Chemical Engineering, M.S.

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/.

Core Curriculum

A core curriculum for all M.S. candidates in chemical engineering includes the following courses or approved substitutions:

CBE 450/550 Systems Analysis Applied to Chemical Engineering Credits: 2 to 3
CBE 612 Transport Phenomena: Momentum Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 613 Transport Phenomena: Heat Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 621 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I Credits: (3-0) 3
Kinetics Elective Credits: 3 ¹
Applied Computation Elective Credits: 3²
CBE 790 Seminar Credits: (0.5-0) 0.5

Curriculum Notes

¹Kinetics Elective: CBE 444/544 or MES 728

² Applied Computation Elective: CBE 616 /ME 616 , MATH 432 , or IENG 486 .

³ A total of one credit hour of seminar is required.

In addition to the core curriculum

Students pursuing the non-thesis option must complete a minimum of 2 credits of non-thesis research, CBE 788, 3 credits in engineering management, and 8 credits of chemical engineering approved electives. Students pursuing the thesis option are required to complete, in addition to the core curriculum, a minimum 6 credits of thesis research, CBE 798 , and 5 credits of chemical engineering approved electives.

An oral thesis defense for the thesis degree or oral project examination for the non-thesis degree, as well as final examination in the field of chemical engineering, are required prior to the completion of the graduate study.