Graduate Programs: CHEMICAL SCIENCES

NOTE: This document was generated from the 1995-1997 UIUC Programs of Study. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but be advised that requirements may have changed since this book was published. Errors may have also been introduced in the conversion to a WWW document. Thus for items of importance, it might be wise to seek confirmation from either the paper version or a live human being.

(Including Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry)

Director of the School: Stephen G. Sligar

Associate Director of the School: Denton R. Brown

Correspondence and Information: Director of the School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 106 Noyes Laboratory , 505 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801

The School of Chemical Sciences includes the Departments of Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry. Study programs leading to the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy are offered in each of the departments as described in the following sections. The school structure is designed to meet the differing needs of the three departments and yet retain the advantages of a common approach to overlapping concerns. Service facilities, technical shops, and a placement office are provided by the school. Support for graduate training is available in the form of assistantships, traineeships, and fellowships. Prospective students may obtain application forms and information relevant to their interests from the head of the appropriate department or from the director of the school.

BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY SPECIALIZATION

The development of molecular and structural biology now enables complex biological molecules to be studied using the methods and techniques of chemistry, to the extent that the interface between chemistry and biology has now become almost seemless. For this reason, an interdisciplinary graduate specialization is available for students enrolled in doctoral degree programs in the participating departments listed above. All students must become proficient in core areas of biomolecular chemistry, including biochemistry, molecular and structural biology, spectroscopy and physical chemistry of macromolecules, and molecular modeling. The specific courses and program emphasis will vary by department because of the broad nature of research in biomolecular chemistry.

The biomolecular chemistry program does not independently admit students or confer graduate degrees. Prospective students should address inquiries to the program office of any of the three participating departments. Students are admitted to the program after their acceptance by one of the participating departments and review by the biomolecular chemistry programming committee in the School of Chemical Sciences. Students admitted to the program must have completed minimal course work sufficient for admission to the department granting admission, preferably with some concentration at the chemistry-biology interface. All degree applicants must complete the requirements of the biomolecular chemistry program, as well as certain specified requirements of the department in which they are enrolled.

BIOCHEMISTRY

Head of the Department: John A. Gerlt

Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 415 Roger Adams Laboratory , 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-2013

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors: J. E. Cronan, R. B. Gennis, J. A. Gerlt, M. Glaser, R. I. Gumport, L. P. Hager, A. F. Horwitz, A. M. Jonas, G. W. Ordal, D. J. Shapiro, S. G. Sligar, R. L. Switzer

Associate Professors: D. M. Kranz, M.A. Schuler, A.J. Wand

Assistant Professor: P. Orlean

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Department of Biochemistry offers graduate work leading to the master of science and the doctor of philosophy degrees. For an application and departmental materials that provide greater detail on programs, offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial aid, write to the graduate coordinator at the above address.

ADMISSION

Candidates for admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs must have bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions equivalent to those from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Courses required for admission are organic and physical chemistry, biology, a year of physics, and mathematics through calculus. Students with a weakness in any of these areas may be required to make up deficiencies during their graduate study. A grade-point average of 4.0 or higher (A = 5.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and for any graduate study is required for admission. Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (both the aptitude test and the advanced test in biochemistry, chemistry, or biology). Emphasis is placed on a student's interest and ability in research as demonstrated by previous work and letters of recommendation.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Specific degree requirements for the course work M.S. and the thesis M.S. in Biochemistry include the successful completion of 4¹/2 units of biochemistry courses. A course work master's degree requires a minimum of two full-time semesters and involves 8 total units of formal lecture and laboratory course work. At least 3 units must be in 400-level courses, and 2 of these 3 units must be in the major field. A thesis master's degree usually requires a minimum of three semesters; up to 3 of the 8 required units may be thesis research.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Specific degree requirements for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry include the successful completion of 4¹/2 units of biochemistry courses. An additional 3¹/2 units of advanced elective courses are also required for a minimum of 24 units including thesis credit. Students must also pass an oral research qualifying examination within the first eighteen months of residence and must successfully complete a series of written cumulative examinations. A thesis based on original research must be presented to a review committee at least two weeks before the final oral examination. The final examination is limited to a defense of the thesis research. Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this department. There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree in biochemistry.

