Nov 24, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Photochemical Sciences, PhD


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The Center for Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has a vibrant, world-renowned program that offers students the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research with our internationally recognized faculty.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the doctoral degree, students in the Photochemical Sciences program are expected to be able to:

  • Apply quantum mechanical methods to predict observable properties for molecular motions including translation, rotation and vibration.
  • Apply quantum mechanical methods to determine molecular electronic wavefunctions and to characterize the molecular bonding.
  • Analyze organic reaction mechanisms and the mechanistic diagrams and methods for their education.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of selected topics of physical organic chemistry including stereochemistry principles, and the application of reactive intermediates in chemistry.
  • Analyze the generation and nature of excited states, including evolution of excited states, and radiative and nonradiative processes and energy transfer.
  • Demonstrate and active knowledge of experimental techniques and modern instrumentation for characterization of excited states is part of the topics covered.
  • Demonstrate an active knowledge of photochemical reactions, various reaction types including absorption and emission of light, intersystem crossing, energy transfer, electron transfer and symmetry rules that govern these processes, rules for orbital symmetry governed reactions.
  • Analyze different types of photoreactions including inorganic photoprocesses, organic and organometallic photochemistry, photobiochemistry, polymer photochemistry and photoelectrochemistry applications.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge of selected “hot topics” under a rapid advance in recent years focusing on photochemistry, photophysics, nanoscience and scanning probe microscopy.
  • Evaluate previous scientific conclusions as they apply to a new area of investigation.
  • Integrate the results of the PhD dissertation and effectively communicate original scientific findings.

Admission Requirements

Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline, we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline.
Documents required:

  • No test score is required
  • Three Letters of Recommendation

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements


Additional Requirements


  • Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
  • Maximum of 10 credits of 5000-level coursework may be counted toward degree requirements
  • Preliminary Examination or Project
  • Minimum of  16 credits of dissertation research (maximum of 30 credits of dissertation research are applicable to degree requirements)
  • Dissertation Defense and Publication of Manuscript on OhioLINK
  • All requirements must be completed within eight years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.

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