northern arizona university chemistry phd

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Chemistry, PhD

The PhD in chemistry in the School of Molecular Sciences provides students with the training they need to solve molecular scale problems and to be successful independent scientists who can contribute to current challenging societal issues.

Students earning a doctorate in chemistry from the School of Molecular Sciences are trained in the foundation disciplines of analytical, organic, physical, inorganic, environmental or geological chemistry, and most also choose to join transdisciplinary research teams that work on larger, mission-based contemporary problems in areas such as:

• energy and sustainability
• frontiers of chemical measurement
• fundamental molecular science
• geologic and biospheric science
• materials and nanoscience
• medicine and health
• structure function and dynamics

students funded

Annual research funding, research groups, admission information, how to apply.

Applications open September 1 for admission in Fall of the following year. The application deadline is January 1. Applications received prior to the deadline will receive priority consideration, but applications received after the deadline may still receive consideration, pending available space. Applicants will receive final notice of decision by March 15.

All applicants must apply through the Graduate Admissions office. All application materials must be submitted through the application or to Graduate Admissions  directly . Please do not mail any documents to the School of Molecular Sciences. 

The School of Molecular Sciences utilizes a two-part application process and both parts are required. The first part is the General Application through the ASU Graduate Admissions office. The second part is a supplemental application to the School of Molecular Sciences through SlideRoom. 

Step 1:General Application

The first step is to submit the General Application through Graduate Admission Services.

Step 2: Supplemental Application

The supplemental application can be completed immediately following submission of the General Application. You will need your Application Reference number in order to submit, but can begin the application without it. The Supplemental Application will close on the application deadline and no new applications will be allowed. Applications started by the deadline will be granted a 7-day grace period to complete the application.

Access the Supplemental Application

***GRE NOT required***

Requirements

Minimum Requirements required for admission:

• GPA of at least 3.0
• Applicants from Indian institutions (3-yr BSc) must have completed a Master's degree.
• International Applicants must satisfy university minimum requirements for English Proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE)

While all applications meeting the minimum requirements will be reviewed, competitive candidates generally meet the following benchmarks:

• Research experience and a letter of recommendation from a faculty research supervisor
• A TOEFL score of 100 with a speaking section score of 23 or better (IELTS 7/7, equivalencies for other tests will be determined as needed). Additional English requirements are required by ASU for employment as a TA for speaking section less than 26.

Application

All applicants are required to pay the application fee ($70 – domestic / $115 – international). The application fee will be refunded to all students who are accepted into and agree to join our program.

You will need the following information to complete the general application:

• Beginning/ending dates and location(s) of your academic degree(s);
• Grade point average (GPA) - Information on calculating overall, junior-senior undergraduate and graduate GPA can found on the Graduate Admission website .
• TOEFL scores (unofficial scores can be used in your initial application)
• Arizona Residency information if you are a resident in the state of Arizona (general tax and employment history)
• Submitting unofficial transcripts could expedite admission and not require submission of official transcripts in order to receive a formal offer

You will need the following information to complete the supplemental application:

• Areas of research and faculty member interest
• A brief Personal Statement that includes a narrative concerning your motivations for graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry, your long-term career goals, further information on research experience, potential ASU faculty interests and a list of all honors, awards and scholarships. It is particularly important to describe your research experience and list any publications.
• Contact information (email address) for three (3) faculty members who will write letters of recommendation for you, and can comment on your suitability for advanced scholarly work. One of these must be your current research supervisor. If you are employed full-time, only one of these letters can be from your employer. Faculty member letters are much more important than letters from employers.
• Electronic copies of your unofficial transcripts. (individual PDF file for each transcript)

Acceptance decisions may be extended on the basis of the unofficial information submitted as part of the application, although an official offer cannot be extended until the all official transcripts and test scores have been received and added to the official graduate admissions application.

Domestic students who apply by the deadline and are extended an offer of admission will be invited to visit campus during our Visitation Weekend in mid-February.

International

The School of Molecular Sciences values a diverse student population and welcomes applications from international students. The University sets  English proficiency requirements  for admission for international students whose native language is not English, or for whom the official language of the country of origin is not English. The University will also require international students employed as a teaching assistants to demonstrate additional proficiency in spoken English. The School of Molecular Sciences prefers applicants who demonstrate English proficiency beyond the University required minimums as follows:

• A TOEFL score of 100 with a speaking section score of 23 or better (additional English requirements are required for employment as a TA)
• An IELTS overall band score of 7.0 with speaking score of 7.0 or better
• Equivalencies for other exams will be determined as needed.  

