Degree Pathway for Doctor of Philosophy in Polymer Science
This pathway is for students entering Fall 2026 and beyond.
This is 45 minimum credit program. See a suggested course schedule below.
| Required Core Competency Courses* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| Total | 6 | |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Core Competency Course I | 3 |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Core Competency Course II | 3 |
| Elective Course Choices** (choose 4 courses) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| Total | 9 | |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Advanced Elective 1 | 3 |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Advanced Elective 2 | 3 |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Advanced Elective 3 | 3 |
| CHEM.5XXX OR POLY.5XXX | Advanced Elective 4 | 3 |
| Research | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| Total | 27 | |
| POLY.7590 | Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry | 27 |
Total Credits required for the program = 45
List of Core Competency Courses*:
CHEM.5030 – Polymer Science I
CHEM.5040 – Polymer Science II
CHEM.5050 – Polymer Preparation and Characterization
CHEM.5110 – Biopolymers
CHEM.5130 – Spectroscopy
CHEM.5140 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry
CHEM.5190 – Sustainable and Green Chemistry
CHEM.5221 – Solid-State Materials Chemistry
CHEM.5230 – Organic Reaction Mechanisms
CHEM.5240 – Organic Synthesis
CHEM.5260 – Chromatography
CHEM.5320 – Advanced Physical Chemistry I
CHEM.5380 – Biochemical Mechanisms
CHEM.5430 – Modern Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM.5500 – Biochemistry I
CHEM.5510 – Biochemistry II
CHEM.5600 – Advanced Physical Biochemistry
CHEM.5620 – Biopharmaceutical Development
CHEM.5630 – Chemistry of Natural Products
CHEM.5660 – Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
CHEM.5670 – Computational Biochemistry
CHEM.5680 – Structural Analysis
CHEM.5690 – Machine Learning and AI in Living Organisms
CHEM.5700 – Protein Chemistry
CHEM.5750 – Machine Learning and AI in Energy Applications
CHEM.5780 – Quantum Materials
CHEM.5800 – Bioanalytical Chemistry
CHEM.5850 – Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHEM.5950 – Supramolecular Chemistry
CHEM.6310 - Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
CHEM.6720 - Surface and Colloid Chemistry
Specific course offerings will be chosen in consultation with advisor
List of Advanced Electives**:
CHEM.5030 – Polymer Science I
CHEM.5040 – Polymer Science II
CHEM.5050 – Polymer Preparation and Characterization
CHEM.5110 – Biopolymers
CHEM.5130 – Spectroscopy
CHEM.5140 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry
CHEM.5190 – Sustainable and Green Chemistry
CHEM.5221 – Solid-State Materials Chemistry
CHEM.5230 – Organic Reaction Mechanisms
CHEM.5240 – Organic Synthesis
CHEM.5260 – Chromatography
CHEM.5320 – Advanced Physical Chemistry I
CHEM.5380 – Biochemical Mechanisms
CHEM.5430 – Modern Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM.5500 – Biochemistry I
CHEM.5510 – Biochemistry II
CHEM.5600 – Advanced Physical Biochemistry
CHEM.5620 – Biopharmaceutical Development
CHEM.5630 – Chemistry of Natural Products
CHEM.5660 – Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
CHEM.5670 – Computational Biochemistry
CHEM.5680 – Structural Analysis
CHEM.5690 – Machine Learning and AI in Living Organisms
CHEM.5700 – Protein Chemistry
CHEM.5750 – Machine Learning and AI in Energy Applications
CHEM.5780 – Quantum Materials
CHEM.5800 – Bioanalytical Chemistry
CHEM.5850 – Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHEM.5950 – Supramolecular Chemistry
CHEM.6310 - Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
CHEM.6720 - Surface and Colloid Chemistry
Specific course offerings will be chosen in consultation with advisor
Last updated: 4/3/26