The master's program emphasizes the enhancement of professional knowledge and skills including research techniques. The doctorate is a research degree emphasizing more extensive and original approaches to problem solving. Students may work directly toward the doctorate, but some choose to earn a master's degree first. Incoming students are assigned a temporary advisor to help plan their programs until they select their major professor. The department encourages degree candidates to select major professors and begin research work as soon as possible after enrolling.
Graduate students work closely with their advisors.
A master's degree candidate must complete 24 credit hours of graduate-level courses, prepare a master's thesis or independent study project report, and pass an oral examination. The required course work is designed to complement each student's interests and background in chemical engineering. Thesis and independent study projects cover a broad range of experimental and theoretical research topics. Our special master's degree program for students without chemical engineering backgrounds requires 39 credits and covers core chemical engineering topics not taken as an undergraduate. The PhD is a research degree for exceptional students.