The Department of Chemical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to these degrees:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Master of Engineering (M.E.)*
- Master of Science (M.S.)**
*With the exception of an M.E. degree program offered using a distance-learning format, (VEO program), all graduate study in the Department requires full-time attendance.
**New Masters students are typically only admitted to the M.E. program. In cases where a Chemical Engineering faculty member is willing to serve as thesis advisor, it may be possible for M.E. students to transition to a thesis-based M.S. degree.
Doctor of Philosophy
The major elements of the doctoral program are:
- Research Examination and Admission to Doctoral Study
- Dissertation Proposal and Admission to Candidacy
- Teaching assistant experience
- Research
- Dissertation and Final Defense
It is expected that the Ph.D. program will be completed in five years beyond the B.S. degree or three years beyond the Master's degree.
Master of Engineering and Master of Science
The Master of Engineering (M.E) degree can be completed through coursework alone. Students will take five core graduate courses dealing with the fundamental aspects of chemical engineering. These courses comprise half (15 credits) of the minimum 30-credit requirement for the Master's degree. The M.E. requires three to five elective graduate courses, depending on whether a student enrolls in a research credit course (for a maximum of 6 credits).
In cases where a Chemical Engineering faculty member is willing to serve as thesis advisor, it may also be possible for M.E. students to transition to the thesis-based Master of Science (M.S.) degree. The Master of Science degree requires an independent research effort culminating in a written thesis that must be defended before an examining committee. The M.S. degree requires three elective graduate courses, in addition to the five core graduate courses.