Core curriculum

The core curriculum for both degrees is made up of four courses and accounts for 48 units of the degree. The core courses are offered each year with focus on technical depth and software aptitude:

  • 06-623 Mathematical Modeling of Chemical Engineering Processes
  • 06-625 Chemical & Reactive Systems
  • 06-663 Analysis & Modeling of Transport Phenomena
  • 06-665 Process Systems Modeling

Master of Science: additional requirements

The MS degree requires 72 units of coursework and 72 units of research (144 units total). The following requirements are in addition to the core curriculum:

  • 1 graduate ChemE elective plus a graduate OR technical course (9 or more units)
  • Graduate electives
  • 39-699 CPDC Engineering Masters (3 units but does not count towards total minimum required units)
  • 72 units of research and final research project

The research project is designed to orient students to a number of research topics in chemical engineering. Students begin work on their independent project in their second semester, in parallel with their coursework, and continue full-time for the next two semesters. Ultimately, students will:

  • Specialize in an area of modern chemical engineering
  • Complete an independent project with technical depth

Master of Chemical Engineering: additional requirements

The MChE degree requires a minimum total of 96 units. It is curriculum-based and completed in two semesters. The following requirements are in addition to the core curriculum:

  • Graduate ChemE elective OR outside technical elective (9 or 12 unit course)
  • Minimum of 3 breadth/depth/skill electives (minimum of 36 units)
  • 39-699 CPDC Engineering Masters (3 units but does not count towards total minimum required units)

Flexible electives

Students choose elective courses to fit their interests and career goals. Sampling the diverse course offerings at a world-class research institution is done with the advice of the faculty in Chemical Engineering. In their first semester, students can select from 48 units of courses from the College of Engineering, designed to provide a base from which to make informed course decisions and create an engineering-focused degree.