MSChE Catalog Information

About the MSChE degree...

The MSChE degree signifies that the student has learned the fundamental principles of chemical engineering and has completed a research project requiring both significant independent work under the supervision of a Thesis Advisor and production of an extended written description of that research. The MSChE provides students with advanced training in chemical engineering and prepares students to function in a professional research environment. Advanced chemical engineering coursework is supplemented with research training in the form of thesis research. The thesis research begins with the selection of a research topic and faculty mentor. The student and mentor jointly devise an experimental and/or theoretical plan of study to generate new knowledge in the topic area. This knowledge is summarized in a written form, the thesis. MSChE candidates are expected to complete the program in 18 to 24months.

Who might be interested in the MSChE degree?

The MSChE degree should attract students who want both advanced education and a research experience. MSChE students take core graduate courses and do original research under the supervision of a Thesis Advisor, the ultimate experience in engineering education. Graduate students and Thesis Advisors often form a bond that lasts a lifetime. The advantage of the MSChE is that this experience is gained in approximately two years instead of five years of additional time at school. The MSChE experience paves the way for entrance into industry or into graduate school.

Application and Admission

Applicants should follow the Online Application Procedures. Admission is based on overall academic performance, recommendation letters, and standardized test scores (GRE and TOEFL if applicable). Prospective students must have completed a regular four-year, undergraduate course in chemical engineering or a related discipline at a recognized university with better than a "B" average in chemical engineering courses and overall. The deadline for application will be February 1 for studies commencing in fall semesters, and October 15 for studies commencing in spring semesters. Late applications and applications for studies starting in spring semesters may be considered.

Requirements

The MSChE degree requires the completion of at least 72 units of coursework (at least 6 courses) and a total of 96 units (including thesis units) with a cumulative QPA of 3.0 or better. The courses include

(a) At least 4 core graduate-level courses (48 units minimum) in chemical engineering from among the list below:

06-702 Advanced Reaction Kinetics (12 units)
06-703 Advanced Fluid Dynamics (12 units)
06-704 Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer (12 units)
06-705 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (12 units)
06-713 Mathematical Techniques (12 units)
06-720 Advanced Process Systems Engineering (12 units)

(b) At least two advanced level courses (9 units minimum) in engineering (600-level or higher) or science (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Operations Research, or Statistics; 400-level or higher). This requirement may be substituted by a one-semester research project (06-600) that requires the submission of a report.

Examples: 06-606 Computational Methods for Large Scale Process Design and Analysis; 06-607 Physical Chemistry of Colloids and Surfaces; 06-609 Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules; 06-619 Semiconductor Processing Technology; 06-640 Principles and Applications of Molecular Simulation; 06-717 Fermentation Technology; 06-721 BioProcess Design; 03-620 Techniques in Electron Microscopy; 09-510 Introduction to Environmentally Benign Chemistry; 15-413 Software Engineering; 21-660 Introduction to Numerical Methods; 33-755 Quantum Mechanics I; 36-707 Regression Analysis; 47-834 Linear Programming

(c) Safety course (3 units): 06-608 Safety Issues in Science and Engineering Practice

(d) Masters-level thesis research (24 units minimum): 06-700 Masters Thesis

A sample curriculum is as follows:

Example: (96 units plus extra research units)

Fall: (48 units)
06-608 Safety Issues in Science and Engineering Practice (3)
06-703 Advanced Fluid Dynamics (12)
06-705 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (12)
06-713 Mathematical Techniques (12)
09-745 Polymer Rheology (12)

Spring: (48 units)
06-607 Physical Chemistry of Colloids and Surfaces (9)
06-702 Advanced Reaction Kinetics (12)
06-700 Masters Thesis (27)

Summer: no registration required

Fall/Spring: (48 units of research per semester until thesis is signed)

How much does it cost?

See Tuition and Fees for estimates of the current cost of study per semester at Carnegie Mellon. Students should plan on three to four academic semesters of study and one summer. Students derive financial support for the MSChE program either from their own resources, employer programs, foundations or governmental agency sources. The Department of Chemical Engineering does not offer fellowships to MSChE students.

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