram–Provideguidanceforanundergraduatestudent• UpwardBoundandVeteransUpwardBound–Academicandfinancialservicesforlow-incomeand

first-generationcollegestudentsandveterans• MarksFamilyWritingCenter–ForsupportwithwritingassignmentsRoomreservationsStudentscanreserveroomsinourbuildingforanyacademicpurpose(e.g.,studysessionwitharecitationorlabsection,agroupmeeting,presentationpracticesession).Therearesomeroomsthatareunderourdepartmentcontrol,andsomethatarecalled“centralpool”classrooms.ThelatterarecontrolledbytheRegistrar,butarestillavailableforouruse.• Departmentcontrolledroomsinclude:

− Vagelos2000,3000,4000− MakineniConferenceRoom− LynchLectureHall

Fortheserooms,contacttheChemistryreceptionistatthefrontdesktoreservethem. Youmaywanttodothisinpersontoensurethattheroomyouwantisavailableforthedayandtimethatyouneedit.Thereceptionistcanalwaystellyouwhichroomisavailable,ifyourfirstchoiceisalreadyreserved.

• Centralpoolclassroomsinclude:

− Classroom109(offthelobby)− Classroom119(offthelobby)

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− Classroom514(5thfloorbyelevators)− ClassroomB-13(inthebasement)

Forthecentralpoolclassrooms,pleasekeepinmindthatduringtheregularschoolyear,theseroomsareheavilyusedforclassesthroughouttheUniversity,notjusttheDepartment. Toreservetheserooms,youmustrequestthemonline:PennISCClassroomTechnologyServices.

StudentDisabilitiesServicesTheOfficeofLearningResourcesincludestheStudentDisabilitiesServices(SDS),whichprovidescomprehensiveprofessionalservicesandprogramsforstudentswithdisabilitiestoensureequalacademicopportunitiesandparticipationinUniversitysponsoredprograms.Reasonableaccommodationtoaqualifiedstudent’sknowndisabilitymaybeprovidedtoassureequalaccess.Penninvitesstudentswithdisabilitiestoidentifythemselvesatanytimeduringtheircourseofstudyasenrolledstudents.Althoughtheself-identificationprocessisconfidentialandcompletelyvoluntary,itisrequiredforthoserequestingaccommodation.SDSmaybecontactedviatheirwebsite,byphoneat215-573-9235,andbyTDDat215-746-6320.CareerCounselingTheUniversityprovidescareercounselingthroughtheCareerServicesofficeforfull-timeMCSstudentsorthosefinishingtheirfinalsemesterpriortograduation.Awidevarietyofresourcesareavailableonlinethatcanhelpstudentsexplorecareerdevelopmentstrategies,writeeffectivecoverlettersandresumes,andhonetheirnetworkingandinterviewskills.Tomakeanappointmentwithacounselor,visittheCareerServiceswebsiteorcontacttheofficeat215-898-7531.TheCareerServicesofficeislocatedonthegroundflooroftheMcNeilBuilding.StudentHealthInformationTheUniversityprovidesoutpatientmedicalcaretostudentsthroughitsStudentHealthService(SHS).TheSHSoffersanarrayofclinicalservices,includinginitialandfollow-uptreatmentofacutemedicalillnessandinjury,managementofchronichealthproblems,healthscreeningandpreventivecare.Allfull-timestudentsmustcarrycoverageforcareatSHS,eitherthroughpaymentoftheClinicalFeeorthroughenrollmentinthePennStudentInsurancePlan(PSIP).Full-timestudentswhohaveprivateoremployer-sponsoredinsurancedonothavetopurchasethestudentplan,buttheymuststillpaytheclinicalfeeforcoverageatSHS.CoveragefortheStudentHealthService(eitherthroughtheclinicalfeeorthroughenrollmentinPSIP)isoptionalforpart-timestudents.Inadditiontoprovidingmedicalcareandpreventivemedicineservices,SHSoffersspecialworkshopsonstressreductionandsmokingcessation,aswellastravelinformation,immunizations,acupuncture,massage,andotherservices.ImmunizationRequirementsStudentsenrolledintheMCSprogramarepartoftheUniversitycommunityandbenefitfromtheUniversity’seffortstoprovideasafeandhealthyenvironment.AllMCSstudentsarerequiredtocomplywithimmunizationrequirementsuponfirstenrollingincreditcourses.Tocomply,studentsshouldcompleteanImmunizationWorksheet.Incomingfallsemesterstudentswhoarenotincompliance

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withtheUniversity'simmunizationrequirementswillbeplacedonregistrationholdforthespringsemester.StudentsareadvisedtocallSHSat215-746-3535orconsulttheirwebsiteforthemostaccurateandup-to-dateinformationonstudenthealthrequirements.TheSHSofficeislocatedat3535MarketSt,Suite100.BesuretobringyourPennCardandinsuranceinformationwheneveryougoformedicalcare.ForhoursandotherinformationrefertotheStudentHealthwebsite.Studenthealthinsurancedoesnotincludedentalinsurance. TheUniversityofPennsylvaniahasadentalschool,whichofferslow-costdentalinsurancetotheUniversitycommunity. CounselingandPsychologicalServicesCounselingandPsychologicalServices(CAPS)areforstudentsoftheUniversityofPennsylvania.Allcounselingservicesarefreeandconfidential.Theirofficehoursare9am-5pm,Monday,TuesdayandFridayand9am–7pmWednesdayandThursday.Ifstudentshaveanemergencythatcannotwaituntilthenextday,theyshouldcalltheHospitaloftheUniversityofPennsylvania(HUP)operatorat215-349-5490andaskfortheCAPSclinicianoncall.PleasenotethatthisHUPoperatornumberisonlyforemergencies.Tocallregardinganappointment,aprescriptionorothernon-urgentissues,pleasecontactCAPSduringregularofficehoursat215-898-7021.CAPSprovidesavarietyofcounselingservices,includingindividualtherapy,couples/familytherapy,grouptherapy,crisismanagement,referralservices,andoutreachandprevention.AvarietyofworkshopsthroughouttheyeararealsoofferedbyCAPS,andtopicshaveincluded:• StressManagement• CopingwithDepression• CrisisIntervention• BodyImageIssues• SuicidePrevention• SurvivingTrauma• EffectiveCommunicationSkills• HowtoHelpaFriend• SecretstoGradSchoolSuccess• RespectingDiversity• TestAnxiety• GriefandLossIssuesAllworkshopsarefreeofchargeformembersofthePenncommunity.Pleasechecktheirwebsitefordetails.StudentFinancialServicesStudentfinancialaid,includingapplicationsanddisbursementofmoney,arehandledthroughStudentFinancialServices.Theirofficesarelocatedinroom100oftheFranklinBuildingat3451WalnutStreet.Call215-898-1988orvisittheirwebsitefordeadlinesandotherinformation.PennBookstore

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Locatedonthecornerof36thandWalnutStreet,thePennBookstorecarriestextbooksandtradebooksaswellasstationery,artsupplies,schoolsupplies,gifts,andotheritems.TheComputerConnection,withintheBookstore,alsocarriescomputers,software,andcomputersuppliesatstudentrates.Visitthewebsiteorcall215-898-7595forstorehoursandadditionalinformation.ComputerResourcesInformationSystemsandComputingoffersadvice,training,consultingservicesandcomputersupporttoPennstudentslivingoncampus.TheComputerResourceCenter(CRC)servesasadistributioncenterforsupportedsoftwaretoanypersonwithaUniversityaffiliationandislocatedinSuite202SansomWest(GradTowerB),3650ChestnutStreet.TheentranceislocatedoffSteveMurray'sWay(mid-blockbetween36thand37thonChestnut).StudentswillneedtheirPennCardforaccesstothebuilding.Gotothewebsiteorcall215-898-1847formoreinformationregardinghoursandservicesavailable.StudentscanalsousetheservicesofPennChemistryComputing.ComputerLabsareavailabletostudentsinseveralplacesoncampus.AvalidPennKeyisrequiredtologontotheworkstations,andreservationscanbemadeonline.LibrariesTheUniversityofPennsylvaniahasseverallibraries.VanPeltLibrary,themainUniversitylibrary,islocatedat3420WalnutStreet(theentranceisontheCollegeGreenacrossfromCollegeHall).Thereisawealthofinformationandresourcesavailablethroughtheselibraries,includingtheWeigleInformationCommons(WIC),whichislocatedintheVanPeltLibraryandofferstraininginvariousapplications,likeExcelandPhotoshop.ThroughWIC,studentscanreservestudyrooms,usetheDigitalMediaLabtoprintposters,andborrowequipment.RecreationFacilitiesMCSstudentshaveaccesstoalloftherecreationfacilitiesavailabletotheUniversitycommunity.Forinformationregardinghours,fitnessprograms,lockerrentals,etc.gototheirwebsite.InformationforInternationalStudentsInternationalstudentsareresponsibleformaintainingtheirproperstudentvisastatus.TheyareresponsibleofcomplyingwithadministrativeandregistrationdeadlinesthatmightdeferfromtheregistrarandMCS.TheofficeofInternationalStudentandScholarServices(ISSS)isanimportantresourceforallinternationalstudents.Anyquestionsaboutvisas,internationalstudenttaxissues,etc.shouldbedirectedtotheiradvisors.Theyarelocatedat3701ChestnutStreet,Suite1Wandcanbereachedbycalling215-898-4661orsendinganemailtoisss@pobox.upenn.edu.FederalregulationsrequirethatF-1andJ-1internationalstudentsregistertheirpresenceatPenn.Thisprocess,knownasthecheck-inprocedure,hastwosteps:1)completionoftheNewStudentArrivalInformationonlineformand2)attendanceatoneoftheImmigrationDocumentReviewandPresentationSessions.BothstepsmustbecompletedafterarrivalintheUnitedStatesbutwithin20

