- University of Wisconsin-Madison
DEGREE Environmental Chemistry and Technology, PhD
Doctoral degree in environmental chemistry and technology
As a PhD student in environmental chemistry and technology, you’ll deepen your expertise in applying chemistry to environmental systems. And, by selecting a specialization and choosing elective courses, you also can tailor your graduate program to your own interests. Among the areas you can focus on are aquatic chemistry, air pollution chemistry, terrestrial chemistry, and chemical- and bio-technology development.
At a glance
Civil and environmental engineering department, learn more about what information you need to apply., how to apply.
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .
Application Process and Requirements
All applicants must meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements to be considered for admission. Departmental admission is by committee review. Applications submitted after the fall deadline through March 15 will be reviewed if complete and will be considered for admission by the program is space is still available. To check if space is available, please email: [email protected].
In addition, applicants must also meet the department’s requirements listed below to be considered for admission:
A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.
Applicants seeking admission should have a background in the fundamental areas of general, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry. In addition, applicants should have some background in applied sciences which can be fulfilled with a minimum of 6 credits in natural sciences such as botany, zoology, bacteriology, earth science, material science, biochemistry, or engineering. Applicants who have not met these requirements must do so prior to the completion of the master’s degree.
Funded offers for MS (research) and PhD students, in the form of research assistantships, project assistantships, and/or teaching assistantships come directly from individual faculty members . Please contact interested faculty before or after you have applied to inquire about assistantship opportunities. Funding is not guaranteed with admission. Admitted applicants will be contacted directly by faculty regarding funding opportunities.
Complete Application
A complete graduate application is required before an application will be reviewed by the faculty. Late applications may not be reviewed for funding opportunities. A complete graduate application contains the following:
Graduate School Application
Applicants must submit an online application to the UW–Madison Graduate School. See Graduate School Admissions to apply.
Statement of Purpose
Submit a statement of purpose of 1,000 words or less in the online application. This statement should cover your technical areas of interest, coursework emphasis, research experience, professional goals, faculty members you are interested in working with, and any other items relevant to your qualifications for graduate school. See the Graduate School for additional guidelines for the Statement of Purpose (scroll to bottom of page).
Three Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted through the online application. These letters should be from people who can judge the applicant’s academic, research, and/or work performance. See the Graduate School for FAQs regarding these letters.
Academic Transcripts
Upload the most recent copies of your transcripts to the online application, from each institution attended. Study abroad transcripts are not required if coursework is reflected on the degree granting university’s transcript. Unofficial copies of transcripts are used for departmental review. If the applicant is recommended for admission, then the Graduate School will follow-up with instructions for official transcript submission. Please do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or the Environmental Chemistry and Technology program unless requested.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload your most recent resume or curriculum vitae in the online application.
English Proficiency Score
Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term. Self-reported exam information is acceptable during departmental review; however, if you are recommended for admission, official test scores must be sent directly to the Graduate School from the testing body. See Graduate School Admission Requirements for more information on the English proficiency requirement. (NOTE: TOEFL scores may be sent electronically via ETS using institution code 1846)
Application Fee
A one-time application fee is required. See the Graduate School frequently asked questions for fee information. Fee grants are offered by the Graduate School on a limited basis and under certain conditions, as outlined here . The department does not offer an application fee waiver due to the large volume of applications received. However, if you are working with a specific faculty member, then they may offer you a fee voucher.
Tuition and funding
Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).
View tuition rates
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Students accepted into the program can expect to be fully funded through through fellowships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships on research projects. Admission decisions are based on the student’s qualifications and research interests, the availability of funding, and the focus of funded research projects. Funding includes a waiver of tuition (excluding segregated fees), health benefits (including family coverage), and a yearly stipend.
Civil and environmental engineers are changing the world. Aging infrastructure. Climate change. Clean water and air. Natural hazards. Energy. These are just a few of the grand challenges facing civil and environmental engineers, and our research is leading the way toward sustainable solutions.
View our research
Curricular Requirements
Minimum graduate school requirements.
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Required Courses
Students are required to develop a plan of courses with their advisor. Additional courses beyond the core courses may be included with approval of the student’s academic advisor and the approval of the Environmental Chemistry and Technology Academic Planning Committee.
Note that CIV ENGR 500 Water Chemistry , or an equivalent advanced Environmental Chemistry course, is a prerequisite for many of the core Environmental Chemistry and Technology courses. If these requirements have not been met prior to entering the program, this should be considered when planning the coursework.
Students must enroll in CIV ENGR 909 Graduate Seminar – Environmental Chemistry & Technology or CIV ENGR/ATM OCN/BOTANY/ENVIR ST/GEOSCI/ZOOLOGY 911 Limnology and Marine Science Seminar each semester. PhD students should present a seminar once per academic year, either fall or spring semester.
Graduate-Level Chemistry Requirement
Students must take two chemistry courses numbered 500 or above. A partial list of potential courses is included below. Other courses may be substituted for this requirement with approval of the student’s academic advisor and the approval of the Environmental Chemistry and Technology Academic Planning Committee.
Course Options
Admissions [email protected] 3182 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706
Matt Ginder-Vogel, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected] 2205 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive Madison, WI 53706
Civil and environmental engineering news
With $75 million gift for new UW-Madison engineering building, brothers’ impact spans generations and transcends campus boundaries
Inspired by UW methods, FEMA’s new floodplain forecast looks clear
In the back yard, autonomous lawn mowers on the horizon
Become a badger engineer.