Graduate Studies

The Chemistry Department at the University of North Dakota offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue the Ph.D. and M.S. degree in areas that transcend the traditional division of chemistry into analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical.

Our graduate program provides students with a pleasant but stimulating atmosphere that promotes expression of one's individuality while setting and maintaining research goals designed to promote accomplishments at the forefront of modern chemistry. As a relatively small department and one that takes pride in the accomplishments of its students, we take the time to provide the necessary direction and help as our students are guided toward their degree goals. In short, our faculty is committed to graduate education.

Chemistry Degree Options

The Department of Chemistry offers programs at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels leading to degrees in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The research problems being pursued by the department's 15 faculty members and more than 30 graduate students are at the forefront of these traditional disciplines; as well as a variety of interfacial areas, including bioinorganic, bio-organic, organo-analytical, organometallic and applied theoretical chemistry.

The department has traditionally accepted promising students who prefer a small school and the individual attention it provides. Students who possess the potential for graduate work but have an inadequate background will also be considered for graduate study.

The friendly spirit and camaraderie within the department are outstanding. Students are respected as individuals by the faculty and every effort is made to guide them in their development into creative and effective scientists.

Our graduates are placed well. While the majority of our graduates accept positions as chemists in major industrial concerns, a number go on for additional graduate or postgraduate studies, or become chemists at governmental or academic institutions.

Please consider us in your selection of a graduate school as you prepare for an exciting future in forefront contemporary research. Should you have any questions or if you would like to learn more about the program, please contact any of our faculty.

Financial Support for a Degree in Chemistry

Nearly all graduate students in the Department of Chemistry receive stipends for both the academic year and through the summer months. There are also fellowships and scholarships available to those who qualify.

Stipends in the form of teaching assistantships involve a commitment to undergraduate laboratory instruction. Teaching at this level is considered an integral part of every graduate student's training since the one-on-one interaction often leads to a greater command of subject matter and establishes a greater confidence in oral expression. Furthermore, teaching provides a valuable service to the department.

A number of research programs in the department are supported by external funding from corporate sources and governmental agencies. Students working on projects in these groups can earn stipends in the form of research assistantships.

Stipends for teaching and research assistantships are normally equivalent for students at the same candidacy level and tuition is waived for both in-state and out-of-state students. Current stipend levels may be obtained by contacting the department.

Chemistry Graduate Student Association

The Chemistry Graduate Student Association (CGSA) provides a formal means of communication between graduate students and the faculty as well as the staff/administration. The association seeks to enhance the reputation and prestige of the Department of Chemistry by supporting its members to attend conferences at local, national and international levels, where they can present their research, and perhaps meet and share ideas with peers having similar research interests. To ensure that every chemistry graduate student has a positive and rewarding experience, academic work is usually interspersed with picnics, and a grand Christmas party open to the chemistry family.