Chemistry Graduate Program

Getting Started

In the weeks just before the start of the first academic semester, new students must participate in the graduate student’s orientation program. Specifically, new students are required to attend the safety workshop and departmental orientation sessions, take departmental competency examinations, and receive academic advising. Students receiving a teaching assistantship must attend training sessions administered by the School of Graduate Studies. The scheduling of these events will be announced well in advance. New students are required to participate in a Workshop on Responsible Conduct in Research that is organized by the Graduate School during their first semester of residence.

Competency Examinations

Graduate students must demonstrate a satisfactory level of undergraduate knowledge in key areas to be eligible for the M.S. or Ph.D. programs. All entering graduate students must pass a General Chemistry ACS exam (pass score TBD) and one additional ACS exam selected by their Division (pass score = 40th percentile or higher). Students will have three chances to pass these exams: (1) during their first week in the program, (2) ~1 month after entering the program and (3) ~3 months after entering the program.

To serve as a TA with a standard assignment (i.e. overseeing one or more sections of a lab course), students must obtain the TA pass score (TBD) or better on the General Chemistry ACS exam. Students who do not meet this threshold on their first chance will either be assigned an RA position if funding is available or a special TA assignment (i.e. lab prep) during their first semester in the program.

Students must obtain the program pass score (TBD) or better on the General Chemistry ACS exam within three chances and by the end of their first semester. The program pass score is TBD but will be more rigorous than the TA pass score. Students who do not meet this requirement will be dismissed from the program even if they have RA funding.

Students who do not pass their Divisional ACS exam by the end of their first semester will be dismissed from the program even if they have RA funding.

Selection of the Major Professor

Newly entering graduate students should identify at least three professors within the department whose research is of potential interest to them and provide this list to the department head for approval. A form will be provided for listing the individual professors chosen by the student. The student should arrange to meet briefly (20-30 minutes) with each of the chosen professors as a first step towards choosing a major professor. Students must have the form signed by each of the professors after completion of the initial meeting. These initial meetings must be completed by the end of the third week of the semester which the student begins graduate study. From these initial meetings, the student should choose and list on the same form as above, up to three of the professors with which the student wishes to do a laboratory rotation. Each laboratory rotation will be for a period of three weeks and is designed to allow the student to gain a more in-depth understanding of a particular professor’s research program. The exact nature of the rotation (for example: attendance at group meetings, additional research discussions with the professor, mutually agreeable laboratory work, etc.) will be determined by each individual professor and the student.

The completed Laboratory Rotation Form must be returned to the Department Office by the Monday of the 4th week of the entering semester. The Department Office will coordinate the scheduling of rotations for each new graduate student so as to evenly distribute students among the requested laboratories throughout the semester. The first laboratory rotations will begin the Monday of the 5th week of the entering semester, the second series of laboratory rotations will begin the Monday of the 8th week of the entering semester and the final series of laboratory rotations will begin the 11th week of the entering semester. Students must complete all laboratory rotations that have been scheduled and should have the professor sign the rotation form signifying completion at the end of each rotation. When all laboratory rotations have been competed, students will turn in the completed form to the Department Head, no later than the start of the 14th week of the semester. The graduate student should also indicate a 1st, 2nd and 3rd preference, from the laboratory rotation list, for the assignment of a major professor. Final assignments of major professor will be by the Department Head in consultation with, and approval by, the appropriate professor and the student.After the major professor is assigned, and within the first year of residence, the student and the major professor must select faculty for the student’s supervisory committee. For a Ph.D. student, a minimum of 5 faculty are required, with at least 4 members coming from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and one from another Department; a minimum of 2 members must be chosen from the Division in which the student is seeking the degree. For M.S. Students, 3 faculty from the department are required, with 2 representing the student’s area of specialization.

Supervisory Committee Composition and Responsibilities

If all members of the committee cannot be present for the entirety of any supervisory committee meeting with the student (annual, oral defense, final defense, etc.) then the meeting must be rescheduled. Electronic participation is permitted but for all such meetings this must conform to the same rules as those which the Graduate School prescribes for the final defense.² For routine annual supervisory meetings (only), exceptions to those virtual attendance rules may be made with advance approval of the Graduate Studies Committee provided that all committee members are nevertheless in attendance, either in-person or virtually.

The committee letter to the department describing the outcome of any meeting of the supervisory committee with the student must also report attendance and certify that all committee members were present for the entire meeting, specifying if this was in-person or virtually. The student should meet with potential supervisory committee members to confirm their willingness to serve on the committee. The committee must be approved by the Department Head and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Selection of the committee should be accomplished by April 1, and the Supervisory Committee Form is to be submitted to School of Graduate Studies during the student’s 2nd semester.

Annual meetings with the supervisory committee, scheduled by the Graduate Program Coordinator, must be held each academic year during the Spring semester. The purpose of these meetings is to monitor and assess progress of the student in coursework and research. For the first meeting, students must submit a one-page research statement to their committee one week prior to the committee meeting. The research statement should describe the research project, detail methods learned, and outline expected research directions for the coming year. After approval by the supervisory committee, the signed cover page is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. In all subsequent years, students must submit a progress report, including a brief description of their research project, an overview of the progress made to date, and a research plan for the coming year, of no more than 5 pages, to their committee ten days prior to the meeting. An appendix at the end of this document contains guidelines for students and their committees regarding expectations of progress, and for the format of the meetings.

