About the Program
The Ph.D. in Chemistry program and the research interests of our faculty cover all the major areas of modern chemistry – organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, biochemistry, computational, materials and theoretical. All faculty members direct active research groups, and there is an unusually high degree of interaction and cooperation between researchers in the different areas of chemistry. It is one of the aims of the department that our students are encouraged to develop broad perspectives in chemistry, rather than to become narrow specialists.
Graduate students begin research in their first year and receive considerable individual attention – the objective being to produce graduates of the highest quality. Several of our graduates have made careers as industrial leaders, university professors and administrators, government policy leaders and leading government scientists.
Connect with Us
Program Contact: Tabotu Lemlem – lemlemt@georgetown.edu
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Degrees Offered
- Ph.D.
Admissions Requirements
For general graduate admissions requirements, visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page. Review the program’s website for additional information on program application requirements.
Application Materials required:
- Application Form
- Non-refundable Application Fee
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page for additional details and FAQs.
- Resume/CV
- TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable)
- TOEFL = 100 minimum
- IELTS = 7.5 minimum
Application Deadlines
- Fall
- December 15 (priority)
- January 15 (final)
Degree Requirements
- During their first semester, graduate students will take three courses; during the next three semesters students complete four additional courses chosen in consultation with their mentor.
- Seminar participation and research will complete the 32-credit requirement (26 credits if entering with a M.S. degree).
- All graduate students are expected to attend and participate in at least one seminar per week from among the several seminar programs in the department.
- Regular participation in undergraduate and/or graduate instruction.
- In the second and third years of graduate studies, students take two comprehensive examinations – the first consisting of a paper about the student’s ongoing research project and an oral defense, and the second entailing a written proposal on an original research topic and an oral defense.
- The writing, public presentation, and oral defense of a doctoral dissertation are also required.