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The Chemistry Ph.D. at Purdue University is awarded through the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
This full-time doctoral program focuses on thesis research, demanding students make original, significant contributions to their field. With its strong research emphasis, graduates develop skills to design and execute research projects, preparing them for research-intensive careers. The program follows consistent requirements across all Purdue campuses as part of the university-wide chemistry doctoral initiative.
For candidacy, students must complete five cumulative written exams during their first four semesters and an oral defense before their fifth semester concludes. The oral exam involves presenting their research and defending an independent research proposal distinct from their dissertation work.
The curriculum requires three core courses in the student's specialization area plus three courses from other divisions. Additional coursework may be suggested to prepare students for the written preliminary examination components.
Student should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, show promise of ability to engage in advanced work, and have adequate preparation-at least 35 credit hours of chemistry broadly representative of the fields of the discipline-in a chemistry curriculum. The GRE exam is required for all applicants.
All non-native speakers of English must also submit proof of English proficiency unless the applicant has a Bachelor's degree or higher from the US or a predominantly English-speaking country.