Description
The Ph.D. program in Chemistry provides doctoral education in three technical focal areas: Materials Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Forensic Science, drawing upon the strengths of the Department of Chemistry and other units within the University of Central Florida (e.g., College of Optics and Photonics [CREOL], AMPAC). The focus areas meet the ever-pressing demand for the development of new materials and the increasing urgency of addressing crucial environmental and security problems. The curriculum has been developed in collaboration with industrial scientists and represents a response to current and projected competencies needed by industry. The purpose of this training is to provide scientists and educators who are capable of conducting research to solve important problems in contemporary fields of the chemical sciences and prepare a highly skilled work force to ensure the technological and economic health and competitiveness of central Florida.
Degrees Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
Admission
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
Students will normally possess a B.S. degree in the chemical sciences, or closely related field, and an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume are also required for admission. International applicants, for whom English is not their native language, will be required to achieve at least 220 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language exam (TOEFL).
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.
Application Due Dates
All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry | Jan 15 | Jul 15 | Dec 1 | Apr 15 |
International Applicants
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
International Transfer Applicants
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry | Jan 15 | Mar 1 | Sep 1 | Dec 15 |
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
A program of study is developed for each student in order to provide an appropriate background for his or her research. The academic program of study is developed jointly by the student and the advising committee based on the student’s chosen sub-discipline and his/her performance on the placement exams. Students then acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to develop expertise in their area of specialization by successfully completing at least 15 credit hours of elective courses and directed research in their chosen area of concentration. One of the primary means of education and training in the Ph.D. program is achieved through successful completion of an original research project, through close mentorship by their research adviser and the presentation and defense of the Ph.D. dissertation. This intense research experience provides the education and training necessary for the student to substantiate his/her expertise and develop the skills necessary to become an independent professional.
A minimum of 21 credit hours of formal courses are required above the qualifying level (seven 3 credit hour graduate-level courses, excluding seminar, research, or independent/directed study). The course work includes four core courses and three additional (elective) courses in the chosen area of concentration (two of which must be taken within the Department of Chemistry). A minimum of 6 credit hours of directed research is also required in the area of concentration. Students must maintain a 3.0 average or better in their program of study. Additional courses may be required by the student’s research adviser, depending on the chosen area of research. By the end of the second semester, students will choose a dissertation adviser and establish a program of study.
During the second year, students will take a two-semester seminar course sequence (2 credit hours), presenting a seminar to the department in the second seminar course. A third credit hour of seminar will be taken the year the student intends to defend their dissertation. During this semester, the student will present a seminar to the department on their thesis research. The research adviser and graduate program director will establish an advisory committee for each student. A total of 72 credit hours are required, with a minimum of 15 credit hours of dissertation research. A maximum of 27 credit hours are transferable from an approved M.S. degree program.
Total Hours Required for Ph.D.—Minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree; minimum of 42 credit hours beyond the master’s degree
Core Course—12 hours
- CHM 6710 Applied Analytical Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6440 Kinetics and Catalysis (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6251 Applied Organic Synthesis (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6240 Chemical Thermodynamics (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses—15 credit hours in chosen concentration including Directed Research
Students need only 3 elective courses and 6 hours of directed study. They may choose three courses from the departmental offerings or two courses from the departmental offerings and one from outside of the department. Directed research will always be within the department.
Materials Chemistry Concentration
Choose three courses from the following courses (except directed research).
- CHM 5225 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5580 Advanced Physical Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6260 Chemical Unit Operations and Separations (2 credit hours)
- CHM 6711 Chemistry of Materials (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6620 Solid State Inorganic Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5450 Polymer Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5451C Techniques in Polymer Science (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5715C Optical Materials Processing and Characterization Techniques (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6449 Photochemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5305 Applied Biological Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6938 Special Topics (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5235 Applied Molecular Spectroscopy (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6XXX Advanced Instrumental Analysis (3 credit hours)
- CHM 7919 Directed Research in Materials Chemistry
Choose a maximum of one course from outside the Chemistry Department from the following list of courses.
