Chemical Engineering, Ph.D.

Each doctoral candidate must complete a minimum of 75 credits of academic work past the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 36 credits of dissertation research, to complete the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering program. A minimum of 30 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree (not including Ph.D. dissertation and non-dissertation research credits) are required in chemical engineering or related subjects. Of the 30 credits, 12 are to be taken as part of the required graduate core courses in Chemical Engineering and 18 are taken as electives. For electives: at least 3 electives (9 credits) are to be chosen from approved CBE courses, 6000-level and above. The remaining electives need to be selected in consultation with and with the explicit approval from the chemical engineering graduate adviser. In addition to the required coursework, attendance is required at departmental colloquia.

Students must also pass a comprehensive qualifying examination in chemical engineering and present a doctoral dissertation. The qualifying exam is given once a year. Additional details on the qualifying examination will be provided by the graduate adviser.

To meet graduation requirements, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, excluding dissertation credits, and must not obtain a grade of C or lower in more than two required core courses.

A student who has earned graduate level credits and/or been awarded an MS degree should consult with the graduate adviser for course registration and possible credit transfer.

Candidates for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering should plan their programs in accordance with the following requirements:

3 Credits Applied Mathematics in Engineering CBE-GY 6153

This course covers mathematical formulation of chemical engineering problems in terms of ordinary, partial differential and differential equations. Topics include solutions of boundary and initial value problems using Green's functions and other techniques; characterization of second-order partial differential equations and properties of their solutions; asymptotic methods and numerical techniques.
Prerequisite: MA-UY 2122 and MA-UY 2132 or adviser's approval.

3 Credits Transport Phenomena CBE-GY 6333

The topics in this course include vector analysis review; diffusive fluxes; conservation equations for chemical species and thermal energy; boundary conditions; scaling and approximation techniques; solution methods for conduction and diffusion problems; transient unidirectional diffusion and conduction; momentum diffusion and viscous stress; conservation equation for momentum and the Navier-Stokes equations; unidirectional and lubrication flows; and low- and high-Reynolds number flows.
Prerequisite: CBE-UY 3313 or adviser's approval.

3 Credits Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design CBE-GY 6813

The topics in this course include trends and issues in modern reactor design; kinetics of complex homogenous and heterogeneous reactions: determination of nonlinear kinetic parameters, effects of transport processes, and catalyst deactivation; analysis and design of reactors; laminar flow reactors; dispersion model; split boundary condition problems; effects of non-ideal flow on conversion; and fixed-bed, fluidized-bed and multiphase reactors.
Prerequisite: CBE-UY 3223 or adviser's approval.

Seminar in Chemical & Biology Engineering CBE-GY 9910

Recent developments in chemical and biomolecular sciences and engineering are presented by engineers and scientists from industry and academia. Four semesters are required for PhD candidates.

Seminar in Chemical & Biological Engineering CBE-GY 9920

Recent developments in chemical and biomolecular engineering are presented by engineers and scientists from industry and academia

Chemical Laboratory Safety CM-GY 5040

This course discusses problems of health and safety in chemical laboratories, including how to work safely with dangerous chemicals. This course must be completed by graduate and undergraduate chemistry students before they begin laboratory research.

3 Credits Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics CBE-GY 6733

This course is an organized exposition of fundamental concepts of classical thermodynamics and traditional tools that will help chemical engineers understand and analyze systems they are likely to encounter in practice and/or original research. This course is for students who seek a much deeper understanding of classical thermodynamics than a typical undergraduate course provides. Topics include phase, chemical, and reaction equilibria, ideal and non-ideal solutions, stability of thermodynamic systems and thermodynamics of surfaces..
Prerequisite: CBE-UY 3153 or adviser's approval.

Seminar in Chemical & Biology Engineering CBE-GY 9910

Recent developments in chemical and biomolecular sciences and engineering are presented by engineers and scientists from industry and academia. Four semesters are required for PhD candidates.

Seminar in Chemical & Biological Engineering CBE-GY 9920

Recent developments in chemical and biomolecular engineering are presented by engineers and scientists from industry and academia

At least three electives (9 credits) must be chosen from approved CBE courses, 6000-level and above.

The remaining courses may be chosen from other graduate programs with the approval of the graduate adviser in chemical engineering.

PhD Dissertation in Chemical and Biological Engineering CBE-GY 999X

Theses for the PhD degree must give results of independent investigations of problems in chemical engineering and may involve experimental or theoretical work. Theses must show ability to do creative work and must show that original contributions, worthy of publication in recognized journals, are made to chemical engineering. Candidates are required to take oral examinations on thesis subjects and related topics. Doctoral-degree candidates must submit five unbound thesis copies to advisers before or on the seventh Wednesday before commencement.
Prerequisite: Adviser's approval and students must have passed the doctoral qualifying examination.

36 Credits total, each 3 Credits

Research in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering CBE-GY 998X

Dissertation research for PhD students who have not completed their qualifying examination. No more than a maximum of 9 credits can be taken or counted toward the PhD dissertation. Minimum registration is 3 credits. Prerequisites: Admission into the CBE PhD degree program & consent of PhD academic and thesis advisors.

Up to 9 credits of CBE-GY 998X Research in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering can be included here.

Please peruse the guidelines for NYU-Tandon Chemical Engineering PhD students. All students are required to read this document and are responsible for abiding by the herein stated deadlines and rules.

Here is the form for completion of a proposal defense, annual progress meeting, or data defense.

Here is the evaluation rubric for proposal defense, annual progress meeting, data defense, or thesis defense

After completion of your program, sign up for our PhD Exit Survey, to provide confidential feedback on your experience in the Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program.