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Our doctoral course and examination procedure emphasize research and research accomplishment as early as possible. Your Ph.D. supervisory committee, coursework, and your path through the examination process are individually designed by you and your advisor and planned according to the particular research area and topic involved. An M.S. degree is not required for admission. Students generally remain in residence during the summer. Since graduate courses are not offered during the summer session, this time is exclusively used for research.
- 22 Units of Graded Course Work
- 3 lab rotations
- Responsible Conduct in Research Training (12 credits)
- Teaching Requirement
- Research Progress Report/Prelim Document
- Preliminary Examination
- Oral Presentation Requirement
- Propositional Examination
- Ph.D. Dissertation and Examination
NOTE: International students whose native language is not English must enroll in English language courses offered through the Graduate School, during their first 3 semesters, unless formally waived from this requirement by the Graduate School.
Typical Degree Timeline
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The Department of Chemistry PhD Program considers applications for admission to the fall semester only. Chemistry applications are completed and submitted to the Graduate School in the fall of the year preceding the applicant's expected year of entry into the program. While many applicants apply in the fall of their senior year, the Department considers all applications from individuals with an undergraduate degree in chemistry or closely related field.
Application materials include the Graduate School online application form (paper applications are no longer available), letters of recommendation, transcripts, official GRE scores, personal statement and, for foreign students, the TOEFL/IELTS score. All application materials and supporting documents must be submitted electronically or postmarked by December 1.
Competitive fellowships are typically announced in March; acceptance of an earlier offer of a teaching assistantship does not preclude later acceptance of fellowship.
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
Scholarships
The Department of Chemistry recognizes the need for adequate financial support during the period of graduate study. All Chemistry doctoral program participants in good academic standing are fully supported as either Research or Teaching Assistants during their studies. Chemistry doctoral support includes:
- full tuition
- fee
- health insurance coverage
- monthly stipend to cover living expenses
Good academic standing entails maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, reaching all program milestones in a timely manner, and making adequate progress towards degree completion.