- OSE 5050 Fundamentals and Applications of Photonics (3 credit hours)
- EMA 5504 Modern Characterization of Materials (3 credit hours)
- EMA 6518 Transmission Electron Microscopy (3 credit hours)
- EMA 5108 Surface Science (3 credit hours)
- EMA 6129 Solidification and Microstructure Evolution (3 credit hours)
- EMA 6130 Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys (3 credit hours)
- EMA 6136 Diffusion in Solids (3 credit hours)
- EMA 6516 X-Ray Diffraction and Crystallography (3 credit hours)
- IDS 7691 Structure-Function-Relationships of Biomolecules I (5 credit hours)
- PHY 5933 Selected Topics in Biophysics of Macromolecules (3 credit hours)
- MCB 5527 Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (3 credit hours)
- BSC 5408L Advanced Biology Laboratory Techniques (3 credit hours)
Environmental Chemistry Concentration
Choose three courses from the following courses (except directed research).
- CHS 6613 Current Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5235 Applied Molecular Spectroscopy (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6XXX Advanced Instrumental Analysis (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6XXX Chemistry of Hazardous Waste (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6XXX Chemical Aspects of Air and Water Borne Pollutants (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6449 Photochemistry (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6XXX Special Topics (3 credit hours)
- CHM 7919 Directed Research in Environmental Chemistry (3 credit hours)
Choose one course from outside the Chemistry Department from the following list.
- ENV 5410 Drinking Water Treatment (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6046 Membrane Mass Transfer (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6055 Fate and Transport of Subsurface Contaminants (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6058 Particle Processes in Aquatic Systems (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6106 Theory and Practice of Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6126 Design of Air Pollution Controls (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6336 Site Remediation and Hazardous Waste Treatment (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6519 Aquatic Chemical Processes (3 credit hours)
- ENV 6558 Industrial Waste Treatment (3 credit hours)
Forensic Science Concentration
Choose three courses from the following courses (except directed research).
- CHS 6548 Explosives and Accelerants Analysis (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6XXX Forensic Micro-analytical Techniques (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6XXX Advanced Instrumental Analysis (3 credit hours)
- CHM 5451C Techniques in Polymer Science (3 credit hours)
- CHM 6XXX Special Topics (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6535 Forensic Analysis of Biological Materials (2 credit hours)
- CHS 6535L Forensic Analysis of Biological Materials (3 credit hours)
- CHS 6536 Forensic Analysis of DNA Data (2 credit hours)
- CHM 7919 Directed Research in Forensic Science
Examinations
Qualifying Examinations
Students will be expected to satisfy qualifying (proficiency) requirements (analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry) during the first year by taking exams in each of these four areas. Additional course work may be required if one or more of the qualifying exams are not satisfied. These exams may be waived if the entering student possesses a M.S. degree in the chemical sciences. Satisfaction of this requirement will help ensure that all students are adequately prepared for the core courses.
Ph.D. Candidacy Examination
By the end of the second year, students will take the Ph.D. candidacy oral examination. The candidacy examination consists of writing and orally defending an original research proposal (a topic not directly related to the student’s dissertation research, and approved by the adviser and advisory committee) to the student’s program faculty advisory committee, and a presentation of their preliminary dissertation research accomplishments and plans.
Dissertation
- CHM 7980 Doctoral Dissertation (15 credit hours minimum)
- CHM 6938 Seminar (1hour)
Within three months before defending the dissertation, the student will present a seminar on the student’s dissertation research to the Department of Chemistry (the student will register for 1 credit of seminar).
Dissertation Defense
The final requirement for the Ph.D. degree is completion of a satisfactory written dissertation of his/her research, along with successful presentation and defense of the dissertation to the student’s dissertation advisory committee, including one doctorate-holding nonprogram faculty member.
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
- If you are interested in financial assistance, you are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and therefore are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.
Contact Info
Andres Campiglia, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5728
acampigl@mail.ucf.edu