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daysoftheprogramstartdatelistedonPenn'sI-20orDS-2019.F-1transferstudentsmustcompletethenewstudentcheck-inprocesswithin15daysoftheprogramstartdatelistedonPenn'sI-20.TheISSShandbookhasalotofhelpfulinformationforinternationalstudentsnewtoPenn.Ifyouareplanningtotravelandwouldlikealetterstatingthatyouareacurrentstudentingoodstanding,pleasesendanemailtothegraduatecoordinatoratchemgrad@sas.upenn.edutorequesttheletter.InternationalstudentswithEnglishasasecondlanguageareencouragedtousetheresourcesavailablethroughtheEnglishLanguagePrograms(ELP).Theyoffertesting,consultingservices,andcross-culturaltraininginadditiontolanguageinstruction.TheMCSAssociateDirectorcanreferinternationalstudentstoELPonacase-by-casebasisbasedonTOEFLscoresand/oradvisingsessions.Insomeinstances,itwillberecommendedthatstudentscompleteanOralProficiencyInterview(ACTFLOPI)administeredbyELPstaffand,basedontheresults,takeEnglishcoursesattheappropriatelevel.Studentswillberesponsibleofcoveringthecostassociatedwithcoursesandtesting.OfficeoftheUniversityOmbudsmanTheOfficeoftheOmbudsmanassistsindividualsinfindingsolutionstoproblemsthattheymaynotbeabletoresolvethroughnormalchannels.TheofficeisconcernedwithsafeguardingindividualrightsandpromotingbetterchannelsofcommunicationthroughouttheUniversity.Itisindependentofalladministrativeoffices.TheOmbudsmanisnotanadvocateforanyoneindividualorgroup.Heorsheisanadvocateforfairness,adherencetoUniversityregulations,dueprocess,andpersonalresponsibility.TheOmbudsmandoesnothavedecision-makingauthority,butservesasanimpartialmediatorinhelpingtoresolvedisputes.TheOfficesupplements,butdoesnotreplace,anyexistinggrievancemechanismsormodesofredress.Itcananddoesrecommendchangesintheexistingrulesandpracticeswhennecessary.TheOfficeoftheOmbudsmanmaybereachedat215-898-8261.CodeofAcademicIntegrityInasmuchasthestandingofaneducationalinstitutionandthevalueofadegreefromthatinstitutionaredependentupontheintegrityofstudyandresearchcarriedonatthatinstitution,theCodeofAcademicIntegrityisdrawntomakeclearthepolicyoftheUniversityconcerningacademichonesty.Studentsmustfollowallguidelinesforethicalconduct,research,andpublication–pleasereviewtheseresources:o Penn’sCodeofAcademicIntegrityo PennHandbookforStudents:EthicsandOriginalResearcho ResponsibleConductofResearch(NationalScienceFoundation)o “OnBeingaScientist”(NationalAcademyofSciences)ThePennbookisacollectionofpoliciesthatrelatetostudentlifeattheUniversityofPennsylvania.Thesepoliciesgovernacademicactivitiessuchasgradingandexams,provideguidanceontheuseofcampusresources,andexplainexpectationsformembershipintheuniversitycommunity.StudentscanrefertoPolicyonCommonMidtermExaminationsandRulesGoverningFinalExaminationsforadditionalinformation.SexualHarassment,SexualViolence,RelationshipViolence,andStakingPolicies

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TheUniversityofPennsylvaniaiscommittedtoprovidingasafeandhealthyenvironment,freeofgender-basedmisconduct,toallmembersofourcommunityandvisitorstoourcommunity.Assuch,sexualassault,sexualviolence,relationshipviolence,andstalkingwillnotbetolerated.TheUniversityhasestablishedpoliciesonbehaviorsthatinterferewithfreedomofthought,discourseandspeech,andtheattainmentofthehighestqualityofacademicandeducationalpursuitsanddailywork.Inordertoensurethecreationofaclimatewherestudentsareabletothriveandachievetheirfullpotential,theUniversityhasdevelopedawiderangeofpolicies,including:• SexualHarassmentPolicy,• SexualViolence,RelationshipViolence,andStalkingPolicy,and• StudentDisciplinaryProceduresforresolvingcomplaintsofsexualassault,sexualviolence,

relationshipviolenceandstalking.GeneralinquiriesregardingthesepoliciesandprocedurescanbedirectedtotheOfficeoftheProvost,1CollegeHall,Room122PhiladelphiaPA19104-6381;or(215)898-7227(Voice)orprovost@upenn.edu(e-mail).

ConfidentialityofStudentRecordsTheUniversityofPennsylvaniacomplieswithFamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA).TheConfidentialityofStudentRecordsPolicydescribestherightsandresponsibilitiesofstudents,facultyandstaffregardingtheconfidentialityofstudentrecords.Thispolicypertainstopersonallyidentifiableinformationcontainedineducationrecords.QuestionsorcomplaintsregardingthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheOfficeoftheProvost,1CollegeHall,Room122PhiladelphiaPA19104-6381;or(215)898-7227(Voice)orprovost@upenn.edu(e-mail).NondiscriminatoryPolicyTheUniversityofPennsylvaniavaluesdiversityandseekstalentedstudents,facultyandstafffromdiversebackgrounds.TheUniversityofPennsylvaniadoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentity,religion,creed,nationalorethnicorigin,citizenshipstatus,age,disability,veteranstatusoranyotherlegallyprotectedclassstatusintheadministrationofitsadmissions,financialaid,educationalorathleticprograms,orotherUniversity-administeredprogramsorinitsemploymentpractices.QuestionsorcomplaintsregardingthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheExecutiveDirectoroftheOfficeofAffirmativeActionandEqualOpportunityPrograms,SansomPlaceEast,3600ChestnutStreet,Suite228,Philadelphia,PA19104-6106;or(215)898-6993(Voice)or(215)898-7803(TDD).ForadditionalinformationaboutPenn’sEqualOpportunityandAffirmativeActionPolicyStudentResponsibilityWhileadvisors,faculty,andstaffwillassistthestudentineveryaspectoftheirgraduatestudy,itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttoensurethatallstepsandnecessarypaperworkhavebeencompletedandsubmittedtotheMCSAssociateDirectorand/orLPSasappropriate.Grantproposals,awards,acceptedpublicationsandotherrecordsofachievementshouldalsobesubmittedtotheAssociateDirectoroftheMCSprogram.

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AppendixAMCSCurriculumAcademicPlanningWorksheetAminimumof10CUsmustbecompletedattheUniversityofPennsylvania.Pro-seminar1–2CUs

□MCS599(14C,15Asemestersonly);MCS540(starting15Bsemester)(Pro-seminarI)(1CU)□MCS541(Pro-seminarII:CapstoneProposalPreparation)(0.5CUs)□MCS542(Pro-seminarIII:CapstoneReportPreparation)(0.5CUs)

Capstone–1-2CUs□MCS697(Research;doesnotcounttowardsthe10CUs,0.15CUs)□MCS698(Research)□MCS699(CapstoneSeminar)□MCS990(Master’sContinuation)

Areaofconcentration–Studentscanselect4–6CUsfromeachlistBiological(required)

□CHEM451(BiologicalChemistryI)□CHEM452(BiologicalChemistryII)□CHEM555(MacromolecularCrystallography:Methods/Applications)□CHEM557(MechanismofBiologicalCatalysis)

Biological(recommended,donotsubstituterequiredcourses)□CHEM559(BiomolecularImaging)□CHEM567(Bio-inorganicChemistry)□CHEM580(BiologicalPhysics)

Inorganic□CHEM462(InorganicChemistryII)□CHEM564(Organometallics)□CHEM565(MainGroupChemistry)□CHEM567(Bio-inorganicChemistry)

Organic□CHEM441(Reactions,Mechanisms,andStereoelectronicEffects)□CHEM443(ModernOrganicSynthesis)□CHEM451(BiologicalChemistryI)orCHEM541(PhysicalOrganicChemistry)□CHEM564(Organometallics)

Physical□CHEM521(StatisticalMechanicsI)□CHEM522(StatisticalMechanicsII)□CHEM523(QuantumChemistryI)□CHEM524(quantumChemistryII)□CHEM525(MolecularSpectroscopy)□CHEM526(ChemicalDynamics)

Materials(OrganicTrack)□CHEM441(Reactions,Mechanisms,andStereoelectronicEffects)□CHEM443(ModernOrganicSynthesis)□2materialscourses

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Materials(InorganicTrack)□CHEM462(InorganicChemistryII)□CHEM565(MainGroupChemistry)□2materialscourses

Materials(BiologicalTrack)□CHEM451(BiologicalChemistryI)□CHEM555orCHEM557□2materialscourses

ElectivesforEnvironmentalScience–2-4CUsModeling(M)□ENVS541(ModelingGeographicObjects)□GEOL528(AqueousGeochemistry)□ENVS605(Bioremediation)□GEOL618(FundamentalsofAirPollution)□GEOL656(FateandTransportofPollutants)□GEOL663(GeochemicalModeling)

Policy(P)□ENVS410(CleanWater-GreenCities)□ENVS507(Wetlands)□ENVS616(RiskAssessment:Science&PolicyChanges)□ENVS624(U.S.EnvironmentalPolicy–AnalysisofNEPA)

AdditionalElectives–1-2CUsminimum□CHEM700/701(Thiscourseifofferedunderdifferenttitles,isworth0.5-1CU,and

studentsmayregisterforitmorethanonce.)□MCS598(IndependentStudies:LiteratureReview)□MCS910(14C,15Asemestersonly);MCS599(starting15B);(IndependentStudies:

ResearchTechniques)□Other:_______________________________

MCS697doesnotcounttowardsthe10CUsminimumrequirementforthedegree.

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MCSCOURSELISTNOTE:ThisisacomprehensivelistofcoursesofferedintheDepartmentofChemistrythatmaybetakentofulfillrequirementsoftheMCScurriculum.Theparenthesesindicatewhicharea(s)ofconcentrationthecoursefulfillsandwhenthecourseistypicallyoffered.Notallcoursesareofferedeveryyear.Checkcurrentcourselistingsforwhichcoursesareofferedeachsemester.Concentrations:- Biological(B)- Inorganic(I)- Organic(O)- Physical(Ph)- MaterialswithOrganicemphasis(MO)- MaterialswithInorganicemphasis(MI)- EnvironmentalChemistrywithmodelingemphasis(M)- EnvironmentalChemistrywithPolicyemphasis(P)CHEM441.AdvancedOrganicChemistry:Reactions,Mechanisms,andStereoelectronicEffects.(O,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM242.Studyofimportanttypesofreactionsandfunctionalgroups,withemphasisonsyntheticusefulness,mechanisms,andstereoelectronicprinciples.CHEM443.ModernOrganicSynthesis.(O,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM241and242.Introductiontoadvancedorganicsynthesis.Studyofimportantsyntheticreactionsincluding:oxidations,reductions,andmethodsfortheformationofcarbon-carbonbonds,withanemphasisinchemoselectivity,stereoselectivityandasymmetricsynthesis.Surveyofmodernmethodsforthesynthesisofsmall,mediumandlargeringsystems.Analysisofmodernsyntheticstrategies,withillustrativeexamplesfromtotalsynthesisofnaturalandunnaturalproducts.CHEM451.BiologicalChemistryI.(B,O,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM242,221(maybeconcurrent),and251orpermissionofinstructor.Structure,dynamics,andfunctionofbiologicalmacromolecules.Propertiesofmacromolecularassemblies,membranesandtheircompartments.(Formerly,CHEM450-I).CHEM452.BiologicalChemistryII.(B,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM242,221,and251orpermissionofinstructor.Physicalandchemicaldescriptionofmacromolecularinformationtransfer.Geneorganization,replication,recombination,regulationandexpression.(Formerly,CHEM450-II).CHEM462.InorganicChemistryII.(I,MI,Spring)Prerequisite(s):CHEM261oritsequivalentandpermissionofinstructor.Adetailedtreatmentofthetheoryandapplicationofmodernphysicalmethodsfortheelucidationofstructureandmechanismininorganicandorganometallicchemistry.Anintroductiontosymmetryandgrouptheoryisfollowedbytheapplicationoftheseconceptstovibrationalandelectronicspectroscopyofinorganiccomplexes.Magneticresonanceisdiscussedindetail,includingtopicssuchasEPR,fouriertransformmethods,dynamicsystems,and2-dimensionalNMR.CHEM521.StatisticalMechanicsI.(Ph,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM222.Principlesofstatisticalmechanicswithapplicationstosystemsofchemicalinterest.

