Chemistry PhD

Program Code: G-CHEM-PHD
Degree Designation: Doctor of Philosophy
Department: Chemistry Department
Website: chem.duke.edu/graduate

Program Summary

The Department of Chemistry offers graduate work leading to the PhD in chemistry.

While students are normally admitted only to the PhD program, some students do ultimately pursue an MS degree. Entering graduate students should normally have taken an undergraduate degree in chemistry, along with related work in mathematics and physics. Graduate courses are offered in the fields of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical chemistry, and there are active research programs in each of these areas. In addition, chemistry graduate students are also involved in a variety of interdisciplinary research programs, including biological chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and molecular biophysics.

Further details concerning the general departmental program, admissions, departmental facilities, the faculty, ongoing research, and financial support may be obtained from the director of graduate studies, email dgs@chem.duke.edu, or the department’s website.

Academic Requirements

Students should complete 22 course credits by the end of the fall semester of the second year of residence. Normally, students will complete a minimum of 12 course credits during their first semester, along with the research orientation seminar (Chemistry 701S). Courses from outside the department may be substituted for chemistry graduate courses, with permission of the director of graduate studies.