Graduate Program
Degrees Offered
The Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Masters of Science (M.S. Plan I and II) degrees. The primary emphasis of the graduate program is on the Ph.D. track. Financial aid is given to those students intending to pursue the Ph.D. option. A full description of the separate degree requirements is provided in a following section.
Curriculum
The Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department faculty presents a basic core of graduate level courses (Chem 500 and above) each year. Some of the courses listed below are given every year and some on a rotating basis. In addition, Topics courses are provided every year that incorporate the latest advances in the discipline into the formal classroom training experience. Finally, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the research programs in Chemistry, students are encouraged to take selected courses offered through Engineering, Physics, Geology and Biochemistry.
M.S. Degree Reuirements
Master of Science (Plan I) - Thesis Masters
The M.S. (Plan I) degree program includes both coursework and research. It culminates in a written master's thesis describing the results of original research of publishable quality. Two to three years are usually needed to complete the required 18 credit hours of formal coursework (including at least 12 credit hours at the 500 level), pass the cumulative examinations comprising the Master's examination, complete the thesis research, and write and defend the thesis. Students who select this degree have found it appropriate if their career goals are, for example, teaching in a two- or four-year college or finding technical employment in the chemical industry.
Master of Science (Plan II) - Coursework Masters
An alternative M.S. degree program permits earning a graduate degree in chemistry without having to prepare a thesis. Approximately two years are required to complete the minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate level coursework (including at least 12 credit hours at the 500 level) and pass the Masters examination. This examination includes the preparation and oral defense of a proposal and a written component in the form of cumulative exams. A coursework Masters is typically chosen by high school teachers (both domestic and foreign), and its requirements are generally satisfied by most students in the Ph.D. program.
Ph.D. Requirements
Most graduate students enroll in this program. While at least 18 credit hours of formal lecture courses at the 500 level are required for the degree, the central focus is on research. This effort culminates in the preparation and defense of a dissertation describing an original contribution to the field of chemistry. Intensive training in research prepares Ph.D. candidates for a career in university teaching and research, industrial or governmental research, or college teaching.
The Ph.D. preliminary examination includes two components: cumulative examinations and the oral defense of a research proposal. The cumulative examinations are used to ensure that each student develops adequate depth of knowledge in one or more of the broad areas of chemistry: analytical, biological/biophysical, inorganic, organic, physical. These examinations are given eight times each academic year. A student must pass five of the examinations within sixteen attempts in order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The cumulative examinations generally emphasize a knowledge of chemistry fundamentals and familiarity with the current literature.
During the student's fourth semester in the program, he or she is expected to prepare, present, and defend a proposal that defines the goals, rationale, and methodology of the anticipated research. The research proposal is presented in seminar form and is then defended orally before the student's Committee-on-Studies. This defense provides the oral examination traditionally required for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. After admission to candidacy, the student completes the dissertation research and writes the dissertation under the supervision of the research advisor. The final examination for the Ph.D. is an oral defense of the dissertation.
The time required to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree depends on the student's preparation prior to entering the program and on his or her drive and perseverance in following through a research plan. However, many students are able to earn a Ph.D. in four to five years.
Other Information
Documents
Graduate Handbook (PDF)
Financial Aid
Ph.D. graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology receive aid from the department in the form of teaching assistantships. This usually involves participation in the undergraduate program. Generally, a student will be responsible for three laboratory sessions of 3 hours each. In addition to a stipend, all graduate teaching assistants are granted a full waiver of tuition for the academic year. Applicants to our graduate program with an excellent record are eligible to receive the Daub Award ($1000).
After the first year, students may receive aid in the form of research assistantships. These are provided from the resources generated by the student's research advisor. Alternatively, a student may continue to be assigned to a teaching appointment. In general, levels of financial aid are similar for teaching and research assistantships. Details on the levels of financial aid and on other forms of aid will be provided in supplementary information from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Summer support is available in the form of research or teaching assistantships for students making satisfactory progress towards an advanced degree.
Housing
The University of New Mexico is located in a residential area several miles east of downtown Albuquerque. Housing is available both in the community and on campus in University dormitories. In addition, the University provides a limited number of married-student apartments. One-, two- and three-bedroom units are available. Most chemistry graduate students live off campus in apartments. Information regarding off campus housing can be obtained directly from the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department. For more information on University housing, write to:
University Residence Halls:
The University of New Mexico
Housing Reservations and Collections Office
La Posada Hall 201
Albuquerque, NM 87131
505.277.2606Student Family Housing:
The University of New Mexico
Student Family Housing Office
961 Buena Vista SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505.277.4265