Degree Title and Name:  Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering

Program Name and Number:  Chemical Engineering – PH7251

Department/Unit:  Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Delivery Mode:  Athens Campus

Terms of Entry:  Fall, Spring, Summer

Program Overview:  Research areas include advanced materials processing, molecular modeling, nanotechnology, corrosion and flow in multiphase systems, biocorrosion and biofouling mitigation, electrochemical engineering, batteries and fuel cells, energy and pollution control, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, and biomedical and biochemical engineering. Active collaborations exist with professors of biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, and civil and mechanical engineering. Full-time students who enter the program without a master’s degree typically require 4-6 years to complete the program; students who enter with a chemical engineering master’s degree usually require 3-5 years.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Apply graduate-level concepts in engineering mathematics, kinetics and reactor design, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena to engineering problems.
• Become a subject matter expert in one or more areas of technical specialization.
• Independently plan and execute a strategy to test a scientific hypothesis or proposed engineering solution, using prior published knowledge as a foundation.
• Synthesize information from a variety of sources to develop proposals for productive novel directions for research and development.
• Communicate advanced engineering knowledge and the results of novel research and development activities in professional venues.
• Develop habits of collaboration, leadership, initiative, safe performance of work, and ethical conduct.

Opportunities for Graduates:  The program prepares students for academic and industrial positions requiring both a broad chemical engineering foundation and specialized subject matter expertise. Graduates are poised to lead the research enterprise in university, government, and industry positions and contribute to improving the human condition.

Link to Program:  www.ohio.edu/engineering/chemical/academics/graduate/phd.cfm

Link to Program Handbook:  See “Requirements and Procedures for Graduate Degrees in Chemical Engineering” at www.ohio.edu/engineering/chemical/gradtools/documents.cfm.

Graduation Requirements: Students must:

• pass a qualifying exam demonstrating mastery of chemical engineering foundation knowledge.
• complete a minimum of 9 semester hours at or above the 7000 level, at least 3 of which must be chemical engineering hours.
• complete CHE 5000 and ET 6020.
• achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0/4.0 in each of five categories while in the program (note that no grade less than C is acceptable in any course used to satisfy any graduation requirement):
  • chemical engineering courses
  • chemical engineering graduate courses
  • courses listed on the student’s course of study
  • graduate courses
  • all courses
• pass a comprehensive exam testing the ability to synthesize specialized knowledge and define a strategy for future research.
• complete a dissertation requiring a minimum of 51 semester hours of work.
• complete a total of 90 credit hours (including an earned M.S. or the M.S. degree requirements).

Chemical engineering graduate students will participate in CHE 6000 every semester it is offered (typically, fall and spring).

Note: Students may be required to take additional courses to make up for any chemical engineering deficiencies in their previous coursework. Students entering the Ph.D. program directly from a bachelor’s degree must complete course requirements for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Those additional M.S. course requirements are: CHE 6100, CHE 6200, CHE 6300, CHE 6400, and 6 hours of elective courses.

Culminating Experience:  A written dissertation must be prepared describing the student’s completed research work. The dissertation must be defended orally before the student’s dissertation committee. 

Admission Requirements:  GRE scores are required, though that requirement may be waived for an applicant with a chemical engineering bachelor’s degree from an institution that is ABET-accredited or recognized as exceptional. Most successful applicants will have a GRE quantitative score in the 80^th percentile or better and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a closely allied field. Those whose educational preparation does not include the full range of required coursework typical of an accredited bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering may be admitted with requirements for additional coursework to fill such gaps.  Applicants lacking background in mathematics through differential equations, in general chemistry, in general physics, or in thermodynamics will not be considered. 

International students:  This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.