Graduate Program

Orientation Week

All entering graduate students are expected to attend Orientation Week which is held the week before classes start in the Fall. The orientation comprises the following components.

• Introduction to Chemistry Department policies and procedures.
• Meet with Chemistry Department staff to arrange payroll, insurance, and other financial matters.
• Attend the Graduate School's GTA Workshop (required to be eligible for a teaching assistantship).
• Take the four ACS Placement Examinations (analytical -- instrumental analysis, organic, inorganic, and physical) to determine whether you need additional courses to ensure the strong Foundation that we require of our PhD candidates.
• Meet individually with the Graduate Program Director to arrange your initial course schedule.
• Initial GTA Meeting with General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry lab instructors.
• International students: Attend a special orientation session; take a "speak and teach" test.

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Speciality Areas and Courses

The courses you take at Virginia Tech are governed by the following factors:

• ACS Placement Exams administered during Orientation Week. Low performance on one (or more) placement exam(s) triggers additional course requirements to ensure that all of our students have a "foundation" of knowledge in all major areas of chemistry. This "Foundation" system allows us to recruit the brightest, most motivated students despite "gaps" that might exist in their chemistry background. In rare cases we are even able to admit someone with a non-chemistry undergraduate degree.
• Your "speciality area" within the department (Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Organic Polymer, or Physical) will largely determine the main sequence of graduate courses you take. Note that some professors may require that all students joining their group to be in a certain speciality area, while others are more flexible in this regard.
• Electives are chosen by students, in consultation with their Research Directors and Advisory Committees, to enhance knowledge needed for their individual research programs or for their future career development.

Details of these course requirements may be found in our Policies and Procedures Manual, which we call the Orange Book.

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The First Semester

The first semester of graduate study is a time of great excitement and adjustment. While most of your effort will focus on your courses and your obligations as a GTA, the following vital tasks must also be completed.

• Interview at least six (6) faculty members and nominate a faculty member to serve as your Research Director.
• Undertake a safety course and pass a safety test.
• Complete the "second part" of the GTA Workshop.

The Second Semester

In your second semester you will continue with courses and GTA duties, and possibly begin your research projects. The following must also be completed.

• Choose your Advisory Committee in consultation with your Research Director.
• Submit a Plan of Study (PoS) to your Advisory Committee for their signatures and then to the Graduate School.
• Complete First Aid and Waste Management training courses.

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Summer Sessions

Virginia Tech does not have a continuous enrollment requirement. If you completed your second semester in "Good Standing," you will still be a student and remain eligible for assistantship support. During the Summer months, it is expected that you will accomplish the following:

• Remain on campus and make progress in your dissertation research.
• Complete any GTA duties to which you are assigned.

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The Second Year

During your second year of study the following accomplishments are expected:

• Preliminary progress in research leading to the establishment of a dissertation-worthy Research Plan.
• Completion of all remaining Foundation and Major course requirements.
• First Semester: Completion of the Literature Review and Research Plan.
• Second Semester: Successful defense of the Literature Review and Research Plan in a formal Oral Preliminary Exam.

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The Third Year

During your third year of study the following accomplishments are expected:

• Significant progress in the disseration research.
• First departmental seminar (usually replaced by an external seminar at a scientific meeting).
• First Semester: Completion of the Original Research Proposal.
• Second Semester: Successful defense of the Original Research Proposal in a meeting of your Advisory Committee.

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The Final Years

During your fourth and fifth years of study the following accomplishments are expected:

• Second (not external) departmental seminar. This seminar is used by your committee to establish your Fourth Year progress evaluation and to help you establish a clear plan for completing the dissertation.
• Completion and defense of your disseration in a formal exam before your Advisory Committee. Note that the Chemistry Department does not guarantee assistantship support beyond the fifth year in residence.

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