The Graduate Program in Chemistry USP/SC was founded in 1971 and since then has graduated more than 1000 masters and 600 PhD. The Program has developed basic and applied research in many areas of chemistry, with an emphasis on three concentration areas: (a) Physical Chemistry, (b) Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, and (c) Organic and Biological Chemistry. The research is performed by about 60 advisors, 80 post-doctoral researchers and 330 graduate students, who have available a modern equipment park, a well-structured library, workshops and an analytical central.

Besides tradition, one of the highlights of the Program is its international feature, once it receives many students from different countries and also receives frequent visits of scientists from the best centers in the world. Additionally, several researchers of the Program are involved with high profile international initiatives and are developing research with related areas like education, pharmacy, physics, dentistry, medicine, engineering and biology. The program has a maximum score (Concept 7) in the national assessment conducted by CAPES, an agency of the Ministry of Education.