SPECIALIZATION IN BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY

Jointly sponsored by the three departments in the School of Chemical Sciences-biochemistry, chemistry, and chemical engineering-this program involves a rigorous set of graduate level courses that cover topics in chemical and biochemical specialties, a seminar/tutorial, and a multitude of opportunities for research in the biomolecular chemistry area with any faculty member in the School of Chemical Sciences. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to research, in which the structure and function of biomolecules arae probed using a combination of organic and inorganic chemical synthesis, spectroscopic and analytical techniques, physical and computational modeling, biochemical and genetic engineering methods, and structure prediction and design. The goal of this program is to develop scientists who have both the in-depth knowledge of specialized methods that is required to be effective in research, together with the appreciation and understandingof the complementing methodologies that are essential for making significant advances on complex, challenging problems in the biomolecular chemistry area.

SPECIALIZATION IN GENETICS

The Department of Biochemistry offers an area of specialization in genetics. The program is flexible and provides the student with proficiency in several areas of genetics, including molecular genetics, developmental genetics, and evolutionary and population genetics. Students electing this area should have completed course work in calculus, computer sciences, basic genetics, and biochemistry. The program of study for each student in the specialization is decided individually. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the department.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The Department of Biochemistry is composed of faculty members whose research interests cover the major areas of current biochemical research and are united by a shared interest in biochemical regulatory mechanisms and structure-function relationships of biological macromolecules. The department offers major research programs in biophysics, protein chemistry, enzymology, nucleic acid structure, gene organization and expression, protein synthesis and degradation, molecular immunology, membranes, lipoproteins, cell surfaces, and hormone action.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid for graduate students in biochemistry is available in the form of fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition and partial fee waivers. In addition, interdepartmental training grants from the National Institutes of Health support multidisciplinary training programs. Qualified candidates are considered for financial support upon application. Graduate students making satisfactory progress toward their degree generally receive a stipend, as well as a full tuition waiver and a partial fee waiver.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Head of the Department: R. C. Alkire

Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 114 Roger Adams Laboratory, 600 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333- 3640

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors: R. C. Alkire, T. J. Hanratty, R. I. Masel, A. J. McHugh,W. R. Schowalter, C. F. Zukoski

Associate Professors: J. J. L. Higdon, E. G. Seebauer, M. A. Stadtherr

Assistant Professors: R. D. Braatz, K.D. Wittrup

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Department of Chemical Engineering offers graduate work leading to the master of science and the doctor of philosophy degrees. Those interested should write to the address above for application materials and a departmental brochure, which gives greater detail on programs, offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial aid.

ADMISSION

Candidates for advanced degrees in chemical engineering should have a background in chemistry and chemical engineering comparable to the training offered in the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students whose prior training is deficient in one or more basic areas of chemistry or chemical engineering will be admitted with the understanding that their deficiencies will be removed to the extent prescribed by their advisers. Graduate College admission requirements also apply.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Requirements for the master of science include 8 units of graduate credit and a thesis. At least 5 of these units must be in courses other than thesis research; 2 of the 3 required 400-level units must be in chemical engineering courses.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Requirements include 24 units of graduate credit, satisfactory performance on qualifying and certification examinations, and a thesis. The credit requirement includes a minimum of four graduate-level courses in chemical engineering and a coherent program of at least four courses in one or two other departments. The qualifying examination is a written test usually taken after one year of study. The certification examination is an individual oral examination taken after the student has satisfied the course requirements. It focuses on the student's proposed thesis research.

