Graduate Student Program

Students beginning graduate study normally have a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. A limited number of outstanding students with degrees in biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and other branches of science and engineering are considered for admission each year. Background undergraduate courses can be made up in one to two years.

Candidates for MS and PhD degrees select a research topic by the end of their first semester. The typical residency for a master's degree is four semesters; a PhD usually requires five years. The detailed requirements for the graduate program can be found in the graduate catalog.

Thesis Degrees

Two different thesis degrees are offered in our graduate program, the Doctor of Philosophy and the Master of Science. In the Doctor of Philosophy program, students entering with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering normally take a set of five core courses, plus two advanced chemical engineering courses. The student is also free to take additional elective courses from any department in the university. A PhD student must complete a combined total of 72 credit hours in research and course work. A key course for PhD candidates is CHE 798, in which the student independently develops an original written chemical engineering research proposition and defends it orally before a faculty committee. Successful completion of this course, typically in the spring semester of the first year, qualifies the student to continue for the PhD. The next step for doctoral students is to begin research work and prepare a thesis proposal. This proposal is presented in written and oral forms to their committee during the fall of their third year. After passing the preliminary oral examination, the remaining hurdle to the PhD is the final oral examination (thesis defense). Students seeking the doctoral degree are not required to complete a master's thesis. The MS thesis degree program consists of 24 semester hours of course work, including some courses outside of chemical engineering, and 6 hours of thesis research. First-year graduate students in either program usually serve as teaching assistants during their first two semesters of study and are then supported as research assistants. Several supplemental fellowships are also awarded based on the student's qualifications and performance.

Course Work Only (Non-Thesis) Degrees

Two similar non-thesis degrees are offered: the Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE) and the Master of Science (MS non-thesis). The MChE degree entails 30 semester hours of course work, including a required three-credit project. The MS non-thesis degree also requires 30 semester hours of course work, which may include an independent project as desired. Students participating in these programs are normally ineligible for departmental financial assistance. Admission to the MS program requires a minimum 3.3 GPA in core undergraduate chemical engineering courses.

Financial Support

Graduate research and teaching assistantships are available to support work in a number of research areas and for aid in the departmental instructional program. First-year graduate students typically serve as teaching assistants during their first two semesters of study and are then supported as research assistants. Several supplemental fellowships are also awarded based on the student's qualifications and performance. To determine if you are elligible for admission and a fellowship, fill out this form.

Application for Admission

If you would like an application mailed to you, please take a second to fill out an application request and one will be sent to you.

Also, look at the list of current graduate students and recent graduates