Alterations in requirements for Chemical Education Specialization participants.
Study for physical chemistry registration exam
Study for one additional registration exam
If not native speaker of English, pass Test of Spoken English
Take physical chemistry registration exam. If passing score is not obtained, take undergraduate physical chemistry course(s) and obtain a grade of B or better. Undergraduate physical chemistry (Chem 440, 442, or 444) do not count for graduate credit.
Attend program orientation and teaching orientation
Consult with at least one Area advisor to select classes (first semester). Consult with research advisor for second semester.
Serve as a teaching assistant
By September 20 (or previous Friday if September 20 falls on a weekend) turn in advisor interview form
Interview with at least 9 faculty, including all assistant professors in area(s) of interest
Join research group. Enabling date is the last Monday in October unless otherwise announced.
Complete at least four classes (in some cases, all classes may be finished in the first year)
Begin research
Anyone who has not joined a research group by the beginning of classes for second semester is not making "adequate progress."
If someone wishes to change research groups, no more than 30 days can elapse between resignation from group and matriculation in another or "adequate progress" is not being made. The Chemistry department supports only those graduate students making adequate progress. Any switching between groups requires completion of a form, available from the graduate student office, bearing signatures of both past and future research advisors.
If not done so already, complete classes. Requirement is 20 hours of 400-500 level classes, with specifics set by areas. Additional certifications (business administration, chemical education, computational sciences and engineering, law, medicine) require additional credits detailed elsewhere.
Present literature seminar (details vary by area)
Continue research
Take preliminary examination during first semester
Continue research
Write original research proposal (details vary by area)
Continue research
Contact Academic Advising and Career Services Office to begin post-Illinois planning
Complete research
Defend thesis
Deposit thesis
Exit interview
Detailed Yearly Requirements by Area
No additional requirements. While you may request specific teaching assignments for spring, very few are available within the area.
To request a specific class to TA, contact the instructor for that class or the Analytical Faculty Budget and Operations Committee representative.
Request specific seminar dates with the fall semester seminar instructor in early June.
Inquire of your research advisor which semester is preferred for presenting seminar.
Preliminary examinations should be taken during the fall semester, or a petition filed by your advisor, asking for a delay and setting a specific date by which the seminar will be completed. Faculty travel a lot -- set the date early. Request paperwork for the exam from the Analytical Secretary at least 6 weeks in advance of the exam, and bring the paperwork with you to the exam.
The original research proposal is to be completed during the fall semester of the fourth year.
Reserve a seminar room for the final oral examination as soon as a thesis completion date is known. Request degree paperwork from the Analytical Secretary and bring it with you to the final oral exam. The seminar part of the exam is open to the public and should be advertised via the "Yellow Sheet" to the Department.
Chemical Biology students in ALL semesters of their graduate research are expected to attend the Chemical Biology seminars, regularly scheduled for 12:00 noon on Thursdays, unless this conflicts with a teaching assignment. First year Chemical Biology students must enroll in CHEM 590C (Introduction to Chemical Biology Lecture) and CHEM 590L (Introduction to Chemical Biology Laboratory).At the request of the research advisor, a Chemical Biology student will be required to submit a "first-year paper", summarizing the results of the first year of research. This will be due early in the second year (approximately October). Format requirements.
Sign up for seminar, Chem 575, for a letter grade in the semester the seminar is given. The semester in which you give your seminar will be determined after consultation with the Chemical Biology office. Detailed instructions and guidance for seminar preparation will be provided by the seminar course instructor.
Brief Perspective on Preliminary Examination. Detailed Perspective on Preliminary Examination
Preliminary exam paper must be submitted to each committee member as hard copy at least one week before the examination. Guidelines for the preliminary examination will be distributed to you in advance of your fifth semester. Your preliminary examination must be taken by the end of your fifth semester.
Original research proposal: one page preproposal due to Chemical Biology office by mid-March of 8th semester in residence. If not approved, a revised topic must be submitted in one week. The scope of the proposal should be similar to that of a junior faculty starter grant. See also detailed guidelines from a recent year.
Reserve a seminar room for the oral thesis defense as soon as a thesis completion date has been determined. Request the degree paperwork from the Chemical Biology office and ensure that it will be brought to the final defense (typically the research advisor is responsible for bringing this). The thesis defense seminar is open to the public and will be advertised in seminar bulletins on campus and online.
The Chemical Education protocol is student-specific, and varies in a way that depends on the entry timing, the primary advisor and the interests and background of the student.In order to earn the Chemical Education specialization, the student must take science education-based coursework as agreed to by the student, and the chemical education and primary research advisors. He or she must also complete a small chemical education-based research project, and demonstrate excellence in classroom teaching as assessed by the chemical education staff.
By arrangement, there may be up to one-year delay in the student's literature seminar (depending upon the point of entry into the program) to accommodate the demands of the Chemical Education specialization.
Chemistry 512 (Advanced Inorganic Chemistry) and Chemistry 516 (Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry) must be taken. Students should attempt to keep 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays open for seminars. The literature seminar must be given before the end of the third full semester. Upon consultation with the faculty advisor, students who are enrolled for six or more hours of course work in their third semester may be granted a one-semester extension of this deadline. The preliminary oral examination report must include, in addition to the research report, a separate sheet containing a prospective title for your thesis and a chapter-level outline; that is, give the titles you expect your chapters will have (but omit any subheadings within the chapters). The original research proposal must be turned in before the end of the seventh semester.
Chemistry 580 (Introduction to Materials Chemistry) and Chemistry 588 (Physical Methods in Materials Chemistry) must be taken. Students should attempt to keep 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays open for seminars. The literature seminar must be given before the end of the third full semester. Upon consultation with the faculty advisor, students who are enrolled for six or more hours of course work in their third semester may be granted a one-semester extension of this deadline. The preliminary oral examination report must include, in addition to the research report, a separate sheet containing a prospective title for your thesis and a chapter-level outline; that is, give the titles you expect your chapters will have (but omit any subheadings within the chapters).
A brief paper, summarizing research progress during the first summer, is required early in the second year (typically by October 1).
No additional requirements. To request a specific teaching assignment for the Spring semester, forward your request to the CLSL secretarial office.To request a specific teaching assignment for the Spring semester, forward your request to the CLSL secretarial office.Literature seminars can be given either in the Fall or Spring semester. When you are enrolled in Chem 545, you will receive more detailed information from the faculty member in charge. Plan your enrollment with your research advisor.
The preliminary exam should be taken during the Fall semester. Discuss with your research advisor possible members of the exam (and hence thesis) committee. Plan the exam date well in advance as scheduling four faculty, who can travel extensively can be a challenge.The original research proposal is due during the Spring semester. You will be contacted by the Physical Chemistry Proposal Officer, who will provide information and consultation on an appropriate topic for your proposal.As with the preliminary exam, scheduling your final thesis defense requires advanced planning. There is paperwork associated with the final exam that needs to be requested from the CLSL secretarial office. Once the exam date is scheduled notify the office so that the exam location and time can be posted on the SCS yellow sheet of seminar announcements. The thesis defense is open to the public, but the deliberations of the thesis committee are not.