Statement of Mutual Expectations Between the Chemistry Department and its Graduate Students

Graduate students in the Chemistry doctoral program are expected to develop a mastery of their field, and gain familiarity with their discipline from arrival to graduation. Students should make the transition from classroom learning to active supervised full-time original research during the first two years of their graduate career.

In particular, doctoral students in Chemistry who arrive with a baccalaureate degree normally will:

• Choose an advisor by December of the first year. 

• Become engaged in research in January of the first year.

• Secure advancement to candidacy within five semesters.

• Submit a minimum of one paper – and more normally several papers – for publication prior to graduation.

• Complete all requirements and graduate within 5-6 years.
  
   

Graduate students in the Chemistry doctoral programs normally may expect:

• A wide selection of courses.

• Advice and mentoring by program faculty prior to the selection of an advisor.

• From their advisor (or, in some instances the program):

  • Regular access and advice during the research and thesis writing process.

  • Training in the preparation of oral and written scholarly presentations; in particular, advice and support for the writing of at least one paper for publication.

  • Introductions, for example at conferences, to other members of the field.

  • Assistance and advice with job searches.

Chemistry Requirements, Guidelines and Course Suggestions

• Ph.D. Degree Requirements

• M.S. Degree Requirements

• Chemistry Course Suggestions

• Chemistry Candidacy Guidelines

Forms for Chemistry Ph.D. Students

Most of the departmental forms are now available in a digital format (Adobe Sign). There is also a printable version for your convenience.

• Advisor Agreement Form **Printable Version here

• Chemistry Candidacy Packet (contains Checklist, Candidacy Exam Report, GOA - Candidacy Evaluation Form and Application for Admission to Candidacy) **If you'd like for your committee to receive this packet digitally, please email chem-gradoffice@umd.edu

  • Candidacy Checklist (Departmental)

  • Chemistry Candidacy Exam Report (Departmental)

  • Graduate Outcome Assessment-Candidacy Evaluation (Departmental)

  • Application for Admission to Candidacy (Application for Admission to Candidacy form must be received by the Office for Graduate Studies (chem-gradoffice@umd.edu) prior to the 25th of the month in order for the advancement to be effective the first day of the following month.)

• Departmental Nomination of Candidacy/Thesis Committee Form **Printable Version here.

• Graduate Outcome Assessment-Dissertation Defense Evaluation (Printable Version Here )

• Graduate Student Schedule Form (must be filled each semester when registering for the following semester) **Printable Version here

• Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation Committee Form (Graduate School Form)

• Request for Inclusion of Non-CHEM-BCHM Coursework

• Request For Transfer Of Course Credit (Only for PhD students)

• Scientific Literature/Oral Preliminary Exam Packet (contains Preliminary Exam Grading Sheet & GOA - Preliminary Exam Evaluation Form)

  • Second Year Chemistry Graduate Student Seminar Topic Approval (Departmental) **Printable Version here

  • Preliminary Exam Grading Sheet (Departmental) **Printable Version here

  • Graduate Outcome Assessment-Preliminary Exam Evaluation (Departmental) **Printable Version here.

  • Literature Seminar Scheduling Google Form(Departmental) 
     

Forms for Chemistry Master's Students

• Advisor Selection Form **Printable Version here

• Approval of MS Scholarly Paper Form

• Graduate Student Schedule Form (must be filled each semester when registering for the following semester) **Printable Version here

• Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation Committee Form (Graduate School Form)

• Request for Inclusion of Non-CHEM-BCHM Coursework

• Request for Transfer or Inclusion of Credit for Master’s Degrees

Graduation Steps

At the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate, you should complete the following forms (with advisor's signatures where required) and email them to the Graduate Office (chem-gradoffice@umd.edu).

1. Check Academic Deadlines

2. Apply for graduation via Testudo

3. Submit Nomination Form

   • If you need to nominate a Special Member to sit on your committee, please fill out this Google Form at least 3 weeks before the deadline for submitting the nomination form.

4. Submit Defense Scheduling Google Form(Departmental) to ensure your defense gets announced

5. Reserve a room for your defense/thesis

6. Defend your dissertation/thesis

7. Submit your dissertation/thesis via the ETD System by the appropriate academic deadline

8. (Master's Students only-- both thesis and non-thesis) Submit Approved Program Form to Graduate Office by appropriate deadline 

     Note: Master's Students doing the non-thesis option do not need to follow steps 3-7. You will need to submit the scholarly paper and form to the Graduate Office by the last day of classes

Helpful Graduation Checklists/Resources

• Doctoral Degree Completion Checklist

• Master's Degree Completion Checklist

• Graduate Degrees and Certificate Completion Procedures

• Thesis & Dissertation Filing

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• Thesis/Dissertation Embargo Request (effective December 2, 2021)

  • As a condition of graduation, each student's thesis or dissertation must be published. Students may place an embargo of up to two years on electronic access to their document through ProQuest's Digital Dissertations and DRUM without approval from the Graduate School. Approval from The Graduate School is required to place an embargo for a maximum of six years or indefinitely. This form may be used to modify a previous embargo or to submit a new embargo request.

Graduate School Forms

If you need to submit a petition, waiver and/or a request to the Graduate School, please go here to view all of their forms or you can contact chem-gradoffice@umd.edu to figure out what form you need.