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CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
School of Arts and Science
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND
BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCE
GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
Requirements for the Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Chemistry
Updated Fall, 2014
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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCE
Requirements for the Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Chemistry
Table of Contents
Page
1. Placement Examinations ........................................................................................................................3
2. Transfer Credits......................................................................................................................................4
3. Directed Study/Special Topics Courses .................................................................................................5
4. Selection of a Research Advisor ............................................................................................................5
5. Graduate Appointments .........................................................................................................................5
6. Graduate Seminar Requirements............................................................................................................7
7. Requirements for the Master’s Degree...................................................................................................8
7.1. UniversityRequirements.........................................................................................................8
7.2. Supplemental Requirements ..................................................................................................8
8. Requirements for the Doctoral Degree...................................................................................................9
8.1. Course and Dissertation Requirements ...............................................................................................9
8.1.1. UniversityRequirements......................................................................................................9
8.1.2. Supplemental Requirements...............................................................................................10
8.2. Comprehensive Examination for Admission to Candidacy................................................................10
8.2.1. UniversityRequirements.....................................................................................................10
8.2.2. Supplemental Requirements...............................................................................................11
8.3. Final Examination...............................................................................................................................13
8.3.1. UniversityRequirements.....................................................................................................13
8.3.2. Supplemental Requirements...............................................................................................14
9. Rules Governing the Format of a Report, Thesis, or Dissertation........................................................15
10. Rules Governing the Submission of a Report, Thesis, or Dissertation...............................................16
10.1. General Information............................................................................................................16
10.2. Degree Completions and Distribution of Final Copies.......................................................16
10.3. Additional Information………………………………........................................................17
10.4. Final Acceptance Date Prior to the Beginning of a Semester ............................................17
11. Students with Completed Degrees .....................................................................................................17
12. Exceptions ......................................................................................................................................18
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Valid starting September, 2014
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This document describes the pertinent minimum University requirements and the supplemental
requirements established by the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science for the Master’s
(M.S.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in chemistry and some related matters. All students should refer to
the Graduate School section of the current University Catalog for a comprehensive description of
University requirements.
All accepted foreign students for whom English is a second language are required to take an ESL
placement exam and complete any recommended requirements.
Additional documentation and updates:
The official university regulations can be found at:
http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf - p. 341-343
A condensed version can be found at:
http://www.clarkson.edu/artsandsci/grad/current/program_reqs.html
Check the website for yearly updates and changes.
1. PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS
1.1. Placement examinations are given prior to the beginning of each semester. The placement
examinations will be at a level corresponding to a good undergraduate background in chemistry and are
given to permit the evaluation of a student’s preparation for graduate work and to determine what courses
the student must take. There are five separate placement examinations, one in each of the areas of
analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Each examination is given
by a committee appointed by the chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science. The
results of the placement exam have an advisory function in determining remedial coursework and select
graduate courses. The remedial action will be determined by the faculty advisor, after consultation with the
placement committee for the sub-discipline.
1.2. Every entering graduate student must take four of the five placement examinations before registering
and attending classes for the first semester as a graduate student.
1.3. The possible grades on the placement examinations are PASS and FAIL. These grades have the
following meanings:
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(a) PASS certifies that the student’s preparation for graduate work in the area of the examination is
satisfactory.
(b) If a student FAILS a given placement examination, he/she can:
A: petition the Graduate Committee (in writing) to retake the placement examination. Only
one retake is allowed.
B: remedy the deficiency by auditing an undergraduate course(s) or taking a course(s) as
required by the faculty advisor after consultation with the examination committee. The
student must achieve a grade of B or better for each such course.
A student is required to show satisfactory preparation for graduate work in at least three areas of
examination, and where there are undergraduate deficiencies these must be reconciled by the third semester
of the graduate program. The graduate program in chemistry at Clarkson of a student who does not pass a
placement examination the second time, or who receives a grade lower than B in a required course may be
will be immediately terminated.
(c) Those entering graduate students who have been offered RA or TA support, and who fail three
placement examinations are subject to review by the Graduate Committee and the research advisor and may
lose their research or teaching assistantship or fellowship. This may require the student to fund his/her
education.
