Prospective Students - Graduate

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Areas of Study and Research

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is internationally recognized for its research and education. As part of a commitment to continuing this tradition of excellence the department provides a graduate program that integrates opportunities for cutting-edge creative research and study across of wide range of areas including analytical, atmospheric, biochemistry, biophysical, chemical physics, environmental, organic, materials and nanoscience, and physical chemistry. Graduate students enjoy extensive scientific collaboration with chemistry and biochemistry faculty and with other departments, such as Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and Physics, and with research institutes and agencies such as the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), Joint Institutes of Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Degrees Offered

MS
Students are only admitted into the Ph.D. program. Students who do not complete the Ph.D. program can instead transfer into an M.S. program.

PhD
The PhD requires 30 hours of approved graduate course work and 30 hours of dissertation credit, successful completion of preliminary and comprehensive examinations, and a successful dissertation defense. There is no foreign language requirement.

Admission

Individual graduate departments may have additional or more restrictive standards by which they evaluate graduate applicants. However, the Graduate School at CU-Boulder has established minimum standards for graduate admission. Applicants must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
   
2. Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student’s scholastic record.
   
3. Have adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
   
4. Have at least a 2.75 (2.00=C) undergraduate grade point average. Note: Applicants who cannot meet this undergraduate standard may still secure regular admission if they have completed 9 semester hours of relevant graduate course work with at least a 3.25 average.
   

Chemistry and Biochemistry Admissions Requirements
Applicants must:

1. Provide three letters of recommendation.
   
2. Download, fill out, and submit the supplement department application (PDF)) to the Chemistry and Biochemistry department.
   
3. Provide a C.V. with the application

Minimum Standards for Applicants
Research experience is highly recommended. The general GRE test is required and the subject GRE is highly recommended but not required.

Financial Support Available
Financial support and tuition waivers are offered to PhD students in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for national fellowships (NSF, HHMI, etc.)

Application Information and Deadlines   Fall admission Yes Domestic application deadline January 15 - applications will be considered after this deadline on a space available basis. International application deadline January 15- applications will be considered after this deadline on a space available basis. Financial assistance application deadline N/A   Spring admission Prospective students will be considered for spring admission on an individual basis.   Summer admission No

Contact Information

University of Colorado at Boulder
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry 100 F
Box 215 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0215
Phone: 303-492-8978
Fax: 303-492-5894
E-mail: gradassist.chembiochem@colorado.edu
Website: www.colorado.edu/chemistry/graduate