Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry

The department's chemistry faculty research programs fall into the thematic focus areas of environmental chemistry, green chemistry, chemical sensor development, organic synthesis, materials chemistry, natural products chemistry, and chemical education. Within these multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary focus areas, students can select research projects that involve the traditional subdisciplines of chemistry, analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical. Currently active research projects in the department focus on various aspects of analytical chemistry, drug discover and delivery, synthesis or photoactive materials including polymers, materials chemistry and self assembly, chromatography, the chemistry of cell membranes, environmental analysis, green chemistry, chemistry of climate change, photophysical chemistry, natural products synthesis, biophysical chemistry, computational chemistry, and solid-state NMR

A doctoral student must earn 90 credits (60 with prior earned M.S. degree). Of that, a minimum of 24 credits are in course work, with the remaining credits in dissertation research. Credits in four of the chemistry core courses (see list below) are required. Three of the 24 credits are seminars. Additional credits are from the elective courses. Examples of elective courses are listed below.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 to receive unconditional admission.
A professional academic transcript evaluation for degrees earned outside the United States This requirement cannot be waived unless your highest degree was earned or will be earned in the US prior to enrollment at SDSU.
If you are completing your bachelors degree at the time of application you may submit an incomplete evaluation If you are accepted a complete transcript and or evaluation with completed degree will be required by the end of your first semester of coursework.
Official US transcripts where a degree is earned or will be earned and official US transcripts where graduate level coursework has been taken.

GRE: General and subject score are recommended but not required
TOEFL - 71 Internet-based
TOEFL Essentials - 7.5
IELTS - 6.0

A one to twopage personal statement which includes a description of undergraduate research work experience or other factors demonstrating a propensity toward graduate studies The personal statement should also include a statement of the applicants career goals The applicant may upload this statement while completing the Graduate Schools online application
Two letters of recommendation preferably at least one from faculty at the applicants undergraduate institution Letters should come from faculty who are directly familiar with the applicants academic work They must address the applicants scholarly potential and may also speak to the applicants potential for graduate studies in the discipline Letters should come directly from the recommenders who may submit their letters electronically along with the personal recommendation form provided by the Graduate School The Graduate School will email recommend