Students

Course Requirements

TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

12 credits for a PhD  Direct entry PhD students and MSc students planning to transfer to the PhD must complete 12 credits in the first 24 months of their program (at least 9 of the 12 credits must be at the 500-level or above).

12 credits for an MSc  The MSc thesis - CHEM 549 - counts as 18 more credits giving a total of 30.

 

RECOMMENDED COURSES (four 3 credit courses)

a)  One or two three-credit courses in the major field (interdisciplinary programmes have flexibility)

                                e.g.         CHEM 502 and 503 for physical chemists

                                                CHEM 534 for analytical chemists

                                                CHEM 560 and 566 for organic chemists

                                                CHEM 521B for inorganic chemists

                                                CHEM 561 and 569 for Bioorganic Chemists

b)  One to three courses in related fields of chemistry or other subjects

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

MSc students must complete at least 9 of the 12 credits at the 500-level or above.

Within the first 24 months, direct entry PhD students (or MSc students who wish to transfer to the PhD) must complete a minimum of 12 credits of coursework with a first class (minimum 80%) average.  Of these, at least 9 credits must be at the 500-level or above, and at least 9 credits must be of first class standing (80% or better).  Clear evidence of research ability or potential must also be shown.

 

NEW:  for incoming students (effective January 2024)

Students admitted to the PhD program who currently hold an MSc must complete a minimum of 6 credits of 500 level coursework with a first class (minimum 80%) average. Students have 12 months to complete this requirement.
Incoming PhD students who currently hold an MSc may be exempted from course requirements at the discretion of their faculty supervisor only. This exemption must be declared by the faculty member via an email to the Graduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator.

 

OPTIONAL COURSES

May be taken from:

a) suitable approved courses numbered 300 or higher offered by other departments;
b) approved Chemistry undergraduate courses numbered 400 or higher,
c) Chemistry graduate courses.

NOTE: Outside courses require the approval of the Departments concerned.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

To remain in a program:

(a) M.Sc. rules are:

A candidate may be required to withdraw if progress has not been satisfactory as shown by course work that does not meet the requirements given below, an excessive number of credits below 68% or courses with incomplete standing, unsatisfactory progress on the thesis, or failure to satisfy additional requirements of the Department or the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. (For individual courses the passing mark for an MSc student is 60%.) In the Chemistry Department graduate program, an average of less than 75% with a major course grade of less than 68% is generally unsatisfactory and the student would be required to withdraw.

(b) Ph.D. rules are:

A candidate may be required to withdraw if progress has not been satisfactory as shown by course work, the comprehensive examination, progress on the thesis, or other requirements of the Department or of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This rule is also applicable to students who have a previous Master's Degree.

When permission has been granted to repeat a course it must be completed with the required standing within the next academic year. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of registration and withdrawal from graduate work.