2. TRANSFER CREDITS
An official transcript from each University for which transfer credit is requested must be on file in the
Graduate School (copy must be on file in the departmental office) before approval can be considered. A
graduate student studying for a Master’s degree can receive no more than ten transfer credits which must
have been obtained over and above the requirements for a B.S. degree. Ph.D. candidates having obtained a
M.S. degree can be given a maximum of 30 transfer credits in lieu of the M.S. degree. Normally, courses
with grades of B or better can be transferred.
2.1. Request to transfer credits. To receive transfer credit, the student who has taken graduate courses that
were beyond those required for an undergraduate degree should submit a written request to the chairman of
the Graduate Committee of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science. A form for this
purpose should be obtained by the student from the departmental office.
The information on the form should identify the specific courses and number of credit hours for which
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transfer credit is requested. In addition, the name of the text and a copy of the original course syllabus or
outline and a copy of the transcript of grades from the student file should be appended. (The faculty member
reviewing the course should be able to clearly determine the course content from the material provided.)
2.2. Evaluation of request. The Chair of the Graduate Committee and the Instructor of the corresponding
Clarkson course that is being transferred will review transfer credit requests and recommend to the
departmental Graduate Committee whether and how much transfer credit should be granted for prior
graduate courses. If a student fails a placement examination, transfer credit will not be given for any
graduate course consisting primarily of material upon which the student was examined and found to be
deficient. The decisions of the departmental Graduate Committee must be approved by the chairman of
the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science and the dean of the School of Science but are
otherwise final.
3. DIRECTED STUDY/SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES.
no more than two of the six required courses for the M.S. degree can be directed study or special
topics courses, and
no more than two such courses are acceptable toward the Ph.D. degree.
4. SELECTION OF A RESEARCH ADVISOR
Teaching Assistants (TAs) and other fellowship recipients are encouraged to discuss possible research
topics with several members of the Department before selecting a research topic and an advisor.
Research Assistants (RAs) are expected to work on a specific topic for the advisor who makes the
assistantship available.
5. GRADUATE APPOINTMENTS
The overall performance of every graduate student will be evaluated by the chemistry faculty at least once
each semester.
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5.1. Credit Hours: A student may not take more than 30 credit hours in an academic year (for example:
six for summer, 12 each for fall and spring semesters or in some other combination (15/15 for each
semester). The financial aid appointment specifies the number of credits for which a student should
register each semester. Advisors are responsible for assigning just the amount of credit hours
needed. Students must be registered for nine credit hours per semester to be full-time and to maintain
their status until they need less than nine credit hours to fulfill degree requirements.
5.2. Salary Limitations: If a student is receiving a full stipend from a department, he/she is not eligible
to receive any additional funding. Before hiring or paying a graduate student for duties, approval
must be given by the Graduate School.
5.3. Holidays and Vacations: University and Departmental regulations allow graduate students on full
year TA and RA contracts two weeks of vacation per year. Specific vacation times should be
determined in consultation with the student’s advisor. For TA appointments vacation must be
scheduled when classes are not in session. Please, note that fall and spring semester breaks are not
part of your time off unless you wish to take them as vacation days. Graduate students are expected to
use those opportunities to further their education and research. Holidays include January 1, Memorial
Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, and Christmas Day. In addition to the
formal holidays listed above, any day that the University is officially closed does not have to be
considered a vacation day.
5.4. Teaching Assistantships: (TAs) are awarded by the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular
Science. Renewal of TA support will be contingent upon satisfactory performance of teaching
assignments, course and research work.
5.5. Special provisions for TA appointments. To continue in a TA position a graduate student must be
fulfilling all of their teaching obligations as determined by the course faculty member, as well as by
teaching evaluations and student comments. They must also be making adequate progress toward the
completion of their graduate degree, as determined by their advisor in consultation with the Graduate
Committee and Department Chair. Except for scheduled vacation, TAs are expected to work full time
on research during the summer months. In addition, they may occasionally be asked to perform other
department related tasks during the summer months. University, Chemistry and Biomolecular Science
regulations allow graduate students on full year TA contracts two weeks of vacation per year when
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classes are not in session. However, specific vacation times should be determined in consultation
with the student’s advisor.
5.6. Research Assistantships: (RAs) are awards by individual faculty members having a research grant
or contract funds for particular projects. RA appointments may or may not be renewed – pending on
availability of funds and satisfactory progress. Renewal of RA support will be the prerogative of the
research advisor. The Principle Investigator (PI) can terminate an RA appointment at any time.
The research is expected to be year round, except for scheduled vacation (2 weeks per year).