Curriculum

Visit our Graduate Chemistry Program Curriculum page for detailed information about credit requirements, course expectations, and specialization options for both M.S. and Ph.D. students.

Program of Study and Research Plan

The Program of Study is to be formulated and approved by their supervisory committee and then submitted to School of Graduate Studies for approval before the end of the student’s second semester. Students who make satisfactory progress are considered candidates for a degree even though they may not have been formally advanced to candidacy by the Graduate School. Formal advancement to candidacy requires the completion of coursework and a research proposal that has been approved by the supervisory committee. Ph.D. students also must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive examinations for formal advancement to candidacy.

Guidance of Employing AI in Graduate Study and Research

Visit our Guidance of Employing AI in Graduate Study and Research page for important information on acceptable practices, risks, and expectations regarding AI use in the Chemistry graduate program.

Professional and Academic Development

Seminars

Divisional and departmental seminars are an important aspect of graduate training. Annual seminar registration is required while in the chemistry program. Analytical/Physical students will register in the Fall and Inorganic/Organic students will register in the Spring. Significant participation in the departmental seminars (CHEM 7800-001), held on Wednesdays, is required regardless of the student’s registration status. The grading for seminar is on a Pass/Fail basis. Each student will present at least one divisional seminar each year. Students’ attendance and a satisfactory annual seminar presentation are a requirement for continuation in the program and will be evaluated at the annual meeting with the supervisory committee. 

Research Proposal Workshop

At some point during their first two years in the program, the student will participate in the proposal-writing workshop, “Getting Started as a Successful Proposal Writer and Academician,” organized by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. This will help prepare the student to write their research proposal that accompanies the oral exam, described below. 

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

Students are required to complete RCR training during their first year. RCR training is conducted by the Office of Research and can be done online via CITI or through Canvas and in-person presentations.

Language and Academic Standing Program Standards

Language

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has no foreign language requirement for advanced degrees. However, a student’s supervisory committee may require a student to show proficiency in a language when deemed necessary for satisfactory progress in the student’s area of research.

Academic Status

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all courses taken at Utah State University included in their graduate Program of Study. This GPA is computed at the end of the first year and then on a semester by semester basis. It does not include research or seminar grades. Only one C grade in any course work listed in the Program of Study is allowed. Students receiving a second C grade will be dismissed from the program. Students must continually make satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree.

The Graduate Studies Committee will inform the Department Head of students who have failed to meet any of the requirements. A recommendation will be made for a probationary semester to make up the deficiency or for dismissal from the program. If the deficiency has not been satisfied by the end of the probationary semester, further reinstatement will be a decision of the entire faculty.

Ph.D. Candidacy Examinations

Visit our Ph.D. Candidacy Examinations page for detailed information on the written and oral exam requirements, procedures, and timelines.

Final Requirements

After completing research, students must report their results in a typed M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation. A copy must be given to each member of the supervisory committee at least four weeks before the final examination is held. The student and the supervisory committee members must complete and sign an Appointment for Examination form for submission to the School of Graduate Studies at least ten days prior to the examination. The defense must be coordinated with the departmental seminar coordinator and announced to the faculty at least one week in advance.

The final defense of the dissertation or thesis includes a formal departmental seminar followed immediately by a closed meeting of the candidate with the supervisory committee. Although a detailed summary of the research is expected, the seminar should demonstrate the ability to present material that is understandable to chemists outside of a special research discipline. This seminar is an important degree requirement, and it must be presented to the satisfaction of the faculty at large. Students who pass the oral examination must make any changes or revisions specified by the supervisory committee and obtain their signatures before submission the School of Graduate Studies.

Chemical Biology Emphasis Area for Chemistry Graduate Students

1. Students must join the lab of one of the participating faculty and work on a project with a connection to the life sciences.
2. The supervisory committee must include two biochemists or biologists
3. Students will be expected to participate in the biweekly Lunch with Science.
4. As a group, students in the Chemical Biology emphasis area will select a departmental seminar speaker working in the area of chemical biology each year; this special seminar would be jointly hosted with Biology.
5. The student’s Program of Study must contain at least one graduate level course (5xxx level or above) in biochemistry or biology.

There are no changes to the standard degree requirements.

Guidelines for Annual Progress Report Meetings

Learn more about annual supervisory committee meetings—including preparation requirements, evaluation criteria, and reporting expectations—on our Annual Progress Report Meetings page.

Summary of Important Dates and Deadlines

Stay on track in your graduate studies by reviewing our Important Dates and Deadlines page, which outlines key submission deadlines and academic milestones from your first year through final defense.

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¹ Any grievances will be dealt with in strict conformity with the USU Student Code.

² As of 2021-2022 Section H.1 of the Graduate School’s General Catalog states the following: A faculty member should not be appointed to a supervisory committee if, for any reason, he or she will not be available for committee meetings. All members should be present for the final defense, and the defense should be scheduled accordingly. Technology-assisted participation in the defense by a faculty member is acceptable, when an absence is unavoidable. The student and the student’s major professor must be present for the defense. No more than one committee member for a master’s defense and no more than two committee members for a doctoral defense may participate from a remote location.