Graduate students
M.S. and Ph.D. program details
The
chemical and life science engineering tracks are designed primarily for students
who are interested in applying biological, chemical, medical and engineering principles
toward important contemporary topics. Current research areas in chemical and life
science engineering include stem cell and stem cell-derived tissue engineering,
cellular engineering and signal pathway analysis, biological systems engineering,
bioinformatics and biocomputing, genetics and protein molecular engineering, small
molecule and cellular-based therapeutics, reaction engineering and molecular transport,
advanced polymeric materials, and processing methods (including medically related
polymers, supercritical solvent-processing methods and surface science).
|
Concentration component – CLSE
course work
|
12
|
|
Track electives – engineering or
science course work
|
12
|
|
Directed research – CLSE 697
|
6
|
|
Total (minimum)
|
30
|
Curriculum
There are three
components of each M.S. in Engineering track:
Concentration
(track-specific) component. This component allows the student to pursue a series of courses
that focus on a specific field of engineering and serve as the student’s primary
engineering discipline.
Track electives
component.
This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science
with approval of the student’s adviser.
Directed
research component. This component emphasizes research directed toward completion
of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
The track can be
tailored to meet the individual student’s academic goals and research interests.
Students seeking to take course work and conduct their research in the chemical
and life science engineering track should contact the graduate program coordinator
or department chair of Chemical and Life Science Engineering for detailed information
about that track.
Degree requirements
Students seeking
the M.S. degree are required to take a minimum of 30 semester credits of approved
graduate courses (including research). Each student must complete 12 semester credits
in concentration course work, 12 semester credits in track electives course work
and six semester credits in thesis research. The student’s adviser must review and
approve all course work and thesis research credits. The total of all credits must
be at least 30. No elective courses may be used for both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
At least half of the credits required in the student’s program must be those designated
as exclusively for graduate students, that is those at the 600 level or above.
Each student must
conduct an original investigation under the supervision of the permanent adviser
and prepare a thesis reporting the results of this research and analyzing its significance
in relation to existing scientific knowledge. This study is reported in a thesis
prepared in acceptable form and style. Upon approval of the thesis by the adviser,
the student submits a copy to each member of the advisory committee. The student’s
advisory committee members examine the thesis and decide upon its acceptability.
Each committee member reports to the student’s adviser when the thesis is acceptable
for defense. The thesis is approved for defense only if accepted unanimously. Upon
approval of the thesis, the student appears for a final oral examination administered
by the student’s advisory committee. This examination of an M.S. candidate includes
the subject matter of course work as well as the thesis.
Admission requirements
In addition to the
general requirements for admission to graduate programs in the Graduate School and
the School of Engineering, applicants to the chemical and life science engineering
track must have a B.S. degree in chemical and life science engineering or a closely
related discipline.
Registration
Students may begin
a course of study in either the fall or spring semesters for the engineering programs,
although a start in the fall semester is preferred.
|
Concentration component – CLSE
course work
|
15
|
|
Track electives – engineering or
science course work
|
15
|
|
Total (minimum)
|
30
|
Curriculum
There are two components
of non-thesis M.S. in Engineering track:
Concentration
(track-specific) component. This component allows the student to pursue a series of
courses that focus on a specific field of engineering and serve as the student’s
primary engineering discipline.
Track electives
component.
This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science
with approval of the student’s adviser.
The track can be
tailored to meet the individual student’s academic goals and research interests.
Students seeking to take course work and conduct their research in the chemical
and life science engineering track should contact the graduate program coordinator
or department chair of Chemical and Life Science Engineering for detailed information
about that track.
Degree requirements
Students seeking
the non-thesis M.S. degree are required to take a minimum of 30 semester credits
of approved graduate courses. Each student must complete 15 semester credits in
concentration course work and 15 semester credits in track electives course work.
Each non-thesis
student must have a plan of study by the end of the first semester or prior to completing
nine credits. This plan of study (and all revisions) must be approved by the student’s
adviser and the assistant dean for graduate affairs of the
Admission requirements
In addition to the
general requirements for admission to graduate programs in the Graduate School and
the School of Engineering, applicants to the chemical and life science engineering
track must have a B.S. degree in chemical and life science engineering or a closely
related discipline.
Registration
Students may begin
a course of study in either the fall or spring semesters for the engineering programs,
although a start in the fall semester is preferred.
