Chemistry, PHD
Chairperson: Scott Reid, Ph.D.
Chemistry website
Degree Offered
Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry offers outstanding research and educational opportunities in its graduate programs, leading to the master of science or doctoral degrees. The heart of the graduate degree is research, conducted in concert with a faculty mentor. The program requires 24 hours of course work, and students are advanced to Ph.D. candidacy after successfully completing a literature seminar (4th term) and research meeting (5th term). The program emphasizes development of the whole scientist.
Subspecialty areas of research within the Department of Chemistry include: photochemistry; molecular spectroscopy; medicinal chemistry and drug discovery; materials chemistry and nanotechnology; organometallic, physical organic, bioorganic, polymer, and theoretical chemistry; and chemical dynamics.
General Information
For more detailed and comprehensive information about the master of science and doctoral programs in chemistry, students should consult the most recent edition of the Chemistry Department’s Graduate Student Handbook. This publication defines the current rules and guidelines that govern department and program requirements.
Second Language Requirements
Normally, no reading knowledge of a second language is required in either the master’s or doctoral programs. However, at the discretion of the student’s thesis or dissertation committee, proficiency in a second language may be required if it is necessary in the student’s research.
Proficiency Examinations
Incoming chemistry students must pass three proficiency examinations, which may be selected from among the four traditional areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry). Incoming chemical physics students must pass proficiency examinations in physics, physical chemistry, and one other area of chemistry. These examinations can be repeated up to two times each, and the student must pass three by the end of his/her second term of full-time study or the equivalent.
Chemistry Doctorate
Specializations: Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
A program for the doctoral degree is determined by the student’s research adviser in consultation with the student’s dissertation committee.
A doctoral student must complete a program of study defined on an approved Doctoral Program Planning Form. Normally, the student will be required to complete 24 credit hours of course work and 12 credit hours of CHEM 8999 Doctoral Dissertation for a total of 36 post-bachelor’s degree credit hours. An intense program of laboratory instruction and research to begin no later than the second term of study is also required. Six credit hours of course work may be CHEM 6995 Independent Study in Chemistry. In addition, seminar course work (CHEM 6960 Departmental Seminar, CHEM 6953 Literature Seminar, CHEM 8953 Research Seminar) is required for the program but earns no credit. A third year research meeting consisting of a written report and oral presentation constitutes a qualifying examination; in addition, advancement to doctoral candidacy is contingent upon maintaining a 3.000 grade point average at the end of the fourth term of study in at least 15 credit hours of formal (non-CHEM 6995) course work. The student must submit a dissertation describing a significant body of independent research carried out in concert with a faculty mentor. The dissertation must be of a caliber that would be publishable in the leading scientific journals. A public defense of the dissertation is required.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
24 credit hours of course work | 24 | |
Characterization of Organic Compounds | ||
Inorganic Chemistry | ||
Introduction to Quantum Chemistry | ||
Physical Chemistry 1 | ||
Biochemistry 1: Macromolecular Structure and Function | ||
Introduction to Polymer Science | ||
Advanced Topics in Chemistry | ||
Modern Concepts of Organic Chemistry | ||
Organic Reactions | ||
Mechanisms of Organic Reactions | ||
Physical Methods of Analysis | ||
Spectrochemical Methods of Analysis | ||
Electroanalytical Methods | ||
Analytical Separations | ||
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 1 | ||
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 2 | ||
Computational Chemistry | ||
Introduction to Spectroscopy | ||
Statistical Thermodynamics | ||
Chemical Kinetics | ||
Advanced Physical Chemistry | ||
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy | ||
Advanced Quantum Chemistry | ||
Topics in Chemistry | ||
Independent Study in Chemistry (Up to 6 hours can be counted towards the degree.) | ||
12 credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation | 12 | |
Doctoral Dissertation | ||
Seminar course work is required every term | 0 | |
Departmental Seminar | ||
Seminar course work presented at Departmental Seminar | 0 | |
Literature Seminar | ||
Research Seminar | ||
Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
University Policies
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Graduate School Policies
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