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Doctoral candidates are expected to demonstrate creative thinking, self-motivation and a commitment to achieving quality in their research product. Departmental research includes a well-balanced mixture of experimental, computational, and theoretical projects in the areas of analytical, bio-, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. Chemistry doctoral students address real problems, have strong interactions with their advisors and are expected to solve pertinent chemical and environmental problems. Qualified students may be accepted directly into the program with a bachelor's degree or after they have completed a master's degree in chemistry. A GPA in previous work of 3.5 or better is expected, and international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 550 (214 on the computer based test). General GRE scores are also required for admission. GRE subject scores are not required. Although the program is intended for full-time students, courses many be taken on a part-time basis initially. A minimum of one year in full-time residency required for completion of the dissertation. Teaching assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships (RAs) are available on a competitive basis. In addition to tuition remission, assistantships include stipends for Ph.D. students. Credits: Students entering with bachelor's degrees are required to complete a minimum of 78 credits. This includes 42 credits of course work. The required core courses for the M.S. in Chemistry are mandatory; and no less than 24 credits in chemistry or related courses must be taken. At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 700 level (of which at least 6 should be in chemistry), and none may be at the 500 level. The qualifying examinations must be passed (see below). A minimum of 36 credits of research must be completed, and a dissertation must be submitted and defended. For students who have completed a masters degree: The program requires a minimum of 24 credits of course work, at least 12 of which are at the 700 level. Of the 700 level courses, 6 credits must be in chemistry. Students must also take 36 credits of research work, followed by the submission and defense of a dissertation. While it is not required that the core courses be taken, students will have to pass qualifying examinations in these areas (see below). Therefore, it is recommended that they take these courses unless they already have a strong background in these areas. Seminar:
Each semester, Ph.D. students must register for and attend departmental seminars. The credits awarded for this seminar are not applied to fulfillment of degree requirements. Grades:
All students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0. Students entering without the MS degree must also attain a GPA of 3.0 in the core courses. Qualifying Examination:
Within the first year after admission to the program, students must take a qualifying examination, which will include questions on the required core courses as well as recently offered elective courses. Students have two chances to pass all of the sections. If any section is failed or is not taken on the first trial, one more attempt is allowed. The examinations are given in January and June, and students should notify the Graduate Advisor for Chemistry of their intent to take the examinations at least a month before they are scheduled. After passing the qualifying examinations, students should select a research advisor and a doctoral research committee. The committee must meet the approval of the Departmental Graduate Advisor for Chemistry. It should consist of, at a minimum, the research advisor, three departmental faculty members and one person from outside the department. The graduate advisor should be notified of these selections. Forms are available from the departmental office to report the selections. Dissertation:
Within six months of passing the qualifiers, the student must give an oral presentation to their research committee, detailing the background of the selected research project, and the student's plans for carrying out the research. The committee must formally approve the proposal. The committee may meet at other times to follow the student's progress, at the request of the student and the research advisor. After the dissertation is completed, the student will present the research to the committee and the public, and defend it. It is expected that the committee will have been given copies of the document several weeks before the defense meeting to ensure that they have adequate time to review it. The date, time and place of the defense must be posted thoughout campus and e-mailed to the department at least two weeks ahead of time. Obtaining a Ph.D. is expected to entail more than just fulfilling formal requirements. There are skills which students will develop while completing the formal program. We call these skills "The Informal Requirements".
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