Doctor of Philosophy

For Autumn quarter of their first year, graduate students are required to enroll in Chem 291 to learn about research opportunities from Chemistry faculty. They are also required to enroll in Chem 299 to learn how to be an effective teaching assistant and graduate student in Chemistry.

Students may concentrate in organic, inorganic chemical biology, physical, or biophysical chemistry. All graduate students are required to take six graduate-level lecture courses (course numbers greater than 200) of at least three units each in chemistry or related disciplines (e.g., biochemistry, electrical engineering, mathematics, chemical engineering, chemical and systems biology, physics, materials science), selected in consultation with their research advisor or the Graduate Study Committee. All six courses must be taken for a letter grade. Two Chemistry courses must be taken in the Autumn quarter and another two Chemistry courses in the Winter quarter of the first year. Students are expected to complete all coursework before the end of the third year.

Courses taken outside of Chemistry require prior approval from the student's research advisor or the Graduate Study Committee.

Research

Before TGR, students are required to maintain continuous enrollment in Chem 200 (minimum 2 units per quarter) to conduct chemical research, either rotation research before joining a research lab or dissertation research afterward. Students are expected to maintain satisfactory research progress determined by the thesis committee.

Qualifying Exam (second year)

Students take the qualifying exam by the end of the Spring quarter of their second year. This is an important milestone. Successful completion of the Progress Report is required for advancement to PhD candidacy. Students will be evaluated on their knowledge and critical thinking in Chemistry, their research progress and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research in Chemistry, and the quality and feasibility of the proposed future research plan. Those who fail the qualifying exam may appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee. Upon approval, they have the opportunity to retake the exam within 10 weeks of the initial exam and before the end of their second year.

Department Seminar (all years)

All students are expected to attend department colloquia (Chem 300) and seminars (Chem 329, 359, 379) when they are available.

Research Seminar (third year)

Students are required to give a department seminar on their research by the Summer quarter of their third year. 

Committee Meeting (third year)

Students are required to complete a thesis committee meeting by the end of the Spring quarter of their third year.  

Research Proposal Defense (fourth year)

Students are required to write a research proposal and defend it in front of their reading committee. They also need to complete a thesis committee meeting to report their research progress and plan for graduation, by the end of the Spring quarter of their fourth year. . 

Additional Committee Meetings

If a student does not plan to do their dissertation defense by the end of their fifth year, they are expected to schedule a thesis committee meeting in the Spring quarter of their fifth year. If a student has not defended their dissertation by the end of their sixth year, they are expected to schedule quarterly thesis committee meetings starting from the Autumn quarter of their seventh year.

Admission to candidacy is a judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to take the PhD qualifying exam and apply for candidacy by the end of the Spring quarter of their second year in the program. A written progress report must be submitted to the thesis committee one week prior to the qualifying exam. Qualifying procedures in the Department of Chemistry include satisfactory completion of at least five lecture course requirements, identification of an advisor by the end of the Winter quarter of the first year, successfully passing the qualifying exam, and making satisfactory progress on a dissertation research project determined by the thesis committee.

Students who are not advanced to candidacy will be dismissed from the program.

In the Department of Chemistry, the oral exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation or upon completion of a draft of their dissertation. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense. Students are expected to complete this milestone by the end of the sixth year in the program.

Before candidates may request the scheduling of the University Oral Examination, clearance must be obtained from the dissertation advisor, and an academic review meeting must be scheduled with the Student Services Manager for the Department of Chemistry.

Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to chemical science. Students are expected to submit the dissertation in the same quarter that they complete the oral exam, and no later than the subsequent quarter.   During the period in which faculty members are reading a dissertation, candidates are expected to be available for consultation until the dissertation has received final department approval.

Students must submit their revised draft of dissertation to the reading committee at least two weeks before the university submission deadline.