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Degree Requirements

For Doctor of Philosophy students, a minimum of 60 credit hours is required beyond the B.S. degree. No more than two courses below the 700 level may be used on the program of study.

For students entering the Ph.D. degree program with a master’s degree in chemical engineering equivalent to that awarded at USC, a minimum of 30 credit hours, including at least six lecture courses (18 credit hours) and 12 credit hours of dissertation preparation (ECHE 899), are required. The requirements for specified core courses (ECHE 700, 710, 720, 722, and 730) may be satisfied by equivalent courses taken for the master’s degree, subject to approval by the graduate director. Of the six courses, four must be from chemical engineering; the other two may be from chemistry, engineering, or mathematics. No more than two courses below the 700 level may be taken for graduate credit, including courses taken in the master’s degree program. All courses taken for credit must be approved in writing by the student’s research advisor prior to course enrollment.

Each Ph.D. student must select a research advisor during the first semester after admission to the doctoral program. After a Ph.D. student passes the admission to candidacy examination, an advisory committee of no less than four members will be selected. The committee must include the department chair and one outside member. Doctoral students must pass the comprehensive examination before the start of the student’s fifth semester in the program (not including summer terms). Students should consult the graduate director for information on the format and subjects of the admission to candidacy and comprehensive examinations. Prior to graduation, each Ph.D. student must submit at least three papers for publication in peer-reviewed technical journals. Other requirements pertaining to the comprehensive examination, dissertation examination, and final submission of the dissertation conform to the general regulations of The Graduate School.

Under extenuating circumstances, students may seek relief from departmental degree regulations by written petition to the graduate director.