Full-time M.S. programs in chemical engineering normally require the completion of 18 months of study beyond the B.S. degree. Part-time M.S. programs for industrial students are available. Students with undergraduate degrees in scientific disciplines other than chemical engineering may complete an M.S. degree in chemical engineering with an additional academic year of undergraduate preparation. The M.S. requires 30 units of which 6 units may be thesis research. Only 6 units of acceptable work may be transferred for credit in the master's program.
Doctoral programs emphasize creative research leading to a dissertation.
The results of the research are expected to be original and publishable in the scholarly journals of the profession. Admission to the doctoral program is based on a decision made by the faculty as a whole. Consideration is given to grades achieved over the first semester with emphasis on core courses, to an oral presentation and exam on a literature paper, as well as to the results of a written examination based on undergraduate chemical engineering subjects. Admission to candidacy for the doctorate is based on the preparation and oral defense of a doctoral research proposal before a faculty committee. Individual course programs are planned to coincide with each student's area of specialization.