Plan of Study

Students should complete the Plan of Study (iPOS), accessed through My ASU, by the end of the second semester. The Plan of Study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the PhD degree requirements. Changes to the Plan of Study after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 84 credits must be included. If you need assistance completing the Plan of Study, please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office.

PhD Requirements

• 84 total credits
• 6 500-level courses (2-4 credits), CHM or BCH (no more than 2 from outside SMS) (~18 credits)
• 4 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (8 credits)
• 12 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation (must add up to exactly 12)
• ~46 credits CHM/BCH 792 research (brings the total to at least 84)

Research and dissertation credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab.

Allowances

• 2 courses from outside SMS
• 2 400-level courses with advisor approval (rare, since most 400-level courses of interest have a 500-level section)

Recommendations

• Complete all 6 courses by the end of the 4th semester
• Maximize credits in the first 4 semesters to allow reduced enrollment (lower fees) later

US Citizen / Permanent Resident Pathway

• First Semester (18 credits): CHM 501 New Student Seminar (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Second Semester (18 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Third Semester (18 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Fourth Semester (14 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 12 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Fifth Semester (6 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (if necessary); 3 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation; 3 credits CHM/BCH 792
• Sixth Semester (6 credits): 3 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation; 3 credits CHM/BCH 792
• Seventh Semester (6 credits): 3 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation; 3 credits CHM/BCH 792
• Eighth Semester (6 credits): 3 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation; 3 credits CHM/BCH 792

Ninth Semester and Beyond

Following completion of all degree requirements, enrollment is determined by employment type:

• Graduate Service Associates (GSA): enroll for 1 credit of CHM/BCH 799 dissertation
• Teaching/Research Assistants: enroll for 6 credits of CHM/BCH 792
• Students who only need to enroll to graduate but will not be working in the lab: enroll for 1 credit of CHM/BCH 795 Continuing Registration

Note: The above is one recommendation to meet the required 84 credits. Students have significant flexibility. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office to develop a customized Plan of Study.

Students should complete the Plan of Study (iPOS), accessed through My ASU, by the end of the second semester. The Plan of Study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the PhD degree requirements. Changes after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 84 credits must be included. If you need assistance, please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office.

PhD Requirements

• 84 total credits
• 6 500-level courses (2-4 credits), CHM or BCH (no more than 2 from outside SMS) (~18 credits)
• 4 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (8 credits)
• 12 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation (must add up to exactly 12)
• ~46 credits CHM/BCH 792 research (brings the total to at least 84)

Research and dissertation credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab.

Allowances

• 2 courses from outside SMS
• 2 400-level courses with advisor approval (rare, since most 400-level courses of interest have a 500-level section)

Recommendations

• Complete all 6 courses by the end of the 4th semester
• Complete all credits in the first 6 semesters to allow reduced enrollment (lower fees) later (requires RCL through ISSC, see note)

International Student Pathway

• First Semester (18 credits): CHM 501 New Student Seminar (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Second Semester (18 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Third Semester (18 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS); 10 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Fourth Semester (17 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 15 credits CHM/BCH 792 research
• Fifth Semester (12 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (if necessary); a 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (if necessary); 12 credits CHM/BCH 799 dissertation; 3 credits CHM/BCH 792
• Sixth Semester (6 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (if necessary); a 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (if necessary); 6 credits CHM/BCH 792

Seventh Semester and Beyond

Following completion of all degree requirements, enrollment is determined by employment type:

• Graduate Service Associates (GSA): enroll for 1 credit of CHM/BCH 799 dissertation
• Teaching/Research Assistants: enroll for 6 credits of CHM/BCH 792
• Students who only need to enroll to graduate but will not be working in the lab: enroll for 1 credit of CHM/BCH 795 Continuing Registration

Note: International students must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester to maintain full-time status per I-20 requirements. Courses/credits can be shifted to accommodate this. Once all courses/credits are complete, students may petition ISSC for a Reduced Course Load (RCL); this can be used in multiple semesters since dissertation is the final requirement.

Note: The above is one recommendation to meet the required 84 credits. Students have significant flexibility. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office to develop a customized Plan of Study.

Students should complete the Plan of Study (iPOS), accessed through My ASU, by the end of the first semester. The Plan of Study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. If you need assistance, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

MS Requirements

• 30 total credits
• 4 500-level courses (2-4 credits), CHM or BCH (no more than 1 from outside SMS) (12 credits)
  • Students in the Medicinal Chemistry concentration must take CHM 535
• 2 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (4 credits)
• 2 credits CHM/BCH 593 Applied Project (taken in the final semester)
• 6 credits CHM/BCH 592 research
• 6 credits of electives, additional research credits or 500-level coursework (brings the total to at least 30)

Research and Applied Project credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab. Continuous enrollment is required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion.

