PhD in Chemical Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program is designed for students seeking to conduct high-level original research and pursue careers in academia, national laboratories, or industrial R&D.

• Credit requirements
  • 72 credit hours for students entering with a BS
  • 54 credit hours for students entering with a MS
• Core curriculum includes
  • CBE 711 Process Modeling, CHE 713 Thermodynamics, CHE 715 Transport Phenomena, CHE 717 Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Key Milestones
  • Qualifying exam: taken early in the program
  • Preliminary exam: defense of a research proposition
  • Final defense: oral examination and public defense of the doctoral dissertation
• Professional development
  • Students must complete 2 semesters of Teaching Assistantship (TA) and attend weekly departmental seminars (CHE 801)

Learn more at the Current PhD Students webpage or visit the NC State Catalog.

On-campus MS in Chemcial Engineering

The on-campus Master of Science program offers both research-focused and professional tracks for students looking to deepen their technical expertise.

• Thesis option: requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, including core courses and a research-based thesis defended in a public oral examination
  • At least 6 credit hours performed over >2 semesters are dedicated to research
  • 12 credit hours are dedicated to core courses and the rest to graduate CHE electives
• Non-thesis option: requires 30 credit hours consisting of 10 graduate-level courses
  • This track is ideal for students aiming for advanced technical roles in industry without a primary focus on academic research
  • 12 credit hours are dedicated to core courses and the rest to graduate CHE electives
• Core courses: shared with the PhD program (CHE 711, 713, 715, 717) to ensure a rigorous foundation in chemical engineering principles
• Electives: available in specialized areas like biotechnology, polymers, and environmental science
• Bridge program: available for students with non-engineering backgrounds to fulfill prerequisite requirements for 700-level courses
  • Includes CHE 531 and 532 (Core Concepts I and II) – counts as 6 credit ours towards the total of 30 for the MS degree
• Admissions:
  • GRE scores are not required
  • 3.0 undergraduate GPA is standard
  • Differential Equations and Calculus III are prerequisites

Learn more about the MS program via the NC State Catalog.

Online MS in Chemical Engineering

NC State’s Engineering Online program is nationally ranked and provides the same high-quality education as the on-campus program with maximum flexibility for working professionals.

• Format: 100% online, non-thesis program consisting of 30 credit hours
• Curriculum: matches the on-campus requirements, including the 4 core chemical engineering courses (CHE 711, 713, 715, 717)
  • Electives are available in specialized areas like biotechnology, polymers, and environmental science
• Flexibility: designed for part-time study; students typically complete the degree in 3-5 years while working full-time
• Bridge program: available for students with non-engineering backgrounds to fulfill prerequisite requirements for 700-level courses
  • Includes CHE 531 and 532 (Core Concepts I and II) – counts as 6 credit ours towards the total of 30 for the MS degree
• Admissions:
  • GRE scores are not required
  • 3.0 undergraduate GPA is standard
  • Differential Equations and Calculus III are prerequisites
• No residency requirements: students can complete the entire degree from any location without visiting the Raleigh, NC campus

Learn more about the online MS program via Engineering Online

Dual MS with the University of Bologna, Italy

• Program structure: students typically spend one year at their home institution and one year at the partner university
• Degrees awarded:
  • NC State: Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
  • UNIBO: Laurea Magistrale in Chemical and Process Engineering
• Focus areas: often emphasizes sustainable technology and biotechnologies for energy and materials
• Requirements: students must complete 20 credit hours at NC State, including CHE 711, 713, 715, 717, and 701. Students spend the second year of the MS program in Bologna, where they complete the equivalent to 20 NC State credits
• Eligibility: students admitted to the MS program at NC State are eligible. Department support is provided to selected students
• Benefits: provides students with a global prospective on engineering challenges and enhances competitiveness in the international job market