Chemical Engineering

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Dr. Kirk Schulz, Dean

Dr. Roger L. King, Associate Dean for Research ad Graduate Studies

    Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Clifford E. George,  Interim Department Head and Graduate Coordinator

330 Swalm Chemical Engineering Building 662-325-2480

email:  gradstudies@che.msstate.edu

Graduate study is offered in the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering leading to the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.  Two options are available which include the traditional chemical engineering program and a program in Industrial Hazardous Waste Management.  The School also cooperates in an interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering.  Graduate research assistantships are available.  To secure additional information, write to the Graduate Coordinator, Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, Box 9595, Mississippi State, MS  39762.

Admission Criteria:

M.S. in Chemical Engineering; Ph.D. in Engineering (Chemical Engineering concentration)—Admission criteria differ based on the graduate degree sought.  GRE scores are required and the total quantitative and analytical (Q&A) score is computed as follows:  Q + (A*100).  The verbal (V) stands alone.

Direct Admission to the Ph.D. program

Cumulative GPA of 3.20 on the last 64 hours of undergraduate coursework.

GRE:      Q&A > 1150, V > 500

Post M.S. - Ph.D. Program

Cumulative GPA of 3.00

GRE:  Q&A > 1100, V > 500

M.S. Program

Cumulative GPA of 3.00 on the last 64 hours of undergraduate coursework.

GRE:  Q&A > 1050, V > 400

International students must have a TOEFL score of 550 (213 on the computer-based test).

For those applicants not possessing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering or those coming from institutions that are not ABET-accredited, admission will be considered on a case by case basis.  If accepted, those students will be required to complete the required prerequisites and the Chemical Engineering undergraduate core curriculum:

·          Calculus sequence plus differential equations, general chemistry (two semesters), organic chemistry (two semesters), physical chemistry, calculus based physics (three semesters).

·          CHE 2114 Mass and Energy Balances, CHE 3113 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I, CHE 3123 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II, CHE 3203 Fluid Flow, CHE 3213 Heat Transfer Operations, CHE 3223 Mass Transfer Operations, and CHE 4113 Chemical Reactor Design.

Admission of a student to the non-thesis master’s degree requires faculty approval on an individualized basis.

M.S. Industrial Hazardous Waste Management—The applicant must have a B.S. in an engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program.  Admission criteria is as follows:

Cumulative GPA of 3.00

Q&A > 1050, V > 400

Program of Study—A minimum of 24 hours of coursework past the M.S. level and a minimum of 20 hours of research/dissertation are required for the Ph.D. in Engineering.  A student entering with an M.S. from another institution must demonstrate that he/she has satisfied the Chemical Engineering core; if not, all or a portion of the 12 hours of core course work may be required. 

A minimum of 24 hours of coursework, at least half of which must be at the 8xxx level, and six  hours of thesis/research are required for the M.S. degree.  Requirements for the M.S. in Chemical Engineering include:

·          CHE 8011 - Graduate Seminar

·          Chemical Engineering Core (12 hours)

o         CHE 8113 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (Fall)

o         CHE 8123 Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics (Spring)

o         CHE 8223 Advanced Process Computations (Fall)

o         CHE 8523 Advanced Transport Phenomena (Spring)

·          Mathematics/Statistics (minimum six hours at the 6xxx/8xxx level)

·          Technical Electives (minimum six hours at the 6xxx/8xxx level) - technical electives are chosen in conjunction with the research advisor.

Requirements for the M.S. in Industrial Hazardous Waste Management include 24 hours of course work, at least half of which must be at the 8xxx level.  Six hours of Thesis/Research are required.  The composition of the program of study is flexible, providing the student an opportunity to select courses in conjunction with the research advisor that allow his/her concentration in a particular area of waste management and/or chemical engineering.

A non-thesis engineering master’s degree requires a minimum of 33 hours, 15 hours of which must be at the 8xxx level.