The test of English proficiency must have been taken within two years of starting the program (i.e. for fall 2022 admission, the test must have been taken after August 1, 2020.) You will need to retake the test if your results are more than two years old. Official scores should be sent by the Education Testing Service (ETS) as soon as possible. When ordering a score report from ETS, use institution code 4007 (a department code is not needed). Applications will not be considered without valid evidence of English proficiency.

Applicants who satisfy one of the following criteria through attendance at a regionally accredited college or university in the US are exempt from the English proficiency admission requirements:

• Applicants who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
• Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Applicants who have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country, and the country is on the ASU English Speaking Country and Territory List.
• Applicants who have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country, and the country is on the ASU English Speaking Country and Territory List .
• Applicants who have completed at least nine semester hours of graduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S or from an international institution that is officially recognized in that country and is on the ASU English Speaking Country and Territory List .
• Applicants who have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country, and the sole medium of instruction for the program was in English. Student should email [email protected] to request exemption and include a letter from the institution on letterhead indicating language of instruction or provide information on the institution website to verify language of instruction.
• Applicants who have completed at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Four years of high school in the U.S. with four years of English.

NOTE: Exemption can only be obtained by providing proof through submission of official documentation, i.e. official graduate transcript. The requirement will remain on your account until the verification has been completed by the Graduate Admissions office.

All international academic records must be submitted in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal and complete versions of original records, and the documents must be translated by a university, a government official, or an official translation service. Students who are applying from Indian institutions must send both their Certificate and Mark Sheets.

The university sets an additional requirement for spoken English proficiency for students to be hired as Teaching Assistants. Students who do not meet the threshold for spoken English proficiency (iBT speaking score of 24/IELTS speaking band score of 7.5) are brought in early and provided assistance to prepare for and take the test of spoken English that is administered by the university.

For additional information, please visit the Graduate Admission Services page dedicated to  International Students .

All students accepted in the PhD Chemistry/Biochemistry programs are guaranteed financial support by means of a Graduate Assistant (Teaching/Research Assistant) position for five years. Students are typically appointed as Teaching Assistants for at least the first year. Research assistantships come from faculty grants and are awarded based on the availability of funds. There are some departmental, college, or university fellowships that are awarded on a competitive basis. Highly qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for a graduate fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF-GRFP), National Institutes of Health (NIH-F31) as well as other national fellowship programs, i.e. DOE, EPA, NASA, etc.

The standard stipend for all students on TA/RA is $12,293 per semester for fall and spring ($24,586) and full summer funding is $8,195 for TA or RA. Total annual stipend is $32,781.

Tuition and Health Insurance benefits are provided for all students with Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantship positions with at least a full-time (.50 FTE) appointment (20 hours per week). Tuition - Tuition waivers cover the full cost of tuition for resident and non-resident students with a TA/RA appointment. Information on the cost of tuition and the value of this benefit can be found in the  Academic Catalog . Health Benefits - The university covers the cost of individual health insurance premiums for all TAs and RAs with full-time appointments (.50 FTE). More information on this plan can be found at  ASU Health Services  website (Billing and Insurance > Health Coverage Options).

Additional information about the specific policies of the RA/TA position at ASU can be found in the Graduate College  TA/RA Handbook .

Students seeking to transfer from another graduate program are accepted only under exceptional circumstances. If you are currently, or have been in another graduate program in chemistry or biochemistry in the United States, you must supply three letters of recommendation from your current institution (i.e. the one that you are transferring from, or the one you previously attended). Do not have letters sent from earlier (undergraduate) institutions. Specifically, we will need a letter from your current research advisor (or prior graduate research advisor) stating explicitly why you want to transfer to ASU. Without a letter from your research advisor, we will NOT be able to review your application.

