4 - Specific Information for M.S. Students

Two types of M.S. degrees are available. The traditional M.S. degree requires a modest amount of significant original research by the student. Generally this will be sufficiently original and meaningful that a peer-reviewed publication will result from the work. The requirements for this type of program are outlined below.

Occasionally, an M.S. student will work on a graduate project that requires a significant amount of engineering design or application of existing knowledge to solve a significant problem. This project is important to an industry or other organization, but may not be suitable for peer-reviewed publication. The preparation for this type of project is somewhat different, and requirements are listed below. An M.S. project is not a quick or easy path to an M.S. degree. An M.S. project degree requires a minimum of 34 credit hours whereas a M.S. thesis degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours.

4.1- Degree Requirements

1. Credit Hours
   A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate work beyond the B.S. degree are required. This includes at least 24 credit hours of graduate course work and at least 6 thesis or project credit hours.
2. Courses
   
   1. Core courses (11 hrs) (for all M.S. students)
      ChEn 531 - (3 hrs) Thermodynamics
      ChEn 533 - (3 hrs) Transport Properties
      ChEn 535 - (3 hrs) Kinetics
      ChEn 601 - (2 hrs) Directed Graduate Studies
   2. Other Required Courses
      

      Research Emphasis	Design Emphasis
      (None)	8 hrs. (any additional count towards electives)
      	Stat 431 (3) (if not taken as undergrad)
      	At least one of the following:
      	ChEn 510 – Reservoir Engineering
      	ChEn 528 – Industrial Catalysis
      	ChEn 534 - Advanced Separations
      	ChEn 641 – Combustion Modeling
      	ChEn 674 – Advanced Thermodynamics

   3. Elective Courses
      

      12hrs	8hrs
      	List of optional classes:
      	ChEn 541 - Num. Methods for ChEn
      	ChEn 693R - Special Projects
      	MeEn 431 - Design of Control Systems
      	MeEn 575 - Optimization
      	MeEn 522 - Combustion
      	Mfg 532 - Manufacturing Systems
      	Other classes as approved

   4. Seminar
      

      ChEn 691R (1 hr) Graduate Seminar

      ChEn 691R (1 hr)

   5. Thesis
      

      ChEn 699R (6 hrs) Thesis

      ChEn 698R (6 hrs) Project

   6. English-as-a-second language
      Competency in writing, as determined by the advisory board and or graduate committee is required. Normally TESL 404 is the minimum requirement, but ESL exams, taken upon arrival at the University, may suggest other requirements.
3. Undergraduate Courses
   If process control, plant design, separations and kinetics were not taken as an undergraduate these courses must be taken. Up to 9 hrs of these courses may be applied toward the 30 total required credit hours. No more than 9 hrs of any course numbered 300-499 may apply toward the 30 required hours. No 100-299 level courses may be counted toward the 30 required hours.
4. Teaching Assistant
   Each student must serve the equivalent of 10 hrs/week for 1 semester as a teaching assistant.
5. Minor
   If you desire, you may declare a minor based on 9 hrs of coherently related courses. To do so, you must select a graduate faculty member to serve on your advisory committee who will write and/or administer an oral or written comprehensive examination in the minor area. A minor may even be from another department if approval is first obtained from the chemical engineering graduate coordinator and the other department's chair. No more than 3 hrs of 300-499 level course work may be used in this declared minor.
6. Residence
   Each student must study on campus for at least two full-time semesters.
7. Comprehensive Examinations
   M.S. students (both Research Emphasis and Design Emphasis) must receive a minimum composite evaluation of "pass" on the comprehensive exam.
8. Time Limit
   We anticipate that a regularly matriculated student can complete and M.S. degree in 2 calendar years. With diligent work and wise use of time, this goal is regularly achieved. The student and advisor should plan and work together to complete the M.S. degree in less than 2 years. All students must complete the M.S. degree within 5 years of the first semester of enrollment. Department financial aid will not be given to students after 3 years from the time of enrollment.

4.2 - Advisory Committee

The candidate, in consultation with the advisor, will invite at least one faculty to serve on the committee. The graduate committee will then assign an additional ChE faculty member to serve on the committee. (See Section 2.7)

4.3 - Prospectus

The M.S. prospectus is a short written document for both Research and Design Emphasis. It should not be verbose, but must adequately address the issues stated in Section 2.14. This is a written document of no more than 15 pages, excluding front matter (title page, content, etc.), references and appendices. The format must be double spaced with margins no less than 2 cm and font no smaller than 11 pt. Appendices are not required for the students to write nor required for the committee to read. The prospectus must be approved by the advisory committee. Signatures of all advisory committee members and the graduate coordinator constitute acceptance of this document. A complete draft of the prospectus must be submitted to the advisor prior to completion of the ChEn 601 class. The prospectus must be completed and approved within 3 months of completing the ChEn 601 class.

4.4 - M.S. Thesis Guidelines

Guidelines for the M.S. thesis are 60 to 80 pages, excluding appendices. A theses of 100 pages or longer will be returned to the student. The appendix should be used to archive extensive data, tables, computer code, etc.

4.5 - M.S. Design Emphasis

A project report must be submitted and successfully defended before the examining committee. The same level of rigor and critique will be applied in a project defense as in a thesis defense. The length of the project report may be much shorter than an M.S. thesis (30 to 40 pages), but will still describe quality work in a professional manner.

4.6 - Graduation Evaluation

The decision to confer an M.S. degree is based on the overall performance of the student in the following areas:

1. Study-list courses
2. Comprehensive exam
3. Annual evaluation(s)
4. Prospectus
5. Thesis/project
6. Oral examination

Obviously, the latter two categories are more heavily weighted, but performance in the other areas will be a factor in the case of borderline decisions.

4.7. – Publications

An important aspect of the educational experience is to generate and then disseminate new knowledge. In addition to writing and defending a thesis, quality research and new knowledge must be transferred to the scientific community. An M.S. student doing a traditional degree is expected to produce at least one peer-reviewed article in an archival journal, based on the thesis research. It is best for the student to write and submit the paper(s) before leaving campus.