Degrees

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a program of course work and research leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Research interests of the faculty cover all major areas of chemistry, including analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry.

Most students will find it advisable to take several courses in their major field to assure adequate performance on the preliminary or cumulative examinations. The student's thesis or dissertation committee may require any course work that it deems proper and advisable. In order to broaden the student's perspective of chemistry and biochemistry, an M.S. or Ph.D. student must take a prescribed number of core courses selected from among the following areas: Analytical, Biochemical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical.

In order for a student to have the maximum benefit in the use of time and in the planning of a program of study, a major professor should be chosen as soon as is practical but not later than the end of the first semester of residence.

Teaching is a vital and integral part of every graduate student's training and is required for both the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. Faculty members evaluate the performance of teaching assistants every semester, and outstanding teaching assistants receive special recognition from the Department.

For both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, a formal public seminar based on the thesis or dissertation, respectively, is required. Following the public presentation, the candidate will be examined by the thesis or dissertation committee and other participating faculty.