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Program Milestones and Conditions for Removal

These guidelines outline the expectations and requirements for graduate students in the Department of Chemistry at West Virginia University, leading to either an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Adherence to these steps and milestones is critical for the successful completion of your program. Failure to meet specific requirements can result in removal from the program. It is your responsibility to proactively monitor your progress, seek guidance from your committees, and adhere to all departmental and university regulations to avoid these conditions for removal. You have the right to petition the Graduate Advising Committee for modifications in your program due to special circumstances, provided justification is presented in writing.

Ph.D. Program Milestones and Conditions for Removal

The Ph.D. program emphasizes advanced coursework and extensive research. Below are the key milestones.

Initial Stages & Guidance Exams

  • Guidance Examinations: Before your first semester, you must take Guidance Examinations in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry.
    • Expected Time: The Week immediately preceding registration for Fall and Spring semesters, until approximately 9 months after entering the program.
    • Milestone: You must demonstrate proficiency in at least three of the four major areas.
    • Risk of Removal: If your performance reveals weakness in two or more areas, you'll need to remove deficiencies in all but one area. You have two opportunities to remove each deficiency (via an appropriate graduate course with a grade of B or better, or by retaking and passing the Guidance Exam).
    • Removal Clause:  Failure to address these deficiencies by the end of your first year of residence (approximately 9 months for Fall entrants, or by the end of the following Fall semester for Spring entrants) will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

Coursework and Academic Standing

  • Coursework Program: You must complete a minimum of six 3-credit-hour advanced courses (500-700 level) with a grade of B or better in each.
  • Grade Point Average (GPA):
    • Milestone: Maintain a minimum  2.75 GPA on all graduate courses taken at WVU. Additionally, you must maintain a  3.00 GPA in chemistry coursework (500-700 level chemistry courses and approved related graduate coursework outside chemistry).
    • Risk of Removal:
      • If your  chemistry GPA falls below 3.0, you'll be in "poor standing." You have  one semester to raise your chemistry GPA above 3.0 to avoid losing departmental teaching assistantship support.
      • If your overall GPA falls below 2.75 for two consecutive semesters, you will be removed from the program.

Candidacy Examinations and Research Progress

  • Candidacy Examinations (Written Report and Oral Defense): These test your ability to use basic knowledge in your field.
    • Milestone: Written Research Progress Report: By the last week of classes of your third semester, you must submit a draft. The final report is due by the mid-semester date of your fourth semester. It will be graded Pass/Fail.
      • Expected Time: Draft by last week of classes of third semester; final report by mid-semester date of fourth semester.
    • Risk of Removal (Written Report): You are allowed one opportunity to rewrite the report, which must be completed two weeks before the end of the semester. If you fail the written progress report, you have the option to petition to transfer to the M.S. program. If transferred, you will receive departmental support for only one additional semester.
    • Milestone: Oral Progress Report: In your fourth semester, you must present and defend an oral progress report. Outcomes are Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail.
      • Expected Time: Fourth semester of residence.
    • Risk of Removal (Oral Report): If you conditionally pass, you have no more than one month (or a shorter deadline set by the GRC) to satisfy the conditions. If you fail the oral progress report, you have the option to petition to transfer to the M.S. program. If transferred, you will receive departmental support for only one additional semester.
  • Annual GRC Reports/Meetings: After successfully passing the Candidacy Exam, you are required to submit an annual research progress report to provide updates on your research progress and overall trajectory toward degree completion. A copy of the completed form will be sent to your committee. While a formal meeting is not mandatory, either you or a committee member may request one at any time, as needed.
    • Expected Time: Students must complete the graduate progress form annually by the end of the first full Spring semester (last day of classes) following Candidacy. This review covers the past year and outlines the next six months of the PhD program.
  • Oral Defense of an Original Research Proposal: After obtaining candidacy, you must present and defend an original research proposal in a CHEM 796 seminar section.
    • Expected Time: Successfully completed before the end of the fourth year in residence.
    • Milestone: You must provide a written proposal to your GRC and faculty 4 weeks before your scheduled presentation. Outcomes are Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail.
    • Risk of Removal: If you fail the original proposal, the GRC will recommend a course of action. You have no more than three months (or a shorter deadline set by the GRC) to satisfy the conditions. While not explicitly stated as immediate removal from the program, repeated failure or inability to meet the conditions set by the GRC could lead to removal under the "Semester Review" clause (see below).