5.7. Termination of Contract: The assistantship contract will be terminated prior to its expiration date
if a student voluntarily withdraws from the program,
if progress towards degree is deemed unsatisfactory by the chair in consultation with the
faculty, or
if he or she completes degree requirements.
6. GRADUATE SEMINAR REQUIREMENTS
The Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science organizes graduate student presentations as
seminar course, CM900, each Fall and Spring semester. Students are expected to attend departmental
seminars for the entire duration of their graduate study, even if they have completed seminar credit
requirements.
6.1. Seminar Presentation Requirements. Candidates for the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in chemistry must:
(i) complete a minimum of 2 or 6 credit hours of CM900, respectively, and
(ii) present 1 (for MS) or 3 (for PhD) seminars, respectively, as part of their degree requirements.
For the PhD program, the candidate can transfer an external presentation at a national or regional meeting
(oral presentation or poster - selected in consultation with the PhD advisor) as equivalent of 1 of the 3
required seminars in the department. To transfer the presentation, the student must submit an E-mail
request to the Chair of the Graduate Committee. The request should contain: the abstract of the
presentation, the page in the conference book of abstract showing the schedule of the meeting that lists the
presentation, and an endorsement of the faculty advisor stating that he/she approves the transfer.
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6.2. Seminar Topics. The topics for the seminar presentations should be selected in consultation with
the student’s research advisor and the faculty member in charge of CM900 or BY622. The topic of
the last seminar for a Ph.D. candidate is expected to be the student’s own doctoral research.
6.3. Abstract. At least ten days in advance of their presentation, student speakers must submit to the
department office a written notice of the seminar containing an abstract and references (E-mail to the
Departmental secretary with copy to the CM900 instructor). The Abstract will be distributed for
posting.
6.4. Other requirements. In addition to presenting their own seminars, students are expected to
participate in the discussions that follow the seminars given by other students, and to attend the
seminars organized by the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science for visitors and other
speakers (Clarkson faculty, postdoctoral associates, etc.).
6.5. Attendance. Students will pass or fail the course (CM900/BY622) on the basis of their performance
as speakers, participants and assistants, and also on the basis of their attendance. At least 60%
seminar attendance during each semester is required.
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7. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE
7.1. University Requirements*
*Note: please consult the university website for the complete version and updates of the Clarkson
catalog at: http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf “.
The minimum graduation requirements for students in all Master of Science degree programs at Clarkson
are listed below as per the University catalogue 2013-2014, page 341:
1. A minimum of 30 credit hours graduate coursework as follows:
a. At least 20 credit hours of course and seminar work. The balance of coursework must be
consistent with the research or professional experience component.
b. Only courses numbered 500 and above are accepted for graduate credit.
c. 10 credit hours of transfer credit (B or better) may be accepted.
NOTE: EAP courses do not count toward the minimum requirements for the MS degree.
2. Satisfactory completion of a research or comparable professional experience, as follows:
a. A written thesis based on independent research;
b. A comprehensive examination; or,
c. An appropriate, professionally oriented special project.
3. At least one year of academic study beyond the undergraduate degree.
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in courses used to meet graduate requirements.
5. All work must be completed in 5 calendar years.
6. A thesis or project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Master of Science
degree will be examined by a committee of at least three Clarkson faculty appointed by the
student’s department. After Approval by the examining committee, the thesis requires signature
approval by the dean of the Graduate School, and two copies of the thesis will be deposited in the
University library.
To be eligible to receive a degree during Commencement exercises at the end of the spring semester, a
student who has submitted a thesis acceptable to the advisor and committee must file the completed final
copies with the appropriate School office no later than 10 working days before commencement to award
degrees.
Students who fail to perform satisfactorily will be separated from the University upon the request of the
Department Chair and with the concurrence of the Dean of the School.
Any changes in the student’s degree program must be approved by the Department Chair and Dean of
the School.
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7.2. Supplemental Requirements
7.2.1. The required minimum credit hours (30) cited in Section 7.1. above are in addition to any
undergraduate courses required for those students who fail the placement examinations (cf. Section
1.3.).
7.2.2. To successfully complete an M.S. degree in chemistry a student must take a minimum of 18 credit
hours of graduate chemistry courses (excluding seminar, CM900, see Section 6.). Research credit
hours (CM900, Thesis/Special Project) accepted towards the degree shall not exceed ten. The
student who plans to continue working toward the Ph.D. degree in chemistry after receiving the M.S.
degree should take the Ph.D. regulations into account in planning the M.S. program.
