Chemistry, MS, PhD - Curriculum & Duration

Coursework

The research oriented MS (thesis) and PhD degrees require a minimum of 20 semester hours of formal coursework, which includes both core and elective courses. These courses are selected in consultation with the Department's Graduate Program Director, the student's thesis advisory committee and thesis advisor. Each student is also expected to participate in the Department's seminar program where both literature and research seminars are delivered to students and faculty on a weekly basis during the semester.

In addition, each student takes part in a laboratory rotation program which is designed to expose the student to the available research opportunities in their area of interest.

MS Students in the Non-Thesis Program take an additional 10 semester hours of coursework in lieu of a thesis.

Selection of a Research Advisor

Upon entering the graduate program, all students register for research rotations with two potential advisors. Upon completion of the rotation series, a student is eligible to select an advisor (the advisor usually is, but need not be, one of the rotation advisors). Descriptions of faculty and their research interests are found online in the Faculty Directory. These descriptions will help you select a potential research advisors.

Once the advisor is selected, an Advisory Committee is formed, typically consisting of three or four faculty members with appropriate expertise, and is designed to assist the student in their research endeavors. With the aid of the research advisor and the Advisory Committee, you will write a one or two page research prospectus, outlining the proposed research program, which must be approved before you can begin the thesis research.

Research Project

Students in the MS Thesis and PhD Programs are expected to carry out an independent, original research project under the direction of a member of the Graduate Faculty in the Department, with the guidance of an Advisory Committee. The equivalent of at least 2 semesters of full-time research is required to qualify for the MS Thesis degree, while at least 4 semesters of full-time research are required for the PhD degree

Thesis Dissertation and Final Defense

Upon completion of the research project that is necessary for the MS (thesis) and PhD degrees, you must write a thesis describing your research accomplishments, and successfully defend that thesis at a final oral examination before the members of the Advisory Committee.

Prerequisites

• Analytical chemistry, 1 semester
• Biochemistry, 1 semester
• Calculus, 2 semesters
• English composition, 1 semester
• Inorganic chemistry with physical chemistry prerequisite, 1 semester
• Instrumental Analysis with a physical chemistry prerequisite, 1 semester
• Literature of chemistry, 1 semester
• Organic chemistry with laboratory, 2 semesters
• Physical chemistry, 2 semesters
• Physical chemistry laboratory, 1 semester

Chemistry, MS (non-thesis)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
CH802	Research Seminar	2 credits
CH805	Critical Evaluation of Literature	1  credit
CH880	Current Literature	2 credits
	Additional 700- or 800-level chemistry courses1	15 credits
	Additional 300-level or above course (must be approved)	6 credits
	Select any two courses from the four categories below: Organic Chemistry Graduate Course Analytical Chemistry Graduate Course Physical Chemistry Graduate Course Biochemistry Graduate Course	6 credits
	Total Chemistry, MS (non-thesis) Requirement	32 credits

Chemistry, MS (thesis)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
CH799	Research (credits are variable, minimum of 10)	10 credits
CH802	Research Seminar	2 credits
CH805	Critical Evaluation of Literature	1 credit
CH880	Current Literature	2 credits
CH878	Introduction to Research	2 credits
	Additional 700- or 800-level chemistry courses (must be approved)1	9 credits
	Select any two courses from the four categories below: Organic Chemistry Graduate Course Analytical Chemistry Graduate Course Physical Chemistry Graduate Course Biochemistry Graduate Course	6 credits
	Total Chemistry, MS (thesis) Requirement	32 credits

Chemistry, PhD

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
CH802	Research Seminar	2 credits
CH805	Critical Evaluation of Literature	1 credit
CH878	Introduction to Research	2 credits
CH880	Current Literature	2 credits
CH885	Grant Proposal Writing	1 credit
CH899	Doctoral Research (credits are variable, minimum of 20 credits)	20 credits
	Additional 700- or 800-level chemistry courses (must be approved by advisor or Advisory Committee)1	7 credits
	Select any two courses from the four categories below: Organic Chemistry Graduate Course Analytical Chemistry Graduate Course Physical Chemistry Graduate Course Biochemistry Graduate Course	6 credits
	Total Chemistry, PhD Requirement	41 credits

¹At least one chemistry lecture course must be at the 800-level and CH802 Research Seminar may not be used to satisfy this requirement.