First Semester Prior to the first week of classes, incoming first year students meet with divisional advisors, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Program Administrator to select their courses for the fall semester and put together a Preliminary Program of Study. Link to Information on Degree Works and Plans/Programs of Study Major Advisor All MS and PhD students are admitted to the Department of Chemistry directly and then must select a Major Advisor to do research with, by October 1 of their first semester. Students should select a Major Advisor based on research opportunities and interests, as well as fit with the advisor and the group. PhD and MS students in the Department of Chemistry must meet with at least three potential advisors and discuss research projects and opportunities. There are no formal rotations in research groups. Major Professor Request Form Role of the Major Advisor. In Chemistry, the Major Advisor serves as both the student’s research advisor and the chair of their thesis or dissertation committee. They provide funding through Research Assistantships or requests for Teaching Assistantships. Students should enroll in Group Meeting (CHEM 6000) and research (CHEM 9000 for PhD; CHEM 7000 for MS) with their Major Advisor each semester. Major Advisors also serve as mentors for research and career development, and students should meet regularly with their advisors. Students are also encouraged to fill out yearly Individual Development Plans and discuss them with their major advisor. Major Advisors are encouraged to provide students with written expectations when they join the group. If these expectations change, they need to be communicated to the student in writing, with an explanation and justification of the changes. Advisory Committee By the end of their second semester, all MS and PhD students are required to have an Advisory Committee, consisting of a minimum of three UGA graduate program faculty, including the student’s Major Advisor, who serves as the chair of the committee. Students should select faculty with background and/or expertise relevant to the student’s research. The Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the student officially and unofficially in all matters related to their degree. See the Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook for more details.
