Course content and focus areas
The general course objective is to acquire advanced education in chemistry. The master’s program in chemistry, with the opportunity to focus on specific areas, aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills, guide them toward independent thinking, and encourage responsible action. Graduates should be capable of understanding the properties of chemical compounds and applying methods to solve complex chemical problems. Since methods, procedures, and areas of activity in science and industry are constantly evolving, the goal of the chemistry program must be to equip students with the knowledge needed to quickly familiarize themselves with new developments, explore new fields, and contribute to further advancements in their discipline within science and technology after completing their studies.
The master’s examination represents the second professional qualification awarded in the chemistry program. In the four-semester master’s program, which builds consecutively on the six-semester bachelor’s program, students acquire the thorough specialized knowledge necessary for transitioning into scientific professional practice. A broadly structured academic program ensures qualification for demanding roles in industry, business, and administration.
Special focus areas at Goethe University Frankfurt:
The research priorities of Frankfurt’s chemistry department span the fields of "Life Sciences" and "Material Sciences," with a focus on:
- Structural research,
- Molecular mechanisms,
- Membrane proteomics, and
- New matter: from molecule to matter.
These research priorities are also reflected in the master’s program. Students can choose whether to pursue a broadly structured program or specialize in one of the focus areas: "Biomolecular Chemistry," "Synthesis and Catalysis," "Structure, Dynamics, and Function," or "Analytics."
These focus areas align with the strengths of the university instructors’ research profiles and represent attractive, forward-looking research fields. The teaching offerings in the master’s program are no longer strictly confined to traditional subject boundaries and institutes but are instead thematically oriented and often taught in a cross-disciplinary manner.