Chemistry

The Department offers courses of study leading to the degrees of M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry. We approach our graduate education using a very interdisciplinary approach that prepares graduates to be independent researchers, provides them with an education with both breadth and depth in training in chemistry, and just as importantly, and focuses on the development of good communication skills.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold a B.A. or B.S. (or the foreign equivalent) in chemistry, biochemistry or a related field. Whatever their field, applicants should have a significant background in chemistry and a 3.00 or better grade point average. The University of Akron Department of Chemistry expects graduate students to have specific previous training, including one year of both general and organic chemistry complete with laboratory experience, and, preferably, training in analytical, physical and inorganic chemistry.

Akron Advantage

Our research facilities are superb, with most open to use by graduate students with appropriate training. In addition to visits by internationally renowned scientists to individual research groups, we provide an outstanding seminar program, with the yearly Knight Lectureship that brings in world leaders in chemistry, including Nobel Laureates, for 2-3 day lectures. Graduate students often take visiting speakers to lunch, enabling them to interact and network with prestigious scientists on a more personal level.

Additional Information

We have strong interdisciplinary interactions with related departments such as Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, Physics and Biology. We typically have 80-100 graduate students, as well as postdoctoral and other visiting scientists, from around the country and the world in our program.

Support in our program is guaranteed for five years for students in good academic standing, in the form of either teaching or research assistantships for the academic year and the summer. In addition, tuition and most fees are waived.