Degree Programs

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The Master of Science Program

Course Requirements

The Graduate School minimum requirement for the M.S. degree is 30 semester credits including up to 6 credits in thesis research work (ECH 6971); the Chemical Engineering Department requires a minimum of 21 credits in courses, plus one credit in seminar (ECH 6926) per semester of residence after the first semester of residence.

Included in the 21 credits are three required courses that should be taken in first Fall semester: These are the Molecular Basis of Chemical Engineering (ECH 6272), the Continuum Basis of Chemical Engineering (ECH 6270), and the Mathematical Basis of Chemical Engineering (ECH 6847). Each student is expected to take a graduate course in reaction engineering, kinetics or biochemical engineering if offered before they graduate. In addition, at least two graduate Chemical Engineering science courses must be taken.

If a minor is chosen, at least six credits of courses must be taken in it. All courses taken in the Chemical Engineering Department must be at the 5000 level or above to be credited toward the degree program.
 

Research and Thesis

Near the end of the first semester after enrolling in the program, the student will choose a research adviser. By the end of the first semester, the student must also, with the advice and consent of the research adviser, nominate a Supervisory Committee. The Supervisory Committee must have at least two members, one of whom must be Graduate Faculty member of the Chemical Engineering Department. If a minor is chosen, at least one member of the supervisory committee must be from the minor department. The supervisory committee is very important and should be chosen carefully. The supervisory committee advises the student, monitors the student's progress, supervises the preparation of the thesis, and conducts the final examination.

In Chemical Engineering, a candidate for the M.S. degree must prepare and present a thesis acceptable to the Supervisory Committee and the Graduate School. The candidate should consult the Graduate School Editorial Office for instructions about the form of the thesis. The University Calendar specifies final dates for submitting three copies of the abstract to the Dean of the Graduate School and for submitting the original copy of the thesis bound with an abstract. The college copy should be submitted to the college or department by the specified date. After the thesis is accepted, it will be available electronically from the University Libraries.

When the student's course work is substantially completed and the thesis is in final form, the supervisory committee is required to examine the student orally or in writing on (1) the thesis, (2) the major subjects, (3) the minor or minors, and (4) matters of a general nature pertaining to the field of study. A written announcement of the examination must be sent to the Dean of the Graduate School. This exam may not be scheduled earlier than the term preceding the semester in which the degree is to be conferred.

The supervisory committee (2 faculty members) and any other appropriate faculty members and the candidate must be present at the final examination. At the time of the examination, all committee members may sign the thesis signature page and the Final Examination Report, although these can be retained by the supervisory committee chair until acceptable completion of corrections.

Other Remarks

Graduate level work, totaling no more than 9 credits with a grade of "B" or higher, may be transferred from an institution approved by the Graduate School or 15 semester hours from post-baccalaureate work at the University of Florida. These credits will be applied toward the degree, but the grades will not be computed in the student's grade point average. Transfer of credit requires approval of the student's Supervisory Committee, the Chemical Engineering Department, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Petitions for transfer of credit for the M.S. degree must be made during the first semester of study and, if approved, transfer of credits must be included in the program of coursework.

Students have historically needed 16 to 20 months (4 to 5 academic-year semesters) to complete the degree requirements. Financial support is normally provided to the student through the completion of his/her degree program (as defined by submission of the final thesis to the graduate school). Of course, continued support depends on satisfactory progress by the student. Satisfactory progress is determined by a student's thesis research adviser. A letter from each student's adviser on his/her progress is required at the end of each semester.

Students are strongly encouraged to register for required courses at the earliest possible opportunity. An example of the course of study for the MS degree is as follows:

TYPICAL MS SCHEDULE