Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
Mission Statement
KU Chemical & Petroleum Engineering integrates teaching excellence and research innovation to educate students and produce future leaders.
Key Research Fields
- Biomedical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Catalysis (Electro-, Photo-, Heterogeneous, Homogeneous)
- Ionic Liquids
- Sustainability
- Energy Storage and Fuel Cells
- Alternative Fuels
Associated Research Centers
New Program Options
- 1 year MS in Chemical Engineering with a Data Science focus
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs at KU
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency: Admission Proficiency and Full Proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full Proficiency is required.
In addition to the University requirements for Admission to Graduate Study, applicants must provide and/or meet all of the following:
These are the admission requirements in place at the time this catalog content was published.
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
To qualify for study in any of the graduate program in the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, a student generally must have earned an accredited bachelor’s degree in chemical or petroleum engineering. However, a student with good preparation in related science fields, such as chemistry, physics, or geology, or other engineering disciplines may be qualified by taking the following prerequisite undergraduate courses:
- C&PE 511 Momentum Transfer
- C&PE 512 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II
- C&PE 524 Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design
- C&PE 525 Heat and Mass Transfer
This pathway of courses is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Department's Graduate Admissions Committee and Director of Graduate Studies.
Up to 9 credit hours from an outside institution may be transferred into upon approval of both department and university offices. Learn more about the degree requirements on the Department's Graduate Degree Options webpage.
Admission Status
For admission to regular status, the student must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). For students whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, admission on provisional status will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Graduate Record Examination scores are required.
Visit Us
Graduate program staff can assist prospective students in determining the fit between the student and the program. In order to determine this, visiting our campus in Lawrence is an important step. If you would like to schedule a visit, there are two main options:
The first, and most preferred, entails simply applying for admission to the program. All prospective students are welcome to attend our Open House in mid-October or mid-March. Eligible admitted students are invited to participate in Campus Visit Days in February (prior to the fall semester of your intended matriculation). These organized visit opportunities will allow you to gather a great deal of first-hand information which we hope will help you in making a final decision about whether to attend KU.
The second option is making arrangements to visit us on your own, outside of organized events. With early notification, we will do our best to work with you to provide information and schedule appointments with faculty when possible.
Contact Information
Please contact the CPE Graduate Program Coordinator, CPEgrad@ku.edu or (785) 864-4965, if you would like to schedule a campus visit, or have questions about the program or the application process.
The University of Kansas
CPE Graduate Program
4132 Learned Hall
1530 W. 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Degree Requirements
Three degree culminating options are available for this program. All thesis research must be conducted on campus under the guidance of a research advisor. Degree options are selected at the time of initial admission, and changes between options after admission are not permitted without an approved petition from Graduate Standards Committee. Each option will consist of a total of 30 credit hours of enrollment, and the average time to degree is about two years.
Academic Preparation
For a M.S. in chemical engineering, the prerequisite courses are C&PE 511, C&PE 512, C&PE 524, and C&PE 525. Depending on a student’s academic background and proposed Plan of Study, additional undergraduate prerequisite courses may be required. Up to 3 credit hours of a prerequisite course (numbered 500 to 699) may be counted toward the M.S. degree as elective hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. Coursework Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| C&PE 701 | Methods of Chemical and Petroleum Calculations | 3 |
| C&PE 721 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| C&PE 722 | Kinetics and Catalysis | 3 |
| C&PE 731 | Convective Heat and Momentum Transfer | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| At least two electives are from C&PE. Outside electives must be approved by the department. Only one course may be at the 500-600 level. | ||
| Completion Options | ||
| Students select one of the following completion options: | 9 | |
| Thesis (Option A) | ||
C&PE 800 Seminar (Three total credit hours are required) | ||
| OR | ||
| Project-Based (Option B) | ||
Project-Based: C&PE 825 (3 credits). Students select an additional Graduate Elective (3 credits) to fulfill the 30-credit hour requirement. At least two electives are from C&PE. Outside electives must be approved by the department. Only one course may be at the 500-600 level. | ||
C&PE 800 Seminar (Three total credit hours are required) | ||
| OR | ||
| Coursework Only (Option C) | ||
Coursework Only: Students select three additional Graduate Elective (9 credits) to fulfill the 30-credit hour requirement. At least two electives are from C&PE. Outside electives must be approved by the department. Only one course may be at the 500-600 level. | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Completion Options
The M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering allows for the following degree completion options:
Thesis (Option A) requires in-person research, a written thesis, and an oral defense presentation to a committee of three faculty members. Students in Option A are considered for departmental research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships.
Project-Based (Option B) is a degree plan that does not require a thesis. To satisfy graduation requirement, students must submit a written report on a special project. Students in Option B are not eligible for departmental research assistantships and fellowships, but may be considered for teaching assistantships, although priority is given to students in Option A.
Coursework Only (Option C) is a coursework-based degree plan that does not require a thesis. Students in Option C are not eligible for departmental research assistantships and fellowships, but may be considered for teaching assistantships, although priority is given to students in Option A.
Sample Degree Plan
Below are sample completion plans for students in the M.S. program based on the thesis, project, or coursework only option. The sample semester enrollments below are not reflective of all possible paths to the M.S. degree.
M.S. in Chemical Engineering - Option A, Thesis-Based
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| C&PE 701 | 3 | C&PE 722 | 3 |
| C&PE 721 | 3 | C&PE 731 | 3 |
| C&PE 800 | 1 | C&PE 800 | 1 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #1 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 10 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| C&PE 800 | 1 | C&PE 803 (Research/Thesis) | 6 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #2 | 3 | ||
| Engineering Graduate Elective #3 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
M.S. in Chemical Engineering - Option B, Project-Based
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| C&PE 701 | 3 | C&PE 722 | 3 |
| C&PE 721 | 3 | C&PE 731 | 3 |
| C&PE 800 | 1 | C&PE 800 | 1 |
| 7 | 7 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| C&PE 800 | 1 | C&PE 825 | 3 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #1 | 3 | Engineering Graduate Elective #4 | 3 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #2 | 3 | ||
| Engineering Graduate Elective #3 | 3 | ||
| 10 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
M.S. in Chemical Engineering - Option C, Coursework Only
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| C&PE 701 | 3 | C&PE 722 | 3 |
| C&PE 721 | 3 | C&PE 731 | 3 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #1 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #2 | 3 | Engineering Graduate Elective #5 | 3 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #3 | 3 | Engineering Graduate Elective #6 | 3 |
| Engineering Graduate Elective #4 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Effectively communicate advanced chemical concepts in writing and orally at a professional level.
- Acquire new information, to learn new concepts, to build new skills, and to engage in life-long learning.
- Conduct original work in the Chemical Engineering. OR The ability to complete a 3-hour special project in Chemical Engineering.