The Ph.D. in Chemistry is offered in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
The Chemistry Ph.D. program is a full-time thesis-based research program. This program contains a substantial research component and requires original and significant research contributions by the student.
Degree Overview
Since the program contains a substantial research component, Ph.D. students are qualified for employment where the ability to design, develop, and complete a research program is expected.
To establish candidacy, students must pass five written “cumulative” examinations within their first four semesters and an oral examination prior to the end of their fifth semester of graduate study. The oral examination will include a discussion of the student’s research and defense of an original research proposal that is different from the student’s thesis research.
Course requirements include a core of three courses in the student’s major division plus three additional courses outside the major division. A number of additional courses may be recommended that cover material appropriate to the written part of the preliminary examination.
The Ph.D. requires 90 credit hours made up of 20 credit hours of course work and 70 credit hours of research.
- 9 credit hours in the primary major area
- 9 credit hours outside the major area, in at least two other (separate) areas
- 2 credits of CHEM 69500 Seminar
Understanding the academic timeline
First semester
- Enroll in three classes (nine credit hours)
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (one credit hour)
Second semester
- Enroll in one or two classes (up to six credit hours)
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (one credit hour)
- Enroll in 69900 Ph.D. Thesis Research (two to five credits to total nine for the semester)
Third semester
- Enroll in up to one class (up to three credit hours)
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (zero credit hours)
- Enroll in 69900 Ph.D. Thesis Research (five to eight credits to total eight for the semester)
Fourth semester
- Enroll in up to one class (up to three credit hours)
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (zero credit hours)
- Enroll in 69900 Ph.D. Thesis Research (six to nine credits to total nine for the semester)
Fifth semester
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (zero credit hours)
- Enroll in 69900 Ph.D. Thesis Research (nine credit hours)
Sixth semester
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (zero credit hours)
- Enroll in 69900 Ph.D. Thesis Research (nine credit hours)
Additional semesters
- Enroll in 69500 seminar (zero credit hours)
- Continue to register for six to nine credit hours
- Take your 90th credit hour in the semester you complete the thesis