MS in Chemical Engineering
Master's Program
The master’s curriculum is designed to provide fundamental knowledge in the chemical engineering core areas, while research opportunities are available in advanced materials, catalysis and electrocatalysis, batteries, biological and medical systems, computational fluid dynamics, functional interfaces, optical materials and theory, simulations and artificial intelligence through faculty-run research groups.
Chemical engineering master’s students can choose between two options:
- Plan A thesis option
- Plan B coursework option
Both options require the completion of 30 graduate credit hours; 16 of these credit hours are associated with the core curricula listed below. All master’s students are also required to serve as a teaching assistant in a chemical engineering course over one semester. Complete details of program-specific requirements can be found in the Chemical Engineering Graduate Handbook.
Plan A—Thesis Option
This option requires at least 18 credit hours of graduate level (400-level) coursework and 6 – 12 credit hours of research.Students who choose this option must also satisfactorily complete and defend their master’s thesis. Most students complete the Plan A program in two years.
Plan B—Coursework Option
In this option, most if not all credit hours come from coursework. Optionally, up to six credit hours can be from research.Students who choose this option do not prepare a thesis but are required to pass an oral exit exam. Students can complete the Plan B program in one year.
Concentrations
MS students also have the option to select a coursework concentration for technical specialization within chemical engineering. The concentrations are:
- Bioengineering
- Computational modeling and machine learning
- Sustainability and environment
The core coursework requirements (16 credit hours) are specific to each concentration. These concentrations are optional and will be indicated on a student’s transcript and diploma.
Core Coursework Requirements (16 credit hours)
Traditional Chemical Engineering (no concentration selected)
- CHE 400: Applied Boundary Value Problems (Fall)
- CHE 441: Advanced Transport Phenomena (Fall)
- CHE 461: Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design (Spring)
- CHE 485: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Spring)
Bioengineering
- CHE 4XX: Systems and Synthetic Biology (Fall)
- CHE 4XX: Biochemical Engineering (Fall)
- CHE 461: Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design (Spring)
- CHE 485: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Spring)
Computational Modeling and Machine Learning
- CHE 4XX: Intro to Computational Modeling and Machine Learning (Spring)
- CHE 4XX: Atomistic Modeling of Interfaces (Fall)
- CHE 461: Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design (Spring)
- CHE 485: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Spring)
Sustainability and the Environment
- CHE 458: Electrochem Batt and Fuel Cells (Fall) or CHE 456: Electrochemical Engr. Fund App (Spring)
and - CHE 441: Advanced Transport Phenomena (Fall)
- CHE 461: Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design (Spring)
- CHE 485: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Spring)
Advisors
Academic advisors are assigned to first year master’s students by the Graduate Studies Committee. If a student selects theresearch-based Plan A program, their research advisor becomes the academic advisor. Students in the Plan A program should affiliate with a research advisor by the end of their first fall semester.
How to Apply
For information about applying for admission and for financial aid please visit the applying page. Students should hold a BS in chemical engineering or closely related field. Applicants can be eligible for a partial tuition waiver through the Dean’s Office.