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ACADEMIC PROGRAMSAbout this Program
The Industry, National, and Government Laboratory Post-Baccalaureate Bridge Program (ING-BP) is a credentialed bridge experience that provides intensive training and advanced internship opportunities for students interested in employment performing laboratory-based work in the chemical industry or national or government laboratories. The ING-BP is modeled after the ACS Bridge Project bridge experiences, which successfully provides alternative pathways for students interested in graduate programs in the chemical and/or biochemical sciences. However, ~ 60% of all chemistry BA/BS graduates seek employment in government or industrial laboratories.1
Thus, the ING-BP is a first-of-its-kind program that integrates practices to launch students from URM groups into their desired careers. The goal of this structure is to enable students the space to fully engage, relax into their STEM identity, focus, and thrive while getting high-quality, rigorous preparation for careers 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
Hiring decisions in industry, national, and government laboratories rely heavily on a student’s upper-division electives, hands-on laboratory training on relevant instrumentation, and exposure and practice with specific technical writing tasks. Thus, the ING-BP focuses on providing depth and breadth of opportunity for students in each of these critical areas while providing students with real-world experience. The ING-BP curriculum provides unique training opportunities that are based on specific, ongoing feedback from hiring managers and professionals in local industry, government, and national laboratories.
- Program designed to incorporate feedback from industry professionals and hiring managers
- Students can earn the Quality in the Chemical Industry Certificate while completing the ING-BP
- Three tiers of comprehensive mentorship for each student
- Many projects to choose from at 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 ING-BP students gain invaluable experience and insight through a combination of coursework and a hands-on mentored technical laboratory internship at a partnering institution in the chemical industry or a national or government lab. Throughout the program, students create and iteratively refine a poster and an oral presentation on their laboratory project. Regular presentations of student work are scheduled at MSU Denver and partnering institutions. The ING-BP culminates in a capstone project wherein students produce a variety of tailored resumes, engage in mock interviews, and develop a broad set of nuanced professional skills. This supportive, yet highly-customizable structure enables students to gain the tools, credentials, and experience necessary to achieve gainful employment in a competitive entry-level position in the student’s field of interest.
Program Credit Distribution
| Program Credit Category | Abbreviation | Credit Hours/Course | Credit Hour Requirement |
| Internship I/II: T1 Mentor | INT-T1 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Technical Employment Coursework | TES | 0.5-3 | 4.5 |
| Laboratory Rotations | LR | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Immersive Laboratory Internship: T3 Mentor | ILI-T2 | 0.5-1 | 3.5 |
| ING-BP Capstone | CAP | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Advanced Undergraduate Coursework | ADV | 1-4 | 9-13 |
Total Program Credits: 20.5-24.5
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 |
| JMP 2610 – Intro to Technical Writing | 3 | TES |
| First Semester Elective Coursework1 | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| Advanced UG Coursework (3000 level or above) | 3-13 | ADV |
| AND CHE 4974 – Ethical Practices in Scientific Work | 0.5 | TES |
| AND CHE 4974 – Eth. Prac. – Employment Sector: T2 Mentor | (Co-req) | TES |
| Or CHE 4975 – Data Handling in Scientific Work | 0.5 | TES |
| AND CHE 4974 – Data Hand. – Employment Sector: T2 Mentor | (Co-req) | TES |
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 4977 – Laboratory Rotations (First 8 weeks) | 0.5 | LR |
| CHE 4979 – Laboratory Internship I: T3 Mentor (Last 5 weeks) | 0.5 | ILI-T3 |
| Second Semester Elective Coursework1 | Credit Hours | Credit Category |
| Same as first semester | 5.5-10.5 | ADV, TES |
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 – Laboratory Internship Ia: T3 Mentor2 | 0.5 | ILI-T3 |
Notes:
- 2. To remain in good standing, students are expected to work 36-40 hrs/week during the Immersive Laboratory 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 – Laboratory Internship II: T3 Mentor1 | 1 | ILI-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 4985 – Laboratory Internship II: T3 Mentor1 | 1 | ILI-T3 |
| CHE 4997 – ING-BP Capstone | 0.5 | CAP |
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 4987 – Laboratory Internship IIa: T3 Mentor1 | 0.5 | ILI-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.
More Ways to Explore the Program
Post Baccalaureate Bridge Program Homepage
MSU Denver Post Baccalaureate Bridge Program Homepage
ACS-BP: Bridge to Graduate School Program
ACS-BP: Bridge to Graduate School Program
Available Projects at Partner Institutions
Available Projects at Partner Institutions
About Us
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