• Department Links ▼
  
  • Chemistry Home
  • Department Directory
  • Courses
  • Research
  • Mission and Objectives
  • Chemistry at ESF: An Informal History
• Undergraduate Programs ▼
  
  • Undergraduate Program Overview
  • Options:
  • Biochemistry and Organic Natural Product Chemistry
  • Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Chemistry Awards
• Graduate Programs ▼
  
  • Graduate Program Overview
  • Current Graduate Students
  • Programs of Study:
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemical Ecology (with EFB)
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry of Natural Products
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Degree Requirements:
  • MS and PhD Degree Requirements
  • MPS Program Information and Degree Requirements
  • Prospective Students:
  • Admission Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Current Students:
  • Helpful Information
  • Chemistry Awards
  • Meet Your Fellow Students
• Careers and Alumni ▼
  
  • Employment & Career Resources
  • Internships in Chemistry

Requirements for MS and PhD Degrees

This page presents a summary of the requirements. Requirements vary with the area of concentration; for detailed descriptions, see

• Complete Description of Degree Requirements for Chemistry MS and PhD (PDF)

The Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Polymer Chemistry options each have a core sequence of courses that are required for all graduate students in that option. All graduate students must present a Dept. Seminar (FCH 997) plus a capstone seminar; the capstone seminar is usually given on the day of the thesis or dissertation defense.

General Requirements

Steering Committee and Program of Study: By then end of their first year of study, all graduate students must formally identify the two faculty who, in addition to their Major Professor, will provide guidance for their graduate school career. These two faculty and the Major Professor constitute the Steering Committee. These faculty must approve the student's program of study: the list of courses the student will take for their degree. This approval must also be occur by the end of the first year. Forms are available online at students' MyESF page. Failure to complete these requirements in a timely manner may prevent students from receiving funding.

Communication Skills: All students entering graduate programs at ESF are expected to be proficient in communication skills, including technical writing and library skills. Chemistry graduate students can meet the requirement by demonstrating the equivalent in experience in writing and library skills, as determined by the Steering Committee.

MS Program Requirements

MS students are required to take at least 18 credits of coursework or non-thesis research; some options require additional credits. While a certain number of research credits are required, successful completion of an MS thesis project is determined by effort and effectiveness, not by credits.

PhD Program Requirements

PhD students are required to take at least 30 credits of coursework or non-dissertation research; some options require additional credits. While a certain number of research credits are required, successful completion of an PhD dissertation project is determined by effort and effectiveness, not by credits.

PhD students must pass Preliminary Exams in two of four subject areas. Students are required to pass these exams by the end of their second year. Students get two chances to pass an exam, so they should start taking these exams in their second and third academic semester. Preliminary exams may take written or written and oral forms. Copies of previous exams are available from the Department Secretary.

The Candidacy Exam at ESF has three formats, but Chemistry usually uses format 2 (research report) or format 3 (the thesis proposal). Students write a thesis proposal and then defend it orally in front of their Steering Committee and one or two examiners.