Chemistry Doctoral Program

Who Should Apply

We welcome applicants who hold a master’s degree in chemistry, biology, chemical biology, chemical engineering or biomedical engineering (up to 30 credits may be transferred to Stevens’ Ph.D. program). Exceptionally well-qualified applicants holding only a bachelor’s degree in these areas will also be considered but may be admitted provisionally. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

Program Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, from an accredited institution

• Official college transcripts

• Two letters of recommendation

• Resume or curriculum vitae

• A statement of purpose

• For international students: An excellent TOEFL/IELTS score

• A competitive GRE or GMAT score (required for both part-time and full-time applicants)

• View General Admissions Requirements >

For information about fellowships and assistantships, contact Graduate Admissions. Contact >

Chemistry Doctoral Program Curriculum Overview

Stevens chemistry doctoral program provides advanced education in chemistry theory and experimental methods to students with undergraduate backgrounds in chemistry. The doctoral program connects students with distinguished faculty research, providing both theoretical instruction and experimental exposure throughout the course of study.

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

• Write reviews of the scientific research on different topics

• Write journal articles based on your research

• Have a strong knowledge of all core disciplines in chemistry: analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry

• Conduct independent research

• Learn various research skills appropriate to your research which could include

• Employ standard methods to synthesize organic and inorganic molecules and determine purity and yield

• Identify and quantify chemical materials using instrumental analytical methods such as IR, UV, NMR, mass spectrometry, and chromatographic and electrochemical methods

• Determine physical properties of molecules such as kinetic parameters, thermodynamic properties and molecular mass, explain properties and behavior.

Degree Requirements

A student enrolled in the master’s program in chemistry or chemical biology who is interested in a doctorate degree must apply formally for admission to the Doctoral program. Eighty-four credits are required for the doctoral degree. The Master’s degree is not a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program but may be included in the 84 credits. The 84 credits should include a minimum of 30 credits of dissertation hours. For the Ph.D. degree, a prior Masters’ degree may be transferred for up to 30 credits. Up to one-third of additional course credits may be transferred with the approval of the Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School provided they have not been used to obtain another degree. The preliminary requirements for the doctorate are regarded not as ends in themselves, but rather as preparation for the dissertation in which the student demonstrates ability. Continuation in the doctoral program is contingent on passing the qualifying examination and preliminary examination.

VIEW REQUIREMENTS >

Qualifying Examination

All doctoral students in chemistry must pass a qualifying examination. After successful completion of the qualifying examination, the next milestone is a preliminary examination. The preliminary examination is based on an original research proposal in an area of the student’s own choice, preferably in an area related to the pending dissertation area but with a topic significantly different from his or her thesis. It is submitted in written form and defended orally before the Thesis Committee.

Doctoral Dissertation and Advisory Committee

The final milestone is the doctoral dissertation and defense. Specifics on these degree requirements can be found in the Chemistry Program Graduate Student Handbook.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL REQUIREMENTS >

If you have existing graduate credits or experience in this area of study, contact [email protected] to discuss opportunities to include it in the curriculum.