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Chemistry for Teaching and Research
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Both degree programs emphasize original research and are designed to educate professional chemists and biochemists. In addition, the moderate size of our program (about 55 students) allows students to establish close personal relationships with each other and with faculty members.
You will be eligible for assistantships and will take courses in the core areas of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemistry education research, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Chemistry, M.S./Ph.D. Curriculum and Courses
Graduate students develop as professional scientists through a curriculum centered on original, faculty-mentored research spanning all major subdisciplines of chemistry and biochemistry, supported by extensive on-site instrumentation that students operate directly. Foundational and advanced courses, including graduate seminars, written and oral examinations, and at least five to six graded graduate courses, provide the broad scientific knowledge students need to pursue and complete their independent research projects.
Degree Facts
- 15 students per cohort
- Application Deadline:
- Spring: Oct. 1, with all letters received by Nov. 1
- Fall: Jan. 20, with all letters received by Feb. 1
- Students who apply for spring admission but are not admitted can easily transfer their application for consideration for the following fall.
Advancing Chemical Knowledge Through Research, Innovation, and Discovery
The objectives of the graduate curriculum are to broaden and deepen the student’s general knowledge and understanding of chemistry, capacity to conduct meaningful research, and ability to recognize and provide solutions to significant scientific problems. To meet these objectives, the department offers a wide range of fields of specialization, courses, seminars, and research problems. The research interests of our faculty span all of the major subdisciplines of chemistry and biochemistry, and the department features extensive instrumentation, all of which is used directly by our students. While students must meet the requirements of the Graduate School and the department, they may individually tailor their choice of fields, courses, and research problems to meet their personal interests and professional goals.
Facts and Stats
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Miami University Data
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Graduate Chemistry Degrees Offered
Doctorate Program
The Ph.D. program normally requires four to five years of post-baccalaureate work and generally includes course work, seminars, written and oral exams, and original research. Typically, most course work is finished in the first two years, with cumulative exams in the second and third years. The Ph.D. oral exam that follows is based on an original research proposal developed by the student. Successful students at this point are advanced to candidacy of the Ph.D. degree. Research is a continuing activity throughout all stages. The program is completed by passing a final oral examination and submitting a dissertation on the original research.
At least six graded graduate courses are required. A minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the M.S. degree must be completed. Well-prepared students can skip the M.S. and proceed directly toward the Ph.D. degree. A minimum of 24 credit hours may be given for dissertation research (CHM 850). A minimum grade point average of 3.00 is required.
Master of Science Options
Thesis Option
The M.S. program normally requires two years to complete. Students must pass a preliminary oral exam, write a thesis based on original research he or she has conducted, and present an oral defense of the thesis.
At least five graded graduate courses are required. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be completed. At least 2 semester hours must be earned in courses numbered 600 or above and a minimum of 6 hours in CHM 700 (research).
Non-Thesis Option
During the first year, students choose a topic for advanced study. A report based on this topic must be written and defended at the end of the program. The non-thesis M.S. program is expected to take 2 years to complete.
At least 6 graduate courses are required. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be completed, with 2 hours in courses numbered 600 or above.
Please note that students in this program are not typically eligible for support through assistantships and tuition waivers.
Combined B.S./M.S.
Undergraduate students may also wish to enroll in the combined BS/MS program in Chemistry which allows students to pursue a master degree in an accelerated manner while pursuing their bachelor’s degree.
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Can the application fee be waived?
The Chemistry/Biochemistry Department does not have the authority to waive the application fee. Please email graduate admission at [email protected] to inquire about an application fee waiver. There are certain criteria that must be met to be awarded an application fee waiver.
Can I apply directly into the Ph.D. program if I haven’t completed an MS?
Miami handles this a bit differently from many US institutions. All students who do not already hold an M.S. degree from a domestic insitution start out in our M.S. program. After the first year, students can “promote” to our Ph.D. program assuming that everything is going well (GPA ≥3.00, good start to research).