Provisional Admission—Provisional admission is typically not available to students applying for graduate admission to the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

Academic Performance—The Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering is committed to maintaining high standards for the graduate programs offered by the school.  As a means to ensure satisfactory performance of all graduate students enrolled in the school, the guidelines for unsatisfactory performance are given:

·          Failure to maintain an overall B average (3.00) in graduate courses attempted after admission to the program

·          More than two grades of C in a graduate level course

·          A grade of D or F in a graduate level course

·          Failure of the qualifying exam

·          Unsatisfactory evaluation of a thesis or a dissertation

·          Failure to maintain an overall B average (3.00) in prerequisite undergraduate courses,

·          Official withdrawal from school due to academic difficulties.

All students are expected to adhere to these standards.  Failure to do so will result in the following actions by the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

·          A student who fails to maintain an overall B average in graduate courses after admission to the program will be given one semester to bring up her/his overall GPA in graduate level courses.  If the student currently holds an assistantship from the school, said assistantship may be terminated.  The student will be placed on probation for one  semester.  The graduate level courses taken during this probationary semester must be part of the graduate student's program of study and should constitute a full load.  Failure to attain an overall B average in graduate courses at the end of this probationary semester will result in dismissal from the graduate program.

·          A student who earns more than two grades below a B, D, or F in any graduate level course will be automatically dismissed from the graduate program of the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

·          A student who officially withdraws from school during the semester due to academic difficulties will be dismissed from the graduate program of the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

Appeals Process—A student who is dismissed on the basis of academic performance from a graduate program offered by the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering may appeal the decision.  The appeals procedure is:

·          A student may appeal his/her dismissal from the CHE graduate program by submitting a letter of appeal to the Appeals Committee.  This letter should contain a detailed explanation of the circumstances leading to his/her dismissal (identified as one of seven points listed in academic performance policy) and should explain any extenuating circumstances leading to failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

·          The Appeals Committee shall be composed of five members:

o         Director of the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering

o         Graduate Coordinator of Chemical Engineering

o         Major professor for the student

o         A professor from another department within the College of Engineering (asked to serve by the Director and/or Graduate Coordinator of Chemical Engineering)

o         Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the College of Engineering.

·          The Appeals Committee will review the provided documentation and reach a consensus decision on whether to uphold or overturn the dismissal.  Although the decision of the Appeals Committee is final, the student can appeal this decision through the University-level appeal process.

Prerequisite and Core Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.  A C or better is required in any prerequisite course with CHE as a designation.

CHE 6113     Chemical Reactor Design (CHE 3123, MA 3253). 3 hours

CHE 6134     Process Design (IE 3913, CHE 3123, CHE 3223).  4 hours

  CHE 6223     Process Instrumentation and Automatic Control (CHE 3213, MA 3253).  3 hours

CHE 6234     Plant Design (CHE 4113, CHE 4134). 4 hours

CHE 6423     Fundamentals of Industrial Corrosion (CHE 3413).  3 hours

CHE 6513     Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Processes (CHE 2114, consent of instructor).  3 hours

CHE 6613     Air Pollution Control Design: Theory and Practice (consent of instructor). 3 hours

CHE 6624     Experimental Methods in Materials Research (CHE 3413).  4 hours

  CHE 6673     Industrial Microbiology.  3 hours

CHE 6990     Special Topics in Chemical Engineering.  3 hours

CHE 7000     Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

CHE 8000     Research/Thesis.  6 hours

CHE 8011     Chemical Engineering Seminar. 1 hour

CHE 8113     Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (CHE 3123, CHE 4113). 3 hours

CHE 8123     Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics (consent of instructor).  3 hours

CHE 8223     Advanced Process Computations (CHE 3223).  3 hours

CHE 8233     Advanced Momentum, Heat, and Mass Transfer (CHE 3223). 3 hours

CHE 8243     Advanced Equilibrium Stage Operations (CHE 3223).  3 hours

CHE 8323     Corrosion of Metals.  3 hours

CHE 8523     Advanced Transport Phenomena. 3 hours  

                       CHE 8990     Special Topics in Chemical  Engineering.  3 hours

CHE 9000     Research/Dissertation. 20 hours

Completion Requirements— M.S. degree candidates who have the requirement of a thesis must successfully defend the thesis before a committee composed of  faculty members of the University.  A Ph.D. student must complete a qualifying exam during the summer semester following his/her first full academic year. The qualifying exam is composed of an intensive research experience culminating in a formal written research proposal and oral presentation for committee review.  The candidate must also successfully defend her/his dissertation before a committee composed of faculty members of the University.