Program Overview

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Chemical Engineering, PhD

The chemical engineering faculty offer a graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering.

Program Description

Areas of research emphasis include atmospheric aerosols, biomolecular engineering, biosensors, chemical therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, electrochemistry, electronic materials processing, engineering education, flexible display technology, fuel cells, inorganic membranes, process design and operations, protein synthesis, transport phenomena in living systems, and water purification.

At a Glance

• College/school: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• An oral comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation
• Required Core (9 credit hours)
  • CHE 533 Transport Processes I (3)
  • CHE 543 Thermodynamics of Chemical Systems (3)
  • CHE 544 Chemical Reactor Engineering (3)
• Technical Electives (18 credit hours)
• Other Requirements (5 credit hours)
  • CHE 591 Seminar (5)
• Research (12 credit hours)
  • CHE 792 Research (12)
• Additional Research/Electives (28 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
  • CHE 799 Dissertation (12)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• A bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• Required Application Materials:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall:
  • Session A/C: In Person, 12/31, Priority
• Spring:
  • Session A/C: In Person, 08/01, Priority

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts of thermodynamics in the field and how to apply those concepts in their Ph.D. research.
• Write creative engineering documents that show an understanding of their experimental research and appropriately records and analyzes their results.
• Construct a research plan that provides detailed experimental procedures and provides a novel research approach.

Career Opportunities

Professionals with a chemical engineering doctoral degree have strong opportunities at all levels in research, design, and manufacturing at companies of all sizes; at national laboratories (Department of Energy, Department of Defense, NASA); and in academics. Analytical skills learned in chemical engineering are also valued in non-engineering positions.

• Career Examples:
  • Engineer
  • Engineering manager or director
  • Engineering professor
  • Lecturer
  • Process engineer
  • Research engineer

Additional Information

The 24-Month STEM OPT Extension is an additional benefit from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that allows international students in F-1 status who receive a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in an approved STEM field to apply for a 24-month extension of their standard 12-month Post-OPT period, twice in a lifetime. This allows international students the opportunity to gain additional off-campus work experience in their field of study after completion of course studies and Post-OPT. The OPT extension does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.