Contact Information
Dr. Todd Menkhaus
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
(605) 394-2422 Fax: (605) 394-1232
E-mail: Todd.Menkhaus@sdsmt.edu
http://www.sdsmt.edu/CBE/
Faculty
Professors Bang, Dixon, Puszynski, Salem and Winter; Associate Professors Benjamin, Gilcrease, Menkhaus (CBE Graduate Program Coordinator), Sani, and Shende; Assistant Professors Groven and Hadley.
Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering offers programs of study leading to the master degree in chemical engineering (ChE). Students may consider either a thesis or non-thesis executive program option. A student who elects the thesis option will be required to present a thesis based upon an original investigation for which 6 credits must be earned toward a total requirement of 30 credits in an approved program of study. For the non-thesis executive program option, a student must earn 32 credits in an approved program of study and complete a special project. In the non-thesis executive program, which is oriented primarily toward industrial needs, students take at least one course in engineering (for example, ENGM 640 , ENGM 720 , or ENGM 742 ) management as part of their required courses for the M.S. in chemical engineering.
An accelerated Master of Science (B.S./M.S.) degree program is available for qualified undergraduates enrolled in engineering B.S. programs at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The accelerated master’s degree program allows B.S. engineering students to take up to nine (9) graduate level credits to simultaneously meet undergraduate and graduate degree program requirements.
Chemical engineers with a M.S. degree obtain graduate education that provides them with an in-depth understanding of the chemistry, mathematics, and physical laws describing systems at both molecular and macroscopic levels. With this knowledge, the chemical engineer can participate in interdisciplinary research, development, and implementation of new and improved technologies in areas such as: biotechnology, catalysis, nanotechnology, chemical technology, energy, environmental processes, as well as manufacturing of high-performance materials for electronic and structural applications. A student who does not have a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering will be expected to take several additional undergraduate chemical engineering courses to provide a solid ChE foundation. The current research interest of the faculty can be found on the departmental website at: http://www.sdsmt.edu/CBE/.
