Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering is a doctoral degree program specifically designed to prepare students for advanced and specialized careers in research and development in industry, the government, and academia. Students partner with our faculty to explore new ideas, create new knowledge, and address societal challenges by applying theory and experimentation in our state-of-the-art facilities. This program offers research opportunities in a diverse range of focus areas that include:

Additive manufacturing
Biochemical engineering
Biomaterials
Catalysis
Crystallization kinetics and processes
Experimental design and data analysis
Green engineering
Lean manufacturing
Membrane separations
Pharmaceutical processing
Polymers, polymer composites, and polymer thin films
Process design and optimization
Process systems
Reaction engineering
Renewable energy
Social life cycle analyses
Sustainable design
Tissue engineering

The program offers a highly flexible multidisciplinary structure that gives students the freedom to pursue a wide range of graduate elective courses while ensuring their proficiency in core chemical engineering principles, technical writing, advanced mathematics, and research.

Potential Industries and Occupations include:

Chemical Industries
Energy
Oil and Gas
Pharmaceuticals
Polymers
Cosmetics
Consumer Goods
Environmental Policy and Regulations
Pollution Prevention
Federal agencies
National Labs
Engineering Consultancy
Health and Safety

Curriculum

The Rowan University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering program requires the completion of coursework, teaching assistantships, research requirements, qualifying and candidacy examinations, dissertation, and dissertation defense.

For a student who possesses a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 72 semester hours of graduate-level coursework will be required:

Graduate Chemical Engineering Core Courses – 12 Credits
Graduate Level Writing Course – 3 Credits
Graduate Level Mathematics Course – 3 Credits
Graduate Technical Electives – 12 Credits
Doctoral Research – 42 Credits
Total Required Credits – 72 Credits

For a student who possesses a master’s degree in a related field, a minimum of 42 semester hours (credits) of graduate-level coursework beyond the master’s degree will be required.

Student Learning Goals and Outcomes

Candidates will obtain a level of technical proficiency in advanced mathematics, core chemical engineering principles, and a breadth of technical subjects that prepare them to face complex challenges in real-world chemical engineering applications.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to apply advanced mathematical principles to solve engineering problems.
Students will have an in-depth understanding of the terminology and processes that are core to the field of chemical engineering.
Students will have the ability to read, understand, analyze, and critique research papers with advanced Chemical Engineering content.
Students will develop a level of technical writing proficiency sufficient for them to produce quality manuscripts, grant proposals, and a meaningful dissertation.
Students will demonstrate their ability to explain complex topics in written formats.
Students will be able to write effective external documents including manuscripts for journal submissions and grant proposals.
Students will learn to identify and approach unsolved problems in chemical engineering, formulate a hypothesis on how to solve such a problem, design and execute experimental or analytical methodologies to test the hypothesis, analyze results, and draw meaningful conclusions.
Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research.

Course Requirements

The following courses make up the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering program:

72 Semester Hours
- Required Courses: 18 Semester Hours
- Graduate Elective Courses: 12 Semester Hours
- Research Courses: 42 Semester Hours
Foundation Courses: No
Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements: Yes

Admission Requirements

The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program:

Completed Rowan Global Application Form
$65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field from an accredited institution of higher learning.
Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
Current professional resume.
Typewritten statement of professional objectives and research interest
Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
Three letters of recommendation
Interview (Applicants will be contacted directly by the Faculty Admission Committee regarding this interview. The interview can be in person or via telephone/)
TOEFL Language test (International)
WES evaluation (International)

Deadlines, Tuition, and Financial Aid

Entry Terms & Deadlines:

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Summer: April 1

Tuition rates can be found on the Bursar's website.

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Rowan University is a doctoral program designed to prepare students for advanced careers in research and development within industry, government, and academia. Students collaborate with faculty to explore new ideas, generate new knowledge, and address societal challenges using theory and experimentation in state-of-the-art facilities. The program's flexible, multidisciplinary structure allows students to pursue a wide range of graduate electives while ensuring proficiency in core chemical engineering principles, technical writing, advanced mathematics, and research. The program's objective is to equip students with advanced mathematical skills, a deep understanding of core chemical engineering principles, and a broad knowledge base to tackle complex real-world challenges. Students will develop skills in applying advanced mathematical principles to solve engineering problems, understanding core chemical engineering terminology and processes, critically analyzing research papers, producing high-quality technical writing (manuscripts, grant proposals, dissertations), identifying and solving unsolved problems in chemical engineering, and conducting independent research.