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CHEM522.StatisticalMechanicsII.(Ph,Spring)Prerequisite(s):CHEM521.AcontinuationofCHEM521.Thecoursewillemphasizethestatisticalmechanicaldescriptionofsystemsincondensedphases.CHEM523.QuantumChemistryI.(Ph,Fall)Prerequisite(s):CHEM222.Theprinciplesofquantumtheoryandapplicationstoatomicsystems.CHEM524.QuantumChemistryII.(Ph,Spring)Prerequisite(s):CHEM523.Approximatemethodsinquantumtheoryandapplicationstomolecularsystems.CHEM525.MolecularSpectroscopy.(Ph,Fall)Amodernintroductiontothetheoryoftheinteractionofradiationandmatterandthepracticeofmolecularspectroscopy.Conventionalmicrowave,magneticresonance,optical,photoelectron,double-resonance,andlaserspectroscopictechniqueswillbeincluded.CHEM526.ChemicalDynamics.(Ph,Spring)Theoreticalandexperimentalaspectsofimportantrateprocessesinchemistry.CHEM541.(BMB554)PhysicalOrganicChemistry.(O,MO)Prerequisite(s):CHEM241and242;Chem441(Mechanisms)orthecompletionofitsequivalentisstronglyrecommended(seeinstructor)Chem541isahighleveloverviewofclassicalphysicalorganicchemistry.Thecourseisdividedintothreeparts.Thefirstthirdwillbeanoverviewoforganicbonding(basicmolecularorbitaltheory,anomericeffect,Huckelmolecularorbitaltheory,Woodward-Hoffmannrules),structure(bondlengths,bondangles,conformationalanalysis),andproperties(electronegativity,nucleophilicity,electrophilicity,acidity,basicity).Thesecondthirdwilloverviewcurrentcomputationalmethodsincludingmolecularmechanics,HartreeFock,anddensityfunctionalcalculations.Thefocuswillbeonpracticalapplicationsratherthanthetheorybehindthecalculations;studentswillbeabletoassesswhichcalculationsaremostappropriateforagiventask.Studentswillundertakeenergyminimizations,conformationalsearches,transitionstatecalculations,andvisualizationofseveralmolecularpropertiesincludingorbitalsandelectrostaticfields.Thelastthirdofthecoursewillsurveythermodynamicandkineticmeasurementsusedinunderstandingorganicchemicalreactions.TopicsincludeHammettanalyses,kineticmeasurementsandinterpretation,theHammondpostulate,Arrheniustheory,Eyringtheory,andkineticisotopeeffects.Articlesdiscussingthesetechniquesindelineatingtheorganicreactionmechanismsforproblemsofcurrentinterestwillbeanalyzed.Thefocuswillbeonexperimentsthatcanbeaccomplishedwithreadilyavailableanalyticaltools(NMR,IR,UV,GC,HPLC)andhowsimplephysicalorganicanalysescanbeusedtooptimizereactionyieldsandselectivities.CHEM555.(BMB554)MacromolecularCrystallography:MethodsandApplications.(B,MO)Thefirsthalfofthecoursecoverstheprinciplesandtechniquesofmacro-molecularstructuredeterminationusingX-raycrystallography.ThesecondhalfofthecoursecoversextractingbiologicalinformationfromX-raycrystalstructureswithspecialemphasisonusingstructuresreportedintherecentliteratureandpresentedbythestudents.CHEM557.MechanismsofBiologicalCatalysis.(B)Prerequisite(s):Oneyearoforganicchemistryandabiochemistrycourse,orpermissionofinstructor.Reactionmechanismsinbiological(enzymes,abzymes,ribozymes)andbiomimeticsystemswithemphasisonprinciplesofcatalysis,roleofcoenzymes,kinetics,andallostericcontrol.

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CHEM559.(BMB559)BiomolecularImaging.(B,MO)Thiscourseconsidersthenoninvasive,quantitative,andrepetitiveimagingoftargetedmacromoleculesandbiologicalprocessesinlivingcellsandorganisms.Imagingadvanceshavearisenfromnewtechnologies,probechemistry,molecularbiology,andgenomicinformation.Thiscoursecoversthephysicalprinciplesunderlyingmanyofthelatesttechniques,anddefinesexperimentalparameterssuchasspatialandtemporalresolution,gain,noise,andcontrast.Applicationstocellularandinvivoimagingarehighlightedforconfocal,two-photon,andforcemicroscopies;single-molecule,CARS,andfluorescencecorrelationspectroscopy;FRETandfluorescencebleaching;massspectroscopy;MRI,PETandSPECT.Theroleofmolecularimagingagentscomprisedofproteins,organicorinorganicmaterialsiswidelydiscussed.CHEM564.Organometallics.(O,I)Thiscourseisfocusedonmolecularspeciesthatcontainmetal-carbonbonds,andtheroleofthesecompoundsincatalyticprocessesandorganicsynthesis.Aspectsofthesynthesis,structureandreactivityofimportantclassesoforganometalliccompoundssuchasmetallo-alkyl,aryl,alkene,alkylideneandalkylidynecomplexesaresurveyedforthedandfblockmetals.Emphasisisplacedongeneralpatternsofreactivityandrecurringthemesforreactionmechanisms.CHEM565.MainGroupChemistry.(I,MI)Thiscourseencompassesacomprehensivesurveyofthechemistryandpropertiesofthep-blockelementsoftheperiodictable.Topicsincludesyntheses,structuresandreactivitiesofimportantcompounds.Inaddition,alternativebondingtheorieswhichhavebeenusedtoexplaintheuniquepropertiesofthesecompoundsarecriticallyexamined.CHEM567.(BMB567)Bio-inorganicChemistry.(B,I,MI,MO)Thecoursecoversselectedtopicsinbioinorganicchemistry;specialemphasisisplacedondioxygenchemistryandelectrontransferprocesses.Coursetopicsinclude:(i)oxygenuptakeandutilization;(ii)diatomicoxygentransport;(iii)diatomicandmonoatomicoxygenincorporationintosubstrates;(iv)metalloenzyme-catalyzedC-Cbondformation;(v)themetallobiochemistryofDNA;(vi)metal-sulfideproteins;(vii)manganese-containingmetalloproteins;(viii)PhotosystemII:light-drivenelectrontransferandthebiologicalwater-splittingreaction;(ix)biologicalelectrontransfer;(x)electrontransfertheory;(xi)mechanismsofenergystorageandrelease;and(xii)long-distanceelectrontransferreactions.CHEM580.(PHYS580)BiologicalPhysics.(B)Prerequisite(s):Physics150-151or170-171,Math104-114orMath104-115.Recommended:concurrentPhysics230orpriorPhysics250,basicbackgroundinchemistryandbiology.ENVS 410. Clean Water-Green Cities (P, Fall) This course will provide an overview of the cross-disciplinaryfieldsofcivilengineering,environmentalsciences,urbanhydrology,landscapearchitecture,greenbuilding,publicoutreachandpolitics. Studentswillbeexpected to conduct field investigations,reviewscientificdataandcreateindicatorreports,workingwithstakeholdersandpresentingtheresultsatanannualsymposium.Thereisnometaphorlikewateritselftodescribethecumulativeeffectsofourpractices, with every upstream action having an impact downstream. In our urban environment, toooftenwefinddegradedstreamsfilledwithtrash,silt,weedsanddilapidatedstructures.Thewatermaylook clean, but is it?Weblameothers, but the condition of the creeks is directly related to howwemanageourwater resourcesandour land. Incities, these resourcesareoftenourhomes,ourstreetsandour communities. This coursewill define the current issuesof theurbanecosystemandhowwemove toward managing this system in a sustainable manner. We will gain an understanding of the

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dynamic,reciprocalrelationshipbetweenpracticesinawatershedanditswaterfront.Topicsdiscussedinclude:drinkingwaterqualityandprotection, green infrastructure,urban impactsof climate change,watershedmonitoring,publiceducation,creatingstrategiesandmore.ENVS541.ModelingGeographicObjects.(M,Fall)Thiscourseoffersabroadandpracticalintroductionto the acquisition, storage, retrieval,maintenance, use, and presentation of digital cartographic datawith vector-oriented (i.e., drawing-based) geographic information systems (GIS) for a variety ofenvironmental science, planning, and management applications. Previous experience in GIS is notrequired.ENVS 507. Wetlands. (P, Fall) The course focuses on the natural history of different wetland typesincludingclimate,geology,and,hydrologyfactorsthatinfluencewetlanddevelopment.Associatedsoil,vegetation,andwildlifecharacteristicsandkeyecologicalprocesseswillbecoveredaswell.Lectureswillbe supplementedwithweekendwetland trips, ranging from tidal saltmarshes to non-tidalmarshes,swamps,andglacialbogsinordertoprovidefieldexperienceinwetlandidentification,characterization,and functionalassessment.Outsidespeakerswilldiscuss issues inwetlandseedbankecology, federalregulation,andmitigation.Studentswillpresentashortpaperontheecologyofawetlandanimalandalonger term paper on a selected wetland topic. Readings from the text, assorted journal papers,governmenttechnicaldocuments,andbookexcerptswillprovideabroadoverviewofthemultifacetedfieldofwetlandstudy.ENVS605.Bioremediation(M,Fall)Thiscourseisanintroductiontocurrentanddevelopingtechniquesforanalyzingenvironmentalcontaminationandforremediationofdamagedenvironments.Knowledgeof these options is important for students interested in public/law applications andenvironmental/landscape design and as a starting point for those pursuing a more science-orientedunderstanding. The first portion of this coursewill address bioindicators-the use of living systems toassess environmental contamination. These include systems ranging from biochemical assays tomonitoring ofwhole organismsor ecosystems, aswell as techniques ranging from laboratory to fieldandsatellitesurveys.Thesecondportionofthecoursewill introducetechnologiesforbioremediation-the use of living systems to restore contaminated environments. The technologies scale from single-species systems to complexecosystems suchas constructedwetlands; case studieswill beexamined.Students will be expected to participate in field trips, as well as prepare a final paper examining aparticulartechnologyindetail.ENVS616.RiskAssessment:Science&PolicyChallenges. (P,Fall)Howdogovernmentpolicy-makersmakedecisionsaboutpotential threats tohumanhealthand theenvironment in the faceof scientificuncertainty?ThecoursedevelopstheconceptofRiskAssessmentfromthepublicationof1983NationalResearchCouncil (NRC)reportcommonlyknownasthe“RedBook”whichwasusedtorankthe initialhazardous waste sites under the Superfund program. Using a variety of teaching tools, includinglectures,paneldiscussions,andcasestudies,thecourseexamineshowpublicpolicydecisionsregardingenvironmental risk are made and how effective those decisions are at reducing risks to affectedpopulations. The course focuseson the complex interactionof science, economics, politics, laws, andregulationsindealingwithenvironmentalandpublichealthrisks.Thecoursewillbeginwithareviewofthepolicyprocessandmethodsusedinevaluatinghumanhealthandenvironmentalrisks,includingthetraditionalstepsintheriskassessmentprocess,includingquantitativeandqualitativeaspectsofhazardidentification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. The coursewill then focus on how scientific uncertainty, risk perceptions, socio-economic disparities, riskcommunication,andpoliticsinfluenceenvironmentalrisk-baseddecision-making.Issuessuchasspecial

