| |
|
|
|
|
|
2012-2013 University Catalog
Chemistry and Biochemistry, PhD
|
|
Banner Code: SC-PHD-CBCM
The Chemistry and Biochemistry doctoral program is intended to prepare students for advanced work in the chemical sciences and related areas. Graduates with the PhD degree in this field can seek employment in research and development, process control, or higher education. In addition to these traditional science career paths, graduates are also positioned to pursue careers in non-traditional areas such as the intellectual property and regulatory fields. The program is designed to provide students with a firm foundation in advanced coursework, which is followed by an independent research project completed under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The culmination of the program is a dissertation representing original research that is publishable in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The program requires 72 total credits of coursework and dissertation.
This program of study is offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Science.
Admission Requirements
The Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate program of study in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field. Applicants are expected to have a BS degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00, and acceptable GRE and TOEFL scores (if applicable). Applicants with a BS degree in other fields of study who have at least three years of chemistry or biochemistry coursework may be accepted provisionally and may be required to successfully complete selected remedial courses, some of which may not be applicable towards PhD requirements. Interested students should submit a completed GMU Graduate Application, three letters of reference, official reports of GRE and TOEFL exam scores, and a personal/goals statement outlining their general research interests and career plans.
Reduction of Credit
For students entering the doctoral program with a master’s degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution, the number of required credits may be reduced up to 30 credits, subject to approval of the program faculty and the associate dean for student and academic affairs. See the College of Science graduate policies section for more information. |
Degree Requirements
Upon acceptance into the Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program, a student will be assigned an academic advisor. Prior to registering for classes, students are required to meet with their academic advisors who will provide guidance in selecting courses that are consistent with the student’s area of interest. Once a student has selected a research/dissertation advisor, that person then assumes the role of providing academic advisement to the student.
The program requires 72 total credits of coursework and dissertation. All students in the Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program take a common core of four courses. By working with the Dissertation Committee, a student may choose to specialize in an emphasis area such as analytical, biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry, or others according to his or her particular interests.
A student may choose up to 24 credits in general elective graduate courses that can be applied towards the degree requirements with the approval of the dissertation advisor and the program director. Core courses not used to satisfy the core requirement can be used as elective credits. Doctoral Course Work (48 credits)
Core Courses (12 credits)
Research Emphasis Courses (9 credits)
The purpose of the research emphasis courses is to provide the students with an in-depth theoretical foundation in their chosen area of expertise. Research emphasis courses are selected in consultation with the student’s research advisor.
Students are required to select 9 additional chemistry credits (3 courses) in one of the three research emphasis areas listed below. Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
Physical Chemistry and Spectroscopy
Electives (24 credits)
24 credits of approved elective courses chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor Dissertation Committee and Supervisor
By the end of their first year, students in the program are expected to have selected a dissertation/research supervisor and to have formed their dissertation committee. This committee will consist of at least 4 graduate faculty members (including the dissertation supervisor), with at least 2 members from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. At least one member must be from outside the department. Qualified individuals who are not members of the graduate faculty, including faculty at other universities or government laboratories, may serve on the committee with the approval of the program director and the associate dean for graduate programs.
Candidacy Examinations
The student must successfully complete separate written and oral candidacy examinations prepared and administered by the dissertation committee. Dissertation Proposal and Advancement to Candidacy
Based upon the committee’s familiarity with the student’s progress in the research project, the committee will determine whether a candidate is ready to write and defend the dissertation. With the approval of the dissertation committee, the student will enroll in Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (CHEM 998).
Students advance to doctoral candidacy by fulfilling the following requirements:
- The student prepares a dissertation proposal describing in detail the planned dissertation research. The proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee.
- The student must successfully complete candidacy examinations as stated above.
- Following successful completion of the research proposal and candidacy exams, the committee will recommend the student for advancement to doctoral candidacy.
Dissertation Research (24 credits)
No more than 24 combined credits from CHEM 998 and CHEM 999 may be applied toward satisfying doctoral degree requirements, with no more than 12 credits of CHEM 998. Dissertation Research and Defense
With the approval of the dissertation committee, the student will enroll in Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (CHEM 998) and Doctoral Dissertation Research (CHEM 999). The dissertation research should represent a significant contribution to the appropriate scientific field(s), and it should be deemed to represent a body of work that is publishable in a refereed scientific journal. The dissertation must be presented and defended in a public forum consisting of the dissertation committee and other interested members of the George Mason University community. |
|
|
Print-Friendly Page