Chemical Engineering, M.E.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Demonstrate a more advanced understanding fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, and reactor design compared to the B.S. degree holders.
• Display the ability to perform and communicate a one-semester project in a field of specialization within chemical engineering.
• 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. The non-thesis program in chemical engineering is particularly suited for non-chemical engineers, non-engineers, part-time students, and students not interested in research work.

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 Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering, an engineering discipline other than chemical engineering, or in one of the physical sciences;
• A 3.0 minimum overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study;
• Approval by the discipline graduate coordinator and Graduate Dean.

Successful non-thesis master’s program applicants typically have GRE subscores greater than 150 for verbal reasoning and 148 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.

Students enrolled in the program are not considered for departmental teaching assistantships and are not eligible for research assistantships.

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

Students in the non-thesis option must choose an advisor before the end of their first semester of residence. The advisor supervises the Master’s Project and determines the final acceptability of the project before the degree is conferred.

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.