Ph. D. Program of Study

The Ph. D. program at UC Riverside is designed to provide students with the academic background and research experience to make them successful as independent scientific researchers. Emphasis is placed on developing critical analysis skills, creativity, and a base of chemical knowledge. The program is designed to provide many opportunities for independent projects and presentations, even in the graduate lecture classes.

Classes and Teaching

Beginning graduate students arrive in mid-September for TA training (which they are paid for) and to take orientation exams in the areas of Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical chemistry. Based on their previous coursework and performance on the placement exams, each student meets with the Graduate Advisor to determine a schedule of classes that will best meet his/her needs. Students typically take 5-6 graduate classes (1-2 classes per quarter) to fulfill their class requirements during their first year. Each research area (Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical) also has a seminar course which all graduate students take every year (Chem. 251, 252, 253, and 254). After their first year, every student presents a 20-30 minute seminar once per year to students and professors in their area. This class is designed to provide students with valuable seminar presentation experience, as well as updating their peers on the progress of their research.

Choosing a Research Advisor

The Ph. D. degree is a research degree, and the most important task of a student during the first year of graduate study is to choose a research area and a faculty advisor. Chemical research at UCR spans a broad range of areas, and students are encouraged look at the List of Faculty by area of interest. Interdisciplinary research and joint research projects are encouraged. Feel free to contact individual faculty members with specific questions. Their phone numbers and E-mail addresses are in their Faculty Profiles. Most students choose a research group by January of their first year.

Advancement to Candidacy

After their first year, students submit a First Year Report that summarizes their progress in understanding their research topic and getting started in independent research. There are no cumulative exams.

In their second year, students take an Oral Examination consisting of two parts: an independent research proposal on work unrelated to the student’s Ph. D. research, and a separate report on the student’s own research progress and future plans. Upon successful completion of the exam, the student is officially advanced to candidacy.

Thesis Defense

After a student has completed all the requirements for advancement to candidacy, there are no more requirements until the thesis is completed and submitted to the committee. On average, this occurs in the student’s 5th year. At that time, a Thesis Defense will be scheduled, where the research is presented to the Committee and the student is officially awarded the Ph. D. degree.