All students who pursue the Thesis option must complete a minimum of twenty-four semester hours of coursework. A non-credit seminar course and a six semester hour Master’s Thesis are also required. Students must arrange an appropriate course sequence in consultation with the Graduate Program Adviser. Part-time students must complete thirty-four semester hours of coursework. Part-time students may choose to complete a Thesis, in which case they must also attend the seminar course. All students who receive financial support from the University in the form of a research or teaching assistantship must complete a Thesis.

Students with a Bachelor of Science degree in a field other than Chemical Engineering may earn an unspecified Master of Science degree. Such students may be required to complete supplementary undergraduate coursework beyond the minimum course requirements as shown below.

Departure Prior to Thesis Completion
Occasionally students have left the Chemical Engineering department prior to completion of all degree requirements. In such instances, long time intervals have often elapsed before Thesis or manuscript submission. Accordingly, the department has adopted the guideline that a student cannot submit a Thesis for credit beyond three years after s/he stops actively pursuing the research. Exceptions may be granted upon petition to the departmental Graduate Committee. Petitions must demonstrate extenuating circumstances and prove that the research is still of value to the profession.