Application Fee Waiver Request

The School of Molecular Sciences has earmarked a small amount of money to provide application fee waivers to assist students with a demonstrated financial need. To apply for fee waiver, please complete the application below:

SMS Application Fee Waiver Request Form - Fall 2024

SMS Application Fee Waiver Request form

You will be asked to provide the following information:

• To obtain the Application Number, you will need to start the Graduate Application and complete it up to the payment page. Do not submit payment information. Save and exit the application. You will receive your Application Number via email within about 24 hours. (If you submit payment, it cannot be undone and you will not be reimbursed, except as noted below as part of the standard admission/reimbursement process.)
• Brief essay (about 150 words) detailing your financial hardship
• Brief essay (similar to your personal statement for graduate school) describing why you are interested in earning a PhD in chemistry or biochemistry at ASU
• Names of three faculty members you would be interested in having as a possible research advisor and why you are interested in them
• Copies of unofficial transcripts, combined into one PDF document. (file name: Last name, First name – transcripts )
• Copy of TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo score report (International applicants only). (f ile name: Last Name, First Name: English Proficiency )
• Additional supporting documents (combined into one pdf). ( file name: Last Name, First Name: supporting documentation )

Fee waiver requests will be considered until all funds have been exhausted, but must be submitted by December 1. Requests will be evaluated upon receipt in the order received and students will be informed of the decision within about two weeks. Receipt of an application fee waiver does not guarantee admission to a PhD program. If you do not receive a fee waiver, but are admitted to the chemistry or biochemistry PhD program and join the program, the application fee will be reimbursed at the beginning of the first semester.

This fee waiver request is only available to applicants of the Chemistry or Biochemistry PhD programs. Applicants for MS degrees are not eligible.

Is the GRE required?

No, the GRE is not required. The committee will not factor in GRE scores sent to ASU.

Do I have to pay the application fee?

Yes. The application fee is paid with the general graduate application. The fee is $70 for domestic students and $115 for international students. The application fee will be refunded to all students who are admitted and choose to join our program. This fee is set by the University and is out of our control.

If I send my application information in an email, can I receive a pre-evaluation to see if I am eligible to apply?

We receive many inquiries and applications; therefore, we are not able to preview your scores to determine your eligibility to apply or make suggestions on your credentials.

I missed the deadline for application. Can I still apply?

Applications received after the Jan. 1 deadline may be reviewed and considered for admission if space permits; however, the applicant may not be eligible for special scholarships or fellowships and domestic students may miss an opportunity to attend our Visitation Weekend. International students must consider important dates for the issuance of immigration documents. Applications are only accepted for the fall semester. We do not admit students to begin study in the spring semester.

Do all supporting documents need to be submitted by the deadline date?

Supporting documents may be submitted after the deadline; however, preference is given to applicants whose files are complete by the application due date. Submission of documents after the deadline may exclude your application from eligibility for special scholarships or fellowships and domestic students may miss an opportunity to attend our Visitation Weekend.

Is a master's degree required for applying to the PhD program?

Students applying to the PhD programs must have completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline by the semester in which they want to begin their graduate program. A Master’s degree is not required, with one exception. Due to differences in the educational system in India, applicants who have received their degree from an institution in India must have also completed a Master's degree. (4-year degrees, usually Biotechnology degrees, from India are considered equivalent to a 4-year BS degree and do not require an accompanying Master’s degree.)

Why can't I access the departmental supplemental application page?

You will need an ASURITE ID from Graduate Admission Services before you can access this page. Graduate Admission Services will not send your ASURITE ID until you have completed and submitted the general application, i.e. you must click the "submit" button at the end of their application. Please also make sure that the email containing your ASURITE ID has not been caught in your SPAM filter.

If you have received your ASURITE ID and you still cannot access the application, please wait 1-2 days to allow for our supplemental application database to sync with the Graduate Admission Services database (due to the schedule, this can take up to 48 hours). If after 48 hours you still cannot access the application, please check your MyASU to confirm that you have an application on file. If when accessing the application you encounter a page requesting that you log out, please follow the log out instructions, close your internet browser, and then try the link again. You may also need to log out of MyASU directly, since many browsers allow for MyASU to remain logged in, which can cause an authentication time-out error for the supplemental application. After logging out of MyASU, close your browser and then attempt to access the supplemental application again.

How many students will you admit this year?

Our recent incoming classes have ranged from 30-40 students, selected from ca. 450 applicants. The class size for any given year will be determined by faculty demand for new students.

Do I need to send official transcripts to both graduate college and the department?

Applicants are asked to submit an electronic copy of their unofficial transcripts as part of the Supplemental Application to the School of Molecular Sciences. SMS will use the unofficial transcripts for their review. Official transcripts must be sent to Graduate Admission Services for evaluation for you to be eligible for admission. Please do not mail your official transcript or any documents to the School of Molecular Sciences.

