RESEARCH-BASED M.S. & Ph.D PROGRAMS

—MASTER OF SCIENCE—

The major focus of this program is advanced engineering fundamentals and, for full-time students, research. Recipients of the Master of Science (M.S.) degree are broadly qualified for employment in industry or continued studies towards the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

M.S. WITH THESIS

Eighteen semester hours of coursework are needed for completion of the M.S. degree, 12 of which are the four required courses indicated below. In addition, a research project and masters thesis must be completed, providing an additional 12 credit hours.

The thesis must be presented and satisfactorily defended in a public oral examination. Candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical engineering can complete all requirements in 12 to 18 months. Students with degrees in related fields, such as chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering, or material science, may need 9 to 18 hours of preparatory coursework.

PART-TIME M.S.

The M.S. degree may also be obtained through coursework only. This is a part-time program, intended for students with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering who are working in the industry. Thirty semester hours of coursework are required, consisting of the four required courses indicated plus six elective courses. The part time M.S. program has the entrance requirements as listed, although in the absence of GRE scores conditional admission can be granted on the basis of undergraduate GPA and recommendation letters (The student must then take the GRE at the next available opportunity).

—DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY—

In addition to continued study of a broad range of engineering fundamentals, candidates for the doctoral degree enjoy intensive exposure to a specific field of engineering research. Individual research is the major focal point for these students, who are expected to expand the frontiers of knowledge in their area of endeavor. Moreover, candidates learn and experience the general philosophy, methods, and concepts of research and scholarly inquiry, so that they may contribute after graduation
to substantive issues completely unrelated to their doctoral research. Acceptance into the full-time Ph.D. program is generally accompanied by departmental financial support.

Ph.D. candidates must complete at least 36 semester hours of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree, or 21 semester hours beyond the master's degree. Of these, 18 semester hours must consist of the six required courses specified, whereas the rest are elective courses in chemical engineering or related fields. Electives from other departments are approved on a case-by-case basis. A research project and doctoral dissertation must be completed, providing at least 36 additional credit hours towards the doctoral degree. The dissertation is presented and defended in a public oral examination and should contain a significant new contribution to knowledge in chemical engineering.

—ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS—

A student must pass the doctoral qualifying examination to be formally accepted as a doctoral candidate. The exam is usually offered just after the spring semester. To be eligible to take the qualifying examination, a student must have completed the six required Ph.D. courses indicated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0. There is no foreign language requirement.

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0, a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) minimum score (verbal + quantitative) of 1200, and three letters of recommendation are generally required to be considered for admission into the masters or doctoral program. An application package can be obtained by contacting us at the address indicated.

—GRADUATE COURSES—

A distinctive and significant feature of the graduate program in chemical engineering at the University of Houston is the regular availability of a large number of graduate courses.

As can be seen from the list below, these courses span a wide spectrum of subjects in chemical engineering fundamentals and in special topics. The department views these courses as an integral part of the graduate program as well as a necessary educational complement to students experiences in their research studies.

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