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populations (e.g., children, elderly, immune-compromised, woman of pregnancy age, etc.) must beconsideredwhendevelopingriskreductionstrategies.Theuseof the“precautionaryprinciple”willbediscussed in the context of different types of environmental stressors (e.g., pesticides, chemicals,climatechange,airpollution,waterquality,andlanduse)andhowthisimportantcontroversialprincipleisapplieddifferentlyincontrastingnationalandEuropeanriskmanagementpolicies.ENVS624.U.S.EnvironmentalPolicy-AnalysisofNEPA.(P,Fall)ThiscourseexploresthehistoryofthefederalstatutethatistheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)anditsimplementationthroughtheregulationsof theCouncil onEnvironmentalQuality. It describes the circumstances that triggerNEPAcomplianceandprovidesanoverviewoftheenvironmentalprocess,includingtheintegrationofsocial,environmental, andeconomic factorswithin the frameworkofexisting laws, regulations,policies,andguidanceforprojectdecisions.ItexaminesthecomponentsoftheNEPAprocess,includingpurposeandneed,scoping,alternativesdevelopmentandanalysis, impactanalysis,publicinvolvement,interagencycoordination, mitigation, and documentation. The course will touch on practical processes that areinvolved in preparing and reviewing NEPA documents, cumulative effects assessments, and technicalissues such as impacts on threatenedor endangered species,wetlands, national historic preservationactivities,environmentaljusticecommunities,etc.Casestudiesinvolvingmultiplegovernmentalentitiesandnongovernmental stakeholderswill beexamined tohighlight theessential stepsand componentsneededtodesign,implement,andparticipateeffectivelyinacollaborativeNEPAprocess.GEOL 528. Aqueous Geochemistry (M, Fall) Chemical composition and interactions of soils and soilwaterwithapplicationstocurrentproblems.GEOL618.FundamentalsofAirPollution(M,Spring)ThiscoursewillcovervarioustopicsrelatedtoAirQuality.Initiallectureswillcoverthehistoryofairpollutionandcompositionoftheatmosphere.Wewillthenprogresstodiscussionofatmosphericpollutantsandsourcesofthosepollutants.Additionaltopicswill include: fate of atmospheric pollutants (transport and dispersion mechanisms), effects of airpollution(healthandenvironmentaleffects),urbansmog,acidrain,climatechange,ozonedepletioninthestratosphere,airqualitycriteria,andengineeringcontrols.GEOL 656. Fate and Transport of Pollutants (M, Spring) Pre-requisite: Aqueous Geochemistry (GEOL528) or similar This course is designed to introduce themajor concepts regarding geochemistry andgeochemical modeling. The course introduces two United States Geological Survey (USGS) computermodels, PHREEQC, a geochemical speciationmodel, andPHAST, a transportmodulewhich is coupledwithPHREEQCoutput.Thesearehighlyrespected,world-renownedmodelsthatarefree-wareviatheUSGS,completewithdocumentation.Oncefamiliarwiththemodels,thestudentcancontinuetoworkwiththembeyondthecourseexperience.GEOL 663. Geochemical Modeling (M, Spring) Pre-requisite: Aqueous Geochemistry (GEOL 528) orsimilar. This course is designed to introduce the major concepts regarding geochemistry andgeochemical modeling. The course introduces two United States Geological Survey (USGS) computermodels, PHREEQC, a geochemical speciationmodel, andPHAST, a transportmodulewhich is coupledwithPHREEQCoutput.Thesearehighlyrespected,world-renownedmodelsthatarefree-wareviatheUSGS,completewithdocumentation.Oncefamiliarwiththemodels,thestudentcancontinuetoworkwiththembeyondthecourseexperience.PHREEQCisdesignedtoperformawidevarietyofaqueousgeochemicalcalculationsandcanbeusedtosimulatechemicalreactionsandtransportprocessesinnaturalorpollutedwaters.PHREEQCiscapable

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ofmodelingbothequilibriumandkineticreactions.Someofthesimulationspursuedduringthecourseinclude: Speciation of precipitation water; Iron speciation; Zinc sorption onto hydrous ferric oxide;Oxidationoforganiccarbonandthesequenceofelectrondonorsinnaturalwaters;Benzeneadvectivetransportingroundwater;TCEtransportanddegradation.MCS540.Pro-seminarI.(ALL,Fall)Requiredcourseduring1styearwillreviewthescientificmethod,researchdesign,andprofessionalscientificcommunication.Currentopinionsinthestudyofthechemistryandpresentationsbyguestlecturerswilladdcontenttoareasofconcentration.MCS541.Pro-seminarII:CapstoneProposalPreparation.(ALL,0.5CUs,Spring)HighlyrecommendedcourseduringthesemesterpriortostartingaCapstoneproject.Studentswillreviewthescientificcommunication,researchdesign,prepareandsubmitoriginalproposalforthecapstoneproject.Currentopinionsinthestudyofthechemistrywilladdcontenttoareasofconcentration.MCS542.Pro-seminarIII:CapstoneReportPreparation.(ALL,0.5CUs,Spring)HighlyrecommendedcoursewhiletakingMCS699.StudentswillprepareandsubmitthereportusingACSstyle.Thiscoursewillfurtherdeveloptheirscientificwritingskillsandsupportstudentsinthecompletionoftheircapstone.MCS598.IndependentStudies:LiteratureReview.(ALL,1CU)Advancedstudyofliteratureandcurrentresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoaloflearninganewtopicorresearchtrends.OnlyoneCUwillcounttowardtheminimum10CUsrequiredforgraduation.MCS599.IndependentStudies:ResearchTechniques.(ALL,1CU)Maybeconsideredpart-timeoffull-timedependingofthenumbersofhoursperweekcommittedtotheclass(20hours/weekorlesswillbeconsideredpart-time;atleast35hours/weekwillbeconsideredfull-time).Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofdevelopingaspecialskillorlearningnewtechniques.(Requiresadditionallaboratoryfees.)OnlyoneCUwillcounttowardtheminimum10CUsrequiredforgraduation.MCS697.ResearchforCapstone.(ALL)(.15CU)Maybetakenformultiplecourseunitcreditbystudentsdevelopingtheresearchprojectforthecapstonerequirementbutwhowillnotbecompletingorpresentingthefinalreport.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofadvancingthecapstoneproject.Shouldbetakenbystudentswhoarenotengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.Thiscoursedoesnotcounttowardsthe10CUsminimum.MCS698.ResearchforCapstone.(ALL)(1CU)Maybetakenformultiplecourseunitcreditforstudentsinitiatingtheresearchprojectforthecapstonerequirementbutwhowillnotbecompletingorpresentingthefinalreport.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoalofadvancingthecapstoneproject.Shouldbetakenbystudentsengagedinintensivepreliminaryresearch.Only1CUwillcounttowardsthe10CUminimum.MCS699.Capstone.(ALL)(1CU)Requiredcourseforstudentscompletingtheresearchproject,andsubmittingthefinalreportandpresentations.Advancedstudyandresearchinvariousbranchesofchemistrywiththegoaloffinishingthecapstoneproject.MCS990.Master’sContinuation.(ALL)(.15CU)StudentsshouldenrollinthiscourseiftheyfailtocompletetheirCapstoneinthetermwhentheyareenrolledinMCS699.

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AppendixBMASTEROFCHEMICALSCIENCESFORMS

I. FacultyAdvisorSelection..................................................................................................39II. MCS598/599RegistrationForm......................................................................................40III. MCS697/698/699/990RegistrationForm.......................................................................41IV. GraduationChecklist........................................................................................................42

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FacultyAdvisorForm–tobecompletedon-lineINSTRUCTIONS-READTHOROUGHLY

Step1:SelectthreepossiblecandidatesforFacultyAdvisorintheDepartmentofChemistry.Youshouldselectindividualswhoareinyourareaofconcentrationand/orhaveresearchinterestalignedwithyourresearchgoals.Weencourageyoutomeetwiththecandidatespriortosubmittingtheirnames.Step2:FilloutSection1.Step3:SubmitthecompletedformbyCOBFridayof2ndweekofNovembertoChemistryLaboratories:1973Wing,MCSOffice,Room541orbyemailtoanamayol@sas.upenn.edu. Step4:TheMCSAssociateDirectorwillcompletesection2andwillinformyouwhowillbeyourFacultyAdvisor.SECTION1Studentname: Date: PennEmail: Concentration:

NameofthreepossibleFacultyAdvisors(inorderofpreference):

1.

2.

3.

StudentSignature:

Date:

SECTION2

NameofAdvisor:

FacultyAdvisorSignature:

Date:

ApprovalMCSAssociateDirector:_____________________________ Date:___________________

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MCS590/599RegistrationForm(IndependentStudies)–tobecompletedon-lineThis course allows students to receive University of Pennsylvania course credit for a literature review (MCS 598) or on-campus research (MCS 599) that helps them learn key concepts and/or analytical skills relevant to their planned capstone research project and/or career goals. All work plans must be approved by the MCS Associate Director, and students must be registered for the course during the semester their work will be completed. An additional lab fee will be charged when students register for MCS 599.

INSTRUCTIONS - READ THOROUGHLY Step 1: Decide on your learning outcomes and/or target skills to be developed. Fill out the first section below. Step 2: Create a work plan together with your faculty advisor. All plans should describe either supervised lab work designed to increase a specific laboratory skill level and/or help you master new techniques, OR, for a literature review, should describe a research topic that will help you better understand key concepts relevant to your capstone project. One (1) CU will be awarded for 10 hours of work completed per week for an entire semester. If only taking Independent studies, students must complete 35 hours of work per week to be considered a full time student. (Please write expected number of hours per week: ________________) Step 3: Have the sponsor or faculty advisor complete and sign the bottom page. The sponsor or faculty advisor will be responsible for mentoring you, monitoring your progress, and will be asked to provide the Associate Director with a brief evaluation and recommended grade after your work has been completed. Step 4: Submit the completed form to Chemistry Laboratories: 1973 Wing, MCS Office, Room 541 or by email to anamayol@sas.upenn.edu. Once approved, the LPS Registrar’s Office will provide a permit for the course and you will register in the course. The same course add/drop deadlines apply; please consult the University's Academic Calendar for exact dates. Step 5: After the completion of your work, you must submit a brief report summarizing outcomes to the MCS Associate Director. A final grade will be assigned once your report and faculty advisor’s evaluation have been reviewed.Studentname: Date: PennEmail: CreditUnits: 1Semester: CourseRegistering(markonlyone):☐MCS598 ☐MCS599Location:☐on-campusresearch☐off-campusresearchLearningoutcomesand/ortargetskills: Workplan: NameoftheAcademicAdvisor/Supervisor:

Signature:

Date:

ApprovalMCSAssociateDirector:_____________________________ Date:___________________

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MCS697/698/699/990RegistrationForm(CapstoneResearch)

INSTRUCTIONS-READTHOROUGHLY–tobecompletedon-lineStep1:ACapstoneProposalmustbeapprovedtoregisterinanyofthesecourses.StudentsmustsubmitasignedcopyoftheCapstoneProjectProposalCoverSheetwiththisform.PleaserefertotheStudentHandbooktoselecttheappropriatecourseyouareregisteringfor.Step2:Createaworkplantogetherwithyourfacultyadvisor.Step3:Havethesponsororfacultyadvisercompleteandsignthebottompage.Thesponsororfacultyadviserwillberesponsibleformentoringyou,monitoringyourprogress,andwillbeaskedtoprovidetheAssociateDirectorwithabriefevaluationandrecommendedgradeafteryourworkhasbeencompleted.Step4:SubmitthecompletedformtoChemistryLaboratories:1973Wing,MCSOffice,Room541orbyemailtoanamayol@sas.upenn.edu. Onceapproved,theLPSRegistrar’sOfficewillcompleteprovideapermitforthecourseandyouwillregisterinthecourse.Thesamecourseadd/dropdeadlinesapply;pleaseconsulttheUniversity'sAcademicCalendarforexactdates.Step5:Bythelastdayofclasses,youmustsubmitabriefreportsummarizingoutcomestotheMCSAssociateDirectorapprovedbyyouracademicadvisor.Afinalgradewillbeassignedonceyourreportandfacultyadvisor’sevaluationhavebeenreviewed.

