Alumni of the graduate programs in chemical and biological engineering purse careers in industry or in the government sector.Academics / Graduate Study / Chemical & Biological Engineering (MS)Curriculum & Requirements
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- Thesis & Non-Thesis Options
- Departmental Coursework
- Departmental Electives
- Additional Electives
- Thesis-Option Students
- Additional Information
The number of courses you are required to take to earn the master of science in chemical and biological engineering depends on whether you will defend a thesis.
Thesis & COURSE BASED Options
The thesis option requirements include completing of a minimum of seven courses plus at least three units of research that result in the oral defense of a satisfactory thesis.
The course based option requires a minimum of 10 courses. Students who follow the course based option normally complete their studies in nine to 15 months. The distribution requirements for courses in chemical engineering are listed below.
Departmental Coursework
In order to fulfill The Graduate School and departmental requirements you must complete 10 courses according to the following specifications:
Core Courses
Three courses in the areas of transport processes and chemical process principles (kinetics and thermodynamics).
- CHEM ENG 421 Fluid Mechanics
- CHEM ENG 422 Heat and Mass Transfer
- CHEM ENG 408 Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design
- CHEM ENG 404 Advanced Thermodynamics
Departmental Electives
One elective must be taken within the chemical and biological engineering department if the thesis option is selected. Three electives must be taken within the department if the course based option is selected.
Additional Electives
Three additional graduate-level electives must be taken if the thesis option is selected. Four additional electives must be taken if the course based option is selected. These electives can be chosen from courses available in Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, another engineering department, or a science or math department. These courses must be 300, 400, or 500-level classes listed as graduate level courses by The Graduate School.
Thesis-Option Students
If following the thesis option, enroll in at least 3 credits of CHEM ENG 499 Independent Study.
Additional Information
For more information about the master of science in chemical and biological engineering, download the following PDF: