Applicants admitted to the Chemistry graduate program must select a program of study from a “group program” that will include at least 20 hours of graduate course work, which may include courses from all areas of chemistry, and must include at least 16 hours of graduate course work in Chemistry. A total of 90 semester hours is required, including at least 50 hours of research for students entering with a bachelor’s degree and 36 hours for students entering with a master’s degree.
The preliminary exam for the Ph.D. degree consists of a series of written cumulative exams on topics within the student’s area of specialization and an oral research proposition examination that the student must prepare and defend before his or her supervisory committee. Completion of the Ph.D. degree requires the submission of a written dissertation and its oral defense before one’s supervisory committee.
Group programs
There are six programs of graduate course work that can be followed for the Ph.D. degree:
- Analytical Group Program
- Biological Group Program
- Inorganic Group Program
- Materials Group Program
- Organic Group Program
- Physical Group Program
The program of study is different in each program, but has the following common features:
Departmental requirements:
Two credit hours of common course work are required for all group programs.
Credit seminar programs:
Two credit hours of credit seminar are required together with attendance at a seminar program throughout the entire program of study. Students register for 0 credit hours in the seminar course when the seminar program is not taken for credit.
Group programs:
- Substantive Group Courses: A number of credit hours are required in course work specific to a particular group.
- Other Chemistry Department Courses: A number of credit hours are required in chemistry department courses.
- Additional Courses: A number of credit hours may be required that may be taken from chemistry department courses and sometimes from courses offered in other departments.
Cumulative examinations:
There are separate cumulative examinations in the Analytical, Inorganic, Materials, Organic and Physical groups.