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Graduate 2019-2020

Chemical Education Ph.D.

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Degree Requirements — 64-94 Credits

See “Chemical Education Ph.D.”.

Select either the B.S. to Ph.D. or the Master’s to Ph.D. options.

The student must have completed requirements of an ACS-certified baccalaureate degree in chemistry or must remove any deficiencies. If not previously taken, physical chemistry (CHEM 551, CHEM 552, CHEM 453, CHEM 454) and biochemistry (CHEM 581) may be taken to partially meet this requirement.

Research Tools

Students must demonstrate research skills in areas pertinent to the dissertation research topic. The Students’ competence in these skills will be assessed by the Students’ oral exam committee and/or dissertation committee members.

The skills may include statistical analysis, background and experience in both field-based and quantitative studies in chemical education research, current technology in education and collateral fields of study such as mathematics, computer science, biology, and earth sciences.

Qualifier Examinations. Qualifier examinations are scheduled during the week preceding the beginning of classes each semester. Pre-Master's students must pass qualifying examinations in three of five areas selected from chemistry content (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry). Students will have two opportunities to pass each area exam. If a qualifier exam is failed, the student is required to attend the appropriate undergraduate course(s) in that area. Any cost associated with enrollment in undergraduate courses is the responsibility of the graduate student. 

Comprehensive Examinations. A written and oral comprehensive examination must be passed in one sub-discipline of chemistry (a minimum of two graduate-level courses are required in the subdiscipline prior to taking the exam). The standardized ACS exam in general chemistry I and II must be taken and passed (with a minimum average of 90 percent). A written and oral comprehensive examination must be passed in chemical education.

 

NOTE: Students will select sufficient electives to complete the degree program. Additional electives in the Research, Pedagogy or Chemistry Components may be selected; electives in supporting sciences, mathematics, computer science, and education are also recommended. All electives will be selected in consultation with the student's academic and research advisors.

B.S. to Ph.D. Requirements — 94 Credits

Chemistry Component — minimum 18 hours

Each student must complete a minimum of 18 hours in this category. Each student must complete courses in a minimum of three areas of chemistry (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic or physical). One course in biochemistry is required if not previously taken.

Electives — 18 hours

CHEM 522Advanced Analytical Chemistry

3

CHEM 523Chemical Spectroscopy

3

CHEM 533Organic Synthesis and Stereochemistry

3

CHEM 534Theory and Mechanisms of Organic Reactions

3

CHEM 541Solid State Chemistry

3

CHEM 543Organometallic Chemistry

3

CHEM 551Physical Chemistry I

4

CHEM 552Physical Chemistry II

4

CHEM 560Environmental Chemistry

2

CHEM 581General Biochemistry I

4

CHEM 582General Biochemistry II

4

CHEM 587Toxicology

3

CHEM 590Advanced Topics in Chemistry

3

CHEM 622Directed Studies

1- 3

CHEM 693Chemical Research

1- 9

CHEM 551, CHEM 552, CHEM 581, CHEM 582: These courses may not be taken if equivalent courses were previously taken at the undergraduate level.

Pedagogy Component — minimum 13 hours

Each student must complete a minimum of 13 hours in this category.

Required — 10

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1- 4

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives —3

In conjunction with their advisor, candidates can select appropriate graduate-level courses in supporting areas such as:

Statistics and Research Methods (SRM)
Psychology (PSY)
Educational Technology (ET)
Science Education (SCED)

Research Component — minimum 63 hours

Each student must complete the 63 required hours in this category. Research competence must be demonstrated in both chemistry and chemical education at the level of a chemistry or chemical education master’s thesis and a chemical education or chemistry doctoral dissertation. The results of the dissertation project (or part of the project) must be submitted, after research advisor approval, for publication to a peer-reviewed, professional journal prior to graduation. Students in the program are reminded that should they choose a chemistry dissertation research topic, the degree awarded will be Chemical Education.

Research Coursework — 16-19

Required Seminars — 4

CHEM 600Seminar in Chemistry

1

CHEM 600: one seminar each on chemical literature, chemical thesis or thesis equivalent research, chemical education literature, and chemical education dissertation research.

Electives

In conjunction with their advisor, candidates can select appropriate graduate-level courses in supporting areas such as:

Statistics and Research Methods (SRM)
Psychology (PSY)
Educational Technology (ET)
Science Education (SCED)

Methodology (12-15)

Required Research Core — 12 hours

SRM 602Statistical Methods I

3

SRM 603Statistical Methods II

3

SRM 680Introduction to Qualitative Research

3

SRM 700Advanced Research Methods

3

Required Research — Minimum of 44 hours

Masters Research — 10

CHEM 693Chemical Research

1- 9

CHEM 695Thesis Proposal

1

CHEM 699Thesis

1- 6

CHEM 693: Take 3 credits

CHEM 699: Take 6 credits

Doctoral Research — Minimum of 34 hours

CHEM 793Doctoral Research Practicum-Chemistry

1- 9

CHEM 797Doctoral Research Proposal-Chemistry

1- 4

CHEM 799Doctoral Dissertation-Chemistry

1-12

 

CHEM 793: Take a minimum of 18

CHEM 797: Take 4

CHEM 799: Take 12

Master’s to Ph.D. Requirements — 64 Hours

Pedagogy Component — minimum 13 hours

Each student must complete a minimum of 13 hours in this category.

Required — 10

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1- 4

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives — 3

In conjunction with their advisor, candidates can select appropriate graduate-level courses in supporting areas such as:

Statistics and Research Methods (SRM)
Psychology (PSY)
Educational Technology (ET)
Science Education (SCED)

Research Component — minimum 51 hours

Each student must complete the 51 required hours in this category. Research competence must be demonstrated in both chemistry and chemical education at the level of a chemistry or chemical education master’s thesis and a chemical education or chemistry doctoral dissertation. A prior master’s thesis in chemistry or chemical education may be used, with approval of the Graduate Committee, as evidence of competency in chemistry research. The results of the dissertation project (or part of the project) must be submitted, after research advisor approval, for publication to a peer-reviewed, professional journal prior to graduation. Students in the program are reminded that should they choose a chemistry dissertation research topic, the degree awarded will be Chemical Education.

Required Seminars — 2

CHEM 600Seminar in Chemistry

1

CHEM 600: one seminar each on chemical education literature, and chemical education dissertation research

Research Coursework — 14-17

Methodology — 12-15

Required Research Core — 12 hours

SRM 602Statistical Methods I

3

SRM 603Statistical Methods II

3

SRM 680Introduction to Qualitative Research

3

SRM 700Advanced Research Methods

3

Electives

In conjunction with their advisor, candidates can select appropriate graduate-level courses in supporting areas such as:

Statistics and Research Methods (SRM)
Psychology (PSY)
Educational Technology (ET)
Science Education (SCED)

Required Doctoral Research — Minimum of 34 hours

CHEM 793Doctoral Research Practicum-Chemistry

1- 9

CHEM 797Doctoral Research Proposal-Chemistry

1- 4

CHEM 799Doctoral Dissertation-Chemistry

1-12

CHEM 793: Take a minimum of 18

CHEM 797: Take 4

CHEM 799: Take 12