7.2.3. A candidate for the M.S. degree in chemistry must perform research satisfactory to the advisor and
must submit a written report/thesis on the results of the work.
7.2.4. If a candidate is terminating with an M.S. degree, a thesis must be prepared and orally defended to
a committee consisting of a minimum of three committee members. If a candidate is continuing for a
Ph.D. degree, either a report or thesis must be submitted; if the thesis option is chosen it must be orally
defended in accordance with University regulations. The nature, scope, and length of the
report/thesis will be prescribed by the student’s research advisor. The title page of the report/thesis
must have the format shown by the accompanying sample (end of this document). Consult Section
10. for general instructions regarding text format, number of copies, figures, and other technical
matters.
7.2.5. Seminar requirements - see Section 6.
7.2.6. Thesis requirements and final Examination: “A thesis or project submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Master of Science degree will be examined by a committee of at least three Clarkson
faculty appointed by the student’s department.”
(http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf, p. 341). All three reviewers should
sign off on the student’s completion notice.
7.2.7. The final oral examination for the M.S. degree in chemistry should begin with the candidate’s
summary of the M.S. research. This summary must not exceed 30 minutes, and is immediately followed
by an examination on the subject matter of the dissertation. The examination will be open to the public,
but only members of the examining committee will decide whether the dissertation and the oral
examination are acceptable. Any candidate who cannot adequately defend his or her M.S. dissertation
will have the grade of pass or fail deferred and will be given one additional opportunity to repeat the final
oral examination.
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8. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE
8.1. Course and Dissertation Requirements
8.1.1. University Requirements*
*Note: please consult the university website for the complete version and updates of the Clarkson catalog
at: http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf “
The minimum graduation requirements for all students in Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree programs at
Clarkson are listed below as per the University catalogue 2013-2014, page 342):
1. A minimum of 90 credit hours as follows:
a. At minimum of 24 credit hours coursework.
b. A minimum of nine course credit hours taken in residence (includes distance
learning courses offered by Clarkson University).
c. A minimum of six credit hours seminar.
d. A maximum of 30 credits transferred from an M.S. degree towards Ph.D degree
requirements (B grade of better).
2. A minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent in part-time study.
Two years of study must be in residence at Clarkson. Students matriculated in the off-campus Ph.D.
program are exempt from the residency requirement (see below).
3. Satisfactory completion of the Ph.D. candidacy procedure within two years of full-time study after
admission to the Ph.D. program or, part-time students, before completing 66 credits.
a. After completion of the candidacy procedure, the student will be identified as a “Ph.D.
Candidate.”
b. Students who fail the candidacy procedure may make a second attempt according to department
guidelines.
c. A student who does not successfully complete the candidancy procedure within the time alloted
may be dropped from the graduate program.
4. A written dissertation must be submitted by each candidate and defended orally as part of the final
examination (see below).
5. All work must be completed within seven years after the student is identified as a Ph.D. candidate.
Any changes in the student’s degree program must be approved by the Department Chair and Dean of
the school.
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To be eligible to receive a degree during Commencement exercises at the end of the spring semester, a
student who has submitted a thesis acceptable to the advisor and committee must file the completed final
copies with the appropriate School office no later than 10 working days before commencement to award
degrees.
Students who fail to perform satisfactorily will be separated from the University upon the request of the
department chair and with the concurrence of the Dean of the respective School.
Any changes in the student’s degree program must be approved by the department chair and dean of
the school.
TIME LIMIT
After the comprehensive examintion is passed; all work done specifically for the doctorate is to be
completed within a period of seven calendar years.
GRADING SYSTEM
The grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, and P are acceptable for credit toward the degree. For graduation an
average of B or better must be earned in nondissertation courses and seminar work. The grade of P will
not affect the average. Students failing to perform satisfactorily will be separated from the University
upon the request of the department chair and with the concurrence of the Dean of their School. Check
the University manual for policy regarding incomplete grades (I)at:
http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf , page 346
8.1.2. Supplemental Requirements
i. The required minimum credit hours (90) cited in Section 8.1.1. above are in addition to any
undergraduate courses required for those students who fail the placement examinations (cf.
