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Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Chemical Education Ph.D.

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements

View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.

Location: Ross Hall 3480

Email: chemistry@unco.edu

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/chemistry-biochemistry/

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

This program prepares versatile, well-informed chemistry education researchers by providing advanced training for chemists who wish to pursue educational opportunities beyond the master's degree. Students completing this program are qualified to work in the chemistry education field as chemistry instructors at two- and four-year colleges or universities. At the professional level, program graduates are qualified to do and direct fundamental research in chemistry education and chemistry.

The student must have completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemistry courses comparable to those required in the bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UNCO.

Research Tools

Students must demonstrate research skills in areas pertinent to the dissertation research topic. The student's competence in these skills will be assessed by the student's 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. Degree 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 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 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 hours

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1- 4

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives — 3 hours

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 either chemistry or chemical education at the level of a 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 hours

Required Seminars — 4 hours

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 hours

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 credits

CHEM 797: Take 4 credits

CHEM 799: Take 12 credits

Master’s to Ph.D. Degree Requirements — 64 Credits

Pedagogy Component — minimum 13 hours

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

Required — 10 hours

CHEM 682Problems in Teaching Chemistry

3

CHEM 755Supervised Practicum in College Teaching

1- 4

SCED 694Science Education Research

3

Electives — 3 hours

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. Competence must be demonstrated in either chemistry and chemical education at the level of a 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.

Required Seminars — 2 hours

CHEM 600Seminar in Chemistry

1

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

Research Coursework — 14-17 hours

Methodology — 12-15 hours

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 credits

CHEM 797: Take 4 credits

CHEM 799: Take 12 credits

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