BS/MS Program

General Graduate Policies of the University

Policies and requirements listed on this page apply in addition to general University undergraduate and graduate policies and requirements. Please consult the University Student Resource Center website for University undergraduate policies. Please consult the Office of Graduate Studies website for a complete listing of University graduate policies and requirements.

General Facts

• The BS/MS program is structured to allow students to complete both a Bachelor’s and a
     Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering in a five-year curriculum with co-op.
• Admission into the BS/MS program is merit-based.
• A BS/MS student is excused from 6 credits of undergraduate concentration electives and
     6 credits of undergraduate free electives, which must be replaced by graduate credits.
• A BS/MS student must take a total of 45 graduate credits (details below).
• A BS/MS student’s degrees are awarded simultaneously, and requirements for both the BS
     and the MS portions must be met in order for the student to graduate.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

To be admitted into the BS/MS program in Chemical Engineering (beginning Spring 0809), a student must either:

1. Be admitted upon admission to the University; or
2. 2. Submit an application (from the Office of Graduate Studies [download]) to the Departmental Graduate Coordinator upon meeting the following conditions:
1. The student must have at least a 3.0 overall cumulative GPA;
2. The student must have accumulated at least 90 Drexel credits but not more than 120;
3. The student must submit a Plan of Study.
4. The application form is signed by the Departmental Graduate Advisor (identified on the form as “Academic Advisor”);
5. The student must have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA in all of his/her undergraduate CHE courses;
6. The student must submit to the Departmental Graduate Coordinator a BS/MS Faculty Endorsement Form signed by two CBE faculty who have taught the student.

Note that conditions a.-d. are stipulated by the University Office of Graduate Studies and apply for all BS/MS applicants regardless of discipline. Conditions e. and f. are specific to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Graduation Requirements

For students admitted to BS/MS prior to Spring 0809
In order to graduate, a BS/MS student must maintain the following minimum cumulative GPAs in the following course categories:

1. All courses                                 3.0
2. All graduate courses                    3.0
3. All undergraduate CHE courses       3.0
4. All graduate CHE courses              3.0

Additionally, any BS/MS student pursuing a Thesis Masters must submit and orally present the MS thesis in order to graduate.

For students admitted to BS/MS in or after Spring 0809
In order to graduate, a BS/MS student must maintain the following minimum cumulative GPAs in the following course categories:

1. All courses                                 3.0
2. All graduate courses                    3.0
3. All undergraduate CHE courses       3.0
4. All graduate CHE courses              3.0
5. All core graduate CHE courses       3.0

Additionally, any BS/MS student pursuing a Thesis Masters must submit and orally present the MS thesis in order to graduate, including a signed thesis completion form (available from the Office of Graduate Studies).

Probationary Status

Any term in which a student’s overall, graduate, undergraduate CHE, graduate CHE, or core graduate CHE GPA falls below 3.0, will result in the student being placed on probationary status in the BS/MS program. A student on probationary status for two consecutive terms will be dropped from the BS/MS program into the standard BS track. A student cannot graduate with a BS/MS in a term in which he/she is on probationary status.

Coursework

All BS/MS students are required to complete 45 credits of graduate coursework and/or research.
These are grouped as follows:

1. 15 credits of Core Chemical Engineering Graduate Courses:
1. CHE 502   Mathematical Methods (Fall terms only)
2. CHE 513   Thermodynamics (Fall terms only)
3. CHE 525   Transport Phenomena I (Winter terms only)
4. CHE 543   Kinetics and Catalysis I (Spring terms only)
5. CHE 554   Process Systems Engineering (Spring terms only)
2. 15 credits of Graduate Concentration Electives;
3. 15 credits of either
1. Non-thesis coursework, which is comprised of
1. A block of 9 credits comprised of further Graduate Concentration Electives,
      which may include Graduate Independent Study (CHE 799), and
2. 6 credits of Graduate Free Electives.
2. Master’s Thesis Research, which is comprised of
1. 9 credits of Master’s Thesis Research (CHE 898), and
2. 6 credits of coursework which may include Graduate Independent Study (CHE 799)
      and/or Graduate Free Electives.

Registration for both Master’s Thesis Research (CHE 898) and Graduate Independent Study (CHE 799) require approval of the student’s faculty research advisor. The Undergraduate Advisor handles all course additions for CHE 799 and CHE 898.

Graduate Concentration Electives: It is the student’s responsibility to create a concentration sequence that matches his/her scientific/technical interests, complements his/her research (if pursuing a thesis), and conforms to an overall intellectual, scientific, or technical theme.

Please Note: All EGMT courses must be added prior to the start of the term. Please contact EGMT directly regarding any coursework.

Graduate Free Electives: GFE Courses are generally unrestricted, and may include up to a maximum of 9 credits of Graduate Independent Study (CHE 799), provided the student has a faculty advisor willing to sponsor a CHE 799 research project.

Prerequisites for Core CHE Graduate Courses

1. CHE 502 and CHE 525: CHE 302, CHE 304, CHE 305
2. CHE 513: CHE 301
3. CHE 543: CHE 424
4. CHE 554: CHE 420

Plan of Study

Every BS/MS applicant must complete a plan of study that indicates the coursework schedule term-by-term for the completion of both the MS and BS portions. Concentration elective courses need not be explicitly named but blocks for them must be labeled as such. Students pursuing a thesis should consult their research advisors regarding planning for CHE 799/898.

Thesis vs. Non-Thesis Master’s in the BS/MS Program

Upon applying to the BS/MS program, the student should decide whether to pursue a traditional Thesis Master’s or a Non-Thesis Master’s. The additional requirements of a Thesis Master’s are the completion and oral defense of a Master’s Thesis under the direction of a research advisor. It is important to select a research advisor from among the Chemical and Biological Engineering Faculty as early as possible. Selection is informally arranged: Students are encouraged to speak one-on-one with faculty about possible MS projects.

Undergraduate Contact:

Professor Stephen P. Meyer
Undergraduate Program Advisor
CAT 280
(215) 895-1855
stephen.paul.meyer@drexel.edu

Graduate Contacts:

Katie Smalley
Graduate Program Coordinator
(215) 895-2239
katharine.m.smalley@drexel.edu

Professor Cameron Abrams
Graduate Program Advisor
(215) 895-2231
cameron.frank.abrams@drexel.edu