Application Process
Research and Advisors
Program Specifics
Contact Us

Q. How do I apply to the graduate program? A. Please visit the section of the website for Prospective Students.

Q. Do I have to pay the application fee? A. Yes, all students have to pay the application fee.  The application fee is not typically waived.

Q. If I applied last year and was not admitted, but would like to apply again, do I have to send in a new application? A. You need to fill out a new on line application and pay the application fee again.  However, you do not need to send new copies of the supporting documents if you confirm with us that we still have them on file.

Q. Can I be admitted to the department if I do not have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering? A. Yes, you certainly can.  We have students with BS degrees in other areas of engineering and BS degrees in the sciences, typically chemistry.  In some cases, it may be necessary to first take some undergraduate chemical engineering courses to be prepared for the core chemical engineering graduate courses.

Q. Do you admit international students? A. Yes, we certainly do.  While the large majority of the graduate students received their BS degrees from US institutions, we do admit a small pool of international students each year.

Q. How are research advisors assigned? A. Early in the fall, each faculty member who is offering projects gives a presentation.  Over the next four weeks or so, you talk in more detail with the faculty members with whom you have interest in working.  In November, you submit your top three project choices, in rank order.   The faculty then meet to match students’ and advisors’ preferences.

Q. Will I get my first choice for my research advisor? A. Typically, the matching process has gone very well, with the majority of the students receiving their top choice.  In some cases, a student’s second or third choice is awarded.  It is extremely rare that we are not able to satisfy one of the top three choices.   In this case, we work with the student to identify other available projects that are still in their area of interest.

Q. How long does it take to complete a PhD? A. The typical residency for a PhD student is five and a half years.

Q. How many courses do I need to take? A. PhD students are required to take 14 classes on the quarter system.  MS students take 9 or 12 courses, depending on whether they opt for the thesis or non-thesis option, respectively.

Q. Are there any qualifying exams? A. No, unlike many other schools, we do not have formal qualifying exams.  After the first year, PhD students wishing to be considered for continuation are evaluated based on their course record and their research performance to date.

Any additional questions may be directed to the Department (see Contact information).