When completing the application, please indicate “Ph.D.” if your intent is to obtain a Ph.D., even if you do not already have an M.S..
I can’t find your program in the application.
In general, applications to our program open in early September. If you are trying to apply in the summer for admission the following year, you will need to wait until it is available.
Do I need to contact potential faculty supervisors before I apply?
Students in our program are almost always admitted without faculty supervisors. They join groups after a couple of months in the program, after they have had a chance to meet the faculty and senior students. You do not need to contact faculty in advance of applying, and doing so will not increase your chances of admission. Of course, if you would like to learn more about a faculty member’s research you are welcome to reach out to them by e-mail.
If you are strongly interested in working for a specific group in the department, please contact the admissions chair to discuss your situation. It is sometimes possible to arrange for students to be assigned to research groups before they start.
Do international students need to provide a transcript evaluation?
No, international students do not need to provide a third-party transcript evaluation (e.g., by WES). Transcripts are evaluated by our admissions office as part of our process.
Are students accepted to start in January?
We have accepted between 0–4 students to start their graduate studies in January. However, most new graduate students start in August. That said, if you apply for the spring and it doesn’t work out, we can easily move your application to the fall (with no additional application fee).
When are decisions made about acceptance into the program?
We generally make our first round of offers for fall admission around mid-to-late February. Some offers may be made earlier for applicants who apply well ahead of our deadline. We then typically make a second round of offers in late April if there are still positions available. We continue to make offers at that point until the class is filled.
Decisions for spring admission are usually made in mid-to-late November.
Can I visit the Department?
Domestic students who have submitted all of their application items are certainly welcome to visit the department. We will typically cover travel costs. Please contact [email protected] to arrange your visit.
Additional Opportunities
Graduate Assistantships
Virtually all graduate students accepted into the chemistry and biochemistry graduate program receive an assistantship, along with a waiver of tuition and out-of-state fees. Duties of students during the academic year may include assisting faculty in teaching laboratory courses or carrying out their research program, depending on the nature of the assistantship. In addition, all students in good academic standing are eligible for summer assistantships, which are research appointments and involve no other duties.
Scholarships and Awards
- R. Thomas Davidson Graduate Awards – summer supplements to outstanding graduate students in their last year in the department
- William Hale Charch Graduate Fellowships – awards to graduate students based on accomplishment or potential
- E.O. and B.V. Weidner Chemistry Scholarship – award to graduate student with an interest in analytical chemistry
- Outstanding TA Award – award to outstanding teaching assistant
- Dissertation Scholar – scholarship awarded to outstanding Ph.D. candidate in the last year in the department
Admission and Requirements
Admission Overview
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.7 GPA.
- Personal Statement
- CV
- Transcripts
- Recommender contact information.
- GRE (optional). Use code 1463.
- International applicants should refer to the Graduate School for more information about demonstrating English proficiency.
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biochemistry from an accredited college or university. Typical coursework includes:
- Two semesters of General chemistry plus lab.
- Two semesters of Organic chemistry plus lab.
- Two semesters of Physical chemistry plus lab.
- Two of the three following: Inorganic, Biochemistry, and Analytical.
- While a student need not have taken a curriculum accredited by the American Chemical Society, the training in chemistry, physics, and mathematics should be similar to an accredited curriculum.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., pharmacy, chemical engineering) will be considered so long as they have completed comparable coursework. Students with backgrounds in biology-oriented backgrounds who would like to work with our faculty but do not meet these course requirements are encouraged to consider Miami’s Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology (CMSB) program. Many of our biochemistry-oriented faculty supervise students in this program.
Admission and Funding
This is Where Your Journey to Miami University Begins
Explore what it means to be a graduate student at Miami University, where students prepare to go anywhere and everywhere. We’ll be here to help every step of the way as you prepare for college admission, enrollment, and success.
Contact Us
Graduate Admission
513-529-GRAD (4723)
[email protected]
Department of Chemistry
Graduate Admissions Chair
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hughes Laboratories, 160
651 E. High St.
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2813
513-529-5715 (fax)
[email protected]