DEPARTMENTAL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

An advanced degree represents demonstrated scholarship as well as intellectual independence and stands as a symbol of continuing development. The Graduate Program in Chemistry will provide a platform from which one may build expertise and continue a life-long process of inquiry and growth. It is not the intention of this program to provide detailed training in every aspect of chemistry or its applications. Rather, it is our goal to provide the fundamentals for a much-expanded personal development, provide the environment where intellectually active people may thrive, and provide the facilities to conduct research to learn new chemistry. The faculty provides a number of aids in this process of preparation including graduate courses, seminars, examinations, and considerable personal assistance and advice. Although the emphasis of graduate education is on student initiative, all programs have several mileposts to assist both the faculty and students. These formal aspects of the Graduate Program in Chemistry are presented in the descriptive outline that follows.

The First Year of Study

A. Qualifying Examinations
All entering students are required to take at least four (4) of the six- (6) qualifying examinations in the areas of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical chemistry, and chemical physics. The faculty will use these examinations in consultation with the student to plan the first-year course program prior to registration. These examinations are written at the level of undergraduate course final examinations in these areas and students are advised to prepare for them by review of the appropriate material.

All students must demonstrate competence in four (4) of the six- (6) areas (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical chemistry, chemical physics) during their first year in residence. Demonstration of competence is accomplished by:

1. Passing the proficiency examinations offered twice during the first year (August and January);
   or
2. Registration for and completion of the appropriate undergraduate course with a grade of B- or better;
   or
3. Registration for and completion of the appropriate graduate level course with a grade of B- or better.
   

B. Core Graduate Degree Requirements
All first year graduate students must complete six (6) graduate courses including at least two (2) 800 level courses with a grade of S, or B or better and at least three (3) from the following sets with a grade of B- or better:

1. Chemistry 715, Instrumental Theory and Techniques in Organic Chemistry, or
   Chemistry 751, Analytical Chemistry
2. Chemistry 511, Organic Chemistry III or
   Chemistry 712, Organic Chemistry IV
   
3. Chemistry 521, Advanced Physical Chemistry I, or
   Chemistry 522, Advanced Physical Chemistry II, or
   Chemistry 722, Reaction Kinetics and Dynamics
4. Chemistry 743, Biological Chemistry I or
   Chemistry 744, Biological Chemistry II
   
5. Chemistry 535, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I, or
   
6. Physics 531, Optics, or
   Physics 725, Mathematical Methods of Physics I, or
   Physics 742, Electricity and Magnetism I, or
   Physics 743, Electricity and Magnetism II

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemistry

1. Successful completion of the core degree requirements with course grades of B- or better (IB 1 & 2 above), 701, 702 and 703 and two 800-level special topics courses.
2. Total course credit accumulation of 72 hours (54 Topical and 18 Non-Topical) with at least a B cumulative average.
3. Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination, which is described in detail below.
4. Presentation of research in the third year poster session.
5. Completion of a written dissertation that describes the research and presents results suitable for publication in the scientific literature. The dissertation must be approved by a Doctoral Examining Committee comprised of:
   1. the student's Advisory Committee
   2. one or more faculty members from outside the Chemistry Department
6. Successful oral presentation of the dissertation work in a seminar to faculty and students.
7. Successful oral defense of the dissertation to the Doctoral Examining Committee.
8. It is expected that these requirements will be satisfied before the end of the student's fifth year in residence. Extensions to this five-year rule may be granted with approval of the research advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Candidacy Examination (2nd Year)

Students eligible to pursue a Ph.D. degree will take an oral examination during their fourth semester in residence to advance to candidacy for this degree. This examination consists of an oral presentation and defense of an original scientific proposal.

Prior to the Candidacy Examination, students will submit a summary of their thesis research problem and the progress made to date. In addition, their research advisor will submit a written evaluation of their research productivity. Based upon an assessment of progress, students may be invited to discuss their research summaries with the Research Advisory Committee. Such discussions will probe the student's fundamental understanding of the project and his or her ability to execute experiments essential to completion of a Ph.D. thesis.

The original research proposal will be no more than ten (10) double-spaced pages in length, excluding appendices and other relevant supplemental materials, and should:

1. state the problem to be attacked;
2. justify the study in consideration of the larger scientific context;
3. concisely outline the experimental or theoretical approach to the study and identify perceived difficulties.

The write-up should include appropriate references to the literature and may include figures or tables for reference. The examination itself may investigate any aspect of the proposal. A primary purpose of the candidacy examination is to discover whether students are able to integrate their training to solve problems that arise in the general course of research efforts. Creative solutions, evidence of general chemical knowledge, and an appreciation of alternative approaches to experimental and theoretical difficulties are important aspects of a successful examination.