Studentname: Date: PennEmail: CourseRegistering(markonlyone):☐MCS697 ☐MCS698 ☐MCS699 ☐MCS990Semester(markonlyone):☐Fall ☐Spring ☐ Summer YEAR: AreaofConcentration:☐Biological ☐Organic ☐ Inorganic ☐Physical ☐Materials ProjectTitle: ProjectType:☐on-campusresearch☐off-campusresearch☐reviewpaperProjectSupervisor: AcademicAdvisor: Off-CampusLocation(ifapplicable): ProjectStartandEndDates:

SignatureAcademicAdviser:

Date:

ApprovalMCSAssociateDirector: Date:

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GraduationChecklist

Studentname:_____________________________________Date:______________________PennEmail:_____________________________________________Semester:__________________ProjectTitle:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ProjectType:☐on-campusresearch�off-campusresearch�reviewpaperProjectSupervisor:_____________________________________________SecondaryReader:_____________________________________________AcademicAdvisor:_____________________________________________FormsTherearefourforms,whichneedtobecompletedfortheCapstone(allinAppendixCandintheMCScanvascommunity):

- CapstoneProjectProposal Approvaldate:_______________________- GraduationApplicationFormCompletiondate:_______________________- Survey Completiondate:__________________- OralPresentation (defense) Completiondate:__________________- FinalReport–electronic Submissiondate:__________________- FinalReport–hardcopy Submissiondate:__________________- Poster–electronic Submissiondate:_______________________- Poster–presentation Submissiondate:_______________________- CertificationofCompletionofCapstoneProject/CourseGradeform Date:

___________- ProjectSupervisorEvaluation Submissiondate:__________________- CapstoneProjectEvaluation/MCS699coursegrade Date:___________- ScholarlyCommonsApplicationandpermission(topublishthestudent’sworkinPenn’s

onlinerepository) Datetobesubmitted:___________StudentSignature:__________________________________ Date:_____________ApprovalMCSAssociateDirector:_______________________ Date:_____________

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AppendixCMASTEROFCHEMICALSCIENCESCAPSTONEGUIDELINES

TableofContentsI. CapstoneOverview...........................................................................................................44II. Timeline............................................................................................................................46III. DevelopingyourProposal.................................................................................................47IV. WritingyourFinalReport.................................................................................................50V. GuidelinesforOralPresentation......................................................................................58VI. GuidelinesforPosterPresentation...................................................................................60

VII. CapstoneEvaluationTools

a. SpeakerEvaluationForm…………………………………………………………………………………..61

b. PosterEvaluationForm……………………………………………………………………………………..63

c. ProjectSupervisor’sEvaluationForm………………………………………………………………..64

d. MCS699CapstoneProjectEvaluationForm……………………………………………………..67

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I.CapstoneOverviewThisguidewillprovideyouwithinformationvitaltothesuccessfulcompletionofthecapstoneprojectfortheMasterinChemicalSciences(MCS)program.Youwillfindprocedures,timelines,andresourcesrelevanttoyourproject.Youshoulddiscussyourideaswithyourfacultyadvisorandprojectsupervisorwhenyoufirstbegintodevelopyourcapstoneproject.TheMCSAssociateDirectorisalwaysavailabletoguideyouwithrespecttoprojectrequirements.ChoosingaTopicThecapstoneprojectshouldlasttwotothreetermsandrepresentstheculminationofyourMCSgraduatestudy.ThecapstonemayconsistofaPennlaboratoryresearchproject,anoff-campuslaboratoryresearchproject,oraliteraturerevieworeducationalproject.Undernocircumstanceswillpreviousworkexperienceexcludeyoufromthecapstonerequirement.Ifyouarecurrentlyworkinginthechemicalindustry,youmightbeabletocompleteyourcapstoneprojectyouremployer;however,youmustclearlydemonstratewhatnewskillsyouwillacquirethroughtheexperience.Yourresearchprojectshouldfocusonatopicthatyoudecideuponinconsultationwithyouracademicadvisorandprojectsupervisor.Youwillneedtodemonstrateagraspofthetheoreticalunderpinningsoftheresearchyouundertake,beabletojustifythereasonsfortheresearch,andidentifykeylearningoutcomesyouplantoachievethroughthework.Yourcapstonetopicshouldbedirectlyrelatedtoyourareaofconcentrationandprofessionalgoals.Topicideasmaycomefrom:

• AguestspeakerintheDepartmentofChemistry• Anarticleyouread• Chemistryfacultyresearch• Youracademicadvisor• Professionalexperienceyouwouldliketodevelopfurther

Yourcapstoneprojectshouldhelpyoudevelopnewskillsthatwilladvanceyourcareer.IdentifyingyourCapstoneMentorsRegardlessofyourproject’sdesign,youwillneedtosecuretwoadvisorsor“readers”whowillhelpyoudevelopyourprojectproposaland/orhelpyouorganizeandedityourfinalreport.Readerscanincludethefollowingindividuals:

• Youracademicadvisor• AnotherPennfacultymember• Youroff-campusprojectsupervisor• Aprofessorfromalocaluniversity,anadjunctfacultymember,oralectureracademically

engagedinyourcapstonetopicYourprimaryreaderorprojectsupervisormustbeanexpertintheresearchfield;thesecondaryreaderneednotbe.Youshouldattempttoidentifyyourfacultyadvisorandreadersassoonaspossible.Ifyouarehavingdifficultyidentifyingtheseindividuals,theMCSAssociateDirectorcanrecommendlikelyprospectsfromamongtheDepartmentofChemistryfaculty.However,itisyourresponsibilitytocontacttheseindividualsanddiscussyourprojectideasindepth.

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− IfyouareplanningtoconductresearchonthePenncampus,youracademicadvisorisexpected

toserveasyourprojectsupervisor.Ifyouwouldliketoworkwithanotherfacultymemberinstead,theycanserveasyourprojectsupervisor(andyouracademicadvisorcanserveasthesecondaryreader).

− Ifyouareplanningtoworkoff-campus,yourprojectsupervisorshouldbeon-siteandworkin

collaborationwithyouracademicadvisortoensureyourgoalsaremet.

− Ifyouplantocompletealiteraturerevieworeducationalprojectoncampus,youracademicadvisorisexpectedtoprovideguidanceforyourproject.

CapstoneMentors’ResponsibilitiesTitle PossibleRoles ResponsibilitiesAcademicadvisor Projectsupervisor Helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;

supervisethroughouttheproject;editandevaluatefinalreport;assigngradeforMCS699

Secondaryreader Helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;advisethroughouttheproject;editandevaluatefinalreport;assigngradeforMCS699withfeedbackfromsupervisor

Pennfacultymember Projectsupervisor Helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;supervisethroughouttheproject;editfinalreport;providefeedbacktoacademicadvisorregardingperformance

Secondaryreader Ifpossible,helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;editfinalreport

Off-campusresearcher Projectsupervisor Helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;supervisethroughouttheproject;editfinalreport;providefeedbacktoacademicadvisorregardingperformance

Localprofessororlecturer Secondaryreader Ifpossible,helpguidedevelopmentofandapproveproposal;editfinalreport

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II.TimelineYouareexpectedtostartyourprojectduringthesummerfollowingcompletionofyourfirstacademicyearofstudy.Dependingonthecapstoneoptionselected,youmaybeginworkonyourprojectasearlyasspringsemesterduringyourfirstyearintheprogram.Regardlessofwhenyoustart,rememberthatyouneedtohaveyourproposalapprovedPRIORtostartingyourworkinordertoreceivecreditforyourcapstoneexperience.One-thirdofthewaythroughyourproject,youshouldcheck-inwithyouracademicadvisortoensurethatyourresearchison-trackasoutlinedinyourproposal.Ifanyrevisionsneedtobemadebecauseofunexpectedeventsaffectingprogress,theyshouldbemadeassoonaspossible.Thefinalproductsofyourcapstoneresearchwillbeascientificreport,oralandposterpresentations.Youshouldworkcloselywithyouracademicadvisorandprojectsupervisor(foroff-campusprojects)orsecondaryreaderwhenyouwriteyourreport.Inadditiontothescientificreport,youwillbeexpectedtopresentyourworkviaanoralpresentationandcreateaposterdetailingyourwork.Theseposterswillbedisplayedattheendoftheacademicyearforfacultyandstudentstoviewduringaspecialeventpriortograduation.Thecoursegradeforcapstonecredit(MCS699)willbeassignedbyyouracademicadvisor,takingintoconsiderationfeedbackreceivedfromtheprojectsupervisor(foroff-campusprojects)andsecondaryreader,aswellasyourfinalreport,oralpresentationandposter.YoushouldregisterforMCS699duringthesemesteryouexpecttoreceiveagradeforcompletingyourcapstoneprojectandreport.StudentsneedtobeenrolledduringtheircapstoneprojectforinternationalvisaorprogramrequirementsduringthetermstheyarenotreceivingthefinalgradeneedtoregisterforMCS698or697Research.StudentswillsubmitprogressreportsoftheirworkinordertoobtainagradeinMCS698andMCS697.Semester ActivityLatefall–year1 Startdevelopingideasforcapstoneproject;discusswithacademicadvisorSpring–year1 DraftandreceiveapprovalofproposalpriortoinitiatingresearchSummer–fall Workoncapstoneproject;registerforMCS698orMCS697Spring–year2 Finishwritingcapstonereport;registerforMCS699;createposterLatespring–year2 Giveoralpresentationandpresentposter;graduate**IfyouareunabletofinishyourcapstonereportandreceiveagradeforMCS699priortograduation,butyouexpecttocompletetheserequirementspriortothestartoffallsemester,youcanstillparticipateinthegraduationceremony,althoughyouwillnotreceiveyourdiplomaatthistime.Ifyouhavecompletedallcourseworkforthedegreebuthavenotcompletedyourcapstonereport,youwillbeautomaticallyenrolledintheMaster’sContinuationcourse(MCS990)foroneadditionalsemesteroruntilthereportiscompleteandagradehasbeenassigned.ThiswillensurethatyouwillcontinuetohaveaccesstothelibraryandyourPenne-mailaccounts.Shouldyouwishtoextendthisregistrationbeyondtwosemesters,youmustfirstreceivepermissionfromtheMCSAssociateDirector.

