A student's academic program is determined by the student’s advisory committee (the major advisor and at least two other members).  Customarily, the research interests of at least one of the members of the committee lie outside the student's major area of interest.  Committee members may be drawn from other units within the university and from specialists in the student's field of study.  Early choice of a research advisor and dissertation topic allows the student and the committee to design a plan of study best suited to the student. 

The Graduate Faculty of Chemistry requires each graduate student to take at least 30 course credits of graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree, and 15 credits of GRAD 6950, as required by the Graduate School. The Department does encourage extensive work in the major area and at least nine credits in a non-major area (usually chemistry but also areas such as biochemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacy, physics, and mathematics). A minimum of 24 course credits are required beyond the master's degree, unless a student earns a master's degree in this Department as a step toward the Ph.D. In the latter case, all graduate credits may count toward the minimum of 30 course credits for the Ph.D., pending approval by the advisory committee and the Registrar’s Office.  

After qualification, the student must pass the General Examination, consisting of a written and an oral portion as determined by his or her selected division (Analytical, Biological, Environmental, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, or Polymer).  The General Examination is generally completed during the third year of graduate work. 

A dissertation prospectus should be filed with the Graduate School around year 3-4 (see suggested PhD timeline). If the prospectus is not filed with the Graduate School and not reflected in your transcript your degree will not be conferred. 

The primary requirement for the Ph.D. degree is submission of a thesis dissertation that makes a significant contribution to the candidate's field of specialization.  Specific requirements for submission of the Ph.D. dissertation are provided on the Office of Registrar’s website: https://registrar.uconn.edu/graduation/doctoral-degrees/ 

Graduate School Requirements
General degree requirements are detailed in the Graduate Catalog. Further requirements specific to the Chemistry Department are outlined in the subsequent sections of this handbook.  

A master’s degree may be earned under either of two plans (Plan A or Plan B) as determined by the Advisory Committee. Plan A requires at least 21 hours of course work (plus nine credits of GRAD 5950 Master's Thesis Research) and a written thesis describing original research in chemistry. The coursework must include at least three credit hours of independent study carrying out laboratory work or theoretical research. The Advisory Committee must approve the topic and scope of the master’s thesis. For students interested in a career in chemical research, the Department strongly recommends following Plan A. Plan B requires 30 credits of course work but no thesis. The Advisory Committee determines the courses to be taken and may require more than the minimum number of credits.

Students who qualify to pursue an MS degree, and who later wish to pursue the Ph.D. degree, must reapply for the Ph.D. program, and satisfy the qualification requirements for the Ph.D. program as if they were new students.

Current PhD students who wish to earn a MS degree on their way to completing their PhD should discuss with their advisor and advisory committee. A written request should be sent from the advisor to the Registrar's Office via email (jenn.horan@uconn.edu).

This handbook contains a comprehensive list of graduate program requirements. The Graduate Committee created this suggested timeline to help students complete a Ph.D. in five years.  Each student’s coursework, and examinations will be individually designed by the student and their advisory committee based on research area.  The handbook attempts to address each task in sequential order.

¹ 24 credits if student matriculates as M.S., 30 credits if BS/BA

² The oral general must be announced in the Chemistry Department weekly newsletter.

³ The final defense must be announced on the Graduate School website and in the Chemistry Department weekly newsletter. See the Office of the Registrar for a complete check list of required steps.

Second Year Meeting

OBJECTIVE: In the second-year meeting, the advisory committee evaluates a trainee's academic progress, fundamental chemistry knowledge, laboratory skills, and the details of their research project.  

TIMELINE: The meeting must be completed by the end of the second summer in the program.

FORM(S): Report on the Results of the Second-Year Meeting (department form)

After the meeting, a report summarizing the committee’s feedback and outcome must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator. For further details, refer to the Graduate Handbook.

Plan of Study

OBJECTIVE: To establish a structured framework for achieving learning and research goals. 

TIMELINE: Submitted by or during the Second-Year Meeting. 

FORM(S): Graduate Plans of Study

The Plan of Study outlines the coursework and research requirements necessary for degree completion. It must be signed by the student and all advisory committee members before submission to the Office of the Registrar. Once complete submit it to jenn.horan@uconn.edu copying the Graduate Program Coordinator.

General Exam

The general examination, consisting of a written exam and an independent proposal, is designed to test the student's general chemistry knowledge and their ability to construct and defend an original research proposal. While the written examination is determined by the division, the proposal part and its oral defense is general for all students. Please refer to the Graduate Handbook for details. 

TIMELINE: The general examination for the Ph.D. degree should be completed by the end of the third year. 

FORM(S): Report on General Examination for the Doctoral Degree

Once both the written and oral examination has been completed the Report on General Examination form must be submitted (whether the examination has been passed or failed). Email the completed form to Degree Audit (degree.audit@uconn.edu) copying jenn.horan@uconn.edu and the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Research Seminar

The department requires a formal research seminar to be presented by all PhD students at a national conference or part of the departmental seminar series. A student's major and associate advisors must notify the Graduate Program Coordinator of their approval for satisfying the requirement by email.

TIMELINE: The research seminar should be completed between year three and four.

FORM(S): None required. Email confirmation should be sent to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Dissertation Prospectus Proposal 

A detailed proposal outlining the topic and scope of a student's future dissertation, demonstrating its significance and research potential. Please refer to the Graduate Handbook for details. 

TIMELINE: The dissertation proposal should be completed between year three and four. The submission date should be determined at a student's Second-Year Meeting. 

FORM(S): Dissertation Proposal 

Once approved by your advisory committee, complete the Dissertation Proposal for Doctoral Degree form and submit it, along with a copy of your prospectus, to the department head for approval. A copy of  the completed form should be sent to the Graduate Program Coordinator and the Registrar’s Office (jenn.horan@uconn.eduand degreeaudit@uconn.edu).

