University of Illinois At Chicago

After admission, all entering students must take placement examinations. The placement examinations, which are at a level of typical terminal college courses, are offered in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry. All graduate students must show proficiency in three areas of their choice. A deficiency in an area must be remedied by taking an advanced undergraduate or a graduate-level course in the area.

Students seeking a PhD degree are encouraged to enter this program immediately after completion of their undergraduate studies. The MS degree is not a prerequisite to the PhD degree in Chemistry.

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 hours beyond the baccalaureate.
• Course Work At least 9 hours must be in lecture courses at the 500-level in the student’s major area and 3 hours must be in a chemistry lecture course at the 500-level (or 6 hours in lecture courses at the 400-level in one field) outside the student’s major area. Students must meet the seminar requirements of their major concentration within the program. Students found to be deficient in specific areas of chemistry on the basis of placement examinations may have to complete additional courses.
• Preliminary Examination Required. Candidates must pass the cumulative examination requirement and have a Research Committee Meeting by the end of the second year in the program. Advancing to candidacy is dependent on satisfactory completion of these requirements within the time limit set by the department.
• Dissertation Required.