Degree Title: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Name and Number: Chemistry – PH3311

Department/Units: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Program Mission: The department’s mission is to provide a quality education to graduate students while they pursue state-of-the-art research in chemistry.  The objective of the graduate program is to educate and train students to become highly effective scientists by providing them with the interdisciplinary tools, research skills and ethical and service sensibilities needed to succeed in their future career.  This includes offering a variety of rigorous graduate level courses, maintaining cutting-edge research programs within individual laboratories and compliance with the Code for Professional Ethical Conduct espoused by the American Chemical Society

Program Learning Objectives:

1. To demonstrate a broad understanding of chemical concepts and an in depth understanding of a selected topic in chemistry.
2. To demonstrate competence in identifying a significant scientific problem and solving that problem through creative scientific experimentation, data analysis, and evaluation.
3. To effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, scientific concepts and outcomes.
4. To work effectively both as an individual and as a collaborative team member.

Program Overview: Candidates for a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Chemistry must demonstrate the ability to plan, execute, evaluate, and communicate original chemical research.  Candidates will develop specialized research skills to carry out this work effectively and will do so in the laboratory of a chosen faculty research advisor.  The graduate program spans all five traditional disciplines of chemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic and Physical).  Within these five areas the department boasts particular research strengths in chemometrics, forensic chemistry, mass spectrometry, medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, nanoscience and nanomedicine, nucleic acid research, protein and glycoprotein engineering, and spectroscopy.

Opportunities for Graduates: Graduates with a Ph.D. in chemistry typically pursue academic careers (typically following post-doctoral appointments) and R & D positions in chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Link to Program:  www.ohio.edu/chemistry/

Link to Program Handbook: Contact Ms. Marlene Jenkins at  jenkinm1@ohio.edu

Graduation Requirements:

1. A minimum of 90 semester hours in chemistry and approved electives
2. Attendance at a seminar course each semester and yearly departmental seminar presentations after the first year of study.
3. A qualifying exam must be passed for candidacy. This consists of a written dissertation research proposal and an oral defense of the proposal.
4. A written dissertation describing the results of the student’s research.
5. Students must present their dissertation orally at a public meeting followed by an oral defense held before the student’s dissertation committee.
6. The average period of study is four and one-half years.

Admission Requirements: A 4-year bachelor’s degree, a GPA (or equivalent) of 3.0 or higher, a TOEFL of 80 (IBT) or IELTS of 6.5 across all bands for international students, GRE scores for holders of a non-US degree, a resume, three letters of recommendation and a written description of research interests. All graduate students new to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will be required to take competency examinations in Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. The exams will be taken from the current American Chemical Society exam sequence, unless a division decides to generate and grade its own exam. All who score in the 50th percentile or greater on a standardized examination demonstrate competence in that area. Each student must pass a total of three (3) out of five (5) competency exams taken including one in the area chosen as the student’s major during the first year of graduate study. The exams will be offered three times during the year in September, January, and June. Alternately, competency can be demonstrated by passing at a level of B or better one 5000 level course in three of the five areas (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). One of the three courses can be in the student’s major area but the other two must be outside of the student’s major area and must be in the other areas of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). General/review courses will be offered each fall at the 5000 level in each research area of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical). Students failing to meet the competency requirement during their first year of graduate study may lose their financial support until competency is demonstrated or may be removed from the program at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.