Writing Your Dissertation

Your dissertation is a publication reflecting the results of your research and academic pursuits. For more information on how to prepare your dissertation please visit the Registrar's website.

Dissertation Defense

The Report on the Final Examination for the doctoral degree is evidence of a student’s successful oral defense of his/her dissertation, and the document must include the original signatures of approval of all committee members. If dissertation revisions are necessary, the committee will notify the specific student. Once revisions are made, the student obtains the original signatures on the dissertation approval page. The defense date, however, is not the degree completion date. The completion date is determined by the date the dissertation is submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

REQUIRED FORMS: Defense and Final Thesis/Dissertation Approval

The University of Connecticut (the “University”) is committed to maintaining a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living and working environment for all members of the University community – students, employees, and visitors.  Academic and professional excellence can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect.  All members of the University community are responsible for the maintenance of an environment in which people are free to learn and work without fear of discrimination, discriminatory harassment or interpersonal violence.  Discrimination diminishes individual dignity and impedes equal employment and educational opportunities.

For more information, visit UConn's Policies & Procedures website.

The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) ensures the University's commitment and responsibility to foster diverse and inclusive working and learning environments. Our work focuses on ensuring compliance with the University's non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations related to equal opportunity and affirmative action.  For more information, visit the OIE's website.

The Department of Chemistry expects all scientific endeavors to be conducted with the highest degree of professionalism and ethical conduct.  We expect our graduate students to read and thoroughly understand the information in the booklet entitled “On Being a Scientist” which is available from Graduate Program Administrator.

All UConn Graduate students are also expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct which is available at UConn's Community Standards Website.

For more information, visit UConn's Policies and Procedures website.

The department offers a stipend to eligible full-time Ph.D. students who demonstrate satisfactory progress toward that degree and satisfactory work in teaching or research duties associated with the financial support. This stipend includes fringe benefits and waiver of tuition and is detailed in the acceptance letters sent out by the Department. Financial support from the Department is awarded on a yearly basis but it is not guaranteed. Specific stipend rates may be found on the Payroll's website and will be included in the GA offer letter.

Teaching assistantship appointments are made on a semesterly basis and run from August 23 through May 22. These appointments are made at the discretion of the Department Head. A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in order to remain eligible for financial support. Teaching assistant duties are assigned by the TA committee. All Teaching Assistants for whom English is not a primary language must pass an oral English proficiency test regardless of citizenship or visa status. More information on how to obtain certification can be found here.

The research assistantship stipend is the same as that for teaching assistantships. Funds for research assistantships are generated by extramural grants and the responsibility for the administration of these funds rests with the faculty member to whom the grant was made.

Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships. Pending budgetary approval, The Graduate School awards a limited number of Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (DDF) awards for students in doctoral programs requiring a dissertation. Eligible applicants should fill out the application form on the Graduate School’s website beginning in February 2022 for a summer 2022 award.  Students should discuss this Fellowship application with their advisor.

Conference Participation Awards. Graduate students who meet all eligibility requirements may apply to the Graduate School for a Conference Participation Award. Awards are worth $750, are limited and not guaranteed.

Bobbitt-Chou Graduate Summer Research Fellowship: This is a fellowship to recognize early accomplishment in a student's graduate studies and the promise of continued success. One student entering their third summer of research will be awarded a $3,500 fellowship. The fellowship will be awarded based on course grades and a letter from the primary research advisor. The letter should specifically address the technical abilities of the student and his/her conceptual ownership and creative contributions to the research project.

Charles E. Waring Memorial Scholarship: The Waring Scholarship will be awarded to outstanding graduate students in chemistry at the University of Connecticut. Winners will be selected annually from among those students who have completed two or three semesters of graduate study and who have qualified for Ph.D. candidacy. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Graduate Program Committee based on courses taken and grades earned at the graduate level as well as academic and research progress. The Scholarship will be $400.

Connecticut Chemistry Research Award: In the spring of each year, faculty members may nominate a student for this award. The major advisor should draft a nomination letter describing the research contributions of the student, and include a list of publications of the graduate student with full citations.

Departmental Graduate Student Travel Stipend: The Department of Chemistry will support travel expenses associated with active participation (poster or oral presentation) at a professional meeting by a graduate student. This is a one-time award of $300 to students who have successfully completed their general exam before the meeting. The award will be $500 if the general exam was successfully completed before the end of the student’s third summer of training. Support will be paid out as a fellowship from a departmental account after travel has completed.

Excellence in Service Award: In the spring, a nomination letter from faculty or staff describing outstanding service by a graduate student, over and beyond normal expectation.

Outstanding Service and Research Award: In the spring of each year, faculty and/or a staff member may nominate a graduate student for this award. The nomination letter must describe specific activities or services provided to the department by the student. A list of publications of the graduate student with full citations, and a nomination letter from the major advisor describing research contributions of the student must also be included in the nomination packet.

Teaching Assistantship Awards: Each year, Masterton Awards are given to the five most outstanding graduate teaching assistants. These awards consist of $400 each. Four of these awards are given to people teaching general chemistry, and one award is for upper division courses. Awards are made in the spring/summer and recipients can only receive the award once.

Department Forms

• Chemistry Exit Interview Form (login required)
• Chemistry Second Year Progress Report (login required)
• Chemistry TA Substitution Form (login required)
• Chemistry Thesis Committee Form (login required)

University Forms

• Graduate School Website: Complete List of Required Forms
• Office of the Registrar Graduation Requirements: Doctoral Degree
• Office of the Registrar Graduation Requirements: Master's Degree