Degrees and Concentrations

As the first PhD-granting unit at the University of Tennessee, the Department of Chemistry has a rich history of graduate education. Graduate students will earn a PhD in chemistry with one of 8 available concentrations:

• Analytical chemistry
• Chemical physics
• Environmental chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Polymer chemistry
• Theoretical chemistry

Students will complete 52 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Detailed course requirements can be found in the Degree Requirements section of the Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook.

Compensation and Benefits

• ~$32K in total annual compensation guaranteed for four years
• Tuition waiver
• Health insurance
• Guaranteed fifth-year funding, amount subject to annual approval

Admitted students will receive a package of financial support in the form of a graduate assistantship.

Graduate Assistantships

Students who are admitted receive a package of financial support in the form of a graduate assistantship. A typical assistantship is a 50% employment with the Chemistry Department, either being on a 50% Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), 50% Graduate Research Assistantship, or a split 25%GTA/25%GRA employment. The remaining time is for fulfilling student responsibilities.

Grad students can expect to invest approximately 20 hours per week during their semester assisting or doing research, and 10 hours a week in both their teaching assistantship and research assistantship if on a split 25%GTA/25%GRA employment.

Benefits Included in the Graduate Assistantship 

Assistantships of 25% or greater include the stipend, health insurance, and a waiver of maintenance fees, mandatory fees, and differential tuition for the period of the appointment.

Length of the Assistantships

The graduate school defines the maximum number of years a graduate student can be appointed in an assistantship position is three years as a master’s student and five years as a doctoral.

Graduate students receive a guaranteed stipend for five years and a guaranteed fellowship for four years (for those on the PhD track).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the graduate program requires admission to both the Graduate School and the Department of Chemistry. View the Graduate School’s Apply to Graduate School page for further information on requirements.

The Department of Chemistry strongly recommends applicants have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or a GPA of 3.3 or better from an MS program, on a 4.0 scale.

How to Apply

Required Materials:

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Personal statement or statement of purpose
• International students are required to submit English language certification test scores

GRE scores are not required. However, if students believe submitting GRE scores would strengthen their application, they are encouraged to do so. The University Code for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is 1843.

Application Deadlines:

Priority Admission – December 1
Final Deadline (Domestic and International Applicants) – February 1

Application Fee Waivers

All domestic applications submitted by the priority deadline (Dec 1) will automatically receive a fee waiver. Domestic applications submitted between the priority deadline and final deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All admitted students (domestic or international) who did not receive a fee waiver will receive reimbursement of their application fee, provided they:

1. Accept the Department of Chemistry’s offer of admission by April 15
2. Arrive on campus for the start of the academic year, August 1 or the next business day

General Timeline and Process:

Applications will be reviewed by the Graduate School after submission.
Applications approved by the Graduate School will be forwarded to the Department of Chemistry.
Applications will be reviewed beginning in December.
All offers will be extended by April 1
Decision deadline – April 15

Additional Info:

Students are admitted to the program beginning in the Fall semester.
Applications are only reviewed once completed.
Applicants are not required to identify an advisor prior to applying.