The MS Chemical Engineering program provides advanced study of chemical engineering topics with emphasis on both the fundamental and applied aspects. A multidisciplinary approach to education is evident in the Chemical Engineering program’s specialization areas of biotechnology, environmental engineering, and semiconductor processing. Elective courses are also available in science, business, and other engineering fields. This broad-based, multi-disciplinary education has proven to be an important factor for a student’s future success, either at leading Silicon Valley companies or in Ph.D. programs. Class schedules are designed for the convenience of employed engineers who wish to pursue graduate work on a part-time basis.
The faculty are actively involved in research in a number of areas including: biochemical engineering, semiconductor processing, alternative energy, microfluidics, polymers and nanocomposites, nanotechnology, and environmental health and safety engineering, remediation, and bioprocess engineering. Research activity is sponsored by local industries as well as by government funding agencies.
The Chemical Engineering program welcomes students with undergraduate degrees in a variety of other engineering and science disciplines.
Class schedules are designed for the convenience of employed engineers who wish to pursue graduate work on a part-time basis as the majority of classes are scheduled in the evening hours.
For more information visit the department website: www.sjsu.edu/cme
Program Objectives
The CHE Master’s program is designed to produce graduates who:
- Are able to solve complex engineering problems and tasks, and use engineering, science and statistics principles to justify recommendations.
- Are able to evaluate the impact of their work on society, including ethical, economic, global and environmental aspects.
- Can deliver effective presentations of engineering results in written and oral formats.
- Have life-long learning skills and are able to apply their engineering knowledge to critically evaluate relevant literature and new technologies or systems.
- Are effective leaders, capable of working in diverse environments.
- Are able to apply their engineering education to a variety of career paths.
Requirements for Admission
University Admission
Candidates must apply through the CSU admissions portal, Cal State Apply, and meet all university admissions requirements. Applicants will need to apply separately to the university to obtain approval for university-level admission and to the department to obtain admission into the MS in Chemical Engineering.
Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage at GAPE. The program does not currently require the GRE for admission.
Admission to the Program
Candidates must meet all the university admissions requirements. Students can be admitted in either classified or conditionally classified standing. To be admitted to classified standing, a student must possess a U.S. baccalaureate degree with a major in chemical engineering and a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 units, from an ABET accredited chemical engineering program.
Students can be admitted with conditionally classified standing if they have a CHE degree from a U.S, accredited university in which they obtained a 2.7-2.99 GPA in the last 60 units; a CHE degree from a non-U.S, institution; or a BS degree in chemistry, biology, physics or related discipline from an accredited institution. Students admitted with conditionally classified standing will take a series of transition courses. The program admissions letter will explain terms and requirements. Once these are completed satisfactorily, students can petition for classified standing. For more information on the transition courses, contact the graduate coordinator.
Requirements for Candidacy
Students must meet the university requirements for candidacy which include successful completion of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). The University requires that all graduate students complete the GWAR as a condition for advancement to candidacy. Please refer to the SJSU catalog section titled “Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement ” for details. For graduate courses that meet the GWAR, please refer to the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations website at www.sjsu.edu/gape.
Course Requirements
To meet the requirements for the MS - Chemical Engineering degree, a student must complete 30 units of approved courses. Students must achieve a minimum of a “C” in each course and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. In addition to the 30 approved course units, students must complete a written thesis or project report and an oral defense of their thesis or project. Either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Project) may be chosen in consultation with the student’s SJSU research advisor.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). For information on the GWAR, please see http://info.sjsu.edu/gcw.html.
Culminating Experience
Students in the MS, Chemical Engineering program may complete the program 6-unit Culminating Experience through their choice of a master’s thesis or graduate project.
Plan A (Thesis)
Students opting to complete a master’s thesis will take the CHE 281 - MS Thesis/Project Preparation Seminar , CHE 298 - MS Research/Project , and CHE 299 - Master’s Thesis a total of 6 units. The student is responsible for securing the commitment of a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member who agrees to serve as the thesis committee chair. The student must also secure the commitments of two additional university faculty members, one of whom must be a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member, to serve as the student’s thesis committee. The student must write a thesis proposal and have it approved by the thesis committee and pass the CHE 281 and CHE 298 before enrolling in the CHE 299 . The thesis must meet university requirements as stipulated in this catalog and in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. It will be written under the guidance of the candidate’s thesis committee chair with the assistance of the thesis committee.
Plan B (Project)
Students opting to complete a graduate project will take the CHE 281 and CHE 298 and an additional 3 units of 200-level Engineering Math elective selected in consultation with graduate advisor. The candidate for the MS, Chemical Engineering degree must successfully pass a final defense of the project.
