FAQs for Current Graduate Students

If you are receiving a graduate assistantship and would like to receive a tuition waiver, you must register for at least 12 credits in Fall and Spring and at least 9 credits total in the Summer to receive a tuition waiver. If you are not receiving a tuition waiver from GSU, there is no minimum requirement for the number of credits you need to take per semester.

You should consult the audit forms for your degree here. On the same page, you should find the Chemistry Course List that tell you which courses count as core or elective for each area.

You can also see the courses required for your program, as well as a more detailed description, in the GSU Graduate catalog.

If you need additional guidance, contact your research advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies at [email protected].

If this is a course that is part of your regular requirements, can request an override using the college of arts and sciences registration assistance portal.

Please ask your research advisor to write an email to Will Lovett ([email protected]) and request a section to be created with them as the instructor.

The Chemistry department can substitute classes from the recommended course offerings for your concentration. Please contact the Graduate Director if you need to have courses substituted.

Through PAWS, students can access their “Student Records” tab which opens a menu of options. Select “View Holds” and follow the prompts for how to resolve the hold. If you have a transcript hold despite already submitting your transcript, please submit a ticket here.

If no details are provided for why you have a hold, contact the Registrar's office.

You can use Degree Works to check your progress. See the next question on the FAQ if you need to update the information on DegreeWorks.

You can also use the appropriate audit form for your program here to check your progress manually.

Complete the milestones form here to indicate completion of any milestone.

DegreeWorks usually updates the course placement into different categories as additional courses are completed. It is best to wait until you have completed all your required coursework before making substitutions or changes to the category. You can make such changes using the following form:

The written qualifying exam should be taken exactly one year after enrolling in the Ph.D. program. Students who start the program in the Fall will take the written qualifying exam in August of the following year. Students who start in the Spring will take the written qualifying exam in January of the following year. A research proposal is due approximately two months after completion of the written exam, and then the oral exam must be completed later that same semester (no later than four months after the written qualifying exam). The Graduate Director will also contact you well before your scheduled exam dates to inform you that your exam is upcoming.

To switch between thesis and non-thesis M.S. status, please use this online form. Note that to officially become a thesis M.S. student, you will also need to complete the advisor designation form here.

To change your Ph.D. concentration, please consult with the director of graduate studies and your advisor first. Then, you can fill out this online form.

If you are eligible for a tuition waiver, it will automatically be applied to your student account by the week prior to the first day of class that semester. If you think you might be eligible for a tuition waiver but do not see your tuition waiver in your student account by the week prior to the first day of class that semester, then contact the Graduate Director ([email protected]) or Associate Graduate Director ([email protected]).

If you are a a Ph.D. student, you will form your dissertation committee soon after completing the oral qualifying exam. Upon completion of your exam, you will receive an email from the DGS ([email protected]) with instructions on how to select your committee.

If you are a thesis MS student, please nominate your thesis committee at least one semester before you plan to defend.

The MS thesis or PhD dissertation committee should include at least 3 faculty members and must consist of a Committee Chair (your research advisor) and two other GSU faculty members with graduate status. At least one of those two faculty members should be affiliated with the chemistry department. Once you have selected your committee with the approval of your advisor, please obtain confirmation from each faculty member who has agreed to serve on your Dissertation Committee. After you have confirmed your committee, you must submit the names of your committee through this form.

If you are a non-thesis student, your capstone project committee consists of only one person, your CHEM 8888 advisor. Please select your non-thesis advisor at least two semesters before you plan to graduate. Ideally, you should be taking CHEM 8888 for two semesters, for 2 credits each time, as you work on your capstone project.

Please use the following committee selection form.

Congratulations, you are getting close! Here I will outline some administrative steps to follow. These are of course separate from the research and academic requirements, which are not discussed here but should be instead discussed with your research advisor and DGS).

1. Two semesters in advance of your intended graduation semester, apply to graduate. Follow this link to see deadlines and information on "How to Apply." If you miss the deadline listed at that link, please sign up for the next available semester and email the DGS ([email protected]) and cc Gloriana Rodriquez to let us know, and we can ask to move up your graduation date.
2. Before the semester you plan to graduate: Make sure you have all your required courses and milestones completed on DegreeWorks except the final thesis / dissertation / capstone paper and exit surveys. This is to make sure you don't have to take any more required courses in your last semester.
3. At the start of the semester you plan to graduate, keep track of the following important deadlines listed at this link.
4. See important thesis/dissertation formatting information here.
5. As you finalize your final thesis / dissertation / capstone paper and defense:

• For PhD students and thesis MS students, once you defend your dissertation / thesis, please complete this form and have it signed by the defense committee first. Then please email your thesis or dissertation to the department chair ([email protected]) and set up a time for a brief exit meeting. Bring a printed version of the form with you to the meeting. The chair will sign the form after meeting in person. Once all signatures are finalized, please upload the form at this link ahead of the deadline.
• For a capstone project for non-thesis students, once you receive approval from your CHEM 8888 advisor, please email your capstone paper to the DGS ([email protected]) and then submit the following online form.

Please email the director of graduate studies, Samer Gozem ([email protected]) and cc both the associate graduate director, Lei Li, ([email protected]) and the academic department specialist, Gloriana Rodriguez ([email protected]) with any questions.