Graduate Program

Grow Towards Independence

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Southern California trains approximately 200 Ph.D. students in the various disciplines of modern chemistry. For program requirements and expectations, see the Graduate School Path or read the Graduate Student Handbook. To apply, follow the instructions on our Graduate Admission page. The Department presents a number of Graduate Student Awards every year, and there are several Graduate Student Organizations for additional support.

The Graduate Student Handbook contains requirements and departmental policies for students in the Department of Chemistry. Click here to download the latest version.
The Department offers one of the nation’s most competitive financial support packages for Ph.D. students. All admitted students receive a stipend, full tuition coverage, and health and dental insurance. Additional competitive fellowships are available for exceptional applicants. Stipends are provided through teaching assistantships (TAs), which involve supervising labs, grading, and proctoring exams, or research assistantships (RAs), supported by grants or fellowships, allowing students to focus on their doctoral research with their faculty mentor.
USC offers graduate student housing near campus, adjacent to USC Village. For details, visit the USC Housing website. For inquiries, contact chemgrad@usc.edu.
Located in an urban center, USC is committed to providing a safe learning environment. The USC Department of Public Safety—one of the largest campus safety departments in the U.S.—patrols both the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. USC also offers safety resources like the USC Lyft Rides Program, which provides free transportation between campus buildings and nearby residences. Despite its downtown Los Angeles location, U.S. Department of Education data show that USC has lower rates of student-related violent crime than UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego.