Chemical Engineering, M.S.E.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the thesis-based M.S.E. program should be able to:

• Demonstrate a more advanced understanding in chemical engineering fundamentals compared to the B.S. degree holders;
• Display the ability to conduct research in a field of specialization within chemical engineering and effectively communicate their findings orally and in writing to a technically literate audience; and
• Illustrate ethical awareness of responsible conduct of research.

Program Goals

The objective of the master’s programs is to prepare the student for professional work in chemical engineering at a more advanced level than the bachelor’s degree or for further study leading to the Ph.D. degree. 

Admission

Study at the master’s level includes a range of fundamental courses in chemical engineering and allied areas and independent study or research in an area of specialization.

Requirements for admission to the Graduate School, including English proficiency, may be found in the Admission  section of this Bulletin. In addition, applicants to the graduate program in chemical engineering must meet the following requirements:

• A B.S. degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field;
• A 3.0 minimum overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale in an ABET-accredited chemical engineering program; and
• Meet the specific requirements of the discipline.

Successful master’s program applicants typically have GRE subscores greater than 150 for verbal reasoning and 151 for quantitative reasoning.

Applicants should designate their major fields of research interest in the application. Admission may be denied to maintain the desired balance of students in various interest fields.

Applicants are selected for admission on or about February 1 and October 1.

General Requirements

Initial advisement of all Master’s program students is done by the Graduate Program Advisor. All courses taken for graduate credit in these programs shall be selected from those listed in this Bulletin, subject to the approval of the advisor. Independent study must be approved by the Graduate Program Advisor.

Students may be asked to take a number of remedial courses at the undergraduate level to make up for deficiencies in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and/or engineering. The student’s advisor will select elective courses to strengthen the student in areas not stressed at the undergraduate level.

A 3.0 grade point average is the minimum required for the master’s degree programs. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall grade point average and at least a 3.0 average in their major field of study.

Not more than six hours of coursework with a grade of C can be applied toward a master’s degree.

Curriculum Requirements

Thesis-option students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours of coursework.

By the end of the first semester after enrollment, thesis-option students must select a general research area and a research advisor for the thesis. After consulting with the student, the advisor recommends, for the Dean of the Graduate School’s approval, an advisory committee consisting of the advisor and at least two other graduate faculty members. At least one member of this committee must be from outside the major discipline and may be a qualified expert in the research area from outside the University. At least half the total committee must be full-time chemical engineering graduate faculty members at The University of Tulsa. Upon completion of the research, the student must pass a comprehensive oral examination. The student’s advisory committee conducts this examination, which covers the student’s entire graduate program, with emphasis on the research work and content of the thesis. This examination will occur in a forum open to any students or faculty who wish to attend.

Total: 30 hours

Graduate Seminar Requirement

All graduate chemical engineering students must also enroll in ES 7010  each semester of full-time enrollment, in addition to any other courses chosen with the graduate program advisor.