Chemistry, PhD

Additional Requirements

PhD Preliminary Evaluation: The preliminary exam is a ‘closed door’ meeting that includes the student, the student’s advisor, and two other chemistry department T/TS faculty members.  To pass this exam the student must demonstrate a strong likelihood for passing the comprehensive exam, which occurs in the last part of the student’s second year in the program.  In the preliminary exam, the student must demonstrate i) good progress in meeting the course requirement (i.e., at least 6 credits with an average GPA of 3.0 or better), ii) an understanding of their research project (i.e., an ability to articulate their project’s goals and importance), and iii) basic skills and aptitude for chemistry research (i.e., a basic understanding and experience in theory, literature, and methods that are core to their research).

Comprehensive Examination: The comprehensive examination provides the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate their potential for independent research and scholarship. The student submits a research report on their own work to committee members; the oral exam is a discussion of the student’s research to date. The student must be prepared to answer questions related to the theoretical and practical aspects of the research problem. The student is also expected to show a command of graduate course work related to the field of the student’s research. The department’s comprehensive examination satisfies the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences requirements for an overview examination. Upon satisfactory completion of the Comprehensive Exam, with approval by the department chair and the assistant dean of graduate studies, the student is formally admitted to candidacy for the PhD program.

Seminar: Each student in the doctoral program is required to present at least one seminar, open to the department. The seminar may be given at any time during the student’s career and on any topic approved by the student’s major advisor, including the results of doctoral research.

Dissertation and Final Examination: The PhD dissertation is a report of scientific investigation completed under the supervision of the student’s faculty mentor/research advisor. It must represent an original contribution to knowledge and must relate what is found to what was known before. The candidate must defend his/her dissertation in an oral examination before a doctoral committee consisting of the major advisor, at least two additional departmental graduate faculty members, and one graduate faculty member from another department within the University. With prior approval, a qualified faculty member from another institution may also be appointed. The final examination is open to all members of the University community.