Graduate Degree Programs
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Candidates must fulfill the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and of the Department of Chemistry.

Master of Science. (A) Thesis option: General M.S. requirements apply.  At least one credit must be earned in Chem 501.  (B) Nonthesis option: A minimum of 30 credits in course work is required and must be divided among the following: (1) 20 credits in chemistry courses numbered 500 or above (including one credit in Chem 501); (2) 10 credits in chemistry courses numbered 400 or above, or related courses numbered 300 or above.  A written and/or oral examination that covers graduate course work must be taken during the final semester in residence.

Master of Arts in Teaching.  General M.A.T. requirements apply.  If not already completed as an undergraduate, the following courses are required: Chem 302 and 303 or, recommended, Chem 305 and 307 (which have higher prerequisite requirements); also, Chem 372, and 435 or 454; some research experience in Chem 491 is also desirable.  The four credits in electives are to be taken in 300-, 400-, or 500-level course in biology, physics, or mathematics.

Doctor of Philosophy - Major in Chemistry.  The student will enroll for at least 33 credit hours in courses.  All students will take Chem 509 (Advanced Physical Chemistry) and obtain two credits in Chem 501 (Seminar).  In addition, sufficient credit hours of research will be completed to meet a total minimum registration requirement of 78 credits.

The student is encouraged to take courses in related fields, e.g., mathematics, physics, chemical engineering, geochemistry, computer science, electronics, or biochemistry.  This work can be designated as the minor or supporting field on the study program.

All Ph.D. candidates are required to participate in seminar (Chem 501) while in residence, even though not formally registered for credit in this course.  Registration may be for zero credit.

Cumulative examinations are general examinations in the student's field of specialization to judge the breadth of knowledge gained by the student from courses, lectures, and the literature, as well as the ability to use this knowledge in the solution of a variety of problems.  Once started, a student must continue to take these examinations each time they are offered whenever the student is in residence and is eligible.  If a given examination is not taken, a failing grade is received.  Examinations are approximately three hours in length and are given four times each semester and, in exceptional cases, during the summer session.  Normally, students will take examinations only in the chosen area of concentration, but they may elect to take them in other areas of chemistry.  The student must obtain an average grade of 50% in eight examinations to continue in the Ph.D. program.

Shortly after completing the final cumulative examination, Ph.D. students are required to submit a written proposal on their doctoral research project and defend it at an oral examination by their graduate committee (Chem 590).  The proposal will be limited to a maximum of 5,000 words, excluding the bibliography, and will consist of a statement of the proposed doctoral research problem, an in-depth discussion of the relevant literature, a listing of the major research objectives, a summary of the proposed experimental work plan, and an appropriate bibliography.