Final Stage

  • Final Dissertation Examination: After preparing your Ph.D. dissertation, you must submit a preliminary copy to your GRC at least two weeks prior to the final oral defense, which is open to the public, followed by a private questioning session with your GRC.
    • Expected Time: Preliminary copy submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the examination.
    • Milestone: Successful defense of your dissertation.
    • Risk of Removal: Failure to successfully defend your dissertation could lead to conditions for re-examination or, ultimately, removal from the program if the GRC deems the work insufficient.

M.S. Program Milestones and Conditions for Removal

The M.S. program has two tracks: thesis and coursework. While less research-intensive than the Ph.D., it still has crucial milestones of the thesis track .

Initial Stages & Guidance Exams

  • Guidance Examinations: Similar to the Ph.D. program, you must take Guidance Examinations in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry before your first semester.
    • Expected Time: Week immediately preceding registration for Fall and Spring semesters, until approximately 9 months after entering the program.
    • Milestone: You must demonstrate proficiency in at least three of the four major areas.
    • Risk of Removal: If your performance reveals weakness in two or more areas, you'll need to remove deficiencies in all but one area. You have  two opportunities to remove each deficiency (via an appropriate graduate course with a grade of B or better, or by retaking and passing the Guidance Exam).  Failure to address these deficiencies by the end of your first year of residence (approximately 9 months for Fall entrants, or by the end of the following Fall semester for Spring entrants) could lead to removal from the program.

Coursework and Academic Standing

  • Coursework Program:
    • Thesis Track: Minimum of seven 3-credit hour advanced courses (500-700 level) with a grade of B or better.
    • Coursework Track: Minimum of eight 3-credit hour advanced courses (500-700 level) with a grade of B or better.
  • Grade Point Average (GPA):
    • Milestone: Maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA on all graduate courses taken at WVU, and a  2.75 chemistry GPA for coursework satisfying M.S. degree requirements.
    • Risk of Removal:  If your overall GPA falls below 2.75 for two consecutive semesters, you will be removed from the program.

Final Stage (Thesis Track Only)

  • Final Thesis Examination: For thesis track students, after preparing your M.S. thesis, you must submit a copy to your GRC at least two weeks prior to the oral defense.
    • Expected Time: Preliminary copy submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the examination.
    • Milestone: Successful oral defense of your thesis.
    • Risk of Removal: Failure to successfully defend your thesis could lead to conditions for re-examination or, ultimately, removal from the program if the GRC deems the work insufficient.

General Conditions for Removal Applicable to Both M.S. and Ph.D. Programs

Unsatisfactory Progress (Semester Review)

  • Expected Time: Reviewed at the end of each semester.
  • Milestone: Consistent satisfactory progress towards completing your degree.
  • Risk of Removal:  Your progress is reviewed at the end of each semester. Graduate students who are not making satisfactory progress toward completing their degree may be removed from the program by a vote of the faculty. This is a general, overarching clause that can encompass various issues not specifically detailed above, such as lack of research progress, failure to meet deadlines, or other performance concerns.

Unsatisfactory Teaching Assistant Performance

  • Milestone: Satisfactory performance as a laboratory teaching assistant, including attending required training sessions.
  • Risk of Removal:  An unsatisfactory performance as a laboratory teaching assistant may result in the removal of a teaching assistantship. While this doesn't directly state removal from the program, losing financial support can make continuing the program impossible for many students.