Allowances

• 1 course from outside SMS
• 1 400-level course with advisor approval (rare, since most 400-level courses of interest have a 500-level section)

Recommended Pathway

• First Semester (11 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS) (6); 3 credits CHM/BCH 592
• Second Semester (11 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS) (6); 3 credits CHM/BCH 592 research
• Third Semester (6 credits): 2 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS), or CHM/BCH 592 research (6)
• Fourth Semester (2 credits): 2 credits CHM/BCH 593 Applied Project

Note: International students must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester to maintain full-time status. Courses/credits can be shifted to accommodate this. In the final semester, if the remaining credits total less than 9, students may petition ISSC for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).

Note: Students have significant flexibility. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office to develop a customized Plan of Study.

Students should complete the Plan of Study (iPOS), accessed through My ASU, by the end of the first semester. The Plan of Study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. If you need assistance, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

MS Requirements

• 30 total credits
• 6 500-level courses (2-4 credits), CHM or BCH (no more than 2 from outside SMS) (18 credits)
  • Students in the Medicinal Chemistry concentration must take CHM 535
• 3 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (6 credits)
• 3 credits CHM/BCH 591 Seminar
• 3 credits CHM/BCH 597 Capstone

Continuous enrollment is required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion.

Allowances

• 2 courses from outside SMS
• 2 400-level courses with advisor approval (rare, since most 400-level courses of interest have a 500-level section)

Recommended Pathway

• First Semester (11 credits): CHM 501, topic of your choice (2); 3 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS) (9)
• Second Semester (11 credits): CHM 501, topic of your choice (2); 3 500-level CHM/BCH courses (may be from outside SMS) (9)
• Third Semester (5 credits): CHM 501, topic of your choice (2); CHM/BCH 591 Seminar (3)
• Fourth Semester (3 credits): CHM/BCH 597 Capstone (3)

Note: International students must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester to maintain full-time status. Courses/credits can be shifted to accommodate this. In the final semester, if the remaining credits total less than 9, students may petition ISSC for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).

Note: The above is one recommendation to meet the required 30 credits. Fewer courses may be taken in a given semester and shifted later. CHM/BCH 591 and CHM/BCH 597 must be taken in the final two semesters while completing the Capstone project. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office to develop a customized Plan of Study.

Students should complete the Plan of Study (iPOS), accessed through My ASU, by the end of the first semester. The Plan of Study outlines the courses to be completed as part of the MS degree requirements. Changes after original submission are allowed as courses may not be offered in the intended semester or at all and need to be substituted. Only 30 credits must be included. If you need assistance, please schedule an appointment with the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

MS Requirements

• 30 total credits
• 4 500-level courses (2-4 credits), CHM or BCH (no more than 1 from outside SMS) (~12 credits)
  • Students in the Medicinal Chemistry concentration must take CHM 535
• 2 CHM/BCH 501 seminars (4 credits)
• 6 credits CHM/BCH 599 thesis (must add up to exactly 6)
• ~8 credits CHM/BCH 592 research (brings the total to at least 30)

Research and thesis credits should be taken every semester when working in the lab. Continuous enrollment is required for all fall/spring semesters from admission through completion.

Allowances

• 1 course from outside SMS
• 1 400-level course with advisor approval (rare, since most 400-level courses of interest have a 500-level section)

Recommended Pathway

• First Semester (9 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 1 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (3); 4 credits CHM/BCH 592
• Second Semester (9 credits): CHM/BCH 501, topic of your choice (2); 1 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (3); 4 credits CHM/BCH 592 research
• Third Semester (6 credits): 1 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (3); 3 credits CHM/BCH 599 thesis
• Fourth Semester (6 credits): 1 500-level CHM/BCH course (may be from outside SMS) (3); 3 credits CHM/BCH 599 thesis

Fifth Semester and Beyond

Following completion of all degree requirements, enrollment can be reduced to 1 credit of CHM/BCH 592/599 research/thesis. To maintain health-insurance eligibility, enrollment for at least 1 credit of thesis is required.

Note: International students must enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester to maintain full-time status. Courses/credits can be shifted to accommodate this. Once all credits are complete, or the remaining credits total less than 9, students may petition ISSC for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).

Note: The above is one recommendation to meet the required 30 credits. Multiple courses may be taken in a single semester and the CHM/BCH 501 seminars may be taken in later semesters. Students have significant flexibility. Please schedule an appointment with the SMS Graduate Advising Office to develop a customized Plan of Study.