Chemistry Ph.D.

Doctoral Program

To complete the Ph.D., students must meet institutional and departmental requirements including an oral candidacy examination and a final defense of the doctoral thesis and accumulate 72 credit hours (42 beyond the M.S. degree) of research and course work.

Specific Course Requirements:

• CHEM 6950 Introduction to Research - Taken in first semester of Ph.D. program. (Not required for Rensselaer undergraduates transitioning directly to graduate program as part of Accelerated B.S.-Ph.D. program.)
• CHEM 6900 Chemistry Seminar – Minimum of five semesters required, including the semester in which the student presents their departmental seminar (typically 3rd or 4th year).
• CHEM 6910 Chemistry Teaching Seminar – Required one time for new Teaching Assistants.
• Five additional CHEM courses at the 6000 level (minimum of 15 credits). One of these courses can be replaced by a course in another department with the approval of the Chemistry Graduate Committee.

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

• exhibit knowledge of chemical principles, theories, and their applications across the overall field of chemistry.
• demonstrate familiarity with current developments and knowledge of the chemical literature.
• plan and carry out independent research in chemistry.
• communicate at the level of a professional scientist.