Chemical and Biological Engineering, PhD

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Contact Information

Dr. Todd Menkhaus, Program Coordinator
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
(605) 394-2422 Dept: (605) 394-2421
E-mail: Todd.Menkhaus@sdsmt.edu
http://www.sdsmt.edu/CBE/

PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering

The curriculum is designed to provide the CBE PhD graduate with the depth and breadth of engineering knowledge to become a leader in their chosen focus area. To facilitate this, each student is asked to complete a program of study plan that will provide the framework for the student’s coursework and research. This should be filed with the Program Coordinator before the midterm of the second semester in residence. The CBE PhD Advisory Council must approve all programs of study.

Degree requirements

Distribution of credits

Core requirements: 28 credits
Research requirements: 32 credits
Elective requirements: 12 credits
Total credits: 72

Students entering with a MS degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline may apply 24 coursework credits and 6 research credits from a previous MS degree toward the PhD requirements, subject to approval of the CBE PhD Program Advisory Council.

Students pursuing a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering must take the 500 and above level courses, not the 400 level courses. At least 36 of the required 72 credits must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Core requirements

A minimum of 6 credits from the Chemical Engineering focus area course list.
A minimum of 6 credits from the Biological Engineering focus area course list.
An additional 12 credits from either focus area list.
CBE 890 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1 *
* Four (4) credits of CBE 890, spread over four semesters, are required. No more than 4 credits of CBE 890 may be applied to the degree.

Focus Area - Chemical Engineering

CBE 444/544 Reactor Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 605 Applied Engineering Mathematics Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 611 Chemical Engineering Transport Phenomena Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 612 Transport Phenomena: Momentum Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 613 Transport Phenomena: Heat Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 616 Computations in Transport Phenomena Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 621 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 714 Transport Phenomena: Mass Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 728 Heterogeneous Kinetics Credits: (3-0) 3

Focus Area - Biological Engineering

CBE 484/584 Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 484L/584L Biochemical Engineering Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
CBE 603 Molecular Biology for Engineers Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 735 Bioseparations Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 741 Microbial and Enzymatic Processing Credits: (3-0) 3

Research requirements

The completion of a doctoral dissertation, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.

CBE 898D Dissertation Credits: 1 to 12 *
* A minimum of 32 credits of CBE 898 is required for this degree. No more than 32 credits of CBE 898 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

Elective courses may be selected from the two focus area lists, from the example elective list, or from other SD Mines courses as a part of a student’s program of study, subject to approval of his/her major professor and graduate committee. Examples of elective courses include:

CBE 424/524 Molecular Modeling and Simulation Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 434/534 Design of Separation Processes Credits: (1-0) 1
CBE 434L/534L Design of Separation Processes Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
CBE 445/545 Oxidation and Corrosion of Metals Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 450/550 Systems Analysis Applied to Chemical Engineering Credits: 2 to 3
CBE 455/555 Pollution Phenomena and Process Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 474/574 Polymer Technology Credits: 2 to 3
CBE 474L/574L Experimental Polymer Technology Credits: (0-1) 1
CBE 475/575 Advances in Processing and Nanoengineering of Polymers Credits: (2-0) 2
CBE 476/576 Organosilicon Polymer Chemistry and Technology Credits: (1-0) 1
CBE 482/582 Upstream Oil and Gas Processing Credits: 1 or 3
CBE 483/583 Petroleum Refining Credits: 2 or 3
CBE 485/585 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 485L/585L Renewable and Sustainable Energy Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CBE 486/586 Immuno-Engineering Credits: 2 or 3
CBE 488/588 Applied Design of Experiments for the Chemical Industry Credits: (2-0) 2
CBE 489/589 Composites Manufacturing Credits: (1-0) 1
CBE 742 Applied Electrochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 791 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 4
CBE 792 Topics Credits: 1 to 4
CBE 890 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1
CBE 894 Internship Credits: 1 to 6
CHEM 482/582 Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 712 Interfacial Phenomena Credits: (3-0) 3
NANO 701 Nano Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGM 435/535 Optimization Techniques Credits: (3-0) 3
ENGM 621 Statistical Process Control Credits: (3-0) 3

Examinations

Detailed information on examination policy, admission to candidacy, and defense of dissertation are included in the Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD Program Handbook.

Qualifying examination

A written examination consisting of three core subject exams (transport phenomena, chemical reaction engineering, and thermodynamics) is required. The written examinations are given in early January and late May of each year. Incoming PhD graduate students should take the written examinations as soon as possible, but are expected to take the exams after two long sessions in residence (Fall and Spring semesters). Additional details on the written examination may be found in the Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD Program Handbook.

Comprehensive examination and admission to candidacy

Within the first 24 months of residency within the CBE PhD program, students must write a research proposal and complete an oral presentation of that proposal in the presence of their major advisor(s) and their PhD committee. Additional details on the written research proposal and oral presentation may be found in the Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD Program Handbook.

Successful completion of the written examination, written research proposal, and oral presentation are required for admission to candidacy within the CBE PhD program. The comprehensive examination, and subsequent admission to candidacy, must be completed at least 12 months before the dissertation is defended.

Dissertation defense

A dissertation defense and a final oral examination are required for this degree.

Additional requirements

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.