Section 1.3.).
ii. All of the courses used in the fulfillment of course requirements must have catalog numbers
above 500.
iii. Seminar requirements (see Section 6).
iv. A master’s degree earned at Clarkson is not accepted in lieu of any graduate course credit.
8.2. Comprehensive Examination for Admission to Candidacy
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8.2.1. University Requirements
“A comprehensive examination based on general preparation in the major field must be taken within two
years after admission to the Ph.D. program. If the comprehensive examination is failed twice, the student
will be dropped.”
8.2.2. Supplemental Requirements
i. The comprehensive examination is administered by the examination committee. It is given
when needed and arrangements for taking it must be made with the student’s research advisor and
the chairman of the Graduate Committee. The student must submit a written request for a
comprehensive examination at least four weeks prior to the proposed date of the examination.
ii. A student who fails the comprehensive examination twice, or who does not repeat it successfully
within six months, may remain in the chemistry program as an M.S. candidate but will not be
allowed to become a candidate for the Ph.D.
8.2.3. Specifics of the Comprehensive exam.
I. The candidate will inform the chair of the Graduate Committee in the Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science of her/his intent to take the comprehensive exam. The exam must be taken
within the first two years of the PhD program. Failure to take the exam within the first two years
might result in salary reduction or termination of TA and RA support.
II. Committee Members and Scheduling. Selection of committee members will be done in
consultation with the thesis advisor and approved by the chairman of the Department of Chemistry
and Biomolecular Science. The inclusion of potential members of the thesis dissertation
committee is encouraged. A minimum of two faculty members in the examination committee is
required. The candidate is responsible for making appropriate scheduling arrangements. He/She
will contact members of the comprehensive examination committee and schedule a time for the
oral exam (~ 2 hrs time period might be needed). The candidate will also make arrangements to
book a room for the event.
III. The comprehensive exam consists of two parts: Research Proposal and Oral Defense.
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IV. Research Proposal. The candidate will prepare a written proposal in the research area of their
PhD thesis. The proposal must be submitted to members of the committee at least two weeks before
the date scheduled for the oral exam. Hard or electronic versions are both acceptable; the candidate
should consult each committee member on their preference. The proposal must be clear, readily
legible, and conform to the following requirements:
a. Contain a Project Summary (max. 1 page) that should give the title and name of the
primary investigator (PI) and their mentor(s), and a summary of the proposed work. This
summary should be a self-contained description of the activity.
b. Contain a Project Description of no more than 15 pages that should provide a clear
statement of the work to be undertaken and must include: objectives for the period of the
proposed work, hypothesis for the proposed experiments and expected significance; and
relation to the present state of knowledge in the field and to work in progress by the PI and
others in the field (with appropriate references). Preliminary data can be included when
available. Future plans including the rationale for experiments and potential alternative
approaches should be emphasized. The 15 pages should include all figures, schemes,
photographs, etc.
c. Contain a References Cited section (no page limit – additional to the 15 pages project
description) where each reference must include the names of all authors (in the same
sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article and journal title (or book
title), volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.
d. The entire proposal must use Arial or Times New Roman at a font size of 11 points or
larger; No more than six lines of text within a vertical space of one inch; Margins, in all
directions, must be at least an inch.
V. Oral Defense for the Comprehensive Exam. This includes presentation, answering questions and
panel discussion with committee members. This defense is not open to public. The candidate will
prepare an oral presentation on the proposal (20-30 min). The committee will ask questions
regarding (but not limited to) the area of the candidate’s thesis. Questions from the broader field
will be asked. Additional questions might be asked if the candidate failed to pass the placement
exam in an area relevant to his/her work.
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VI. The grade for the comprehensive exam is PASS/FAIL. If the candidate fails the comprehensive
exam or is judged to be minimally prepared he/she needs to retake the exam (in the same format)
within a six months period.
VII. A candidate can take the comprehensive examination a maximum of 2 times.
8.3. Final Examination
8.3.1. University Requirements
“A final examination must be passed. This examination will include, as a minimum, an oral
examination based on the dissertation. For the final oral examination, a committee will be selected by
the faculty advisor and approved by the department chair and dean of the respective school. The
committee will consist of a minimum of five members. The members should include at least four Clarkson
faculty of assistant professor rank or higher and possessing an earned doctoral degree. At least one of
the faculty must be from a department other than the candidate’s major department. With approval of
the provost, an external examiner with appropriate credentials from another university or industry may
also be appointed to serve as one of the five committee members. This committee will judge the technical
competence of the dissertation and the oral presentation. Final completion paperwork and an electronic
copy of the accepted dissertation (on CD) must be received in the student’s School office no later than 10
working days before Commencement to confer degrees to qualify a student to receive a degree at the end
of the spring semester. Before final submission of their Ph.D. dissertation, each student will be
responsible for submitting their dissertation for publication, and paying any associated fees.” [For
information and assistance, contact the Graduate Coordinator in the School of Arts and Science office.]
