Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

Graduate Study

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in chemical engineering and in materials science and engineering. A Graduate Certificate in Foundations in Chemical Engineering is also available. A wide range of course offerings and research activities allows an individual program to be designed to fit the background, capabilities, and aims of the student. Studies in the department may be supplemented with courses offered by other departments in the College of Engineering and in other colleges.

The graduate programs in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering are designed to develop research expertise needed for the graduate to serve as a principal investigator in industrial, government, or academic research. Course work is designed to expand the student’s knowledge of engineering principles and applications. Each student conducts an extensive research project that significantly advances fundamental understanding of a chemical engineering or materials science system. Results of the research are documented in a thesis, dissertation, or research paper(s) for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.


Chemical Engineering - Master of Science

Emphasis in the graduate programs in chemical engineering is placed upon a fundamental approach to chemical engineering principles and the applications of chemistry and advanced mathematics. Selected topics in chemical engineering are developed from a fundamental viewpoint, with opportunity for study and research in such areas as process design; thermodynamics; chemical reaction engineering; mass, heat, and momentum transfer; separations; polymers and composite materials; nanomaterials; and biochemical and biomedical engineering. The department has three primary thematic areas: energy and sustainability, nanotechnology and materials, and biotechnology and medicine.

Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An applicant for admission to the master's degree program in chemical engineering must hold a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field and must have a grade–point average that would indicate success in graduate study.

International applicants must submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Students who are admitted to the program with a bachelor's degree in a field related to chemical engineering will be required to complete the following collateral courses, in addition to the courses that are required for the master's degree:

CHE 432 Process Systems Control 3
CHE 433 Process Design and Optimization I 3
CHE 804 Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Chemical Engineering 3
CHE 805 Transport and Separation Processes 3
Equivalent undergraduate–level chemical engineering courses may be substituted for Chemical Engineering 804 and 805.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering

The students must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under Plan A (with thesis) or  Plan B (without thesis), and meet the requirements specified below. Students in Plan A must complete a minimum of 20 credits at the 800-level or above. Students in Plan B must complete a minimum of 18 credits at the 800-level or above. Courses at the 400-level are acceptable as long as the minimum credit requirement is met at the 800-level. Courses below the 400-level are not acceptable.

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B:
1. Core Courses.  All of the following courses (12 credits):
CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations 3
CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 3
CHE 822 Advanced Transport Phenomena 3
CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering 3
2. Supporting Courses.  Six credits in courses outside the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science  approved by the student's academic advisor. 
3. Complete 2 credits in CHE 892 Seminar.

Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete 6 credits of CHE 899 Master’s Thesis Research
  2. Additional elective credits as approved by the student’s academic advisor.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete 6 to 9 credits in a coordinated technical minor as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
  2. Pass a final examination, oral or written, given by the student’s academic advisor.




 


Chemical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An applicant for admission to the Ph.D. degree program in chemical engineering must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in chemical engineering or a related field and must have a grade–point average that would indicate success in graduate study.

Applicants must submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Students may be required to complete additional collateral course work to fulfill deficiencies in their academic background. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required in each course. In some cases, students may be granted provisional status in the program until collateral course work has been satisfactorily completed. Collateral course work does not count towards fulfillment of degree requirements.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Chemical Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering is comprised of course work, research, selection of an advisor, a qualifying examination, formation of a guidance committee and doctoral degree program, comprehensive examination, and successful completion of a dissertation and final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Students must complete the requirements specified by their guidance committee and must include the requirements specified below:
1. All of the following courses (13 credits):
CHE 801 Advanced Chemical Engineering Calculations 3
CHE 802 Research Methods 1
CHE 821 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 3
CHE 822 Advanced Transport Phenomena 3
CHE 831 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering 3
2. Complete 5 credits of CHE 992 Seminar.
3. Students entering the program with a master’s degree must complete 12 additional credits in consultation with the guidance committee. Students may receive a waiver for some of the required courses. Students who have a bachelor’s degree are required to complete a minimum of 16 additional credits chosen in consultation with the guidance committee.
4. Pass a qualifying examination consisting of a written component and an oral component.
5. Pass a comprehensive examination in the form of a research proposal defense containing a written proposal and an oral defense.
6. Complete a minimum of 24 credits and no more than 36 credits of CHE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research and successfully defend the dissertation.
7. Present the results of the research in a public seminar during the final oral examination.
 