Where do I send official documents?

If sending by U.S. Mail, use this address:

Admission Services Applicant Processing Arizona State University PO Box 871004 Tempe AZ 85287-1004

If sending by FedEx, DHL or UPS, use this address:

Arizona State University Admission Services Applicant Processing 1150 East University Drive Building C, Room 226 Tempe, AZ 85281

Do not mail any documents, including official transcripts or copies of test scores to the School of Molecular Sciences.

Where can I find the form for recommendation letters?

There is no form for recommendation letters; they are submitted electronically. Within the Supplemental Application you will provide email addresses for your recommendation writers and an email will be sent to each recommender with instructions on how to submit a letter in support of your application. We can only accept letters of recommendation that are submitted electronically using our system.

Which professors are actively recruiting students? Should I contact individual professors about their research group?

Professors' group requirements change constantly and we are not able to provide a list of actively recruiting faculty. However, all students, whichever professor they eventually work for, must first apply to and be accepted into the program. Individual professors do not make decisions regarding admissions and should not be contacted with admission inquiries. Professors will often discuss research projects by email with enthusiastic applicants.

What kind of financial support is available through the department?

All students accepted into the PhD Chemistry/Biochemistry programs are offered financial support by means of a Graduate Assistant position.

Students are welcome and encouraged to apply for fellowships available through the Graduate College or federal agencies (i.e. NSF, NIH, DOE, etc.) to supplement or substitute for the standard funding, which can often allow for additional focus on research and a reduction in the time required to complete the degree.

Is there a special form to complete for financial support via a graduate assistantship?

There is no additional paperwork to complete for a Graduate Assistantship.

I am an international student, when should I submit the financial guarantee form?

The Financial Guarantee form should be submitted only if you are accepted to a graduate program. Graduate Admission Services will send information on completing this form with their official admissions notification. Information on how to complete this form will also be included with the official offer letter.

How can I check the status of my application?

Your application status can be checked in two places:

For your general application, please check your MyASU portal, specifically your Priority Tasks panel for any required items that need to be submitted. If your application status is “In Review” your official application is complete and nothing further is required for the official application.

For the Supplemental Application, please log in and click the "Check Documents Status" bar at the top of the application. All information that has been submitted is live and can be seen by the committee, there is no final submit button.

When will a decision be made on my application?

The School of Molecular Sciences Admissions Committee will begin their review of applications close to the deadline. The number of applications received in the past few years has averaged over 450 per year; therefore, it may take up to 6 weeks before notices are sent. The Admissions Committee appreciates your patience while they carefully review each applicant's qualification for our graduate programs. Every effort will be made to provide final decisions by March 15.

Information on the Graduate Admission Services application can be found on their website or you can contact them by email or by calling 480-965-6113. Additional information can be found on their Contact page.

Where can I find information about the graduate admission services application and how do I contact them if I have a question?

Learn more about Degree Requirements and Courses and electives

Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Contact information.

Email:  [email protected] Phone:  928- 523-7379 Office:  36-330

Dr. Lee’s research focuses on using peptide and protein-based vaccines as platforms to target infectious and chronic diseases. Vaccine platforms derived from self-assembly were exploited in the development of current human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV) vaccines comprised virus-like particles (VLPs). VLPs make effective vaccines because their particulate geometry and multivalent structure provoke strong immune responses (28-31). Similar to VLPs, peptides that self-assemble into ordered fibril structures can elicit strong immune responses due to the geometrical and multivalent display of peptide antigens along the fibril.

Lee, N. R.; Bowerman, C. J.; Nilsson, B. L., (2013) Effects of varied sequence pattern on the self-assembly of amphipathic peptides. Biomacromolecules 2013, 14, 3267-3277. PMID: 23952713

Lee, N. R.; Bowerman, C. J.; Nilsson, B. L., (2013) Sequence length determinants for self-assembly of beta-sheet amphipathic peptides. Biopolymers 2013, 100, 738-750. PMID: 23553562

Chackerian, B. (2007) Virus-like particles: flexible platforms for vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 6, 381-390 Rudra, J. S., Tian, Y. F., Jung, J. P., and Collier, J. H. (2010) A self-assembling peptide acting as an immune adjuvant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107, 622-627

Postdoc (NIH-IRACDA), Vaccines, University of New Mexico

Postdoc (IRTA), Viral Immunology, NINDS/NIH

PhD, Chemistry, University of Rochester

MS, Chemistry, University of Rochester

B.S. In Chemistry, Colorado State University

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of the environment, forestry, and natural sciences, department of chemistry and biochemistry, chemistry, master of science.