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III.DevelopingyourProposalAsstatedearlier,yourcapstonemayconsistofPennlaboratoryresearch,off-campuslaboratoryresearch,oraliteraturerevieworeducationalproject.Yourcapstoneproposalshouldbedevelopedincollaborationwithyouracademicadvisorandprojectsupervisor(foroff-campusprojects).Youmustsubmitaproposalforapprovalbyyouracademicadvisor,aprojectsupervisor(foroff-campusprojects),andtheMCSAssociateDirectoratleast3weekspriortotheanticipatedstartdateofyourcapstoneproject.Atemplateandguidelinesforwritinganeffectiveproposalareincludedbelow.Ifyourprojectwillbeconductedinaresearchlaboratorylocatedoff-campus,youmayberequiredtosignanon-disclosureagreement,andthisshouldbeincludedasanappendixtoyourcapstoneproposal.FundingtoconductyourcapstoneresearchisnotprovidedbytheMCSprogram;itisyourresponsibilitytoensurethatadequateresourcesareavailablefortheworkproposed.Youshouldworkwithyourprojectsupervisortomakesureresearchcostswillbecovered.GuidelinesforCapstoneProposalsThefollowingitemsmustbeincludedinthecapstoneproposal:

1. Projectcoversheet(nextpage)

2. Proposal

a) WorkSite:Includeabriefsummarydescribingthecompanyandtheirgoals,completeworkaddress,phoneande-mailcontactdetailsforsupervisor(s),andanycompensation/reimbursementprovided.IfworkingatPenn,pleaseincludecampusaddressanddetails.

b) PositionTitleandOverview:Includea1-2sentencedescriptionofyourkeyresponsibilities.

c) ProjectDescription:Describeindetailwhatyouwillbedoingandhowyouwillbedoingit.Ifyouwillbeconductingresearch,thissectionshouldcontaindetailsabouttheoverallprojectincludingadescriptionoftheproblem,projectrationale,objectives,methodology,andoutcomes.Moredetailedinformationcanbeattachedintheappendices.ThebodyoftheProjectDescriptionshouldfocusonyouractivities.

d) Timeline:Listspecificstartandenddates,numberofworkhours/week,andtotalnumberofmonthsyouwillspendonthisproject.

e) LearningOutcomes:Explainwhatnewskillsand/orknowledgeyouwillbeacquiringthrough

thisexperienceandhowitwillmoveyouforwardalongyourcareerpath.(Overallexpectedprojectoutcomesshouldbeincludedintheappendices.)

f) EvaluationCriteria:Howwillyourprojectsupervisorevaluateyourperformance?Identify

project-specificparameterstobeassessedinadditiontothoselistedintheprojectevaluationform.

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g) References:Thisisalistingofallreferencesusedintheorderthattheyarereferencedinthetext.Pagenumbersinthebibliographycontinuethepaginationofthetext;donotnumberthebibliographyseparately.MCSprojectreportsfollowACSstylecitation.

h) Appendices(includingcurrentresumeorCV,andadditionalprojectdetails)

Acopyofthecapstoneproposal,itsappendices,andsignedcoversheetshouldbesubmittedtoyouracademicadvisor,yourprojectsupervisor,andtheMCSAssociateDirectorforapprovalatleast3weeksbeforethestartoftheprojectand/ortheendofsemesterprecedinginitiationoftheproject.ThedocumentmustfollowACSstyle.Foradditionalinformationaboutformatguidelines,pleasevisit:http://pubs.acs.org/paragonplus/submission/jacsat/jacsat_authguide.pdfhttp://pubs.acs.org/series/styleguide

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MasterofChemicalSciencesCapstoneProjectProposalCoverSheetName: PennID:Phone: Email:DateSubmitted:ProjectPeriod(markallthatapply):☐summer20__☐fall20__ ☐spring20__AreaofConcentration:NumberofCUsCompleted:ProjectTitle:ProjectType:☐on-campusresearch☐off-campusresearch☐reviewpaperProjectSupervisor:AcademicAdvisor:Off-CampusLocation(ifapplicable):ProjectStartandEndDates:SiteSupervisorPhone: Email:

IhavereadtheCapstoneProposalandagreetoserveasamentorforthisproject.ProjectSupervisor/AcademicAdvisor(circle): PrintednameSignature: Date: AcademicAdvisor/SecondaryReader(circle): Printedname

Signature: Date: MCSAssociateDirector:Signature: Date:

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IV.WritingyourFinalReportWorkwithyourprojectsupervisorandacademicadvisortodevelopanoutlineforyourfinalreport,basedontheguidelinesprovidedbelow.TheWeingartenLearningResourcesCenter,locatedat3702SpruceStreet,Suite300,providesprofessionalconsultationservicesinskillssuchasacademicreadingandwritingthroughavarietyofservicesandprogramsincludingtheverypopularseriesofstudyskillsworkshopsofferedatthebeginningofeachfallandspringtermforLPSstudents.Aspecialworkshopseriesisalsoofferedforinternationalstudents.FormoreinformationabouttheWeingartenLearningResourcesCenter,visittheirwebsiteorcall215-573-9235.ThereisalsoawealthofinformationandresourcesavailablethroughtheUniversityofPennsylvanialibraries,VanPeltLibrary,themainUniversitylibrary,locatedat3420WalnutStreet(theentranceisontheCollegeGreenacrossfromCollegeHall).TheWeigleInformationCommons,whichislocatedintheVanPeltLibrary,offerstraininginvariousapplications,likeExcel.YourprojectmentorsandtheMCSAssociateDirectorshouldprovidefeedbackonyourfinalreportpriortofinalsubmission.Onceapproved,youshouldsubmityourreporttoPenn’sonlinerepository,theScholarlyCommons,forpublication.GuidelinesforCapstoneFinalReport–ResearchProjectTheCapstoneReportshouldbewrittenusingthesegeneralguidelines,ifaresearchprojectwascompleted.BoundaswellaselectroniccopiesofyourreportshouldbesubmittedtoyouracademicadvisorandtheMSCAssociateDirector.Sectionsshouldbeorganizedaslistedbelow:

1.PretextPagesa) AbstractPageb) TitlePagec) ApprovalPaged) Acknowledgements(optional)e) TableofContentsf) ListofFiguresg) ListofTablesh) ListofAppendices

2. ScientificReporta) Introductionb) MaterialsandMethodsc) Resultsd) Discussione) SummaryorConclusion

3. References4. Appendices5. FlyLeaf(blankpage)

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NumberofCopiesSubmitonedigitalcopyandoneboundofficialcopyofyourCapstoneReporttotheMCSAssociateDirectoraswellasyouracademicadvisor.Paper,FontandSpacingTheCapstoneReportmustbeprintedonstandardsize,white,8½x11inchpaper.Usesinglelinespacingthroughoutandprintononlyonesideofthepaper.Useregular,unadornedprint(e.g.,NewTimesRomanorArial)10-12pointsizefortext.DocumentshouldfollowACSstyle(citations,tables,schemes,figures,equations,etc.).Foradditionalinformationaboutformatguidelines,pleasevisit:http://pubs.acs.org/paragonplus/submission/jacsat/jacsat_authguide.pdfhttp://pubs.acs.org/series/styleguideMarginsEverypageoftheinternshipreportmustbekeptwithinaminimummarginof1½inches(forbindingpurposes)ontheleftsideofthepage;1inchattherightside,topandbottomofthepage.PaginationAllpagesexceptthetitlepageshouldbenumbered.Thisincludesfull-pagephotographs,chartsandgraphs,thebibliography,andappendices.Forthepretextpages,usesmallRomannumerals(ii,iii,etc.).Pageiistheabstractpage,butthepagenumberisnotprintedonthispage.ThefirstitemontheTableofContentslistshouldbetheAbstract.Thiswillbefollowedbythetitlepage,theapprovalpageandanydedicationoracknowledgmentsectionyoumaywishtoinclude.ThisisnumberedinthesmallRomanseries,withthepagenumbersdisplayed.Titlesforpretextpagesshouldbecentered.TheremainderoftheCapstoneReportisnumberedwithArabicnumerals(1,2,etc.).Thepagenumbersthataredisplayedmustbecenteredatthebottomofeachpage.WritingYourPretextPages

• Abstract,TitleandApprovalPages(seeformatbelow)• Abstract

Describewhereyourprojectwasconducted(nameofcompany,department,location,typeofbusiness).Summarizeyourresearchprojectgoals,activities,andaccomplishments,highlightingkeyknowledgeorskillsgained.HowdidthisCapstoneProjectbenefityou,andhowdiditbenefitthecompany?Theabstractislimitedto350wordsinlength.Itshouldbe1.0line-spaced,usingonlyonesideofthepaper.

• AcknowledgmentsIfyouwish,youmayincludeapagewithabriefnoteofdedicationoracknowledgmentofhelpreceivedfromparticularindividuals.

• TableofContentsCapstoneReportsareexpectedtohaveaTableofContentsfortheconvenienceofthereader.Iffiguresortablesarescatteredthroughoutthetext,aseparateListofFiguresorListofTablesshouldbeincludedaftertheTableofContents.

WritingtheScientificReportUseArabicnumerals(1,2,etc.)tonumberthesepages.Startwiththefirstpageoftheintroductionaspage1andendwiththelastpageofyourfinalreport;eitherReferencesorAppendices.Theformatforthescientificreportshouldinclude:

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• IntroductionTheintroductionisaconcisestatementoftheproblemandanoutlineofthescope,aim,andnatureofyourproject.AreviewoftheliteraturepertinenttothesubjectshouldbeincludedandusedtoprovidecontextfortheCapstonePaper.Studentsshouldstatetherationale,goals,andexperimentaldesigninthissection.Clearlydistinguishyournewmethodsfromexperimentaltechniques/pathwaysusedfromtheliterature.

• MaterialsandMethodsThepurposeoftheMaterialsandMethodssectionistorecount,inaconcisemanner,thematerialsandmethodsusedtoapproachtheproject.Itshouldincludesufficientinformationsothatthestudycouldberepeated.Careshouldbeexercisednottoincludesuperfluousinformation.Also,besuretoavoidincludingresultsand/orconclusions.

• ResultsandDiscussionTheresultsreflectthefindingsofyourinvestigationonly,notthefindingsofotherresearchersinthearea.Thisisasummarizedformofextensivedatathatmayappearinthefigures,tablesand/orappendices.Thediscussionprovidesananalysisofthedataacquired.Youmaydrawcomparisonswithfindingsofotherresearchersinthefieldorevenspeculatetosomedegreeand,ifappropriate,suggestadditionalresearch(futurework).Clearlydistinguishyourfindingsfromliteraturecomparison.

• SummaryorConclusionTheconclusionisafinalbriefstatement,whichdrawstogethertheobjectivesandfindingsoftheentireresearchproject.

