Graduate Curriculum

Graduate Curriculum

The requirements for the three different types of degrees available are summarized below along with some requirements of TA’s. Individual course requirements will depend on results of the placement exams. The one-credit Chemical Safety Seminar must be taken in the student’s first year.

PhD Degree

1) Complete CHM 500, 505, 506 and 507. (Students wishing to pursue research through the Biochemistry Division may substitute BCH 581 to fulfill this requirement.)

2) Complete a minimum of six credits of additional coursework. Graduate-level courses taken in other departments require pre-approval by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

3) Pass Qualifying Exams, complete Thesis Proposal and then pass Comprehensive Exam

4) Earn three seminar credits as specified in CHM 642, 643, & 644.

5) Complete a total of 64 credit hours of work, complete the residency requirement and write and orally defend the dissertation.

M.S Degree (Thesis Option)

1) Complete CHM 500, 505, 506 and 507. (Students wishing to pursue research through the Biochemistry Division may substitute BCH 581 to fulfill this requirement.)

2) Complete a minimum of nine additional credits of classroom coursework. Graduate-level courses taken in other departments require pre-approval by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

3) Earn one seminar credit, CHM 642.

4) Complete a total of 30 credit hours of work and write and orally defend the thesis.

M.S. Degree (Non-Thesis Option)

1) Complete CHM 500, 505, 506 and 507. (Students wishing to pursue research through the Biochemistry Division may substitute BCH 581 to fulfill this requirement.)

2) Complete a minimum of 12-15 additional credits of classroom coursework. Graduate-level courses taken in other departments require pre-approval by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

3) Pass a Comprehensive Exam This exam shall be in a written format and will be a minimum of four hours in length. The exam shall be written by the student’s advisor in consultation with the Department and will cover all coursework taken by the student. This exam will be taken near the completion of the student’s formal coursework.

4) Earn one seminar credit, CHM 642.

5) Complete five to eight credit hours of directed research (CHM 551 and 552).

Teaching Assistantships

All first year students who are supported by Teaching Assistantships from the Department of Chemistry shall be required to complete 15 credits of approved formal coursework the first year in residence. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the student may lose his/her TA support.

Candidates for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, who are also supported by Teaching Assistantships during their academic years in residence, will be reviewed during their second and fourth years to determine whether financial assistance will be continued. Termination of support is usually due to an inferior academic record and/or research performance. However, this does not mean that financial support for an M.S. or a Ph.D. candidate is guaranteed for two or four years respectively. Teaching Assistantships, as well as other forms of financial support, can be withdrawn for inferior academic performance at the end of any semester.