This web page will acquaint you with the graduate program in Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina. It attempts to anticipate some of the problems you may encounter and to answer a few of the many questions that may arise. The Graduate Director can answer almost any question you may have about admission and degree requirements. Send questions via e-mail to chegrad@engr.sc.edu or call (800) 763-0527 toll-free in the U.S.A.

The information given below is intended to help you interpret and clarify the Degree Requirements, Academic Regulations, and Procedures of the Graduate School of the University of South Carolina as they are currently applied by the Department of Chemical Engineering. The guidelines listed here are not intended to supersede or replace the more general requirements listed in The Graduate Studies Bulletin of the University of South Carolina.

Admission to a graduate degree program in Chemical Engineering is based on the applicant's previous college work together with letters of recommendation. All candidates must meet general requirements for admission to the Graduate School as described in the USC Graduate Studies Bulletin.

Master of Science or Master of Engineering applicants normally have a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from a four-year ABET-accredited engineering school. No financial aid is available for students who wish to pursue M. S. or M. E. degrees.

Doctor of Philosophy applicants normally have a B. S. or M. S. degree in Chemical Engineering from a four-year ABET-accredited engineering school. GRE scores are required for all Ph.D. applicants since these scores are used in determining eligibility for financial assistance.

In a few instances, students are admitted as "non-degree" candidates. This category is used when a student does not present all of the credentials needed for admission to a degree program but can, in the opinion of the Department, benefit from our graduate program. Non-degree students may become degree candidates when their credentials are complete and they demonstrate the capability to do successful graduate work for one or more semesters.

Students holding degrees in other engineering disciplines or Chemistry (B.S. or higher) may be admitted to a graduate studies after completing required course work in Chemical Engineering at the undergraduate level. In general, the following USC Chemical Engineering undergraduate courses, or their equivalents from other ABET-accredited Chemical Engineering departments, are required prior to graduate admission at the M. E., or, M. S. level:

ECHE 300 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
ECHE 310 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
ECHE 311 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
ECHE 320 Chemical Engineering Fluid Dynamics
ECHE 321 Heat Transfer Analysis
ECHE 322 Mass Transfer Analysis
ECHE 430 Kinetics and Reactor Design
ECHE 440 Separation Process Design
ECHE 465 Chemical Engineering Design I
ECHE 466 Chemical Engineering Design II
ECHE 550 Process Control

Similarly, the following undergraduate courses are required for graduate admission at the PhD level:

ECHE 311 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
ECHE 320 Chemical Engineering Fluid Dynamics
ECHE 430 Kinetics and Reactor Design

Additional courses in Mathematics and Chemistry may also be required for all these degrees. The detailed specification of course requirements and substitutions of courses from other universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.