CHEMISTRY

Head of the Department: Paul W. Bohn

Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 106 Noyes Laboratory, 505 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-0711

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors: P. Beak, R. L. Belford, P. W. Bohn, T. L. Brown, R. M. Coates, S. E. Denmark, D. D. Dlott, L. R. Faulkner, H. Frauenfelder, R. B. Gennis, G. S. Girolami, H. S. Gutowsky, J. Jonas, J.A. Katzenellenbogen, W.G. Klemperer, P.C. Lauterbur, J. M. Lisy, J.D. McDonald, R. G. Nuzzon, E. Oldfield, I. C. Paul, W. H. Pirkle, T. B. Rauchfuss, K. L. Rinehart, K. Schulten, K. S. Schweizer, D. H. Secrest, J. R. Shapley, S. G. Sligar, S.G. Smith, S. I. Stupp, K. S. Suslick, A. J. Wang, P. G. Wolynes, S. C. Zimmerman

Associate Professors: A. A. Gewirth, J. S. Moore, T.A. Nieman, A. Scheeline, P.A. Shapley, A. Wieckowskia

Assistant Professors: M. Gruebele, Yi Lu, N. Makri, P. A. Petillo, J.V. Sweedler

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The degrees offered in chemistry are the master of arts or master of science in chemistry, master of science in the teaching of chemistry, and doctor of philosophy in chemistry. This catalog also provides information on a joint program leading to the doctor of philosophy in chemical physics (see Chemical Physics), and on programs in biophysics (see Biophysics).

ADMISSION

Students who have fulfilled the usual undergraduate course requirements, including at least 25 properly distributed semester hours in chemistry, may be considered for admission to the Graduate College in any of the programs offered by the Department of Chemistry. A student who has completed graduate work in chemistry at another institution may be considered for admission if averages of 4.0 (A = 5.0) have been earned in both undergraduate and graduate work, or if a 4.25 average has been earned in at least 8 units or a full year of graduate work at an accredited institution. Students applying for admission to the program in the teaching of chemistry are expected to have a valid secondary teaching certificate or to make arrangements for obtaining one before completing the requirements for the degree.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY

Candidates for the master of science in the teaching of chemistry must earn 4 units of credit in chemistry, 2 units in education, and 2 units of electives in either education or physical science. The 2 units in education consist of courses in educational policy studies and educational psychology (see Education). The courses in chemistry and the electives must be selected with the approval of the adviser. No thesis is required. Questions concerning the Teaching of Chemistry program should be addressed to Professor D.H. Secrest, 316 Noyes Laboratory.

MASTER'S PROGRAMS IN CHEMISTRY

Eight units of credit are required for the master's degrees. The programs leading to degrees of master of arts or master of science in chemistry are designed to be completed in one year of full-time study by students entering without deficiencies. A research thesis is optional. If a thesis is elected, 5 units of formal courses are required. If a thesis is not elected, an additional 3 units of formal courses are required. The course program in that case must include 3 units of 400-level courses, 2 of which must be in chemistry.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Doctoral programs are offered in a wide range of specialties, including the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Students usually require from three to five years to complete the requirements. A total of 24 units including thesis credit is required. The formal course requirements involve 2¹/2 to 3¹/2 units of 400-level courses in the major area of interest and 2 to 3 units in allied areas or fields. Besides completing formal course work, students are required to pass a series of written cumulative examinations, pass an oral preliminary examination on research preparation, and submit a thesis on original research, which is defended at a final oral examination. (Majors in organic chemistry must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of German.) Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, this department requires Ph.D. candidates to do some teaching as part of their academic work, such experience being considered a vital part of the graduate program.

PROGRAM IN BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

The Department of Chemistry offers an area of specialization in biophysical chemistry. The program is flexible and provides the student with basic training in physical chemistry, physical biochemistry, and biology. Students electing this area should have a solid background in physics and mathematics. Details of the curriculum are decided individually. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the head of the Department of Chemistry.

FINANCIAL AID

Support for graduate students is available through fellowships and assistantships. All candidates are considered for these upon application. Graduate students making normal progress toward their degree generally receive a tuition waiver as well as a stipend.

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