• Academic Information

Chemistry is a diverse discipline that encompasses living processes, inorganic interactions, and analytical methods. The field is foundational for careers in areas such as pharmacy, forensics, medicine, the environment, space exploration, and international defense. This thesis and non-thesis based masters produces graduates who are well grounded in the sub-disciplines of chemistry. 

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What Can I Do with a Master of Science in Chemistry?

Chemists study the basic laws of the physical world and the composition and properties of matter. Progress in chemistry has helped us to better understand our environment and how human activities impact that environment. Advances in computer technology, pharmaceuticals, space exploration, alternative fuels, and medicine all have their roots in the chemical sciences. The demand for technicians and researchers with advanced education is rising, and chemistry is at the heart of many burgeoning scientific fields. If you want to be part of the latest discoveries and developments in medicine and technology, or you want to make our world a better and safer place to live, our program might just be for you. We'll encourage you to attain your educational goals and gain training in traditional and interdisciplinary areas of chemistry. You will emerge prepared for a career in chemical analysis, research and development, or education. Our MS degree is also excellent preparation for post-graduate and professional programs at other institutions.

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

• Environmental analyst
• Community college instructor
• Crime lab analyst
• Laboratory researcher exploring: pharmaceutical drug development, new materials for space, defense, or alternate fuels applications, causes of diseases such as cancer, reactions to facilitate preparation of new drugs or materials, the chemistry of foods and flavors

To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units. You must additionally complete:

• All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
• All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
• All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

Read the full policy here .

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Purpose Statement The Chemistry MS program prepares students for professions in the chemical sciences, emphasizing the development of a students' ability to develop approaches that accurately capture information to solve questions and problems in their chemical field of study. Our faculty members conduct research in the many fields of chemistry, from the level of single molecules to whole chemical systems. From the first day of entry into our program, students work closely with their faculty mentor(s), selecting a course of study suited to their future goals and professional interests. The program enables graduates to contribute to the forefront of knowledge in the scientific community, share their knowledge through teaching, or apply it in public service or industry.   The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry offers two options for students to attain a MS degree in chemistry. The first option is a two-year, thesis-based degree program. All chemistry students in this option work closely with a faculty advisor to design and implement individual thesis research. The focus of the student’s coursework will complement their research and career interests. Opportunities for acquiring skills through hands-on exploration in a wide range of chemical sciences are offered through the thesis option program. These include, but are not limited to, cancer, the environment, materials, health, and astronomy. The second option is a non-thesis degree program. All chemistry students in this option work closely with the Graduate Advisory Committee to develop a course of study that will align with the career goals of the chemistry student. The student will have the opportunity to include six units of individualized experiences such as fieldwork, independent studies, and directed readings as part of their course of study.    The Chemistry MS program’s rigorous training in the chemical sciences prepares graduates for successful careers in industry, government, and academics. Our graduates can successfully communicate across multiple disciplines and negotiate scientific solutions to the wide range of chemical problems that currently challenge our society. The Chemistry curriculum trains students how to think broadly about chemical and scientific problems. The research skills gained by Chemistry students help them continue to expand their knowledge long after they graduate from the program. This training and experience helps our graduates assume leadership roles in chemical fields. Finally, the Chemistry MS program prepares students for entry into PhD programs in chemical sciences and other related fields, if they choose to continue in an academic track. Student Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the Thesis-based Chemistry MS degree, students will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of major concepts in several chemistry sub-disciplines, such as biochemistry, chemistry education, analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.
• Plan and carry out a research project.
• Demonstrate ability to be self-critical in evaluating procedures and outcomes.
• Take responsibility for success of research project.
• participate and collaborate with others (inside and outside of research group).
• Understand limitations of research methods used.
• Safe laboratory practices (chemical hygiene, personal protective wear, etc.).
• Proper application of regulatory policies (FERPA, IRB, CITI, etc.).
• Procedures and regulations for safe handling and use of research materials.
• Proper handling of waste streams.
• Examine how ethical issues impact decisions concerning research/experimental design, and apply this knowledge to develop ethical approaches to research methodology and data collection.
• Demonstrate knowledge of nomenclature, structure, reactivity, and function.
• Demonstrate mastery of appropriate techniques and procedures.
• Communicate chemistry knowledge, including results of research undertakings, and the rationale underpinning their conclusions, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.

