Programs
Department of Chemistry
The department’s program presents unrivaled opportunities for education and research in the traditional fields of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, materials, and physical chemistry, as well as a variety of interdisciplinary areas. Faculty expertise spans virtually all areas of modern chemical research and related fields. The department is organized according to the research cluster model, emphasizing interdisciplinary research uniquely available at a relatively small research institution such as Rochester.
Information about faculty and research can be found on the Department of Chemistry website.
AdmissionsLink to section
Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section
If your native language is not English and you completed your secondary or higher education in a non-native English-speaking country, you must take the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, or IELTS to demonstrate English language proficiency.
In your required Statement of Purpose, explain why you are applying to the University of Rochester for graduate study. Describe your research experiences as well as future research goals for your intended field of study. As part of this statement, applicants should indicate at least three faculty of interest as potential PhD advisors. Please supply detailed comments supporting these selections.
While completing the online application, you will be asked to provide the names and contact information for three people you are asking to recommend you for graduate school.
AcademicsLink to section
Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
Chemistry PhD students are required to take five courses determined by the student’s interests and field of study and complete a total of 90 credits. Student must complete at least five courses, and earn the remaining credits through research. Students may choose from a variety of intermediate and advanced chemistry courses in all areas of chemistry with guidance of from advisor.
Students must pass a set of written qualifying examinations by April of their second year. By July 31 of the same year, students must pass an oral qualifying examination, which is based on their proposal for further PhD research.
During their third year of study, students present a departmental seminar on a research topic, as is customary in the student’s subdiscipline.
By the end of the fourth year of study, students will meet with their PhD examination committee to discuss progress leading to a successful completion of the dissertation and promote timely completion of the PhD degree.
Graduate Course TitlesLink to section
- CHEM 402: Biophysical Chemistry
- CHEM 406. Interface of Chemistry and Biology
- CHEM 409. Frontier Research Chemistry and Biology
- CHEM 411. Inorganic Chemistry I
- CHEM 415. Group Theory
- CHEM 416. X-Ray Crystallography
- CHEM 421. Basic Organometallic Chemistry
- CHEM 422. Organometallic Chemistry
- CHEM 423. NMR Spectroscopy
- CHEM 424. Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 426. Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 427. Organic Structure Determination
- CHEM 428: Engineering of Soft Matter
- CHEM 433. Advanced Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 434. Methods for Mechanistic Elucidation
- CHEM 435. Organic Reactions
- CHEM 436. Transition Metal Catalysis in Organic Synthesis I
- CHEM 438. Organic Synthesis
- CHEM 440. Bioorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 441. Physical Chemistry I
- CHEM 442. Physical Chemistry II
- CHEM 444. The Advanced Nuclear Science Education Lab
- CHEM 446. Nanoporous Materials Chemistry
- CHEM 449. Advanced Topics in Spectroscopy
- CHEM 451. Quantum Chemistry I
- CHEM 452. Quantum Dynamics
- CHEM 456. CHEM Bonds: From Molecules to Materials
- CHEM 457. Foundational Concepts in Spectroscopy
- CHEM 458. Spectroscopy and Kinetics
- CHEM 459. Electrochemical Engineering Funding and Applications
- CHEM 460. Chemical Kinetics
- CHEM 461. Spectroscopy Techniques Applied to Biological Systems
- CHEM 462. Biological Chemistry
- CHEM 468. Computational Chemistry
- CHEM 470. Computational Chemistry II
- CHEM 472. Elements of Communication
- CHEM 475. The Chemistry of Poisons
- CHEM 476. Polymer Chemistry
- CHEM 486. Energy Science Tech Soc
- CHEM 487. Surface Analysis
- CHEM 511. Chemistry Seminar
- CHEM 513. Chemistry Colloquium
- CHEM 518. Kinetics in Organometallic Reactions and Catalysis
- CHEM 583. Advanced Chemistry Seminar and Colloquium
- CHEM 585. First Year Graduate Workshop
- CHEM 594. Internship
- CHEM 595. PhD Research in Chemistry
- CHEM 595A. PhD Research in Absentia
- CHEM 595B. PhD Research in Absentia Abroad
- CHEM 895. Continuation of Master’s Enrollment
- CHEM 897. Master’s Dissertation
- CHEM 995. Continuation of Doctoral Enrollment
- CHEM 997. Doctoral Dissertation
- CHEM 999. Doctoral Dissertation
- CHEM 999A. Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia
- CHEM 999B. Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia Abroad