Graduate Coursework
18.0 units of core academic coursework with a letter grade of B or better, in each course, is required. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained.
Students meet with their Faculty Area Advisor during New Grad Training to plan course selection
Biochemistry: CHEM 226, 234, 241-256, 259, 261, 262AB, 281, and other select BMSE courses
Inorganic: CHEM 268AB and 270-279
Materials: CHEM 240, 265, 274, 282ABC, 285, and other select CHEM and MATRL courses
Organic: CHEM 224, 226-233, 239, 240, 258, and CHEM 263
Students are also expected to participate in CHEM 223 regularly, though it does not apply toward the 18 required units
Physical: CHEM 217-222, 225, and other select CHEM courses
Most students take all of their courses in their first year
This requirement must be met before advancing to candidacy
Seminar Requirement (CHEM 290)
A letter grade of B or better must be achieved in CHEM 290.
This requirement must be completed before taking the Advancement to Candidacy Exam.
This course requires delivery of a seminar related to your group’s research.
A letter grade of B or better must be achieved in CHEM 290.
Annual Thesis Committee Meeting #1
Submit your Annual Thesis Committee Meeting Signature Page to the Staff Graduate Advisor once completed.
The student will meet with all thesis committee members collectively at least once per year to discuss and reflect on progress and future plans in the program, receive input and feedback, and present any concerns or potential issues that you may have.
Meeting Frequency
By spring of Year One
By summer of Year Two
Annual Thesis Committee Meeting #3
By spring of Year Three
Annual Thesis Committee Meeting #4
By spring of Year Four
Final Dissertation
By summer of Year Five
Meeting Scheduling
Students may find online room reservations, Doodle polls, and the meeting checklist to be useful tools when scheduling these meetings.
At least one hour should be allocated for each meeting (except the oral exam and final defense, which require 2 hours).
Annual meetings will continue to be required in any additional years that the student remains enrolled at UCSB, with the final meeting being the Final Defense of the Dissertation. The student or PI can call an additional or earlier meeting at any time to address issues that may arise.
Meeting Structure
The committee should remain the same unless there is a need to change members.
Changes to the committee require the approval of the Department Chair.
At least 3 of the 4 faculty committee members (including the PI) must be present, though additional faculty members can be present if desired.
The PI will be excused at the mid-point of the meeting and discussion will continue amongst the student and remaining committee members.
The student must submit a written progress report (approximately 2 pages in length) and current CV to the committee for review at least one week in advance.
Be prepared to present your work, discuss potential issues, and receive feedback from the committee.
The student is required to submit the signature form, progress report, CV and faculty comments to the Staff Graduate Program Advisor
All components must be submitted for the requirement to be considered complete
The signature and comments of the PI are also required (refer to the Primary Research Advisor section of the signature form)
Written Ph.D. Dissertation
File your thesis according to Graduate Division’s instructions by the filing deadline. Be sure to send the Staff Graduate Advisor a copy of your approved thesis (PDF) and signature page as well.
Writing
The dissertation is written on a subject chosen by the candidate that is related to an area of study in the DCB. It must be of such nature as to enable the student to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent investigation and study.
Consult your PI and thesis committee on your writing progress.
Formatting
Graduate Council has established guidelines for the formatting of dissertations in order to ensure uniformity for manuscripts that are archived in the UCSB Library, as well as to ensure the widest possible dissemination of graduate student research.
Refer to formatting resources and templates provided by Graduate Division.
Graduate Division Submission
Electronically file your dissertation via ProQuest by the filing deadline.
Submit your signed signature page to gradacademics@graddiv.ucsb.edu by the filing deadline.
Complete Graduate Division’s Exit Surveys (only for doctorate students)
Departmental Submission
Email your approved thesis (PDF) and signature page (PDF) to the Staff Graduate Advisor
Complete the Departmental Exit Survey