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ACADEMIC PROGRAMSAbout this Program
The American Chemical Society Post-Baccalaureate Bridge Program (ACS-BP) is a credentialed post-baccalaureate bridge experience aimed at students is part of the nationwide ACS Bridge Project. Aligned with the national standard, the ACS-BP at MSU Denver provides an alternative pathway to graduate programs in the chemical and/or biochemical sciences for students. Our goal is to create a space where students can fully engage, relax into their STEM identity, focus, and thrive while getting high-quality, rigorous preparation for graduate programs in the Chemical and/or Biochemical Sciences.
We recognize that there are many ways that people can be systemically affected in today’s society. Therefore, any student who believes they meet the qualifications and/or identifies as an individual who has experienced circumstantial disadvantages is encouraged to apply.
Program Benefits
Graduate Admissions decisions rely heavily on a student’s upper-division electives, hands-on teaching experience, immersive research experiences, and scientific literacy skills. The ACS-BP provides depth and breadth of opportunity for students in each of those critical areas while introducing students to the graduate school experience.
- Coursework and curriculum are designed specifically with graduate admissions in mind
- Specific courses directly transfer toward graduate programs at our partner institutions
- Three tiers of comprehensive mentorship for each student
- Many research projects to choose from at MSU Denver and our partner institutions
- Formal and informal networking opportunities integrated into coursework
- Collaborative research interactions with the broader scientific community and communities focusing on belonging in STEM.
- Tuition paid by MSU Denver
- Annual Salary Stipend of $45,000/year
- $90/week Housing Stipend and low-cost off-campus housing community
- Free SHIP health insurance through Auraria Health Center
- Free ECO Pass for Denver Metro Public Transportation
Overview of Course Curriculum
Our ACS-BP students gain invaluable experience and insight through a combination of coursework and hands-on mentored research with a principal investigator at a partnering graduate institution. Throughout the program, students create and iteratively refine a poster and an oral presentation on their research project. Regular presentations of student work are scheduled at MSU Denver and partnering institutions. The ACS-BP culminates in a capstone project wherein the students prepare a thesis or publication-quality document on their research and present their final poster and oral presentation to a panel of program mentors.
Program Credit Distribution
| Program Credit Category | Abbreviation | Credit Hours/Course | Credit Hour Requirement |
| Internship I/II: T1 Mentor | INT-T1 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Effective College Teaching in Chemistry: T2 Mentor | ECTC-T2 | 0.5 | 1 |
| Graduate School and Research Support Coursework | GSRS | 0.5-1 | 3.5 |
| Research Rotations | RR | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Immersive Research Internship: T3 Mentor | IRI-T2 | 0.5-2 | 5 |
| ACS-BP Capstone | CAP | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Advanced Undergraduate Coursework* | ADV | 2-4 | 6 |
Total Program Credits: 19.5
Year One
Detailed Coursework for Year One
| First Semester Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4970 – Internship I: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4972 – Navigating Graduate School | 0.5 | GSRS |
| CHE 4971 – Effective College Teaching in Chemistry I | 0.5 | ECTC-T2 |
| CHE 0010 – Effective College Teaching in Chemistry I: T2 Mentor | (Co-req) | ECTC-T2 |
| First Semester Elective Coursework1 | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| Advanced UG Coursework (3000 level or above) | 0-6 | ADV |
| AND CHE 4974 – Ethical Practices in Scientific Work | 0-0.5 | GSRS |
| OR CHE 4975 – Data Handling in Scientific Work | 0-0.5 | GSRS |
Notes:
- CHE 4974 – Ethical Practices in Scientific Work, CHE 4975 – Data Handling in Scientific Work, and All Advanced UG Coursework, must be completed within the first two semesters in the program.
| Second Semester Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4970 – Internship I: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4972 – Navigating Graduate School | 0.5 | GSRS |
| CHE 4973 – Advanced Science Communication I | 1 | GSRS |
| CHE 4976 – Effective College Teaching in Chemistry II | 0.5 | ECTC-T2 |
| CHE 0020 – Effective College Teaching in Chemistry II: T2 Mentor | (Co-req) | ECTC-T2 |
| CHE 4977 – Research Rotations (First 8 weeks) | 0.5 | RR |
| CHE 4979 – Research Internship I: T3 Mentor (Last 5 weeks) | 0.5 | IRI-T3 |
| Second Semester Elective Coursework1 | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| Same as first semester | 0-6.5 | ADV, GSRS |
Notes:
- CHE 4974 – Ethical Practices in Scientific Work, CHE 4975 – Data Handling in Scientific Work, and All Advanced UG Coursework, must be completed within the first two semesters in the program.
| First Summer Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4970 – Internship I: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4983 – Research Internship Ia: T3 Mentor2 | 0.5 | IRI-T3 |
Notes:
- 2. To remain in good standing, students are expected to work 36-40 hrs/week during the Immersive Research Internship portion of the program.
Year Two
Detailed Coursework for Year Two
| Third Semester Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4978 – Internship II: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4985 – Research Internship II: T3 Mentor1 | 1 | IRI-T3 |
Notes:
- To remain in good standing, students are expected to work 36-40 hrs/week during the Immersive Research Internship portion of the program.
| Fourth Semester Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4978 – Internship II: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4984 – Advanced Science Communication II | 0.5 | GSRS |
| CHE 4985 – Research Internship II: T3 Mentor1 | 1 | IRI-T3 |
Notes:
- To remain in good standing, students are expected to work 36-40 hrs/week during the Immersive Research Internship portion of the program.
| Second Summer Core Coursework | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| CHE 4978 – Internship II: T1 Mentor | 0.5 | INT-T1 |
| CHE 4998 – ACS-BP Research Capstone2 | 0.5 | CAP |
Notes:
- 2. Note 1 applies in Summer 2 as you will be working with your T1 and T3 mentors for the ACS-BP capstone project.
More Ways to Explore the Program
Post Baccalaureate Bridge Program Homepage
MSU Denver Post Baccalaureate Bridge Program Homepage
ING-BP: Bridge to Employment School Program
ING-BP: Bridge to Employment School Program
Available Projects at Partner Institutions
Available Projects at Partner Institutions
About Us
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Office Location:
Main Office: Science Building Room 3062 (SI 3062)
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:30am-4:30pm
Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Campus Box 52
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362