Materials Science and Engineering - Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

The department welcomes applications from students who possess a bachelor's degree in a related engineering or science discipline. Students entering the program with a bachelor degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering may be required to complete additional collateral courses to fulfill deficiences in their academic background. Collateral course work does not count towards the requirements for the degree program.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Materials Science and Engineering

The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) and meet the requirements specified below. 

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B:

1. Core Courses. All of the following courses (12 credits):
MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids 3
MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion 3
MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids 3
MSE 870 Electron Microscopy in Materials Science 3
Or
MSE 881 Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials 3
Additional Requirements for Plan A
1. Complete the following course:
CHE 892 Seminar 2
2. Complete 6 credits of MSE 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
3. One course at the 400-level or above in mathematics or statistics as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
4. Submit a written thesis and oral presentation, administered by the student's advisory committee.
5. A minimum of 16 credits must be at the 800-level or above as approved by the student's academic advisor.
Additional Requirements for Plan B
1. Complete the following course:
CHE 892 Seminar 2
2. One course at the 400-level or above in mathematics or statistics as approved by the student's academic advisor.
3. At least 6 to 9 credits completed in a coordinated technical minor as approved by the student's academic advisor.
4. Additional elective credits as approved by the student's academic advisor.
5. A minimum of 18 credits at the 800-level or above as approved by the student's academic advisor.
6. Pass a final examination or evaluation.

Materials Science and Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An applicant for admission to the Ph.D. degree program in materials science and engineering must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in materials science and engineering or a related field and must have a grade-point average that would indicate success in graduate study. Applicants must submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Students entering the program with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering may be required to complete additional collateral courses to fulfill deficiencies in their academic background. Collateral course work will not count towards degree requirements.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Materials Science and Engineering

Students must meet the requirements specified by their guidance committee and must meet the requirements specified below. Students entering the program with a bachelor’s degree are required to complete a minimum of 13 additional credits selected in conjunction with the advisor and committee. Students entering the program with a master’s degree are required to complete a minimum of 12 additional credits, but may receive a waiver for some of the required courses with approval of the advisor and committee.
1. All of the following courses (13 credits):
CHE 802 Research Methods 1
MSE 851 Thermodynamics of Solids 3
MSE 855 Advanced Rate Theory and Diffusion 3
MSE 860 Advanced Theory of Solids 3
MSE 870 Electron Microscopy in Materials Science 3
Or
MSE 881 Advanced Spectroscopy and Diffraction Analysis of Materials 3
2. Complete 5 credits of CHE 992 Seminar.
3. Complete one mathematics or statistics course at the 400-level or above. 3
4. Pass a qualifying examination consisting of a written component and an oral component.
5. Pass a comprehensive examination in the form of a research proposal defense containing a written proposal and an oral defense.
6. Complete a minimum of 24 credits of MSE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, with no more than 36 credits.
7. Successfully defend the dissertation and present the results of the research in a public seminar during the final oral examination.
 


Foundations in Chemical Engineering - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Foundations in Chemical Engineering provides a broad base of the key concepts relevant to chemical and biochemical process industries, including  thermodynamics; reactor design; fluid flow; heat transfer; separations; and process control, economics, and design. The certificate is appropriate for graduates from other programs who seek to pursue graduate work in chemical engineering and for practitioners trained in other fields who seek to understand and apply chemical-engineering principles. The certificate is available only online.
 
Admission
 
Students are generally expected, but not required, to have bachelor’s-level or significant training in a math, science or engineering field. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science to determine if their background is a good fit for the certificate.
 
Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Foundations in Chemical Engineering

Complete all of the following courses with a minimum grade of 3.0 in each course:  

CHE 804 Foundations of Chemical Engineering I 3
CHE 805 Foundations of Chemical Engineering II 3
CHE 806 Foundations of Chemical Engineering III 3