Chemical Engineering, M.E.

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Overview of the Department of Chemical Engineering Master of Engineering (M.E.):

With the exception of an M.E. degree program offered using a distance-learning format, (Virginia Engineering Online, VEO program), M.E. study in the Department requires full-time enrollment.

The M.E. degree can be completed through coursework alone. Students will take five core graduate courses dealing with the fundamental aspects of chemical engineering. These courses comprise half (15 credits) of the minimum 30-credit requirement for the Master’s degree. The M.E. requires three to five elective graduate courses, depending on whether a student enrolls in a research credit course with a letter grade (for a maximum of 6 credits).

Admission

New master’s students are typically only admitted to the M.E. program, which accepts applications to begin in the fall semester. Applicants to the VEO program may apply to start in the fall or spring semester.

In cases where a Chemical Engineering faculty member is willing to serve as thesis advisor, it may be possible for M.E. students to transition to a thesis-based M.S. degree after admission to the M.E. program. Students interested in transitioning to the M.S. degree should consult the “Chemical Engineering, M.S.” page in the School of Engineering and Applied Science–Programs section of the Record for related information and requirements.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of thirty (30) credits of graduate level courses are required for a M.E. in chemical engineering. Degree candidates must complete an approved plan of study incorporating the following:

For the M.E. Degree

A minimum of 30 credits of graduate course work including the five core chemical engineering courses.
Of the 30 required credits, a maximum of 6 may come through enrollment in CHE 7995.

Transfer credit may be approved for inclusion in the plan of studies for the master’s degree. Students should consult “Transfer Credit” in the School of Engineering and Applied Science–Policy section of the Record for policies that govern transferring credits. Application for transfer credit is made on the Request Approval of Transfer Credits form located at: https://engineering.virginia.edu/graduate-forms

On-Grounds M.E. students can transfer up to 12 credits and VEO M.E. students can transfer up to 15.

Chemical Engineering Core Courses

The five core graduate chemical engineering courses are:

CHE 6615 - Advanced Thermodynamics Credits: 3
CHE 6618 - Chemical Reaction Engineering Credits: 3
CHE 6625 - Transport Processes Credits: 3
CHE 6630 - Mass Transfer Credits: 3
CHE 6665 - Techniques for Chemical Engineering Analysis and Design Credits: 3
All core courses must be completed at UVA. A grade of C- or lower does not satisfy the core course requirement (or any course credits to be applied towards a Chemical Engineering graduate degree).

Advisors

Newly enrolled M.E. students will be advised by the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Plan of Study

Each candidate for the M.E. degree must submit a Plan of Study (available in the department office) which must be approved by the advisor and the department.

The recommended course load (with the exception of VEO) for master’s degree candidates is four 3-credit graduate courses per semester. Students who wish to carry more than four courses in a semester must secure the recommendation of their advisor and the approval of the departmental faculty.