Program Overview

Chemistry, PhD

The Graduate Program in Chemistry is designed for students who wish to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry while undertaking cutting-edge research. The program provides students with the necessary theoretical background and hands-on training to become independent and highly successful scientists. Graduate students achieve mastery of advanced chemistry topics through courses in different subdisciplines.

Curriculum

• Required Courses:
  • CHEM 6010: Chemical Information (1 unit)
  • or CHEM 6011: Chemical Information for Biological Chemists
  • or CHEM 6012: Chemical Information for Inorganic and Materials Chemists
  • or CHEM 6013: Chemical Information for Organic Chemists
  • or CHEM 6014: Chemical Information for Physical Chemists
  • Chemistry Courses: 6 units
  • Electives: 13 units
• Teaching Requirement:
  • Two semesters of teaching are required
• Total Course Units: 20

University PhD Benchmarks

In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:

• Qualifying Evaluation
• Candidacy Examination
• Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam
• Dissertation Deposit

Sample Plan of Study

• Year 1:
  • Select 6 course units of required coursework
  • Chemical Information Course
  • Choose a Research Supervisor
• Year 2:
  • CHEM 9999: Independent Study and Research
  • Form Dissertation Committee
  • Candidacy Exam
• Year 3:
  • CHEM 9999: Independent Study and Research
  • Annual Meeting of the Dissertation Committee
• Year 4:
  • CHEM 9999: Independent Study and Research
  • Annual Meeting of the Dissertation Committee
• Years 5 and 6:
  • Write Dissertation
  • Public Defense

Additional coursework may be taken throughout.

Research Areas

Graduate students conduct research in the fields of:

• Bioinorganic chemistry
• Bioorganic chemistry
• Chemical biology
• Biophysical chemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Materials science
• Laser chemistry
• Health-related chemistry
• Structural and dynamical studies of biological systems
• X-ray scattering/diffraction
• NMR spectroscopy
• Applications of computing and computer graphics
• Investigations of chemical communication and hormone-receptor interactions