8.3.2. Supplemental Requirements
A final oral examination based on the dissertation will be given.
I. Selection and Composition of the Examining Committee
“For the final oral examination, a committee will be selected by the faculty advisor and approved by the
department chair and dean of the respective school.”
(http://www.clarkson.edu/catalog/documents/2013_14_catalog.pdf, p. 345)
Each final oral examination is administered by a committee selected by the candidate in consultation with
the dissertation advisor and approved by the chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular
17
Science and the Dean of the School of Arts and Science. A form should be submitted to the Dean’s
office which is signed by each committee member and the department chair. The form can be obtained from
the Department’s office. The examining committee must have minimum of five Clarkson faculty of
assistant rank or higher and possessing the Ph.D. degree. The thesis advisor serves at the chairman of
the committee.
The student preparing to take such an examination should (1) consult with his/her dissertation
advisor to formally identify their committee members, (2) obtain an “Appointment of Final Oral
Examination Committee” form from the chemistry department office, (3) obtain the signature of each
committee member on that form, (4) obtain the signature of the dissertation advisor on that form, and (5)
return the completed form to the chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science.
The completed form must be returned before the dissertation is submitted.
II. Advertising and Scheduling the Examination
The candidate and the advisor/department are responsible for making arrangements for a room and
advertising the dissertation defense. Advertisement should be to the entire Clarkson community and
should be done one to two weeks in advance of the defense.
NOTE: The student who wishes to receive the Ph.D. degree in chemistry at Commencement
exercises should allow approximately a six week time-frame for the following procedures. Once the
advisor has determined that the dissertation is satisfactory, the copies for the committee members should
be submitted to the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science. After the copies have been
examined for adherence to the required format and standards the student will distribute copies to the
individual members who have agreed to serve on the final examination committee. Final examination
committee members have the privilege of a minimum of three weeks for review of the dissertation after
they receive it.
III. Defense of the Dissertation
The final oral examination for the Ph.D. degree in chemistry should begin with the candidate’s summary
of the dissertation research. This summary must not exceed 30 minutes, and is immediately followed by
an examination on the subject matter of the dissertation. The examination will be open to the public, but
only members of the examining committee will decide whether the dissertation and the oral examination
are acceptable.
Any candidate who cannot adequately defend his or her dissertation will have the grade of pass or fail
deferred and will be given one additional opportunity to repeat the final oral examination.
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9. RULES GOVERNING THE FORMAT OF A REPORT, THESIS, OR DISSERTATION
NOTE: All documents generally are expected to conform to high standards of style and appearance as
well as scientific content.
9.1. Formatting. The report, thesis, or dissertation must be double-spaced and neatly typed on white 8
1/2 x 11-inch paper. The print must be letter-quality and should appear on only one side of the paper.
9.2. Margins. Margins are to be an inch and a half wide (1 1/2") at the left-hand side, and one inch wide
(1") at the right-hand side and top and bottom (see 9.3.).
9.3. Page number. Each page in the report, thesis, or dissertation must be assigned a page number and
the numbering method must be consistent throughout the document. Numbering may be done at the top
right-hand corner or bottom center, and should not be outside the one inch (1") margin. A one inch (1")
margin must be maintained above or below the number.
9.4. Font. Small Roman numerals are used for the preliminary pages (see 9.8.). The numbering begins
with ii (the title page counts as i, but the number does not appear). The remainder of the document
(including text, tables, figures, photographs, appendices, and bibliography) is numbered in Arabic
numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).
9.5. Title page. The Graduate School requires that the title page of the document be in the format
shown on the attached sample. All students are required to include a signature page signed by the
appropriate committee members.
9.6. Tables and figures. Tables and figures should immediately follow the page of text on which they are
first mentioned. A very short table may be included on a page together with text; however, a longer
table should be placed on a separate page. Titles for tables, figures, graphs, or photos should appear at the
bottom of the page on which it appears. EXCEPTION: Material necessitating horizontal binding should
be placed such that the top is at the bound edge of the thesis with the title on the side opposite the binding.