Admission requirements summary
|
Chemical and life science engineering
track |
|||
|
Degree: |
Semester(s) |
Deadline
|
Test |
Typical program of study – M.S. to Ph.D.
in Engineering
|
|
credits
|
|
Concentration component – CLSE
course work
|
6
|
|
Track electives – engineering or
science course work
|
3
|
|
Directed research – CLSE 697
|
21
|
|
Total (minimum)
|
30
|
Students entering
the doctoral program with a B.S. degree, but not the M.S., will require a minimum
of 60 post-baccalaureate credits (30 for M.S. level and an additional 30 for Ph.D.
level).
Typical program of study - B.S. to Ph.D.
in Engineering
|
|
credits
|
|
Concentration component – CLSE
course work
|
18
|
|
Track electives – engineering or
science course work
|
15
|
|
Directed research – CLSE 697
|
27
|
|
Total (minimum)
|
60
|
A minimum of three
years of study, including research, is necessary to complete all requirements for
the Ph.D. A period of residence of at least three consecutive semesters is required.
Residency is defined as registration for at least nine credits per semester. A time
limit of seven calendar years, beginning at the time of first registration, is placed
on work to be credited toward the Ph.D.
Curriculum
There are three
components of each Ph.D. in Engineering track.
Concentration
(track-specific) component. This component allows the student to pursue a series of courses
that focus on a specific field of engineering and serve as the student’s primary
engineering discipline.
Track electives
component.
This component allows the student to take courses in either engineering or science
with approval of the student’s adviser.
Directed
research component. This component emphasizes research directed toward completion
of degree requirements under the direction of an adviser and advisory committee.
Degree requirements
A minimum of 60
credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including research credits, is generally
required for the Ph.D. in Engineering. Students holding the master’s degree must
complete a minimum of six semester credits in concentration course work, three credits
in track elective course work and 21 semester credits in dissertation research.
The student’s adviser must approve all course work. Ph.D. students must take a minimum
of 30 semester credits (including research) beyond the master’s degree. No elective
courses may be used for both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. At least half of the credits
required in the student’s program must be those designated as exclusively for graduate
students, that is those at the 600 level or above.
Admission requirements
In addition to the
general requirements for admission to graduate programs in the Graduate School and
the School of Engineering, applicants to the chemical and life science engineering
track must have a B.S. degree in chemical and life science engineering or a closely
related discipline.
Acceptance of an
applicant is based upon the recommendation of the Admissions Committee with approval
of the program chair and the assistant dean for graduate affairs.
Registration
Students may begin
a course of study in either the fall or spring semesters for the engineering graduate
programs, although a start in the fall semester is preferred.
Comprehensive examinations
In order to advance
to doctoral candidacy, the student must pass both written and oral comprehensive
examinations. The written examination(s) focuses on the subject matter deemed critical
as a foundation in the program. The examination(s) is largely based on material
covered in required course work and its application to theoretical and practical
problems. The oral examination, which follows successful completion of the written
examination(s), is administered to assess the ability of the student to integrate
information and display an appropriate mastery of problem-solving capabilities.
Graduate students may not take the comprehensive exam if their overall GPA is less
than 3.0. Students must also have a GPA of at least 3.0 for courses within the program
in order to take the comprehensive exam. For further details, see the graduate program
director or the program chair.
Admission to candidacy
Before admission
to candidacy for the doctorate, students must have: (1) completed required course
work, (2) successfully completed the comprehensive examinations and (3) fulfilled
all additional departmental requirements. A student may seek admission to candidacy
for the Doctor of Philosophy degree without first completing the research and thesis
portion of the Master of Science degree.
Dissertation research
The student must
conduct a substantial original investigation under the supervision of the permanent
adviser and prepare a dissertation reporting the results of this research and analyzing
its significance in relation to existing scientific knowledge.
When the dissertation
has been completed, copies in accepted form and style are submitted to the members
of the advisory committee. The committee members decide upon the acceptability of
the candidate’s dissertation. A favorable unanimous vote is required to approve
the dissertation and all examiners are required to vote.
If the advisory
committee accepts the dissertation for defense, the candidate appears before them
for a final oral examination. This examination is open to all members of the faculty.
The final oral examination will be limited to the subject of the candidate’s dissertation
and related matters. A favorable vote of the candidate’s advisory committee and
no more than one negative vote shall be required for passing the final oral examination.
All committee members must vote. There shall be an announcement of the candidate’s
name, department and title of dissertation, together with the day, place and hour
of the final oral examination at least 10 working days in advance.