Admission to chemical physics from an M.S. program

A student wishing to enter the Chemical Physics Ph.D. program while enrolled in a Master’s program in either Chemistry or Physics at UNR must first inform the research advisor of this intention. The research advisor, with the approval of the Chemical Physics faculty, then initiates the necessary paperwork through the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School. This includes adjusting the size of the Graduate Advisory Committee from three to five members. The new committee is then responsible for determining what portion of the Chemical Physics Ph.D. requirements remain to be fulfilled by the student, including both curriculum and comprehensive examination requirements.

For graduate students transferring into the Chemical Physics Ph.D. Program from another institution, without completing a degree at that institution, the Graduate School currently permits a maximum of 9 credits to be transferred. Note that a master’s thesis may not take the place of the Ph.D. dissertation either in whole or in part.

Students wishing to enroll in the Chemical Physics program with a completed M.S. in either Chemistry or Physics (or another subject deemed acceptable by the Chemical Physics admissions committee) earned at either University of Nevada, Reno or another institution should apply for the program the same way as a student entering directly from an undergraduate program. The Chemical Physics admissions committee, in accordance with Graduate School regulations, will then determine what portion of the Chemical Physics Ph.D. requirements are transferable and which requirements remain to be fulfilled by the student. The Graduate School currently permits a maximum of 24 credits to be transferred. Note that a master’s thesis may not take the place of the Ph.D. dissertation either in whole or in part.

Transfer credits

These are credits transferred from another institution. Credits completed at UNR in another program or as a graduate special do not need to be transferred. Transfer credit can be requested on the Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request form available on Graduate School website, and must be signed by the student, major advisor, and graduate director. Transfer credits applied to a master’s program must comply with the time limitation on master’s work (6 years). Thus, if a student took a course five years prior to admission, they would have to complete the degree within one year for the course to apply to the degree. Credits from a completed master’s degree will be exempt from the 8- year time limitation for those students pursuing a doctoral degree.