Chemistry, Ph.D.
Prepare yourself for employment as a professional chemist in academia, industrial, or government research laboratories, or in other vocations where specialized knowledge in chemistry is desired or required.
About the Ph.D. in Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Liberal Arts offers the Ph.D. in Chemistry. It is designed for those who intend to seek employment as a professional chemist in academia, industrial, or government research laboratories, or in other vocations where specialized knowledge in chemistry is desired or required.
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Program Information
Program Type
Doctorate Program
Area of Study
Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology
School
Degree
Ph.D. in Chemistry
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
54
Academic Requirements
Along with 54 semester hours of graduate credit, your curriculum must must include 3 hours of Chem 700, 18 hours of formal nonremedial lecture courses, 3 hours of seminar (Chem 750 and Chem 759), and 18 hours of dissertation (Chem 797). Credit for previous graduate-level course work may be applied toward these requirements at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee and with approval by the department chair. A minimum grade of B is required in each course in the student’s area of specialization.
All M.S. and Ph.D. students must take one CORE COURSE from each of four of the five specialty areas. Core courses for each area are:
| Speciality Areas Table |
|---|
| Analytical Chemistry (Chem 512, 514, 519) |
| Biochemistry (Chem 534, 771) |
| Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 544, 701, 702) |
| Organic Chemistry (Chem 527, 528) |
| Physical Chemistry (Chem 531, 532, 536) |
A cumulative average of not less than B is required in the core courses. A minimum grade of B is also required in each course in the student’s area of specialization. These course and credit requirements are minimum requirements and may not be satisfied with remedial courses. Specific requirements for individual students in excess of the minimum may be imposed by the adviser and the student’s advisory committee.
Graduate Courses – Approval of the department is prerequisite to registration for all graduate chemistry courses. Generally, physical chemistry based on calculus is prerequisite to all 500-level courses except 545, 546, and 547 and the intermediate level courses 513, 524, and 535. Upon recommendation by the instructor and approval by the department chair, prerequisites for a course may be waived in individual cases. Graduate courses in medicinal chemistry are considered an integral part of the graduate program in chemistry.
A dissertation, which must be a formal written account of the student’s research, is required of all Ph.D. degree candidates. The dissertation is defended by the student in a final oral examination, which typically follows the student’s final seminar. The student’s advisory committee conducts the examination, which is not restricted to the content of the dissertation.
Application Process
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry welcomes student applications with the following materials.
- Complete the Graduate School’s Online Application.
- Pay the application fee ($60).
- Submit official transcripts.
- International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
- Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to the link provided on the application.
- Statement of purpose.
- Three letters of recommendation: provide contact information for three recommenders.
To be admitted to a graduate degree program in full standing, a student must have completed a B.S. degree in chemistry with an average grade of B. Exceptionally qualified students who have not completed a B.S. degree in chemistry but have a degree in a related field (such as biology, engineering, physics, pharmacology, or pharmacy) may be admitted. However they should expect to present a clear case in their personal statement for admission. Additionally, they should expect to be provisionally admitted until specified conditions are satisfied such as prerequisite coursework or other expectations.
Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified applicants. They are $25,000 per year minimum for 12 months.
Students with a graduate assistantship funded in the department receive a scholarship that covers some or all of the tuition and non-residency fee, if applicable, for regular semesters and subsidized health insurance.
The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence.
We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about the Ph.D. in Chemistry, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Ryan Clifton Fortenberry
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
DIRECT Program
The Diversifying Interdisciplinary Research Expertise through Community Building and Training (DIRECT) Program is a National Institutes of Health funded program offering financial, technical, operational, and professional resources for Ph.D. students interested in careers in the biomedical field. DIRECT trainees receive annual stipends, fully paid tuition, health insurance, conference travel support, and childcare cost reimbursement. The program emphasizes cohort building, mentoring, networking, and skill development.
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