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.
Students can satisfy the formal course requirements in less than two years. 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 participate in teaching as part of the degree requirements.
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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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.
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
Visit the Chemistry Safety Page for information on prescription safety glasses.
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.