Graduate Programs: Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. degree is awarded for original research performed under the guidance of a thesis advisor. The formal requirements for this degree are:
- Successful completion of six graduate-level courses including the four required core courses.
- Successful completion of the Preliminary Research Exam during the student’s first year.
- Successfully serve as a teaching assistant for at least two required undergraduate courses.
- Completion of an original research project, documented in a dissertation that is defended by the candidate in a public presentation.
- Successful completion of the Graduate Board Oral Exam.
Coursework
Student must successfully complete six graduate-level courses including the four required core courses listed below:
- 540.630 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics
- 540.652 Fundamentals of Biotransport Phenomena
- 540.602 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology of Mammalian Systems
- 540.615 Interfacial Science with Applications to Nanoscale Systems.
Students are strongly encouraged to take the four required courses in the first fall semester. However, students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field may need additional course and should discuss an appropriate course plan with the Director of the Graduate Program.
The remaining two engineering or science courses are chosen with the help of the student’s advisor to design a curriculum appropriate for the student's research interest. These two courses cannot include seminars, independent study, graduate research or special studies.
Each of the six courses must be passed with a letter grade of B- or higher. In addition, the student must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better. If the student’s GPA falls below 3.0, the student must re-take one or more of the courses and earn a higher grade, upon which the prior grade in those course are not counted towards the GPA. If a student receives a grade of C+ or lower in a required core course, the student will be allowed to re-take the course once to achieve a grade of B- or higher. Failure to receive a B- or better the second time will be cause for dismissal from the program. Receipt of grades of C+ or lower in two or more required courses will ordinarily be cause for dismissal from the program without the opportunity to re-take those courses.
In addition,
- all first year students must enroll in 540.490 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Safety during their first semester
- students must enroll in graduate seminars (540.600/601) every semester. Students are expected to attend department seminars throughout their tenure in the department.
Further details on the preliminary research examination and Ph.D. thesis and Graduate Board Oral Exam can be found in the graduate handbook.
Master of Science in Engineering
Note: the requirements for the MSE degree changed August 2010. Because the new requirements are less restrictive, all current and incoming MSE students must fulfill the new requirements listed below. The major change is that there is no longer a requirement that MSE students complete any particular course (i.e. core PhD courses are no longer required courses for MSE students).
Students have two options in pursuing an M.S.E. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
1. Master’s of Science in Engineering (requiring an essay)
- The student must complete six graduate (600-799) level courses approved by the student's research advisor. The student and advisor select these courses to design a curriculum appropriate for the student's research interest and educational goals.
- These six courses cannot include seminars, independent study, graduate research or special studies.
- At least four of the six courses must be in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department.
- Students are allowed to count 400-level courses towards their MSE degree if (1) the course is not offered at the 600-level, and (2) if the department offering the course considers it to be a graduate-level course in their program. Courses offered at both the 400- and 600-level must be taken at the 600-level to fulfill MSE course requirements.
- The student must also enroll in at least two semesters of graduate seminars (540.600/601) throughout his or her tenure in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
- Students must maintain a B average in coursework to complete this degree.
- No C grade can be counted toward the requirements, and a D or F or 2 C grades results in probation. A second D or F or a third C will result in termination from the program.
- The student must write an essay based on original research and literature review and present his or her results at an open seminar attended by the faculty and students. The essay must be approved by the departmental graduate committee, which consists of the graduate research advisor and at least one more faculty member from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. More details on the essay are provided below.
2. Master’s of Science in Engineering (coursework only)
- The student must complete ten graduate (600-799) level courses approved by Director of Graduate Studies. The student and Director of Graduate Studies select these courses to design a curriculum appropriate for the student's interest and educational goals.
- These ten courses cannot include seminars, independent study, graduate research or special studies.
- At least six of the ten courses must be in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department.
- Students are allowed to count 400-level courses towards their MSE degree if (1) the course is not offered at the 600-level, and (2) if the department offering the course considers it to be a graduate-level course in their program. Courses offered at both the 400- and 600-level must be taken at the 600-level to fulfill MSE course requirements.
- The student must also enroll in at least two semesters of graduate seminars (540.600/601) throughout his or her tenure in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
- Students must maintain a B average in coursework to complete this degree.
- No C grade can be counted toward the requirements, and a D or F or 2 C grades results in probation. A second D or F or a third C will result in termination from the program.
Additional requirements for MSE students with an undergraduate degree in a different discipline
Students who received their undergraduate degree in a discipline other than Chemical Engineering must demonstrate proficiency in the core Chemical Engineering subjects of Transport Phenomena, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics to fulfill their MSE degree. Such proficiency may be necessary in order to have the necessary background for graduate course in the ChemBE department. Proficiency must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Methods to demonstrate proficiency include:
- A passing grade in the following JHU ChemBE undergraduate courses 540.304 Transport Phenomena II 540.301 Kinetic Processes 540.204 Applied Physical Chemistry
- A passing grade in similar courses taken as an undergraduate (a transcript is required; a course syllabus may be required).
- A passing grade in the following JHU CHemBE graduate courses: 540.630 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics 540.652 Fundamentals of Biotransport Phenomena
ChemBE policy on double counting courses for BS and MSE degrees: Students pursuing both their undergraduate and masters degrees in ChemBE at JHU should be aware of the departments rules on double counting courses. Up to two courses can be counted for both degrees. For classes offered at both the 400- and 600-level, students MUST take the course at the 600-level to apply the course to their masters degree. Thus, the ChemBE graduate program’s policy on double-counting courses is stricter than the WSE policy found here: http://engineering.jhu.edu/graduate-double-counting/ .
Recommended courses
Completion of two of the four core course of the PhD program is recommended (but not required) for MSE students. The four core PhD courses are:
- 540.630 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics
- 540.652 Fundamentals of Biotransport Phenomena
- 540.602 Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology of Mammalian Systems
- 540.615 Interfacial Science with Applications to Nanoscale Systems
MSE Essay Presentation
The MSE essay presentation is similar to the PhD thesis defense. Students, in conjunction with their advisor, will assemble a two-person committee to read and evaluate the essay. One member of the committee will be the student’s advisor and the other will be chosen from among the ChemBE faculty. The essay should be provided to the readers at least two weeks prior to the presentation date. It will then be presented at an open seminar, which will be publicized to the department.
Students should contact the Academic Program Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the proposed essay presentation to ensure that all necessary information is exchanged. International students should contact OISSS at least eight weeks in advance of defense date to ensure that their visa status and application for their EAD card and Optional Practical Training is in place.
