Chemistry & Biochemistry, Ph.D.
View ChecksheetMinimum Total Hours: 90
Program Code: D170 R101
Graduate courses that are part of programs of study in Chemistry & Biochemistry are denoted as CHEM 5XYZ, where X is the program of study, Y is the sequence of number within that program of study, and Z is the number of credit hours as follows:
X= 0 Departmental Requirements, 1 Analytical, 2 Biochemistry, 3 Inorganic, 4 Organic, 5 Physical, 6 Chemical Education, 7 Structural Biology, 8 Unused, 9 Interdisciplinary or custom
Y= 0-2 Introductory Instruction, 3-5 Advanced Instruction, 6-7 Special Topics or Electives, 8 Practicum, 9 Seminar.
Z= 0-4 credit hours
Program Requirements
- Continuous enrollment in CHEM 5090 Departmental Colloquium is required for all Doctoral students.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Ph.D. Core | ||
| CHEM 5011 | Fundamentals I | 1 |
| CHEM 5021 | Fundamentals II | 1 |
| CHEM 5080 | Laboratory Rotations | 2 |
| Seminar Requirement | 1-12 | |
Continuous enrollment, up to 12 credit hours, is required after the first semester in a seminar course specific to the program of study (see below). | ||
| Focus Area/Breadth Requirements 1, 2 | 16 | |
Minimum of 16 credit hours in letter-graded, 5000-level CHEM courses (X not equal to 0, Y=0-8), course requirements are specific to program of study (see below). At least 4 hours must be Breadth coursework. | ||
| Directed Studies/Dissertation Research | ||
| CHEM 6980 | Research for Doctoral Dissertation (minimum 2 credits) | 2 |
| Electives as approved by doctoral advisory committee to bring student to 90 post-baccalaureate hours. This may include up to 9 credits of CHEM 5990, Independent Study and up to 6 credits CHEM 5960, Directed Readings in Chemistry. | 56-67 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 90 | |
| 1 | Up to 3 credits of student advisory committee-approved graduate coursework from outside the department may count for Focus Area credit. |
| 2 | Chemistry Education requires 21 hours of Focus Area/Breadth coursework due to additional courses from the College of Education |
Requirements Specific to the Programs of Study
Each Program of Study calls for different specific courses in the Seminar (1-12 hours) and Focus Area /Breadth (minimum 16 hours) requirements.
Analytical Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5191 | Seminar in Analytical Chemistry | 1-12 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| A minimum of 6 hours from | 6 | |
| Instrumental Methods of Analysis | ||
| Spectroscopic Chemical Analysis | ||
| Separation Methods | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours from | 4 | |
| Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry: Instrumentation | ||
| Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry: Methodology | ||
| Practicum in Analytical Chemistry | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 1, Y=0-8) | 4 | |
Biochemistry
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5291 | Seminar in Biochemistry | 1-12 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| At least 6 hours from | 6 | |
| Principles of Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Biochemical and Biophysical Methods | ||
| At least 6 hours from | 6 | |
| Special Topics in Biochemistry I | ||
| Special Topics in Biochemistry II | ||
| Practicum in Biochemistry | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 2, Y=0-8) | 4 | |
Chemical Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| Instead of a seminar, Chemistry Education students will take 1 credit from the following: | ||
| CHEM 5001 | Practicum in General Chemistry Education | 1 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| A minimum of 2 hours in letter-graded 5000-level CHEM courses (X= 1-5,7,9, Y=0-2) | 2 | |
| EDSC 5513 | Teaching Science in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| EDSC 5523 | The Science of Learning Theories | 3 |
| or EDSC 6333 | Research Paradigms For Scientific Investigations | |
| EIPT 5023 | Analysis of Quantitative Data I | 3 |
| EIPT 6043 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EIPT 6223 | Mixed-Methods Research | 3 |
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 5, Y=3-8) | 4 | |
Inorganic Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5391 | Seminar in Inorganic Chemistry | 1-12 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| At least 8 credits from | 8 | |
| Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Frontiers in Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 3, Y=0-8) | 4 | |
Organic Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5491 | Seminar in Organic Chemistry | 1-12 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| CHEM 5400 | Organic Chemistry I: Mechanisms and Reactivity (minimum 2 credits) | 2 |
| CHEM 5430 | Organic Chemistry II: Reactions and Synthesis (minimum 2 credits) | 2 |
| At least 4 credits from | 4 | |
| Structural Characterization of Organic Compounds | ||
| Special Topics in Chemical Reactivity and Physical Organic Chemistry | ||
| Special Topics in Bioorganic and Specialized Organic Compounds | ||
| Practicum in Organic Chemistry | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 4, Y=0-8) | 4 | |
Physical Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5591 | Seminar in Physical Chemistry | 1-12 |
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| At least 6 credits from | 6 | |
| Topics in Quantum Chemistry | ||
| Topics in Statistical Thermodynamics | ||
| At least 4 credits from | 4 | |
CHEM 5510 | ||
CHEM 5520 | ||
CHEM 5560 | ||
| Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry | ||
| Practicum in Physical Chemistry | ||
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 5, Y=0-8) | 4 | |
Structural Biology
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Seminar Course | ||
| CHEM 5291 | Seminar in Biochemistry | 1-12 |
| or CHEM 5791 | ||
| Focus Area/Breadth Course Requirements must include: | ||
| CHEM 5210 | Molecular Biology (minimum 2 credits) | 2 |
| At least 7 credits from | ||
| Macromolecular Crystallography | ||
CHEM 5740 | ||
| Macromolecular Structure and Function | ||
| Practicum in Structural Biology | ||
| A minimum of 3 credits CHEM 5XY0 with Y= 6 or 7 | 3 | |
| A minimum of 4 hours Breadth coursework (5000-level CHEM courses, X not equal to 0 or 7 Y=0-8) | 4 | |
General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees
A student should expect to spend at least the equivalent of three full academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree to obtain the doctoral degree. During this period the student will take appropriate graduate coursework, successfully complete the general examination, and successfully defend and submit the final dissertation.
All coursework applied to the doctoral degree must carry graduate credit.
The doctoral degree requires at least 90 post-baccalaureate hours, including both formal coursework and hours of research.
The minimum hour requirement for a specific doctoral degree program cannot be waived.
No more than one-half of the credit hours, both OU and overall, excluding Research for Doctoral Dissertation (6980), may be S/U-graded coursework.
The student must be in residence at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters during the pursuit of the doctoral degree while enrolled and engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit.
For more detailed regulations and requirements for Doctoral degrees, please consult the Graduate College Bulletin: http://www.ou.edu/gradcollege/forms/bulletin