Program Requirements

Ph. D. in Chemistry
Ph. D. in Chemical Physics
The GAC Process

• GAC Committee Formation
Students should constitute their GAC, using the guidelines under Graduate Program/Graduate Advising Committee, and convene their first meeting by February 1st of the G2 year (note for the 08-09 academic year: Current G2 students should convene their GAC by August 31st of their G2 year). The GAC consists of the student's advisor and two other faculty members, one of who must be a CCB faculty member. All GAC members (including the advisor) will be present for all GAC meetings.
• GAC Required Meetings
  Students must meet with the GAC by February 1st of the G2 year (exception for 08-09 G2s, who must meet with their committee by August 31st) and by August 31st of their G3 and G4 years. These meetings will focus on the student's progress toward the Ph.D. and outline future plans for completing the degree in a timely manner. All students must submit a 2-page outline of their research progress and future plans to their GAC at least 7 days prior to the meeting. The GAC will grade all meetings on a pass/fail basis. In the event of a failing grade, the committee will outline and set goals with a timeline for completion to be met by the student. An additional follow-up meeting with the GAC may be requested by the committee before the next official GAC meeting to assess the student's progress and achievement of established goals.
• GAC Meeting Confirmation Form
• GAC Independent Research Proposal

Teaching
Dissertation Requirements

• All students preparing to write their dissertations should pick up PhD thesis packets from Barbara Anderson in the Director's Office. The packets contain an application for the degree and detailed information concerning the process of thesis submission.
• GSAS thesis requirements
• Public Presentation of Ph.D. Research
  All students are expected to provide a public presentation of their Ph.D. research as part of their program requirements. The dissertation defense will be comprised of two parts: 1) a public presentation of the student's Ph.D research to which members of the CCB community will be invited, followed by 2) the private Ph.D. dissertation defense before the Dissertation Defense Committee (generally the GAC). Once the date, time, and location of the dissertation defense has been scheduled by the student with the Committee Members, the Department Office will send an e.mail announcement to CCB faculty, graduate students, and postdocs inviting them to the public presentation. Helen Schwickrath in the Director's Office will help publicize the presentation given sufficient notice, at least 7 days in advance. Check with Barbara Anderson in the Director's Office on the availability of Pfizer Lecture Hall.

Forms

CCB Forms

GAC Meeting Confirmation Form
Group Selection Form
Group Transfer Form
Reimbursement Form
Missing Receipt Form

GSAS Forms

GSAS Petition and Withdrawal Forms
Leave of Absence (LOA) and Traveling Scholar Forms

Application for Degrees

Pick up forms in the Director's office. They must be signed by Department Chair and submitted before posted GSAS deadline (see Deadlines Calendar below) to the Director's office.
A.M.: list 8 courses
Ph.D.: list 16 courses (including those for A.M.)
Late filing fee (2 weeks maximum): $50

Study Cards

My.Harvard.edu

Be sure to observe deadlines for registration and filing of study cards – see Deadlines Calendar below.

“Campus Resources” tab contains contact/emergency data to update as appropriate – be sure to print out copy for your Lab Administrator if there are changes.

“Courses” tab contains shopping tool; all graduate students must list a minimum of 4 half-courses or the equivalent of TIME on their study cards. See examples below.

• Courses that you select should be consistent with those on your Plan of Study as approved by your Curriculum Advising Committee, otherwise see Carol Gonzaga BEFORE filing your study card.
• Any changes to your CCB Plan of Study must be discussed with and approved by a member of the Curriculum Advising Committee before you enter new courses on your Study Card.
• Please stop by Carol's office to pick up your original Plan of Study before meeting with a member of the Curriculum Advising Committee to acquire approval for the new course selection.

G1s, both semesters: all study cards must be reviewed and approved by Carol Gonzaga before filing.

G2s and up who have completed letter-grade course requirements and are teaching: list your 300-level Research and Reading course 3 times on the Study Card. EXAMPLE: If you are member of the Myers research group and you are teaching, the following should be listed on your Study Card.

Chemistry 388. Organic Chemistry (three separate blocks)
Catalog Number: 1979
Instructor Number: 8278
4th Block: Time-T 8811

If you are not teaching, list your 300-level Research and Reading course 4 times on the Study Card.

G7s and up: Study cards must be signed and approved by Tony Shaw AFTER they have been approved by your advisor (Program Approval).

Cross Registration

GSAS Deadlines Calendar

GSAS Fellowships

Outreach

Public Service Network
Host Student Program

Harvard Graduate Student Council

Counseling Resources

Bureau of Study Counsel
Peer Counseling: In Common
Student Affairs Office
Ellen Fox
What To Do If You Need Help
Mental Health Services at UHS
Graduate Student Assistance Program