MSc Analytical Chemistry

Institution University of Teesside, School of Applied Science
Method At the institution
Location Middlesbrough
Type Masters

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MSc Analytical Chemistry

Objectives You'll learn how to: -interpret analytical results and appreciate their limitations -interpret atomic, infrared, UV-VIS, NMR, EPR and X-ray diffraction spectra -understand and use thermal methods of analysis -select and perform analyses using appropriate classical and separation methods. -Expect a heavy practical bias, and by the end of the course you'll have to show that you are competent in selecting and using a range of analytical techniques.
Entry requirements Applicants should normally have an honours degree (at least 2.2) in an appropriate related discipline, corporate membership of an appropriate chartered institution or an equivalent relevant qualification. Holders of an appropriate higher national diploma plus several years' relevant experience may also be accepted.
Academic title MSc Analytical Chemistry
Course description Analytical chemistry is of fundamental importance to the social and economic well-being of our society. It makes a major contribution to quality and process control, product screening, health and safety, pollution monitoring and waste management in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and related sectors. Analytical chemists also play an important role in a variety of other sectors, including health and forensic science.

Course structure
Areas of study include spectroscopy, electrochemistry, separation methods, biosensors, data analysis and miniaturised analytical systems.

Careers
Major employers running laboratories generally employ analytical chemists and so there is a very wide range of career options available, including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, forensic science and the health sector, or progression into teaching or higher degree-level study.

Industrial experience
On each master's degree you'll complete an industrially-related project. This, along with the involvement of industrialists, practitioners and academics in the delivery of these courses, ensures that they are relevant to the demands of the process manufacturing industries.

Intermediate awards
Our master's degrees can lead to the award of a postgraduate certificate at Stage 1 (60 credits - 3 modules), a postgraduate diploma at Stage 2 (120 credits - 6 modules) or, on completion of a research project, the MSc.

Block release study
Our master's degrees are available on a block-release basis: you'll study for one week between 9.00am and 6.00pm with follow-up days in the next four weeks together with accompanying assignment work.

Stage 1

Introduction and Professional Studies
This module is designed to introduce you to the issues related to studying beyond undergraduate level. It applies to students on taught postgraduate courses and those who are embarking on a programme of research. The module encompasses issues such as enrolment, health and safety, using Blackboard, report writing and referencing, ethics, plagiarism, time management and numerical techniques. You will also examine discipline specific areas pertinent to your pathway, which will offer you a particular grounding, skills base or understanding required at the early stage of your study. You will be introduced to personal development planning, by keeping a formal log book.

Analytical Methods
This module describes the theory underpinning major analytical techniques currently used in both biology and chemistry. The first part of the module provides a common grounding in techniques common to both the chemical and biological sciences. In the second part you will consider a deeper analysis of techniques specific to either chemical or biological pathways.

Analytical Laboratory
This module is designed to develop essential practical analytical skills within a task-oriented structure. Emphasis is placed upon developing problem solving skills and initiative. You’ll select practical tasks from a suite of experiments. These experiments are selected to give you a broad introduction to modern methods of analysis performed in academic and industrial settings.

Stage 2

Microsystems
This module provides a context for modules such as Microfabrication. It also provides you with an understanding of the principles and characteristics of measurement systems and elements, together with an understanding of the principles of relevant electronic signal conditioning and interfacing systems.

Advanced Analytical Applications
You will cover the major modern advanced analytical techniques of spectroscopy, spectrometry, thermal analysis and hyphenated separation techniques. This module also provides the fundamental theoretical basis of thermal methods, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as the spectrometric techniques MS, X-Ray Diffraction and EDS. The interpretation of spectra and the skills required to deduce the identity of compounds using spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis follows. Finally you will be shown how to apply these techniques.

Project Management and Enterprise
This module is designed to equip you with the necessary skills to successfully project manage new product developments focusing on project management skills and processes, quality assurance issues, new product development processes and statistical analysis techniques. It provides you with an opportunity to develop a project plan for a programme of research based on scientific literature, with particular reference to key concepts such as innovation, enterprise and originality. This fundamental project management basis is interlinked with developing an understanding of entrepreneurial best practices to enable you to transfer your ideas into the commercial arena. This element of the module will focus on intellectual property rights, legal, regulatory and ethical issues, business start up processes and will include an element of foresight thinking.

Stage 3

Research Project
This is the culmination of the programme of studies. You will undertake a challenging problem related substantially to your discipline. The project is linked where possible to an industrial or external partner organisation, which may even host your work and substantially direct the activity. Where this is not possible, a real or simulated real problem may be chosen as subject for the work. It is, however, expected that even where the problem is simulated or hypothetical, it will be treated as if real. The project outcomes project should be at a publishable standard.