Outline:

The Rowan University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering program necessitates the completion of coursework, teaching assistantships, research, qualifying and candidacy examinations, a dissertation, and a dissertation defense.

For students with a bachelor's degree: A minimum of 72 semester hours of graduate-level coursework is required, including:
Graduate Chemical Engineering Core Courses – 12 Credits
Graduate Level Writing Course – 3 Credits
Graduate Level Mathematics Course – 3 Credits
Graduate Technical Electives – 12 Credits
Doctoral Research – 42 Credits
For students with a master's degree in a related field: A minimum of 42 semester hours (credits) of graduate-level coursework beyond the master's degree is required.

Required Courses (72 Semester Hours):

Required Courses (18 Semester Hours):
CHE 06586 Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (3 credits)
CHE 06514 Transport Phenomena for Engineers (3 credits)
CHE 06515 Advanced Reactor Design (3 credits)
CHE 06530 Experimental Methods in Chemical Engineering (3 credits)
Strategic Technical Writing (3 credits)
MATH 01515 Engineering Applications of Analysis (3 credits)
Elective Courses (12 Semester Hours): A selection from a list of courses including (but not limited to):
CHE 06587 Process Optimization (3 credits)
CHE 06588 Advanced Process Control Automation and Design (3 credits)
CHE 06502 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (3 credits)
CHE 06512 Safety in the Process Industries (3 credits)
CHE 06510 Biochemical Engineering (3 credits)
CHE 06506 Process Heat Transfer (3 credits)
CHE 06516 Advanced Separation Process Technology (3 credits)
CHE 06518 Polymer Engineering (3 credits)
CHE 06575 Biopharmaceutical and Industrial Fluid Mixing (3 credits)
CHE 06571 Biomedical Control Systems (3 credits)
CHE 06572 Biomedical Process Engineering (3 credits)
CHE 06574 Advances in Particle Technology (3 credits)
CHE 06576 Bioseparation Processes (3 credits)
CHE 06577 Advanced Engineering Process Analysis & Experimental Design (3 credits)
CHE 06528 Fluid Flow Applications in Processing and Manufacturing (3 credits)
Research Courses (42 Semester Hours):
ENGR 01799 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (3/6/9 credits per registration; students register multiple times until 42 credits are completed.

Graduation Requirements:

Completion of a minimum of 72 credits of graduate-level work beyond a bachelor's degree OR a minimum of 42 credits beyond a master's degree.
Completion of all University's standard Ethical & Responsible Conduct of Research training.
Regular attendance and participation in graduate seminars (0-credit).
Successful completion of a Ph.D. Qualifier examination.
Successful completion of a Ph.D. Candidacy (proposal) examination.
Successful completion of the Career Preparation & Readiness Experience (teaching, grant writing, publishing, and service).
Successful completion of a Ph.D. dissertation defense.
Successful completion of a Ph.D. dissertation.
All 30 credits of coursework must be completed with grades of B- or higher, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Assessment:

Student progress is assessed through various methods:

Coursework: A minimum grade of B- or higher is required in all core chemical engineering courses.
Examinations: Ph.D. Qualifier examination, Ph.D. Candidacy (proposal) examination, and Ph.D. dissertation defense.
Dissertation: The dissertation addresses a novel problem with real-world implications.
Career Preparation & Readiness Experience: This involves teaching, grant writing, publishing, and service.
Technical Writing Proficiency: Developed through a required course and reinforced throughout the program (literature reviews, experimental methods, technical reports, dissertation).

Careers:

Potential industries and occupations include: Chemical Industries, Energy, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Polymers, Cosmetics, Consumer Goods, Environmental Policy and Regulations, Pollution Prevention, Federal agencies, National Labs, Engineering Consultancy, Health and Safety, etc.

Other:

The program offers a highly flexible multidisciplinary structure. International students are offered the program in Spring and Fall terms. The specific details, nature, and scope of examinations and requirements (e.g., format of the exam, number of journal publications, conference publications, patents, number of teaching assignments) will be determined by the student's Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering committee and/or department policies. There is a policy for transfer credit evaluation, subject to approval by the Graduate Program Coordinator and Department Head. International students who do not meet the English proficiency requirement may be offered conditional admission, allowing them to participate in the English Language Program before entering the university. International students can defer their admission offers with no penalty, but transfer students must reapply.