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2011-2012 Graduate Catalog

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, analytical instrument operation, 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, earth sciences, and physics.

Qualifier Examinations. Qualifier examinations are scheduled during the week preceding the beginning of classes each semester. Each student 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.

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 556Physical Chemistry of Atomic and Microscopic Systems

3

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 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. PSY 540 is required for students with no prior course in learning processes.

Required — 10

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1 - 6

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives —3

PSY 540Theories and Principles of Learning

3

PSY 681Cognition and Instruction I

3

SCED 678Science Education Seminar

1 - 2

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 master’s thesis and a chemical education doctoral dissertation. The results of the dissertation project (or part of the project) must be submitted, after research advisor approval, and accepted for publication to a peer-reviewed, professional journal prior to graduation.

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.

Methodology (12-15)

Required Research Core — 12 hours

SRM 603Statistical Methods II

3

SRM 610Statistical Methods III

3

SRM 680Introduction to Qualitative Research

3

SRM 700Advanced Research Methods

3

Electives

SRM 602Statistical Methods I

3

SRM 670Evaluation: Models and Designs

3

SRM 685Educational Ethnography

3

SRM 686Qualitative Case Study Research

3

SRM 731Multivariate Analysis

3

SRM 770Evaluation: Advanced Methods

3

Required Research — 44-47 hours

Masters Research — 10

Either

CHEM 693Chemical Research

1 - 10

or

CHEM 695Thesis Proposal

1

and

CHEM 699Thesis

1 - 9

CHEM 693: required for students who do not wish to obtain a masters en route to the Ph.D.

CHEM 695 and CHEM 699: required for students who desire to obtain an M.S. en route to the Ph.D.

Doctoral Research — 31-34

CHEM 793Doctoral Research Practicum-Chemistry

1 - 4

CHEM 797Doctoral Research Proposal-Chemistry

1 - 4

CHEM 799Doctoral Dissertation-Chemistry

1 - 12

CHEM 793: Take (18-21)

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. PSY 540 is required for students with no prior course in learning processes.

Required — 10

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1 - 6

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives — 3

PSY 540Theories and Principles of Learning

3

PSY 681Cognition and Instruction I

3

SCED 678Science Education Seminar

1 - 2

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 master’s thesis and a chemical education doctoral dissertation. A prior master’s thesis in chemistry 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, and accepted for publication to a peer-reviewed, professional journal prior to graduation.

Research Coursework — 14-17

Required Seminars — 2

CHEM 600Seminar in Chemistry

1

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

Methodology — 12-15

Required Research Core — 12 hours

SRM 603Statistical Methods II

3

SRM 610Statistical Methods III

3

SRM 680Introduction to Qualitative Research

3

SRM 700Advanced Research Methods

3

Electives

SRM 602Statistical Methods I

3

SRM 670Evaluation: Models and Designs

3

SRM 685Educational Ethnography

3

SRM 686Qualitative Case Study Research

3

Required Doctoral Research — 34-37 hours

CHEM 793Doctoral Research Practicum-Chemistry

1 - 4

CHEM 797Doctoral Research Proposal-Chemistry

1 - 4

CHEM 799Doctoral Dissertation-Chemistry

1 - 12

CHEM 793: Take (18-21)

Students may also enter with a master’s in Chemistry and complete the doctoral degree with 64 hours.