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Head of the Department: Gregory S. Girolami
107 Noyes Laboratory, 505 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-0711
E-mail: chemadm@scs.uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree 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).
Admission
Graduate College requirements apply. Further, applicants should have
at least 25 semester hours in chemistry (properly distributed) and
a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0), to be considered for admission
to the graduate programs. Applications from students with less than
the usual preparation in chemistry or with grade point averages below
3.0 may be considered on an individual basis. In addition, we ask
applicants to submit results from the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) General Test and the GRE Chemistry Subject Test.
International students whose native language is not English are required
to have a minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) score of 580 (237 on the computer-based test). In addition,
teaching is a requirement in the chemistry graduate program, and there
are special requirements for applicants whose native language is not
English. The University requires a minimum Test of Spoken English
(TSE) score of 50. Any applicant whose native language is not English
is expected to provide TSE scores in order to receive full consideration
for admission and financial aid.
Students who are currently enrolled in other graduate programs are
advised that they should complete degree work before moving to another
university. While students might be admitted without a degree from
their current institution, there must be exceptional circumstances.
We require a statement from the applicant detailing the situation
and a letter from the applicant’s research adviser or department
head.
Contact chemistry graduate admissions for further information.
Graduate Teaching Experience
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 program.
Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry
Candidates for the Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry
must earn 16 graduate hours of credit in chemistry, 8 graduate hours
in education, and 8 graduate hours of electives in either education
or physical science. 12 of the 32 graduate hours must be 500 level.
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
S. S. Zumdahl, 108 Chem Annex, 507 South Matthews Avenue, Urbana,
IL 61801.
Master of Science and Master of Arts
Thirty-two graduate hours 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, 20 graduate hours of formal
courses are required. If a thesis is not elected, an additional 12
graduate hours of formal courses are required. The course program
for the nonthesis option must include 12 graduate hours of 500-level
courses, 8 of which must be in chemistry.
Joint JD/MS in Chemistry Degree Program
This joint degree program is intended principally for law students
who desire to specialize in an area of law in which expertise in chemistry
would be a clear asset.
Students electing the joint degree option will select a major area
of emphasis within chemistry that complements their chosen area of
legal emphasis. Each student must develop and gain approval of a coherent,
focused plan of study that draws upon related coursework in both law
and chemistry.
The JD/MS program involves interdisciplinary work and a flexible plan
of study. Students earn an MS in Chemistry upon completion of 32 graduate
hours of coursework. Students will also complete 90 hours of law coursework,
up to 12 hours of which may be fulfilled by coursework taken in chemistry
or otherwise pursuant to a course of scientific study leading to the
master’s degree in chemistry. Students will consult with a faculty
adviser in selecting courses. While enrolled in the Department of
Chemistry, students have the opportunity to hold an assistantship
with a tuition and service fee waiver. It is possible that joint degree
students may accelerate their programs by attending summer sessions
over one or more summers and thus complete the requirements for both
the MS and the JD degrees in three years.
In order to enter the joint degree program, students must be admitted
separately to each program. Each program’s application requirements
and deadlines for admission must be met.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctoral programs are offered in a wide range of specialties, including
the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical
chemistry as well as materials chemistry and chemical biology. Students
usually require from three to five years to complete the requirements.
A total of 96 graduate hours, including thesis credit, is required.
The formal course requirements involve 10 to14 graduate hours of 500-level
courses in the major area of interest and 8 to 12 graduate hours in
allied areas or fields. Besides completing formal coursework, students
will have a formal review of progress following the completion of
coursework, are required to pass an oral preliminary examination on
research preparation, and must submit a thesis on original research,
which is defended at a final oral examination.
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 degrees generally
receive a tuition waiver as well as a stipend.
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