Upon completion of the Non-Thesis Chemistry MS degree, students will be able to: 

• Examine how ethical issues impact decisions concerning the chemical sciences, and apply this Knowledge to develop ethical approaches to work in chemistry and related disciplines.
• Chemical concepts and analysis related to other disciplines.
• Expand chemical concepts and analysis related to other disciplines as appropriate to the student’s future goals.

Graduate Admission Information

The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College. Admission requirements include the following:

• Transcripts.
• Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies. Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy .

Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or essay
• GRE® revised General Test (recommended but not required)
• GRE® Subject Exam in Chemistry (recommended but not required)

Master's Requirements

This Master’s degree requires 30 - 32 units distributed as follows:

• Thesis Option: 32 units
• Non-Thesis Option: 30 units

Take the following 30 - 32 units:

• Prerequisite: CHM 238">CHM 595 (1 - 2 units)
• CHM 698 (4 units)
• Prerequisite: CHM 238 and CHM 341">CHM 530 , CHM 535 , Prerequisite: CHM 341 and Recommend MAT 238">CHM 540 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">CHM 555 CHM 560 , Prerequisite: CHM 238 and BIO 344 and (CHM 360 or CHM 462C)">CHM 567 , CHM 620 , Prerequisite: CHM 450">CHM 650
• CHM 685 for the research of an approved thesis (8 - 9 units)
• CHM 699 for the writing and oral defense of an approved thesis (4  -5 units)
• CHM 697 (1 unit)
• Passing proficiency exams in three of the five sub disciplines of chemistry (see the Program Rules and Guidelines)
• Successful completion of a research thesis
• Prerequisite: CHM 238 and CHM 341">CHM 530 , CHM 535 , Prerequisite: CHM 341 and Recommend MAT 238">CHM 540 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">CHM 555 CHM 560 , Prerequisite: CHM 238 and (CHM 360 or CHM 461)">CHM 565 , Prerequisite: CHM 238 and BIO 344 and (CHM 360 or CHM 462C)">CHM 567 , Prerequisite: CHM 238">CHM 595 , CHM 620 , Prerequisite: CHM 450">CHM 650
• Prerequisite: Admission to Applied Physics (MS) or Applied Physics & Materials Science (PhD) plan">APMS 571 , Prerequisite: Admission to Applied Physics (MS) or Applied Physics & Materials Science (PhD) plan">APMS 572 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">APMS 611 , APMS 618 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">APMS 619 , Prerequisite: Applied Physics & Materials Science PhD plan">APMS 620 , APMS 621 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">APMS 624
• Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree in Physics or Astronomy">AST 530 , Prerequisite: Admission to Astronomy and Planetary Science PhD">AST 570 , AST 580
• Prerequisite: BIO 344 and BIO 350">BIO 502 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">BIO 534 , Prerequisite: BIO 205, 220 or permission of instructor">BIO 578 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">BIO 580 , BIO 680 , BIO 699
• CCHE 580  
• Prerequisite: Graduate Status">ENV 515 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">ENV 525 , Prerequisite: Graduate status">ENV 555 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">ENV 560 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">ENV 591 , EES 595
• Prerequisite: ETC 547">ETC 556 , Prerequisite: ETC 556 or ETC 567">ETC 625  
• Prerequisite: Graduate status in CEFNS">GLG 570 , GLG 572 , Prerequisite: Graduate status in CEFNS">GLG 575 , Prerequisite: Graduate status in CEFNS">GLG 617 , Prerequisite: Graduate status in CEFNS">GLG 670
• Prerequisite: Graduate Status">GSP 531 , Prerequisite: GSP 531">GSP 533
• SCI 530 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">SCI 560 , SCI 612 , SCI 613
• STA 570 , Prerequisite: STA 570 with grade of C or better or Admission to Statistics MS">STA 571 , Prerequisite: STA 570 with grade of C or better or Admission to Statistics MS">STA 572
• Additional courses selected in consultation with your graduate advisory committee. Students may receive up to six units of credit for ( CHM 608 , CHM 685 , or CHM 697 ) 
• With approval by the Graduate Advisory Committee, a maximum of two courses, up to 6 units, may be at the 400-level.
• Students selecting the thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework. 
• Students selecting the coursework option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

