Coursework for the Ph.D. Program

Registration

Graduate students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. Per UC regulations, you may not enroll in more than 12 units of graduate coursework (200-level) or more than 16 units of combined upper division and graduate coursework per quarter (100-, 200- and 300-level). Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific registration dates and deadlines.

Graduate students are not assigned appointment times; you may enroll in courses any time during registration operating hours.

Seminars

You must enroll and participate in CHE 290 (Seminar) each quarter in residence until you Advance to Candidacy. You must also enroll and participate in CHE 294 (Presentation of Chemistry Research) each Winter and Spring quarter until you Advance to Candidacy.

CHE 262 (Introduction to Chemistry Research) is required only in your first quarter of the program.

Coursework

The following are the courses required for the Ph.D. in Chemistry by research area. Descriptions of these course are available in the General Catalog. You may enroll in elective courses outside of the Department with prior approval from your academic adviser. Also, you must consult with your academic adviser regarding any course substitutions and/or waivers.

Students are typically expected to complete their coursework prior to taking their Qualifying Examination; however, it is permissible for the QE to be scheduled during the quarter in which you are taking the final one or two courses in your area of study. All core and deficiency courses must be passed with a "B" grade or better.

Analytical Chemistry

  • Two Core Courses
    • CHE 205: Symmetry, Spectroscopy, and Structure
    • CHE 240: Advanced Analytical Chemistry
  • Two "Special Topics" Courses
    • CHE 241A: Surface Analytical Chemistry
    • CHE 241B: Laser and X-ray Spectroscopy
    • CHE 241C: Mass Spectrometry
    • CHE 241D: Electroanalytical Chemistry
    • CHE 241E: Microscopy and Imaging Techniques
  • Two Elective Courses in areas outside of analytical chemistry 

Biological Chemistry (2 tracks)

  • Bioorganic

    • Three Core Courses
      • CHE 219 and 219L: Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds and Laboratory
      • CHE 233: Physical-Organic Chemistry
      • CHE 238: Introduction to Chemical Biology or BCB 211: Macromolecular Structure and Interactions
    • Three Elective Courses
  • Biophysical

    • Three Core Courses
      • CHE 205: Symmetry, Spectroscopy, and Structure
      • CHE 210A: Quantum Chemistry: Introduction and Stationary-State Properties
      • BCB 211: Macromolecular Structure and Interactions
    • Three Elective Courses

Inorganic Chemistry

  • Two Core Courses
    • CHE 205: Symmetry, Spectroscopy, and Structure
    • CHE 226: Principles of Transition Metal Chemistry
  • Two "Special Topics" Courses
    • CHE 228A: Bio-inorganic Chemistry
    • CHE 228B: Main Group Chemistry
    • CHE 228C: Solid-State Chemistry
    • CHE 228D: Homogeneous Catalysis 
    • CHE 222: Chemistry of Nanoparticles
  • Two Elective Courses in areas outside of inorganic chemistry

Organic Chemistry

  • Three Core Courses
    • CHE 219 and 219L: Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds and Laboratory 
    • CHE 231A: Organic Synthesis: Methods and Strategies
    • CHE 233: Physical-Organic Chemistry
  • Three Elective Courses

Physical Chemistry

  • Three Core Courses
    • CHE 210A: Quantum Chemistry: Introduction and Stationary-State Properties
    • CHE 210B: Quantum Chemistry: Time-Dependent Systems
    • CHE 211A: Advanced Physical Chemistry - Statistical Thermodynamics
  • Three Elective Courses