Program Statistics
Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Degree Types: MS, PhD
Graduates of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Program develop proficiency in modern chemical and biological engineering theory and practice through a core curriculum. They gain specialized knowledge through elective courses within and outside of the department.
PhD candidates collaborate with a faculty member to develop and pursue a research program that defines and solves a problem at the frontier of chemical engineering. MS candidates are also able to pursue research with the thesis option.
Current areas of research interest by faculty in the department are organized into the broad categories of:
Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
Complex Systems and Data Science
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Olivia Wise
Graduate Coordinator
847-467-5712
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
The Chemical and Biological Engineering program offers a Coursework Master's and a Thesis Master's. The different requirements are described below.
Coursework Master's
Total Units Required: 101
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Department Core Courses (3 units) | |
| Choose three from core chemical engineering topics: | |
CHEM_ENG 421-0 | Fluid Mechanics |
CHEM_ENG 422-0 | Heat and Mass Transfer |
CHEM_ENG 408-0 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design |
CHEM_ENG 404-0 | Advanced Thermodynamics |
| Electives (7 units) | |
| Department Electives (3 units) | |
Three electives must be taken within the department. | |
| Additional Electives (4 units) | |
Additional electives may be from within or outside the department from approved math, science, Chemical Engineering, or other engineering courses. | |
- 1
For coursework master's: at least 6 courses in Chemical and Biological Engineering are required; this includes the 3 required distribution courses.
Other Coursework MS Degree Requirements
- Examinations: none specified
- Research/Projects: none specified
- Master's Thesis: none specified
- Other: students are strongly recommended to take the CHEM_ENG 520-0 Professional Development in Chemical and Biological Engineering 1 course on professional skills and are also urged but not required to attend the quarterly departmental research seminar.
Thesis Master's
Total Units Required: 102
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Department Core Courses (3 units) | |
| Choose three from core chemical engineering topics: | |
CHEM_ENG 421-0 | Fluid Mechanics |
CHEM_ENG 422-0 | Heat and Mass Transfer |
CHEM_ENG 408-0 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design |
CHEM_ENG 404-0 | Advanced Thermodynamics |
| Electives (4 units) | |
| Department Electives (1 unit): One elective must be taken within the department. | |
| Additional Electives (3 units): Additional electives may be from within or outside the department from approved math, science, Chemical Engineering, or other engineering courses. | |
| Research (3 units) | |
| 3 unit thesis (three units of independent study projects) | |
CHEM_ENG 499-0 | Projects |
- 2
For thesis master's: at least 4 courses in Chemical and Biological Engineering are required; this includes the 3 required distribution courses.
Other Thesis MS Degree Requirements
- Departmental Seminar: students are urged but not required to attend
- Short Courses: Students are required to attend the Responsible Conduct of Research course.
- Examinations: defense of thesis
- Research/Projects: towards thesis
- Master's Thesis: based on current research in the field
- Other: students are strongly recommended to take the CHEM_ENG 520-0 Professional Development in Chemical and Biological Engineering 1 course on professional skills and are also urged but not required to attend the quarterly departmental research seminar.
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
PhD
Total Units Required: 10
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Department Courses (6 units) | |
| Core chemical engineering topics (4 units): | |
CHEM_ENG 421-0 | Fluid Mechanics |
CHEM_ENG 422-0 | Heat and Mass Transfer |
CHEM_ENG 408-0 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics and Reactor Design |
CHEM_ENG 404-0 | Advanced Thermodynamics |
| Professional Development (0 units): | |
CHEM_ENG 520-0 & CHEM_ENG 520-1 | Professional Development in Chemical and Biological Engineering 1 and Professional Development in Chemical and Biological Engineering 2 |
| Departmental electives (2 units) | |
| Additional Electives (4 units) | |
Must be chosen from outside the department (2 units) | |
May be chosen from within or outside the department (2 units) | |
Other PhD Degree Requirements:
- Departmental Seminar: 4 quarters of attendance of the research seminar
- Short course: Responsible Conduct of Research
- Teaching: 4 quarters as a teaching assistant or a participant as a Teaching Apprentice
- Examinations: oral defense of dissertation research proposal during first nine quarters of residency
- Research/Projects: toward dissertation
- PhD Dissertation: based on independent, original research
- Final Evaluations: oral defense of dissertation