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Douglas A. Loy, PhD

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

• 520-609-6021 [email protected]

Douglas A. Loy is a Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Arizona with a joint appointment in the Chemistry Department. His group’s research interests include new sunscreens, sol-gel chemistry and processing, new materials for additive manufacturing, and hydrogels. He received his BS (Chemistry) from the University of Arizona in 1984 where he worked in the polymer labs of Professors James E. Mulvaney and Henry K. Hall. Dr. Loy received a master’s in organic chemistry from Northern Arizona University, studying polymeric inhibitors of ice nucleation. He received his PhD (Organic Chemistry) from the University of California at Irvine in 1991 where he studied the chemistry of, polyacrylimidates, bridged polysilsesquioxanes, and bridged siliconates in the laboratory of Professor Kenneth Shea.  He was a postdoctoral associate for a year in Sandia National Laboratories Fuel Science Division where he conducted research on the physics and chemistry of fullerenes. In 1991, Dr. Loy became staff at Sandia, eventually becoming a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff. His research interests focused on sol-gel science, fuel cell membranes, and thermally removable materials. He was the project leader of a Grand Challenge project (9M) at Sandia focusing on the development of Bio-MicroFuel Cells. In 2003, Dr. Loy went to Los Alamos National Laboratory for two years to lead the Nanomaterials Synthesis Team before coming to Arizona in 2005. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers & proceedings, 47 conference proceedings, seven book chapters, and 25 patents.

• PhD, Chemistry, University of California-Irvine
• MS, Chemistry, Northern Arizona University
• BS, Chemistry, University of Arizona

A Guide to Open Educational Resources for Chemistry

Meet your librarian.

Open Textbooks

• B.C. Open Collection -- Chemistry Textbooks The B.C. Open Collection is a curated selection of open educational resources (OER) that can be accessed by educators in B.C. and beyond to use in the classroom, in an institutional learning management system, or on other teaching and learning platforms. All materials are openly licensed. This means they are free to use, customize, and share.
• Intech -- Chemistry Textbooks Intech are on a journey to democratize knowledge. The Open Access paradigm is the only model which allows that. Content is accessible for free, on all electronic devices - no matter where it is downloaded and read, from Burkina Faso, to Romania or in Silicon Valley. Providing freely available, accessible dynamic academic content.
• National Academies -- Chemistry Textbooks The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are the nation's pre-eminent source of high-quality, objective advice on science, engineering, and health matters.
• OpenStax Chemistry Textbooks As an educational initiative, we provide a large library of free, high-quality, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks for high school and college along with cutting edge education research.
• Springer Books -- Chemistry Textbooks As part of Springer Nature, SpringerLink delivers fast access to the depth and breadth of our online collection of journals, eBooks, reference works and protocols across a vast range of subject disciplines.

Open Curricular Resources

• B.C. Open Collection -- Chemistry Course Materials The B.C. Open Collection is a curated selection of open educational resources (OER) that can be accessed by educators in B.C. and beyond to use in the classroom, in an institutional learning management system, or on other teaching and learning platforms. All materials are openly licensed. This means they are free to use, customize, and share.
• Course Era -- Chemistry Results Coursera is the global online learning platform that offers anyone, anywhere access to online courses and degrees from world-class universities and companies.
• Merlot -- Chemistry Resources The MERLOT system provides access to curated online learning and support materials and content creation tools, led by an international community of educators, learners and researchers.
• MITOpenCourseware -- Chemistry Course Materials Since 2001, MIT OpenCourseWare has been creating new opportunities for millions of learners and educators, sharing Open Educational Resources (OER) from MIT and helping to lead a global revolution in free access to knowledge.
• OERCommons -- Chemistry Course Materials OER Commons offers a comprehensive infrastructure for curriculum experts and instructors at all levels to identify high-quality OER and collaborate around their adaptation, evaluation, and use to address the needs of teachers and learners.
• OpenLearn -- Chemistry Course Materials The Open University has a radical and pioneering approach to access. Matching a refusal to place qualifications barriers in front of our own students, we also have a commitment to release and promote free learning content for others, for the benefit of the wider community. OpenLearn is a trailblazer for the provision of high quality open educational resources (OER) at scale and breadth, for free and accessible to all.
• Last Updated: May 28, 2024 10:50 PM
• URL: https://libraryguides.nau.edu/c.php?g=1394671