9.7. Preliminary material. The preliminary material at the front of a report, thesis, or dissertation should
include the following sections in the order indicated:
Title page (which must follow exactly the format of the sample attached),
Committee Signature Page (see sample attached),
Abstract (which should outline the work performed). Mathematical formulas, diagrams,
and other illustrative materials are not recommended for the printed abstract,
Dedication page (optional),
Acknowledgment page,
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Table of Contents,
List of Tables (including their number, title, and the number of the pages(s) on which they
appear),
List of Figures (including their number, brief caption, and the page(s) on which the full
caption appears).
Additional items which follow the main text are:
o List of References,
o Appendices.
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10. RULES GOVERNING THE SUBMISSION OF A REPORT, THESIS, OR
DISSERTATION
10.1. General Information
All documents must be submitted in final form (after all corrections have been made) to the
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science office a minimum of 14 days prior to the
Commence at which the student expects to receive the degree.
The Title Page and Signature Page for each report or thesis must be in the format shown on the
samples at the end of this document.
The following completed items must also be submitted with the final thesis copies:
o a degree completion form from the department,
o an updated degree program form.
10.2. Degree Completions and Distribution of Final Copies. Copies of the final document which the
student wishes to retain are in addition to the copies required and outlined below.
MS Completions
MS final projects should be reviewed by three Clarkson faculty members, and all three reviewers
should sign off on the student’s completion notice.
Two (2) copies of thesis will be sent to Clarkson's library for circulation and archiving.
One (1) copy of thesis in electronic format for department.
PhD Completions
One (1) electronic copy of dissertation on CD (for University archives).
Completed SED (Survey of Earned Doctorates) - two options for submission:
o Online - review the SED Submission Procedures for how to complete the SED online.
o Hard Copy (fillable .pdf) - complete, print, and submit to your graduate coordinator.
Submit electronic copy of dissertation to ProQuest for publishing (see below for more
information). You must consult the faculty advisor prior completing the ProQuest form.
Your thesis might be subject to pre-existing copyright agreements or might include sensitive
material that should not be released publically. You must have the approval of the faculty advisor
before submitting the ProQuest form.
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10.3. Additional Information
Additional information can be found at: http://www.clarkson.edu/artsandsci/grad/current/completion.html
Check the site regularly as degree requirements and completion forms could change.
10.4. Final Acceptance Date Prior to the Beginning of the Semester
Final copies of the thesis must be received in the Graduate School no later than the second week of
classes (last day to register) or the student must register and pay for one credit hour of thesis.
11. STUDENTS WITH COMPLETED DEGREES
Students who have completed degree requirements, who are unregistered or inactive should not be
allowed to use Clarkson facilities and/or laboratories due to the fact that the liability insurance does not
cover any accidents for such individuals.
12. EXCEPTIONS
Exceptions to some of the requirements and rules described in this document may be granted in unusual
circumstances. The student who believes an exception is justified should first consult with his/her advisor,
and then with the chairman of the chemistry department’s Graduate Committee. The student should send
a written petition to the chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science requesting
any exception.
Revised: 8/2/89
Edited: 11/91
Revised: 2/8/95
Revised: 1/1/96
Revised: 4/1/96
Revised: 10/1/99
Revised: 7/6/05
Revised: 10/1/11
Revised: 9/13/12
Revised: 8/19/14
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CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
(Title)
A Report
by
(Name)
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Science
Chemistry
(Date)
Accepted by
________________ ________________________________
Date Advisor
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CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
(Title)
A Thesis
By
(Name)
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Science
Chemistry
(Date)
Accepted by
_______________ __________________________
Date Dean
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CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
(Title)
A Dissertation
by
(Name)
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Chemistry
(Date)
Accepted by
___________ __________________________
Date Dean
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[Following is the set up for the signature page of the report, dissertation, or thesis. Boldfaced
material is for your information only and should not be copied.]
The undersigned have examined the (insert the word thesis or dissertation here) entitled (add the title
here in capital letters) presented by (insert your name here), a candidate for the degree of Chemistry,
and hereby certify that it is worthy of acceptance:
_____________________ _________________________________________
Date Advisor/Chairman of Committee
________________________________________
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
[Please type each committee member’s name under their signature line.]
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