Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry, Ph.D.


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Return to: 3180 Department of Chemistry  

The Department of Chemistry offers a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Chemistry. The Ph.D. degree is offered in biochemistry, organic chemistry, biophysical/computational chemistry, and analytical chemistry. A bioinformatics option is available in each of the four core disciplines. A Ph.D. is also offered in geochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Geosciences. Please contact the Department of Geosciences directly for details on the Ph.D. degree in geochemistry.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Chemistry has the following requirements:

  1. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in chemistry. However, consideration will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, physics, or related fields who have substantial background in and knowledge of chemistry.
  2. M.S. program: Applicants to the M.S. program must submit a list of three individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to do graduate work in chemistry (submission of reference letters helpful but optional), and a statement of educational/career goals.
  3. Ph.D. program:
    • Applicants to the Ph.D. program must arrange for submission of three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to do graduate work in chemistry.
    • A detailed statement of educational/career goals and research interests must be provided.

Degree Requirements


At least 80 hours of graduate credit are required for the Ph.D. degree. In order to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree, students must complete successfully:

  1. Thirty hours of approved graduate core coursework.
  2. Forty hours of research, at least 20 hours of which must be Dissertation Research.
  3. Ten additional hours of graduate course electives or research.
  4. Satisfaction of the foreign language (research skill) requirement.*
  5. A written and an oral qualifying general examination.
  6. A dissertation.
  7. A final oral examination, directed primarily to the defense of the dissertation.

 *World Language/Research Skill Requirement: A reading proficiency in French, German or Russian, or an equivalent research skill-e.g., computer language, technical writing, advanced statistics, electronics, etc.-(departmental approval necessary) is required. Students with M.S. degrees have already satisfied the language requirement. Credit hours used to fulfill this requirement do not count in the 80 hours.

Specific requirements: The following coursework illustrates the minimum curriculum requirements for each discipline. Substitutions in the curriculum may be made based on the recommendation of the student’s research adviser and require the prior written approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the departmental chair. Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of all material covered in the core or designated courses during the qualifying examination.

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