The Ph.D. program emphasizes original and scholarly research in a variety of subject areas within chemical engineering. Throughout their tenure of study, students work on research which culminates in their preparation of a written thesis dissertation and, finally, an oral presentation to the faculty. Many students conduct interdisciplinary research with chemical engineering faculty through the University’s research centers of excellence.

Stipend

For the 2022/2023 academic year (9-months), Ph.D. students will enjoy stipends of $25,792.65 to $30,174.11, depending on experience, as well as full medical benefits offered at discounted rates. Additional 3-month summer appointments are typically subject to the continued availability of funds, departmental needs and satisfactory progress in the degree program.

Review our FAQs for answers to many of your questions about the Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, you can review our Chemical Engineering Program Graduate Handbook. View Handbook.

GPA Requirements

To qualify for acceptance to the Ph.D. program, a student should have no grades below B- in graduate work and a grade point average of 3.0 or better (A = 4.0). The M.S. degree is not a prerequisite for the Ph.D. program, and outstanding students with a B.S. degree in chemical engineering are encouraged to apply directly to the Ph.D. program. The doctoral program entails 3 core courses: CHEG 5301 (Thermo), CHEG 5315 (Transfer), and CHEG 5321 (Kinetics). Students are typically required to obtain at least 15 credits beyond the M.S. degree, excluding the language requirement. To proceed directly from a B.S. to the Ph.D. program, a student typically needs 20-24 credits of coursework, exclusive of the language requirement. The student must also complete 15 credits of GRAD 6950.

Coursework

Three exams are required for the Ph.D. degree. The first is the qualifying exam which is taken within the first two semesters. This exam consists of a written test followed by an oral presentation. The second, known as the general exam, requires the student to prepare a written Ph.D. these proposal and present it orally to a faculty committee. This exam is scheduled on an individual basis after coursework and language requirements have been completed. The final exam is an oral defense of the student’s completed research, following submission of the written thesis.

Students interested in pursuing their Ph.D. at UConn can learn more at the University’s Graduate Study – Admissions Requirements page. View Admissions Requirements.

There are two options are available for individuals seeking a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.

• The Plan A Thesis Option, usually pursued by full-time graduate students, emphasizes research.
• The Plan B Non-Thesis Option, usually pursued by part-time graduate students, emphasizes coursework.Scientist-to-engineer program for those who have in undergraduate degree in an area other than chemical engineering

The specific requirements for each plan are outlined below. All other rules and regulations for the master’s degree as documented in the Graduate Catalog also apply. Visit our FAQ page for answers to many of your questions. Additionally, you can review our Chemical Engineering Program Graduate Handbook. View Graduate Catalog. View Handbook.

Plan A: The Thesis Option

The 3 main requirements of this plan are as follows:

1. The student must successfully complete 5 graduate courses (15 credits), maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) or above. At least 3 of these courses must be Core Courses. The student must also complete 9 credits of Master’s Thesis Research (GRAD 5950).
2. The student must file a Plan of Study with the Graduate School. This plan must be approved by the students Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council. The student must prepare and orally defend a research thesis.
3. Each student shall select his/her own Advisory Committee. This committee must consist of 1 Major Advisor and 2 Associate Advisors. The Major Advisor must be a faculty member of the Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering. One of the Associate Advisors may be a faculty member of another department or he/she may be external to the University of Connecticut, working in academia, government or industry.

Requirement (1) may be modified if the student has passed equivalent courses in a different department at the University of Connecticut, or at a different university in a similar graduate program. Such decisions shall be made on a case-by-case basis by the student's Advisory Committee.

The majority of the student’s research project must be performed on campus under the supervision of the Major Advisor. Portions of the research may be performed at outside facilities as deemed necessary. A written thesis based on this research must be submitted to the students Advisory Committee at least two weeks before the defense date. The thesis defense shall be open to the public. Following the public presentation, the student shall be further examined by the Advisory Committee and any other faculty members present. The Advisory Committee shall then meet privately and make their decision to approve or disapprove the thesis. Approval must be unanimous. The thesis research must be publishable in a refereed journal in the field, although publication is not required for graduation.

Plan B: The Non-Thesis Option

The 3 main requirements of this plan are as follows:

1. The student must successfully complete no fewer than 30 credits of advanced coursework, maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) or above. At least 3 of these courses must be Core Courses.
2. The student must file a Plan of Study with the Graduate School. This plan must be approved by the students Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council.
3. The student must conduct a research project with one of our chemical engineering faculty members and pass an oral Comprehensive Examination based on this project. Each student shall select his/her own Advisory Committee. This committee must consist of 1 Major Advisor and 2 Associate Advisors. The Major Advisor must be a faculty member of the Department of Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering. One of the Associate Advisors may be a faculty member of another department or he/she may be external to the University of Connecticut, working in academia, government or industry. Requirement (1) may be modified if the student has passed equivalent courses in a different department at the University of Connecticut, or at a different university in a similar graduate program. Such decisions shall be made on a case-by-case basis by the student's Advisory Committee.

The required research project shall be conducted in close collaboration with the Major Advisor. The student must make a 15-20 minute oral presentation of the research results to the Advisory Committee, after which the Committee shall conduct a Comprehensive Examination. The presentation shall not be open to the public. The research need not be publishable in a refereed journal.

The Comprehensive Examination shall be a one-hour oral examination conducted by the student’s Advisory Committee. This examination shall focus primarily on the student’s research project, but it may also include questions pertaining to the students course work. The student must pass this examination by unanimous approval of the Advisory Committee.

This current MENG concentration is not eligible for UConn visa sponsorship. Please contact ISSS for more information regarding programs that allow UConn visa sponsorship at international@uconn.edu.

UConn’s Master of Engineering (MENG) in Chemical Engineering is a 30-credit online (synchronous and asynchronous coursework) graduate degree that helps working engineers strengthen their technical skills helping to bring value to industry. Curriculum focuses on industrial practice and design and integrates subject matter across disciplines helping to prepare graduates for advanced positions in a variety of industries, such as petrochemical processing, materials manufacturing, energy distribution, microelectronics, and biotechnology.

To learn more and apply, click here.

Process Engineering Certificate

The Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department offers a fully online with synchronous and asynchronous coursework, 12-credit advanced engineering certificate program in Process Engineering.  Process engineering is the merger of fundamental engineering science and knowledge along with empirical information to develop and optimize processes. Process Engineering is primarily grounded in the discipline of Chemical Engineering and its core areas, including thermodynamics, transport phenomenon, and kinetics. The fundamental knowledge for Process Engineering is encoded in mathematical models, whereas the empirical information is represented by data science/machine learning models.

To learn more and apply, click here.