Graduate Programs Overview

General Considerations for All Students

  • Required Background Courses
    • 1 year of general chemistry, 1 year of physical chemistry and 4 additional 300–400 level chemistry courses
    • 3 semesters of calculus or 2 semesters of calculus and 1 semester of differential equations
  • Background Exam in General Chemistry
    • Taken the week before first semester – ACS exam in General Chemistry
    • Required to pass to qualify for teaching assistantship
  • Required Course Loads
    • Graduate assistants – 9 chemistry‐program‐relevant hours in the Fall and Spring; 1 hour of research during Summer
  • Seminar
    • Take CHEM 615 (or 616) each semester
    • Attend two seminars weekly during Fall and Spring semesters – Monday Colloquium and divisional (or topical) seminar
    • Divisional (or topical) seminars may be “sampled” during first semester
  • Aspects of Professional Chemistry
    • Take one hour per semester of CHEM 690 during first year
  • Research Advisor Selection
    • Faculty research overviews will be given during the middle of the first semester
    • Research advisor selection and assignment is made during the last week of the first semester
    • Choose a research major (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, physical, or nano) and file a program of courses
  • Graduate School Dates and Deadlines
    • Watch deadlines carefully – course registration, thesis or dissertation submission, graduation application, etc.
    • Progress will be reviewed periodically by the Director of Graduate Studies
  • Teaching Assistantship Eligibility
    • Requires good academic standing and adequate progress in the program
    • Further eligibility requires satisfactory research progress
    • Maximum of five semesters (plus four summer terms) for MS or ten semesters for PhD from the date of entry into the program

Master's Degree (M.S.)

  • Course Work
    • Fourteen chemistry‐program‐relevant course hours are required. It can be accomplished through taking four lecture (three-hour) courses and two one-hour “skills” courses (e.g., UNIV 600-602; CHEM 691; CHEM 616)
    • Take CHEM 698 each semester
    • Take CHEM 699 during semester of graduation
  • Research
    • Write and orally defend master's thesis
  • Teaching assistantship eligibility
    • Eligibility maintenance requires good academic standing and adequate progress in the program
    • Requires adequate performance of teaching assistantship duties
    • Given positive feedback from research advisor, extends five semesters (plus summer terms) from date of entry into program 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.)

  • Course Work
    • Nineteen chemistry‐program‐relevant course hours are required. It can be accomplished through taking five lecture (three-hour) courses and four one-hour “skills” courses (e.g., UNIV 600-602; CHEM 691; CHEM 616)
    • Take CHEM 698 each semester until the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam is passed; then take CHEM 799 each semester
  • Ph.D. Qualifying Exam – a written exam in the student's major area
    • Must be attempted no later than the first offering of the fourth non‐summer semester following admission (Students with NIU M.S. degrees follow modified date regulations – see documents listed at top of page)
    • Exams are given in September, January and May
    • Course requirements in the student's major area must be met to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
    • A 3.20 or above NIU Graduate School GPA is required to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
  • Ph.D. Candidacy Exam (CHEM 617) – a 30-page introduction to the dissertation paper and an oral presentation/exam concerning the research of the student
    • Must take place within 12 months of passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
    • Must be passed with a grade of B- or better
  • Comprehensive Literature Review (CHEM 618) - Preparation and presentation (a 45 min oral talk) of comprehensive literature review on topic different from primary research area.
    • Must be done within one year of successful completion of CHEM 617 examination.
  • Annual Research Update – an oral presentation and discussion of research progress
    • Must be given within 12 months of passing the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam and repeated annually until graduation
  • Research
    • Perform graduate research starting semester two until graduation
    • Write and orally defend Ph.D. dissertation
  • Teaching Assistantship Eligibility
    • Eligibility maintenance requires good academic standing and adequate progress in the program
    • Requires adequate performance of teaching assistantship duties
    • Given positive feedback from research advisor and meeting other Ph.D. program requirements, extends 10 semesters (plus summer terms) from entry into program