• ReferencesThisisalistingofallreferencesusedintheorderthattheyarereferencedinthetext.Pagenumbersinthebibliographycontinuethepaginationofthetext;donotnumberthebibliographyseparately.MCSprojectreportsshouldfollowtheACSstylecitationandformatting.

GuidelinesforCapstoneFinalReport–LiteratureReviewTheliteraturereviewshoulddemonstratethatyouhaveread,andhaveagoodgraspof,themainpublishedworkconcerningaparticulartopicorquestioninyourfield.Thereviewwillbeguidedbyyourresearchobjectiveorbytheissueorthesisyouarearguingandwillprovidetheframeworkforfurtherwork.Guidelinesweretakenfromhttp://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.04.htm.Itisveryimportanttonotethatyourreviewshouldnotbesimplyadescriptionofwhatothershavepublishedintheformofasetofsummaries,butshouldtaketheformofacriticaldiscussion,showinginsightandanawarenessofdifferingarguments,theoriesandapproaches.Itshouldbeasynthesisandanalysisoftherelevantpublishedwork,linkedatalltimestoyourownpurposeandrationale.Theliteraturereviewshould:

• compareandcontrastdifferentauthors'viewsonanissue• groupauthorswhodrawsimilarconclusions• criticizeaspectsofmethodology• noteareasinwhichauthorsareindisagreement• highlightexemplarystudies• highlightgapsinresearch• concludebysummarizingwhattheliteraturesays

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Thepurposesoftherevieware:• todefineandlimittheproblemyouareworkingon• toavoidunnecessaryduplication• toevaluatepromisingresearchmethods• torelateyourfindingstopreviousknowledgeandsuggestfurtherresearch

Agoodliteraturereview,therefore,iscriticalofwhathasbeenwritten,identifiesareasofcontroversy,raisesquestionsandidentifiesareaswhichneedfurtherresearch.Selectionofsourcesiscritical,andherearesomequestionstoensureyoudoathoroughoverview:

• Haveyouindicatedthepurposeofthereview?• Aretheparametersofthereviewreasonable?• Whydidyouincludesomeoftheliteratureandexcludeothers?• Whichyearsdidyouexclude?• Haveyouemphasizedrecentdevelopments?• Haveyoufocusedonprimarysourceswithonlyselectiveuseofsecondarysources?• Istheliteratureyouhaveselectedrelevant?• Isyourbibliographicdatacomplete?

Aliteraturereviewisnotnecessarilydividedintodistinctsectionslikearesearchmanuscript(e.g.,methods,results),soyouwillhavetogivecarefulthoughtintotheconstructionofyourreviewpaper.Haveyouorganizedyourmaterialaccordingtoissues?Istherelogicinthewayyouorganizedthematerial?Doestheamountofdetailincludedonanissuerelatetoitsimportance?Haveyoubeensufficientlycriticalofdesignandmethodologicalissues?Haveyouindicatedwhenresultswereconflictingorinconclusiveanddiscussedpossiblereasons?Finally,hasyoursummaryofthecurrentliteraturecontributedtothereader'sunderstandingoftheproblems?StructureoftheLiteratureReviewTheCapstoneReportshouldbewrittenusingthesegeneralguidelines,ifaliteraturereviewprojectwascompleted.BoundaswellaselectroniccopiesofyourreportshouldbesubmittedtoyouracademicadvisorandtheMSCAssociateDirector.Sectionsshouldbeorganizedaslistedbelow:

1.PretextPages(followaboveguidelines)i) AbstractPagej) TitlePagek) ApprovalPagel) Acknowledgements(optional)m) TableofContentsn) ListofFigureso) ListofTablesp) ListofAppendices

6. LiteratureReview(seebelow)7. References8. Appendices9. FlyLeaf(blankpage)

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Theoverallstructureofyourreviewwilldependlargelyonyourownthesisorresearcharea.Whatyouwillneedtodoistogrouptogetherandcompareandcontrastthevaryingopinionsofdifferentwritersoncertaintopics.Whatyoumustnotdoisjustdescribewhatonewritersays,andthengoontogiveageneraloverviewofanotherwriter,andthenanother,andsoon.Yourstructureshouldbedictatedinsteadbytopicareas,controversialissuesorbyquestionstowhichtherearevaryingapproachesandtheories.Withineachofthesesections,youwouldthendiscusswhatthedifferentliteratureargues,rememberingtolinkthistoyourownpurpose.DocumentshouldfollowACSstyleguide(citations,tables,schemes,figures,equations,etc.).Foradditionalinformationaboutformatguidelines,pleasevisit:http://pubs.acs.org/paragonplus/submission/jacsat/jacsat_authguide.pdforhttp://pubs.acs.org/series/styleguideLinkingwordsareimportant.Ifyouaregroupingtogetherwriterswithsimilaropinions,youwouldusewordsorphrasessuchas“similarly”,“inaddition”,“also”,and“again”.Moreimportantly,ifthereisdisagreement,youneedtoindicateclearlythatyouareawareofthisbytheuseoflinkerssuchas“however”,“ontheotherhand”,“conversely”,or“nevertheless”.Attheendofthereviewyoushouldincludeasummaryofwhattheliteratureimplies,whichagainlinkstoyourhypothesisormainquestion.

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ANABSTRACTOFTHECAPSTONEREPORTOF

StudentNameforthedegreeofMasterofChemicalSciences

Title:(UnderlinedTitlehere)

Projectconductedat:(CompanyNameandcompletemailingaddress)Supervisor:(Supervisor’sNameandTitle)DatesofProject:(startandenddates)

Abstractapproved:

PrintedName,AcademicAdvisor*

Begintexthere,usingthesamespacing,fontstyleandfontsizeaswithinthebodyofthetextinyourdocument.

*Includeacademicadvisor’smiddleinitialunlessthereisnone.Donotincludehis/hertitle.Co-academicadvisorsmaysharethesamesignatureline;putbothnamesbelowtheline.

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QuantumMechanicsandtheElectronicStructureofAtomsandMolecules

byLinusPauling

ACAPSTONEREPORT

submittedtothe

UniversityofPennsylvania

inpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsfor

thedegreeof

MastersofChemicalSciences

Presented(date)Commencement(date)

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MasterofChemicalSciencesCapstoneReportofLinusC.Paulingpresentedon(date).

APPROVED: AcademicAdvisor,representingAreaofConcentration IunderstandthatmyCapstoneReportwillbecomepartofthepermanentcollectionoftheUniversityofPennsylvaniaMasterofChemicalSciencesProgram.Mysignaturebelowauthorizesreleaseofmyfinalreporttoanyreaderuponrequest.

LinusC.Pauling,Author

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V.GuidelinesforOralPresentationStudents’abstractsfromcapstonereportswillbecompiled,printedandboundfordistributionduringaspecialspringMCSresearchevent.Duringtheevent,studentswillsummarizetheircapstoneprojectobjectives,design,andresultsduringa15to30minutepresentationfollowedbyquestionsandanswers.Thelengthofthepresentationwilldependofthepresentationstyle.StudentspresentinginMCSsymposiumwillprovide15minutepresentationfollowedby5minutesofquestionsandanswers.StudentsnotpresentinginMCSsymposiumshouldbepreparedtogivea30-45minutepresentation,dependingonthescopeoftheproject,followedbyaquestionananswersessionfromtheaudience.Facultymembersattendingtheeventwillbeaskedtoevaluatespeakerstoprovidethemwithhelpfulfeedbackregardingtheirpresentations.Allstudentswillbeevaluatedbythepresentationandtheirabilitytoanswerquestions.Herearesomeguidelinestohelpyouprepareforyouroralpresentation.Wearsuitable,professionalclothingandbeawareofyourbodylanguage.UsebestpracticesdiscussedinthePro-seminarcourses.Beawareofyouraudiencesothatyoucanaddresspossiblepointsofconfusionandkeepthemengaged.Thestructureofyourtalkwillbeslightlydifferentthanyourwrittenreport.Youwillhavetotelllistenerswhatyouplantosay,sharetheinformationsuccinctly,andfinallysummarizekeypointsthatyouwantthemtoremember.Inotherwords:

• Sharewhatyouplantosay• Sayit• Summarizewhatyousaid

Whenyousharethedetailsofyourproject,youshouldstartwithanintroductionexplainingyourobjectives,describethemethodsused,summarizetheresults,andhighlightyourconclusions.Lettheaudienceleavehavinglearnedonenewthing.Emphasizethispoint!Whatisitthatyouwanttheaudiencetorememberaboutyourwork?Usetransitionsappropriatelytohelpguidelistenersthroughyourpresentation.Usedramaticpausestogivetheaudiencetimetothinkaboutwhatyouaresaying;don’tfillinpauseswith“um”or“youknow”phrases.Avoidcolloquialismsandslang.Utilizegesturesandvaryvocalizationstoemphasizekeypointsandengagetheaudience.Avoiddistractingmannerismslikejinglingcoinsinapocket,drinkwaterexcessivelytocureadrythroat,orwavearoundapointerunnecessarily.Don’tstandinfrontofthescreenanddoNOTreadyourslides!Youshoulduseonaverage1slideperminute–sonomorethan10-15slidesforyourpresentation.Don’tputtoomuchinformationoneachslide,sharetoomanydetails,ormeander.Usegoodvisualaids(includecolor,simplicityisdesired,writingneedstobelargeenoughtoreadfromthebackofaroom).Practiceyourtalk.Makesurethatyoucandeliveryourpresentationwithinthe15minutetimelimit,andwhenyourtimeisup–STOP!Nooneappreciatesitwhenyougoover.Itisunprofessional.

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Respondtoquestionsinaconcisefashion.Remember,onlyonepersonintheaudience(thepersonwhoaskedthequestion)maybeinterestedinyourresponse.Youmayhaveseveralpeoplewhoareinterestedinaskingquestionsafteryourpresentation.PowerPointPresentationGuidelines• Keepyourwordslargeenough---atleastsize24.• Limitthenumberofwordsyouputonasingleslide.

o Avoidparagraphso Usebulletpointso Usesuccinctphrasesinsteadofsentenceso Limiteachslideto6bulletpoints

• Fancyisnotalwaysbetter;stickwithsimplefonts.o Fonts"withfeet"areeasiertoread(inaphrase)o Fonts"withoutfeet"makenicetitles

• Choosecolorcombinationsthatmakeyourtexteasytoread.• Limityourgraphicsto1-3perpage;toomanygraphicscanbedistracting.• Slidesaredesignedtosupplementyourpresentation---nottoBEyourpresentation.Keepitsimple,

anddon'treadyourpresentationwordforwordfromyourslides.• Filloutastoryboardbeforeyoubegintoputyourpresentationtogether.Itwillhelpyoustay

organized,andthingswillgetdonefaster.• Basicruleofpresentations----Bellsandwhistlesarefuntoputin,buttheytendtobedistractingfor

theviewer.Makesurethatspecialeffectshaveapurpose.• Proofreadandspellcheck!Proofreadandspellcheck!Proofreadandspellcheck!• Useonetransitionforallslides.• Everybulletisfollowedbyacapitalletter;eachbullethaseightwordsorless-nocomplete

sentences-noperiods,questionmarks,orexclamationpoints-noALLCAPS.MOSTOFALL,rememberthatyourPowerPointpresentationissupposedtoENHANCEyourtalk…not“become”thetalk!

