Master of Science

Thirty-six semester hours are required for the M.S. degree. Degree requirements for both the thesis and project options for the M.S. degree are shown in the table on the following page. The thesis option involves more research, one elective course is added to the five required courses, and 12 hours of ChE 598 can be counted toward the degree (for a total of 36 hrs), and the thesis must be defended orally before a thesis defense committee. Under the project option, four hours of credit is given for ChE 597 (Project Research), an additional two elective courses are taken making three elective courses, and the student is required to give an oral presentation of the project report to a panel of three faculty members who will judge whether the work is sufficient for the degree.

Elective courses pertinent to a student’s research may be taken outside of the department or college, in consultation with the advisor and with the approval of the graduate committee via the course approval form. The course approval form should normally be completed during the second semester, but can be updated when necessary.

A timetable to assist the student in implementing the Master of Science Program is given on the next page.

M. S. Course Sequence (36 hrs)

Required Courses:

ChE 410 (Transport Phenomenon) 4 hrs

ChE 527 (Reaction Engineering) 4 hrs

ChE 431 or 445 (Advanced Mathematics) 4 hrs

ChE 501 or 502 (Advanced Thermodynamics) 4 hrs

ChE 510, 511 or 512 (Separation Processes) 4 hrs

subtotal: 20 hrs

Thesis Option Project Option

Elective course #1 4 hrs Elective course #1 4 hrs

Thesis Res. (ChE 598) 12 hrs Elective course #2 4 hrs

total: 36 hrs Elective course #3 4 hrs

Proj. Res. (ChE 597) 4 hrs

total: 36 hrs

Timetable

1. You must select a degree advisor not later than the sixth week of the first semester of your M.S. program. An advisor selection form is shown in Appendix 1. This and most other forms can be obtained from the Graduate Secretary in the main office, room 216 CEB.

2. In consultation with your advisor, you will complete the course approval form and, with your advisor's signature, submit this form through the DGS to the Graduate Committee for approval not later than the sixth week of the second semester of M.S. candidacy. A copy of the course approval form is given in Appendix 2.

3. Each M.S. student's permanent advisor will recommend a Thesis Committee to the Department Head, nine weeks before the examination date. The Committee consists of at least three members, two of whom must have permanent membership on the Graduate Faculty. One member of the Committee may be from outside the Department or even from outside the University. Approval of the thesis by all but one member of the Committee is required. Any delay in the submission of forms may result in delay in the award of the degree.

4. For thesis M.S. candidates, the defense of the thesis must be conducted in accordance with the limits set by the Graduate College. For project M.S. candidates, approval of the project report by the three-faculty panel must be obtained not later than the thirteenth week of the semester in which the student is seeking credit in ChE 597. The student’s M.S. Thesis should be submitted to the Thesis Committee at least two weeks prior of their defense.

5. A typed bound copy of the thesis or ChE 597 project report must be filed with the Graduate Committee, in addition to the copies required by the Graduate College. Check with the graduate secretary for detailed requirements.

Project vs. Thesis Master’s

If you are working for the M.S. degree and choose the research project option, you’ll enroll in ChE 597 for a maximum of 4 semester hours. No more than 4 semester hours will be credited in ChE 597 for the Master's project. A typed copy of the ChE 597 project, approved by the three-faculty panel, must be filed for the Departmental Library by the thirteenth week of the semester in which you are seeking credit.

If you are working for the M.S. degree and choose the thesis option, you will enroll in ChE 598 for at least 4 hours per semester. No more than 12 semester hours will be credited in ChE 598 for the Master's thesis. A copy of the approved thesis must again be filed with the Department.