The Ph.D. degree offered at UW-Madison is awarded for original, creative, and novel research as demonstrated by a dissertation summarizing the work in a scholarly fashion.
The requirements for a Ph.D. degree involve formal course work, teaching, year-end exams, and research. There are 7 paths of research (analytical, chemical biology, chemistry education, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical), but much of the interesting research occurs at the intersections of these paths.
Research is the primary focus of the doctoral degree and students typically choose their research group at the end of their first semester and start research at the beginning of their second semester. Students can choose to work with any faculty member in the Department of Chemistry or outside of the Department if their interests match better with a professor outside of the Department.
Students can satisfy the formal course requirements within two years (often less). Currently there are core courses based on a student’s path of interest and minor courses to expand a student’s breath of knowledge. Students are also expected to participate in the departmental seminar program, which exposes the students to cutting-edge research.
Students in the Department of Chemistry participate in teaching as part of the degree requirements. The teaching experience for graduate students at UW-Madison has proven to be highly effective to review chemical fundamentals, develop communication skills, and build a community among the graduate students.
Students typically graduate in 5-6 years. Approximately half of the students continue their academic career as postdoctoral researchers and approximately half obtain industrial jobs. A few students find teaching positions directly after graduate school.
Ph.D. Requirements
Dates & Deadlines
Graduate Program Documents
More Information
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Changing Path of Research Interest
Each incoming graduate student chose a path of research interest on their application: analytical, chemical biology, chemistry education research, inorganic, materials, organic, or physical. This information, along with the faculty of interest, helped the admission committee evaluate the applicant. The path of research interest is also used during the fall orientation to advise the incoming graduate student which courses in the fall semester may be most applicable and meet the department requirements. The path of research interest does not affect which faculty research group the student can join as most faculty have graduate students from multiple paths in their group.
After visiting the department and becoming more familiar with the faculty, incoming students may want to change the path of research interest. Please fill out the Change of Path Form if you would like to change your path of research interest.
If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Program Office.
Change an Advisor Form
If you are considering changing research groups, please contact the Chemistry Graduate Program Office (GPO). The GPO can help direct you and provide useful information. Then fill out the Change of Advisor Form. This will alert the Graduate Program Office and they will make the appropriate changes in the department databases and files.
Dissertation Binding
The Chemistry Copy Center can bind your dissertation/thesis. Discuss with your research advisor about what type of binding is preferred, then fill out the following forms:
Email the completed forms along with a PDF of your dissertation/thesis to the Copy Center. Please contact the staff in the Copy Center if you have any questions.
Enrollment Credit Requirements for a Non-Dissertator
Fall and Spring Semester Enrollment: Non-Dissertators
Non-dissertators (total 13 – 15 credits*)
- Lecture courses to satisfy the core and minor requirements or courses of general interest
- 1-12 credits research – Chem 990 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
- 1 credit group meeting – Chem 980 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
- 0 credits seminar
- Analytical – Chem 920
- Chembio – any
- Chem Educ Res – any
- Inorganic – Chem 900
- Materials – Chem 920
- Organic – Chem 940
- Physical – Chem 960
*Official auditing of courses does not count toward the total credits.
Non-dissertators: spring, 1st year (total 15 credits*)
- Lecture courses to satisfy the core and minor requirements or courses of general interest
- Chem 607 – safety course, 1 credit (counts in spring semester, even though it was taken before the semester began)
- 1-12 credits research – Chem 990 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
- 1 credit group meeting – Chem 980 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
- 0 credits seminar
- Analytical – Chem 920
- Chembio – any
- Chem Educ Res – any
- Inorganic – Chem 900
- Materials – Chem 920
- Organic – Chem 940
- Physical – Chem 960
*Official auditing of courses does not count toward the total credits.
Summer Term Enrollment: Non-Dissertators
Non-dissertators (total 2 credits)
- 2 credits research – Chem 990 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
Enrollment Credit Requirements for a Dissertator
Fall and Spring Semester Enrollment: Dissertators
Dissertators (total 3 credits)
- 3 credits research – Chem 990 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
**Dissertators are not permitted to officially audit courses
Summer Term Enrollment: Dissertators
Dissertators (total 3 credits)
- 3 credits research – Chem 990 (Enroll in the section of your PI)
Master of Science (M.S.) Degree
Master of Science Degree for Graduate Students Continuing toward the Doctor of Philosophy
Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry who are pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree will meet the requirements for a research-based Master of Science (M.S.) degree after they successfully compete the Thesis Background Exam (TBE), typically taken in the spring of the second year of the graduate program. At that time, the students can apply for the M.S. degree and it will be awarded during the spring conferral date. Obtaining the M.S. at this juncture can serve as positive recognition of a student’s progress in the program. Students are not obligated to apply for the M.S. degree.
Procedure to apply for the M.S. degree:
- At least 4 weeks before the TBE oral exam, the student should request to add the MS program in MyGradPortal. Note that the M.S. program will be in addition to the Ph.D. program.
- The Graduate Program Office (GPO) will approve the request.
- After receiving notification that the M.S. degree was added, the student can request a M.S. warrant on the Department of Chemistry website.
- The student should bring the M.S. warrant to the TBE oral exam. Upon successful completion of the TBE, the PI can sign the M.S. warrant.
- The student returns the signed warrant to the GPO.
Terminal Master of Science Degree for Current Graduate Students
The Department of Chemistry encourages all graduate students who are considering leaving the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program to obtain a Master of Science (M.S.) degree. Graduate students leave the Ph.D. program for a range of reasons and all are legitimate. A M.S. degree from UW–Madison is highly respected and demonstrates an advanced knowledge of chemistry and a higher level of independence than the bachelor’s degree.
- Current graduate students with a research assistantship (RA) who received their M.S. degree after their TBE exam can discontinue the Ph.D. program at any time.
- Current graduate students with a teaching assistantship (TA) who received their M.S. degree after their TBE exam can discontinue the Ph.D. program when they have completed their teaching obligations.
- Current graduate students who did not complete their TBE exam should meet with the Graduate Program Office (GPO) to discuss their options to obtain either a coursework-base or a research-based M.S. degree. Conversations with the GPO are confidential as they work with the student to develop a plan to obtain the M.S. degree.
Prescription Safety Glasses
The steps to obtain prescriptions safety glasses are outline below.
- Complete the “application for safety eyewear” form on the University Health Services website.
- Make an appointment at UHS and spec out your glasses – you must have a current, valid prescription from your doctor (department does not pay for eye exams)
- Bring the form back to Chad Skemp (Chemistry Business Office, room 1123) and he will complete the purchase with a dept. credit card
- Questions, please contact Beatriz Lemire, Human Resource Specialist, Department of Chemistry.
Please contact the Graduate Program Office at gradprogram@chem.wisc.edu if you have general questions. Contact Marc Willadsen, payroll specialist, at mwilladsen@wisc.edu if you have questions about benefits or payroll.