Chemistry — PhD Track & Requirements

PhD track in Environmental Sciences/Green Chemistry

Green chemistry involves an ecologically sustainable view of chemical research, development, and manufacture. Toxicological consequences and environmental fate are important factors in understanding the entire life cycle of any product or process. Issues related to energy, the environment and human health provide some of the most exciting and important research topics facing chemists today.

This Green Chemistry PhD Track within the Environmental Sciences PhD Program was the first such program in the world. It focuses specifically on providing chemistry doctoral students with the skills and tools necessary to design and carry out chemistry that reduces or eliminates impact on human health or the environment. The program aims to provide chemistry doctoral students with the tools and experiences needed to understand and modify the impact of chemicals and chemical processes on the world around us and to conduct research in new, fundamental, and applied physical, analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistries. Examples of research topics include renewable energies, environmental sensors, atmospheric reaction pathways, minimizing the negative impact of manufacturing processes from “cradle to grave,” understanding the hazards associated with pollution, and reducing toxicological impacts on the biosphere. Fundamental processes that can be investigated include new synthetic and analytical methodologies, photon/matter interactions, reaction theory, fate and transport of chemicals, surface chemistry, charge transfer, and biochemical interactions.

The strength of the Green Chemistry curriculum lies in its overlapping, interdisciplinary themes of research. Students completing the Green Chemistry program will be prepared for conventional chemistry jobs in industry, government, and academia. In addition, required and elective courses from the Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences Department (EEOS) and the Biology Department will provide graduates with a broad scientific base not usually provided in traditional chemistry PhD programs.

The Green Chemistry PhD track is administered by the Chemistry Department and leads to a PhD in Environmental Sciences. The multidisciplinary complement of Chemistry, EEOS, and Biology Department faculty has enabled the University of Massachusetts Boston to create this unique, interdisciplinary Green Chemistry doctoral program.

PhD Requirements

Please see the general statement of degree requirements for doctoral programs in the “Regulations, Procedures, and Degree Requirements” section of this publication.

Requirements for this degree include

1. Six courses in the core course area and an additional course selected from a list of science policy and economics offerings of EEOS. All students must take Green Chemistry (CHEM 671), Chemical Dynamics (CHEM 601), Chemical Structures (CHEM 611), Chemical Synthesis (CHEM 621), Chemistry of Natural Waters (ECOS 640), and Environmental Toxicology (ECOS 635).
2. A minimum of three additional graduate courses must be taken, subject to the approval of the student’s academic advisor or dissertation committee. Elective courses are normally selected from the graduate offerings in Chemistry, Biology, or EEOS.
3. Five credits of an appropriate seminar (CHEM 691-692) or journal readings class in Chemistry, EEOS, or Biology.
4. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two semesters to enhance their teaching experience and skills.
5. Students must pass two examinations before being advanced to candidacy:

• A written comprehensive examination, and
• A subsequent oral qualifying examination based on
  • The oral description and defense of the student’s dissertation proposal, and
  • Comprehensive questioning focused on questions covered in the written exam.

1. An original contribution (dissertation) in Green Chemistry based on individual research (24 credits minimum), which the student submits and defends.

A minimum of 60 graduate credits is required. Up to six credits in courses in which the student received a grade of “B” or better may be transferred from other institutions subject to the approval of the program director.