The combination of a B.S. degree in ChBE with a more advanced M.S. degree in ChBE could increase the prospects of employment and career growth for students, regardless of their future goals.

For students who are planning to join medical school, the research they conduct towards an M.S. thesis could provide invaluable experience, especially if they are planning to take a year off before starting medical school.

For students who are interested in graduate school but are unsure as to whether they should do a Ph.D., the 1-year M.S. could provide an avenue to take stock of their career options.

 

The program is intended for students who are interested in conducting graduate-level research. Thus, it is imperative for students to complete and defend an M.S. thesis at the end of Year 5 (either at the end of the semester or in the summer).

If the thesis is not completed by the end of the summer after Year 5, the student can stay an extra semester (or two) and finish the thesis. However, it is not in the interest of the student to delay this process.

It is expected that the student would focus on research over at least one summer (preferably between Years 4 and 5).

Students can withdraw from the program before or during Year 5. If so, they will still receive the B.S. degree in ChBE.

To receive the M.S. degree in ChBE, students have to fulfil the requirements with respect to both coursework and research (i.e., complete a thesis).

We do not offer an M.S. degree based only on coursework. The Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree in ChBE is administered by the Office of Advanced Engineering Education (OAEE). Note that this degree requires a full 30 credits of coursework over and above the B.S. (no double counting), and typically requires a full 2 years to complete. For more information about earning an M.Eng. in ChBE, visit the OAEE web site.

Yes, a student can apply to the Ph.D. program in ChBE while they are in the combined B.S./M.S. program. Application guidelines for the Ph.D. program will apply in this case; specifically, the student will have to take the GRE general test. Application to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive. It should be noted that all Ph.D. students in ChBE are supported with a full stipend by their advisors. Learn more about ChBE's Ph.D. program

Yes, students in the program can receive a stipend at the discretion of their advisor and subject to the availability of funds in the advisor’s lab. This will be the case especially in Year 5, when the student will be treated on par with regular M.S. students in ChBE (some of the current M.S. students receive a full or partial stipend from their advisors).

Ideally, the student’s research can be maximized if the coursework is reduced during a semester. Thus, Sample Program II allows the student to complete many of the required graduate courses by the end of Year 4, allowing the student to devote more of Year 5 to research. Sample Program I, on the other hand, balances coursework and research over the two years.


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