We prepare the leaders of tomorrow, enhance the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, and improve the global quality of life through groundbreaking discoveries by fostering robust collaboration between faculty and students. Our graduate students are provided with substantial financial support, allowing them time to focus on academics and participate in intellectual activities outside of the classroom.
The Chemistry department’s traditional strengths in instrumental physical chemistry (particularly solid-state NMR, NMR imaging, mass spectrometry, and laser spectroscopy) and nuclear & radiochemistry have been supplemented with burgeoning materials chemistry and biological chemistry focused research groups.
Learn more about ChemistryTo earn a PhD at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department/program; maintain satisfactory academic progress; pass certain examinations; fulfill residence and mentored experience requirements; write, defend, and submit a dissertation; and file an Application to Graduate form via Workday.
For university-wide PhD requirements, visit the Vice Provost for Graduate Education’s PhD Education and Governance page.
Any master's degree program can require a master's thesis, make the thesis optional or decline to offer a thesis option.
Arts & Sciences graduate students can pursue Mentored Teaching Experiences (LGS 600) and Mentored Professional Experiences (LGS 603) through their departments.
learn more about mentored experiences
Mentoring is a critical component of graduate education. Developing a network of mentors, whether faculty, staff, peers, or industry professionals, is crucial to a graduate student’s life, well-being, and overall success. Faculty advisors in particular play a central role in the graduate experience, from research advisors to other faculty in a student’s program to faculty outside a home department that provide guidance, coaching, or a sounding board. The Office of Graduate Studies has developed a multi-pronged mentoring initiative to support this critical component of our grad students’ experience.
Find commonly used resources here, or browse our full list of resources
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Office of Graduate Studies academic and professional integrity policy
consult WashU's catalog of programs and degree requirements
review graduate studies guides, templates, handbooks & more
review Office of Graduate Studies academic policies and procedures
Office of Graduate Studies academic and professional integrity policy
learn more about ELP courses
