The Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering

• Admission
• Degree Requirements
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Financial Aid
• Graduate Student Handbook (PDF 162Kb)
• On-Line Application

Admission

The majority of applicants will possess a recognized bachelor s degree in Chemical Engineering; however, applications are also welcomed from holders of other degrees in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and the other physical sciences. Students with non-traditional backgrounds may be considered for provisional admission. Provisionally admitted students are normally required to satisfactorily complete a structured program of essential chemical engineering and related courses during their first year to qualify for regular graduate admission.

Consideration for admission requires the submission of a complete application package on-line. Complete and official academic transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in the general tests are required for all students. In addition, international students must submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have a minimum score of 580 for admission to the Chemical Engineering program. Students may be admitted to the graduate program during any of the four academic quarters; however, most enter during the autumn quarter which normally begins in the third week of September. Students entering at other times may experience a delay in meeting all academic requirements for the degree because of scheduling and prerequisites for four required graduate courses in the Chemical Engineering program as given below. Part-time students need not make formal admission application to the Department, but may apply for MS candidacy recognition upon satisfactory completion of 18 credit hours of graduate instruction. Part-time students with formal degree objectives are advised to consult with the Department prior to initial graduate registration.

Degree Requirements

The department offers both a M.S. and Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering. One of the important educational goals of the department is for every student in an advanced degree program to achieve competence both in teaching and in research. Therefore, all advanced degree students must satisfy both teaching and research requirements as part of graduate training. Students assigned as teaching assistants will automatically satisfy the teaching requirement, and those assigned as research assistants will automatically satisfy the research requirement. The requirements may also be satisfied by completing seminar presentations, research projects, and other activities approved in advance by the Graduate Study Committee.

Master of Science

Minimum requirements for the M.S. degree are 45 (quarter) graduate credits, of which a minimum of 36 credits must be completed in formal coursework. Twelve of these credits must be in four required graduate courses in Chemical Engineering; these are Advanced Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena I and II, and Chemical Reactor Design. An additional 12 credits may be selected from Chemical Engineering electives and 12 credits in technical electives selected from any engineering, physical and life science, or mathematics subject. All graduate students are required to register for Graduate Seminar during autumn, winter, and spring quarters of residency. A 3.0 quality point average (QPA, out of a possible maximum 4.0) must be maintained in course credits, excluding credits for research, seminars, and individual instructions. There is no foreign language requirement.

A M.S. thesis is required of all full-time graduate students. Students must present a written thesis proposal for approval by a supervising Faculty Committee and defend the thesis at a final oral examination. The minimum credit assignment for thesis is nine credits. Under special circumstances, part-time students may request permission to complete a non-thesis option for which a total of 51 credits is required. Of this, six credits must be a project completed under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in Chemical Engineering.

Doctor of Philosophy

For the Ph.D. degree, a minimum of 135 graduate credits are required. This includes a total of 90 graduate credits in coursework and an additional 45 credits in Ph.D. Dissertation; up to 45 graduate (quarter) credits can be transferred from another accredited institution to satisfy this requirement. Securing the MS degree in not a prerequisite, nor is the completion of a M.S. degree.

To qualify for Ph.D. candidacy, a student must successfully pass a Qualifying Exam consisting of an oral comprehensive exam, given during spring quarter, and the development and presentation of an original research proposal, within one year of passing the Oral Exam. In addition, a student must submit an acceptable dissertation proposal to his or her Dissertation Committee in order to complete qualification for the Ph.D. A written dissertation must be submitted and defended before the Committee in a publicly scheduled presentation. There is no foreign language requirement.

Assistantships and Fellowships

The majority of students admitted into the graduate program receive financial support. This typically consists of a University Graduate Scholarship, which provides total tuition remission and often payment of the university general fee, and a competitive monthly stipend, currently ranging from about $2,000 to over $2,500 per month depending upon academic qualifications and seniority in the graduate program. Funding of stipend awards may come from University Graduate Assistantships, endowed or industrial fellowships, or sponsored research grants and contracts. In order to receive maximum consideration for a financial award, a student should apply early in the year preceding desired admission. Typically, awards are made during the April preceding a September enrollment. In general, initial awards are made for the first four quarters of enrollment in the program, but are contingent upon satisfactory performance in the program which includes maintaining a minimum 3.0 (B) average in all graduate courses. Additional support is usual until completion of the degree providing continuing satisfactory performance is demonstrated and depending upon continuing availability of funds.