Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook
Welcome to the Graduate Handbook, developed by the Department of Chemistry as a resource for prospective and current graduate students. This Handbook provides information related to requirements for admission and degrees, expectations for graduate students, and major milestones along the path toward an advanced degree in chemistry.
The Department has a rich history of graduate education – it is the oldest PhD granting department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which is the flagship educational institution of the State of Tennessee. The department has a highly active graduate education program that is growing toward 200 graduate students. With our faculty, these students are engaged in scholarly, ground-breaking research in the traditional areas of chemistry – analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical – as well as in polymer chemistry and a variety of interdisciplinary research areas. Beyond the research laboratory, aspiring scholars have opportunities for professional development through involvement in teaching, outreach through the department’s Association of Chemistry Graduate Students, and more.
Our hope is this Handbook is a useful resource that, along with your faculty advisor, our support staff, and department leadership team, will help you achieve your professional goal of earning an advanced degree in chemistry, thereby joining the ranks of Vols who proudly call the University of Tennessee their alma mater.
Graduate School Introduction
To serve the mission and vision of the Graduate School and preserve the integrity of Graduate Programs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, information related to the process of graduate education in each department is to be provided for all graduate students.
Based on Best Practices offered by the Council of Graduate Schools, it is important that detailed articulation of the information specific to the graduate degrees offered in each department/program be disseminated. The Department of Chemistry’s Graduate Handbook does not deviate from established Graduate School Policies noted in the Graduate Catalog (https://catalog.utk.edu/index.php?catoid=55), but rather provides the specific ways in which those policies are carried out. If any policy(ies) described herein becomes out-of-date with those published by the Graduate School, the policy of the Graduate School shall take precedence, with all others remaining in effect.
Purpose of This Handbook
The information in this Handbook is intended to assist Chemistry graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville by presenting basic information concerning the graduate program, including admissions and financial information, requirements of assistantships, and degree requirements. Students are advised to consult this handbook routinely but also recognize that it does not cover all aspects of graduate study. Therefore, students are urged to also consult more complete sources of information such as the Graduate Catalog, resources and publications available from the Graduate School, and other UTK websites.
Graduate students are expected to be aware of and satisfy all regulations governing their work and study at the university. This includes policies and regulations stated in the Graduate Catalog, as well as program-specific policies, regulations, and processes described herein. In addition, graduate students must abide by the Student Code of Conduct outlined in the Hilltopics student handbook (https://hilltopics.utk.edu/), which is available through the Division of Student Life. A graduate student’s rights and obligations include the right to appeal academic decisions to the Graduate Council through the Graduate Council Appeals Committee. The processes for doing so are available on the Graduate School website (https://gradschool.utk.edu/graduate-student-life/understanding-your-rights-and-obligations/).
The first part of this handbook attempts to present topics in the order in which a student aspiring to an advanced degree typically needs the information. Thus, a basic overview of admission policies and application processes, as well as financial support and basic expectations for graduate assistantships precedes information related to registration, advising, and degree requirements. Some of the pertinent material from the Graduate Catalog is included for easy reference, but it is always relevant to consult the Graduate Catalog for full and updated information. Several appendices include more detailed information on topics important to earning a degree and examples of some Graduate School forms.
Additional information for prospective and current graduate students is available on the Department of Chemistry website (https://chem.utk.edu/), which includes information about departmental personnel, facilities, and infrastructure.
Chemistry Department Administration
Department Office: 552 Buehler Hall
Phone: (865)973-3141
Department Head: Viktor N. Nemykin
Associate Head for Graduate Programs: S. Michael Kilbey II
Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs: Michael D. Best
Department Head Assistant: Rhonda Wallace
Administrative Associate for Graduate Programs: Kendra Bilbo
Inquiries related to the Graduate Program: chemgradprog@utk.edu
Admission Requirements
Information about the application process, requirements for admission, deadlines and enrollment, transfer credits, and program changes.
Financial Support
Assistantships and fellowships, work assignments, outside employment, financial implications of withdrawing, and the checkout procedure.
Registration & Advising
Registration in your first year and beyond, course loads, adviser selection, initiating research and establishing a dissertation committee.
Degree Requirements
Required courses and degree tracks, rules for course work, and publication requirements.
Milestones & Examinations
Typical progress and exams, formats and timelines for milestones, scoring, and final defense.
Academic Standing, Petitions & Appeals, & Leave of Absence
Graduate School GPA standards, evaluations, committee meetings, conditions for dismissal, standards of conduct, petitions and appeals, and leave of absence.