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VI.GuidelinesforPosterPresentationPosterGuidelinesYoucaninexpensivelycreateaposterusingagraphicssoftwarepackagesuchasPowerPoint.PosterscanbeprintedattheDepartmentofChemistry,WeigleInformationCommonslocatedintheVanPeltLibrary,orthereareothercommercialoptions.Makeyourpresentationasvisualaspossible.Informationcanbetransmittedmoreefficientlywithapicture,figure,orgraph.Formatrequirementsandtips:

• Postersshouldnotbelargerthan4’x4’intotalsizeandshouldbemountedinthemorning(pushpinsprovided)

• Keytopicsshouldexpandonthekeystatementsmadeinyourabstract• Avoidclutter–limityourpresentationtothemainideas,emphasizingimportantpoints• Keeptheletteringsimple–usenomorethanthreedifferentfontsizes(largestforthetitle;2nd

largestforsectiontitles;smallestfortext(usually24fontreadablefromadistanceof3-4’).• Keepthecolorssimple–toomuchcolorcanbedistracting,whiletoolittlecolorcanbeboring• Proofread–aLOT–priortoprinting

PosterEvaluationCriteriaFacultymemberswillbeaskedtoconsiderthefollowingcriteriawhenevaluatingabstractsandposterpresentations

• ORIGINALITY–Howoriginalistheconceptpresentedintheposter,orhoworiginalisthenewapproachtoanoldproblem?(15points)

• SIGNIFICANCE–Howsignificantorrelevantaretheconclusionsinmeetingtheproject’sobjectivesand/orincreasingunderstandingofaparticularproblemwithinascientificdiscipline?(15points)

• ORGANIZATION–Howlogicalaretheideaspresentedintheposterdesign?Howclearlywrittenandfreeofgrammaticalerrorsisthepresentation?(20points)

• METHODS–Ifapplicable,howsuitableisthedesignforthestatedobjectives,howappropriatearetheanalyticaltechniques,and/orhowcompletewastheliteraturereview?(15points)

• VISUALIMPACT–Howeffectiveisthepresentationvisually?Howvaluableiseachfigureandgraphinfurtheringviewers’understandingofthesubject?(15points)

• DISCUSSION–Howknowledgeableandconversantisthestudentwiththeworkpresented?Didthestudentpresenthim/herselfinaprofessionalmanner?(20points)

Scoreswithcommentswillbeavailabletostudentswithin1-2weeksoftheendoftheevent.

PosterChecklist

• Titles,authors,andinstitutionalaffiliationsarelisted• Keystatementsrequiredareincludedinabstractandpostercontent• Logicalsequenceofinformationflow• Photographsgraphs,tablesandchartsareusedwheneverpossibletodisplaydataorconvey

importantinformation• Eachsectionisconciseandclear• Textcanbereadfrom3’to5’away• Samefontisusedthroughout• Color,lines,boxes,andarrowsareusedtoemphasizeimportantpoints

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VII.CapstoneEvaluationToolsSpeakerEvaluationFormSpeaker: Date: Title: TimeTaken: Instructions:Usingthebelowscale,circlethenumberorwordalongsideeachstatementthatbestdescribesyouropinion.Ifyoudonothaveanopinion,leavethatlineblank.StronglyDisagree Disagree Agree StronglyAgree 1 2 3 4TOPICPRESENTED:

1. Thetalktookintoconsiderationtheaudience’stechnicalbackground 1 2 3 4

2. Thepurpose&keypointswereclear 1 2 3 43. Theideas&informationpresentedwerevaluable 1 2 3 44. Relatedtopictoaudience 1 2 3 45. Engagedtheaudienceeffectively 1 2 3 46. Purposestatementwaspresented 1 2 3 4

THESPEAKER:

1. Conveyedideasclearly 1 2 3 42. Wasknowledgeableaboutthesubjectmatter 1 2 3 43. Communicatedinanunderstandableway 1 2 3 44. Wasresponsivetoquestionsfromthegroup 1 2 3 45. Wascapableofansweringquestionsfromthegroup 1 2 3 4

DELIVERY:

1. Eyecontactandfacialexpression 1 2 3 42. Rateofspeaking,volumeandvocalexpression/tone 1 2 3 43. Minimaluseofvocalpauses(um,like,andah) 1 2 3 44. Posture,movement,andgesturesacceptable 1 2 3 45. Effectivevisualaids 1 2 3 46. Actedinaprofessionalmanner 1 2 3 4

BODYOFTHESPEECH:

1. Well-structuredorganization 1 2 3 42. Mainpointsclearlystated 1 2 3 43. Addressedthemainideas 1 2 3 44. Adequatetransitionsbetweenideas 1 2 3 45. Experimentalrationaleanddesignclearlystated 1 2 3 46. Useofevidence(statistics,etc.) 1 2 3 47. Demonstrateddataanalysis,problemsolvingand

62

criticalthinkingskills 1 2 3 48. Qualityofresearchpresented 1 2 3 49. Sourcesproperlycited 1 2 3 410. Researchcontributedtoadvancingthefield 1 2 3 4

CONCLUSION:

1. Summaryofideas 1 2 3 42. Presentedreasonableconclusion(s) 1 2 3 43. Respondedtoquestions 1 2 3 44. Engagedtheaudiencemostofthetime 1 2 3 4

COMMENTS:Ifyoucouldimproveoneelementofthepresentation,Iwouldsuggestthatyoutryto: Evaluator: OverallScore: (Scaleof1to10:1beingpoorand10beingexcellent)

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PosterEvaluationFormEvaluators:Pleaseconsiderthefollowingcriteriawhenevaluatingoralpresentations:

• ORIGINALITY–Howoriginalistheconceptpresentedintheposter,orhoworiginalisthenewapproachtoanoldproblem?(15points)

• SIGNIFICANCE–Howsignificantorrelevantaretheconclusionsinmeetingtheproject’sobjectivesand/orincreasingunderstandingofaparticularproblemwithinascientificdiscipline?(15points)

• ORGANIZATION–Howlogicalaretheideaspresentedintheposterdesign?Howclearlywrittenandfreeofgrammaticalerrorsisthepresentation?(20points)

• METHODS–Ifapplicable,howsuitableisthedesignforthestatedobjectives,andhowappropriatearetheexperimentaldesignandrationale?(15points)

• VISUALIMPACT–Howeffectiveisthepresentationvisually?Howvaluableiseachfigureandgraphinfurtheringviewers’understandingofthesubject?(15points)

• DISCUSSION–Howknowledgeableandconversantisthestudentwiththeworkpresented?Didthestudentpresenthim/herselfinaprofessionalmanner?Wasthematerialexplainedattheappropriateleveltotheaudience?(20points)

StudentName: TitleofPresentation: Criteria Comments PointsOriginality(15pts.max)

Significance(15pts.max)

Organization(20pts.max)

Methods(15pts.max)

VisualImpact(15pts.max)

Discussion(20pts.max)

TOTAL(100pts.max)

NameofEvaluator: Signature: Date

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ProjectSupervisorEvaluationForm(online)ThankyouforprovidinganeducationalresearchopportunityforoneofourMCSstudents.Yourcompletionofthisformwillallowustoassessthestudent’sperformanceduringtheproject,andprovidethestudentwithvaluablefeedbackregardinghis/herstrengthsandweaknessesasaprospectiveprofessionalinthisfield.

NameofStudent:

Student'sMajorAdvisor:

SponsoringOrganization: ProjectStartDate:ProjectEndDate:Student’sResearchProjectOverview:

Pleasecommentonthefollowing5areas:

1.Overallattitudetowardprojectassignment(s):

Enthusiastic?Indifferent?Eager?Bored?Receptive?Disinterested?Diligent?Notenergetic?2.Effectivenessinexecutingassignments:

Productive?Learnsquickly?Self-starter?Problemsolver?Failstounderstandorfollowingdirections?Meetsdeadlines?Requiresclosesupervision?Needstoaskmorequestions?

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3.Originality/Contributiontoresearchproject:

Contributedtoexperimentaldesign?Demonstratedproblemsolvingandcriticalthinkingskills?Depthofknowledgeatthemaster’slevel?Uptodateincurrentresearch?Dataanalyticalskills?Qualityofconclusion?4.Dependability:

Responsible?Usesgoodjudgment?Hesitanttomakedecisions?Followsthroughconsistentlyonassignments?Persistent?5.Relationshipswithothers:

Considerate?Friendly?Distant?TeamPlayer?Shy?Cooperative?Respected?Brash?Receivessuggestionswell?Tactful?Mature?Argumentative?Honest?Objective?6.Workethic:

Prompt?Tardy?Wasteful?Professionalattitude?Appropriatedressandgrooming?Makesexcuses?Poised?Acceptspraiseandcriticismappropriately?Whattypeoffeedbackhaveyouprovidedthisstudentandhis/herperformanceduringtheproject?Inwhatwaywasworkprogressreviewedandhow?

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Howhasthisstudentrespondedtoyoursuggestionsforcarryingouthis/herworkassignments?

OVERALLEVALUATIONofstudent’scurrentlevelofworkexperienceandeducation:

Outstanding(performedwellbeyondexpectations)

VeryGood(highqualityperformance)

Good(performedalltasksasexpected)

Marginal(performancemostlyinadequate-needsimprovement)

Unsatisfactory(pleasecontactthePSMcoordinator)Hasthegeneralcontentofthisevaluationbeendiscussedwiththestudent?

Yes

NoWouldyoubewillingtoconsideranotherstudentfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaMCSProgram?

Yes

NoAdditionalcomments(optional):

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MCS699CapstoneProjectEvaluationStudentname: Date: Titleofproject: EvaluationCriteria Doesnotmeet

expectationsMeetsexpectations

Exemplaryperformance

Writtenwork:Clearlyarticulatedprojectgoals,methodology,results,anddiscussionORclearlyarticulatedthesissupportedbyappropriatelibraryresearch,selectedexamplesandcriticalanalysis

ResearchSkills:Completedprojectgoals,acquirednewanalyticalskills,andanalyzeddataappropriatelyOReffectivelysourcedinformation,createdanappropriatebibliography,andusedotherrelevantresearchmaterials

TechnicalKnowledge:Demonstratedknowledgeintheresearchareaatthemasterlevel,citesrelevantandcurrentresearch,andappliesknowledgegainedtowardsthedevelopmentoftheresearchproject

CriticalThinking:Demonstratedcapabilityforindependentresearchand/orworkintheareaofconcentration

Supervisor’sEvaluation:Completedprojectgoalsasdescribedinthecapstoneprojectproposal

Assessmentoftheoverallperformanceofthestudentisbasedontheitemsabove:

Criteria PerformanceRatingsMustReviseandResubmitCapstoneProjectReport

CompletedMCSCapstoneProject

Doesnotmeetexpectations

Meetsexpectations(B)

Exemplaryperformance(A)

Gradeis: Examiner:Pleaseprovidewrittencommentarybelowasneeded.NameoftheEvaluator:

Signature:

Date: