Ph.D. Requirements

Orientation to Graduate Study

All entering students will take standard placement examinations in organic chemistry and physical chemistry to assess their prior preparation in these areas. Students who perform above average will be immediately placed in graduate level courses. Students whose undergraduate preparation is incomplete will be placed into appropriate advanced undergraduate courses.

Entering students, in conjunction with the Ph.D. Coordinator, will plan a program of study which will include the basic requirements of the Ph.D. degree as well as allow the student to take courses best suited for his or her needs and interests.

Towards the end of the first term and into the second term, students will decide on a dissertation adviser. This is done after careful consideration of research topics available in the Center for Photochemical Sciences. Students submit their dissertation adviser choices to the Center. These choices are subject to Center approval.

Students must maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average to remain in good academic standing. The Center principal faculty will evaluate the overall progress of the student at the end of the first year of study. If satisfactory progress is not demonstrated, appropriate action will be taken.

Tentative Degree Program (second semester)

In consultation with the Ph.D. Coordinator and the Dissertation Advisor, students must formulate a tentative degree program (TDP) (courses and seminars the student needs to complete in order to receive the Ph.D. degree). The appropriate form (available in the Graduate Studies Office) should be completed and submitted to the Graduate College after completing 15 credit hours. If the TDP changes, the student must notify the Graduate Studies Office.

Dissertation Committee (summer semester after the first year)

A student's dissertation committee will consist of at least four members selected by the student in conjunction with his advisor. The dissertation committee must consist of at least two faculty from the Center for Photochemical Sciences and one other faculty member selected by the student. The Graduate College appoints the fourth committee member.

Qualification Examination (third semester)

The qualification examination will be a 10-15 page paper that describes the research progress made through the student's first summer in the program. This paper should convey the student's knowledge of the scientific literature surrounding his/her project as well as describe the results, which have been obtained to date. In particular, the student's paper should clearly demonstrate how the student's research project relates to other work done in the field. The student's Ph.D. committee will administer an oral examination on this topic. The timing of the qualification examination allows students who do not demonstrate the ability to complete the Ph.D. degree to make alternative choices about graduate study.

Preliminary Examination (fourth or fifth semester)

The preliminary examination consists of the preparation and defense of an original research proposal where the student will be required to develop a comprehensive plan to study some problem in a related area to, but not directly with, the Ph.D. dissertation proposal. The original written proposal will be presented to the student's dissertation committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral examination. Approval of this proposal by the committee will satisfy the written examination requirement. For the oral examination, students will be required to defend this proposal in a presentation to their dissertation committee.

Preliminary examination application forms should be submitted to the Graduate College four weeks before the exam. The student is responsible for formally notifying his/her committee of any required meeting. Each committee member must have, in hand, proposals for the preliminary exam at least two weeks before the exam is scheduled.

Dissertation Topic (fifth semester)

Dissertation topics require Center approval. Once the student has passed his preliminary exam, he/she must submit the topic of their dissertation as well as an abstract of the proposed research to the Center. The topic and abstract are then forwarded to the Graduate College for approval.

Candidacy for the Ph.D. (fifth semester)

A student becomes a candidate for the Ph.D. degree after successfully completing the qualification and preliminary examinations and obtaining approval of their dissertation topic.

Research Seminars (fifth semester)

Students will present seminars on their proposed dissertation research any initial results as part of the PCS 780 seminar series.

Ph.D. Dissertation

The dissertation represents a comprehensive original scholarly work with the doctoral candidate as the primary contributor. In general this work will be appropriate for publication as a major article (or series of articles) in a refereed journal. The dissertation committee supervises the dissertation work. Primary supervisory responsibility rests with the dissertation adviser.

The Graduate College specifies the form and style to be used in writing the dissertation. These are described in the Thesis and Dissertation Handbook available on the Web. Hard copies of the handbook are available for purchase at the University Bookstore.

The completed dissertation must be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee not less than two weeks prior to the date of the scheduled final oral examination. Failure to meet this deadline can cause the final oral examination to be rescheduled. Additional corrections to the manuscript are often required following the oral examination. If the student plans on participating in the University commencement ceremonies, an original copy of the completed dissertation must be delivered to the Graduate College at least four weeks prior to the commencement at which the student expects to receive his/her degree.

Final Oral Examination

The dissertation committee will administer the final oral examination after all research is completed and the dissertation written. This examination will consist of a public oral presentation.

Graduation

A formal application for the doctoral degree must be filed at least 14 weeks prior to the commencement at which the student expects to receive his/her degree.