GSU home page
 		 Chemistry home page
 
Home Admission Policies Master of Science
Program Doctor of Philosophy
Program Graduate Student's Guide to Department Requirements and Policies Course Descriptions College of
Arts & Sciences Office of Graduate Studies Office of the
Registar Office of
Admissions Graduate Catalog Apply to the
Graduate Program 		About the Department People  Research  Undergraduate  Graduate 

Apply on Line Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry Program
Professor Giovanni Gadda, Director of Graduate Studies
Ms. Lita Malveaux, Graduate Coordinator

The Department of Chemistry offers a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Chemistry.  The Ph.D. degree is offered in biochemistry, organic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, and analytical chemistry.  A bioinformatics option is available in each of the four core disciplines.

At least 80 hours of graduate credit are required for the Ph.D. degree.  In order to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree, students must complete successfully:
      Foreign Language/Research Skill Requirement:  A reading proficiency in one foreign language or an equivalent research skill - e.g., computer language, technical writing, advanced statistics, electronics, etc. - (departmental approval necessary) is required.  Students with M.S. degrees have already satisfied the language requirement.  Credit hours used to fulfill this requirement do not count in the 80 hours.

1.       Thirty hours of approved graduate core coursework.
2. Forty hours of research, at least 20 hours of which must be Dissertation Research.
3. Ten additional hours of graduate course electives or research.
4. Satisfaction of the foreign language (research skill) requirement.
5. A written and an oral qualifying general examination.
6. A dissertation.
7. A final oral examination, directed primarily to the defense of the dissertation.

Specific requirements:  The following coursework illustrates the minimum curriculum requirements for each discipline.  Substitutions in the curriculum may be made based on the recommendation of the student s research adviser and require the prior written approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the departmental chair.  Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of all material covered in the core courses during the qualifying examination.


Biochemistry
A.       Core courses (9 hours) - To be selected from Chem 6600, 6610, 6840, 8360, 8370, or approved substitutes;
B. Area Electives (6 hours) - To be selected from Chem 6400, 6410, 8510, or approved substitutes;
C. Interdisciplinary Electives in Biology (6 hours) or approved substitutes;
D. Topics, Electives and Seminar (6-19 hours) - To be selected from Chem 6050, 6450, 8800, 8900, 8910, 8970, or approved substitutes;
E. Research (40 hours) Chem 8900, 8910, 9999 (at least 20 hours must be 9999).

Biophysical Chemistry
A.       Core courses:  (9 hours). Chem 6110, 6120, and/or 8510 and choice of Chem 6190, 6370, 6740, 6792, 8360, 8370, or approved substitutes;
B. Area Electives:  (6 hours) - To be selected from Chem 6600, 6610 and/or Chem 6400, 6410 and/or Biol 6890, 8500, 8750 or approved substitutes;
C. Interdisciplinary Electives in Biology (6 hours) or approved substitutes;
D. Topics, Electives and Seminar (6-19 hours) - To be selected from Biol/Chem 8970, Biol 8700; Chem 6050, 6450, 8800 and other approved electives;
E. Research (40 hours) Chem 8900, 8910, 9999 (Minimum of 20 hours must be 9999).

Organic Chemistry
A.       Core courses (9 hours) Chem 6400, 6410, and 6330, 8400, or approved substitutes;
B. Area Electives (6 hours) - To be selected from Chem 6600, 6610, 6370, 8510, or approved substitutes;
C. Interdisciplinary Electives in Biology (6 hours) or approved substitutes;
D. Topics, Electives and Seminar (6-19 hours)- To be selected from Bio/Chem 8970, Bio 8700, Chem 6050, 6450, 8800, 8900, 8910, 8970, or approved substitutes;
E. Research (40 hours) Chem 8900, 8910, 9999 (at least 20 hours must be 9999).

Analytical Chemistry
A.       Core courses (9 hours) Chem 6015, 6850, and 6870 (Chem 6860) or approved substitutes;
B. Area Electives (6 hours) to be selected from Chem 6370, 6400, 6410, 8510, or approved substitutes;
C. Interdisciplinary Electives in Biology (6 hours) or approved substitutes;
D. Topics, Electives and Seminar (6-19 hours) to be selected from Bio/Chem 8970, Bio 8700, Chem 6050, 6450, 8800, 8900, 8910, 8970, or approved substitutes;
E. Research (40 hours) Chem 8900, 8910, 9999 (at least 20 hours must be 9999).

Bioinformatics
A.       Core courses:  Biochemistry/Organic/Biophysical Analysis (9)
B. Area Electives:  Appropriate electives for core discipline selected in A or approved substitutes.
C. Interdisciplinary Electives in Biology (6) or approved substitutes.
D. Computer Science Courses (Electives and Seminar) (19)
1. 12 hours from CSc*, Math and/or Chem/Bio Informatics courses or approved substitutes
*[CSc 6260, 6310, 6730, 6840, 8710, 8711, and Stat 8090, 8440, 8540, 8561, 8630, 8660, and 8670 are possible choices.]
2. Chem/Bio courses to fulfill requirement or approved substitutes.
E. Research (40 hours) Approved research courses (minimum of 20 hours of 9999).

Academic Area Advisers
        Analytical Chemistry        Dr. Gabor Patonay        cheggp@langate.gsu.edu        404-413-5556
        Biochemistry        Dr. Dabney Dixon        ddixon@gsu.edu        404-413-5508
        Biophysical Chemistry        Dr. W. Wilson        wdw@gsu.edu        404-413-5503
        Organic Chemistry        Dr. Lucjan Strekowski        lucjan@gsu.edu        404-413-5509


Descriptions of the courses offered in the Graduate Programs.
Schedule of classes.

For more information about application procedures for the GSU Chemistry graduate program and financial aid, please contact:

Lita Malveaux
Department of Chemistry
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4098
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4098

404-413-5525
404-413-5505
518-F General Classroom Building
chemgradstudent@gsu.edu

The printed catalog is the only authorized version of this information and must be consulted when planning course schedules.