PhD in Chemistry Southern Methodist University - Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Admission Requirements - GRE Optional

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry.
• Transcripts from all institutions attended (post-high school; unofficial documents can be uploaded to your application).
• 3 Letters of Recommendation.
• Résumé.
• Statement of Purpose.
• International applicants must provide English Language Proficiency scores if their degree does not meet our waiver requirements.

Degree Requirements

Primary Core Courses

The student must complete the primary core courses. The student must then complete secondary core courses, for the materials/polymer track. Additional courses will be selected based on the student’s interest and research program and in consultation with the student’s adviser and faculty committee. A core course may be substituted with another course with the approval of the Department of Chemistry graduate adviser, in consultation with the student’s research adviser.

• CHEM 6110 - Chemical Communications: Literature, Writing, and Presentations
• CHEM 6111 - Practical Laboratory Methods
• CHEM 6115 - Theory of the Chemical Bonds
• CHEM 6116 - Introduction to Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry
• CHEM 6118 - Overview of Materials Chemistry
• CHEM 6220 - Modern Aspects of Chemistry

Secondary Core Courses

• CHEM 6113 - Practical Aspects of Spectroscopy
• CHEM 6114 - Chemical Kinetics
• CHEM 6316 - Introduction to Polymer Chemistry

Teaching Practicum

The student will complete at least two terms of the teaching practicum to enhance communication skills.

• CHEM 7111 - Teaching Practicum I
• CHEM 7112 - Teaching Practicum II

Current Topics in Research

All students must register for research topics courses for at least the first four terms in the program.

• CHEM 6120 - Current Topics in Research
• CHEM 6121 - Current Topics in Research

Cumulative Exams

The student will take up to 12 cumulative exams until the required total score is obtained.

Research Paper

At the end of the second year, students will write a paper and orally describe the progress of their research, including a plan for the future research program to be completed for the dissertation. This will be presented to the department and graded by a faculty committee that includes the student’s adviser.

• CHEM 7233 - Research Synopsis and Objectives

Research Proposal

At the beginning of the student’s third year, the student will write an original research proposal unrelated to the student’s research program and will present this to the department and successfully defend this proposal before the faculty committee.

• CHEM 7334 - Proposal Methodology

Candidacy

Upon successful completion of the above items, students will be admitted to candidacy. The candidates must then:

Graduate Courses

Enroll in a sufficient number of graduate courses to complete at least 48 credit hours.

Presentation

Make a presentation at a professional meeting appropriate to the field of research.

• CHEM 7122 - Professional Meeting Oral Presentation

Research Program

Complete their research program under the supervision of the faculty.

Dissertation

Successfully write and orally defend before a faculty committee a dissertation on their individual research program.

• CHEM 8698 - Dissertation
• CHEM 8699 - Dissertation