Graduate Chemical Engineering

Graduate Program

Graduate Advisors
Sang Han, Chemical Engineering
Cassiano de Oliveira, Nuclear Engineering

Application Deadlines
Fall semester: July 15
Spring semester: November 10
Summer session: April 29


       NOTE: Deadlines for international applicants are given elsewhere in this catalog.


Degrees Offered

M.S. in Chemical Engineering

M.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Concentrations: Medical Physics, Radiation Protection Engineering

Ph.D. in Engineering

Concentrations: Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering

The Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering offers programs in chemical engineering and nuclear engineering leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. A grade point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study, and/or in previous engineering graduate study, is normally required for admission. In addition, the GRE is required of all Chemical and Nuclear Engineering applicants.

The master of science degree is offered under both Plan I and Plan II. Under Plan I (thesis), 30 hours are required with 24 hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis. Of the 24 hours of course work, 9 hours are required at the 500 level with a maximum of 3 credit hours in problems courses. Plan II requires 33 hours of course work including a maximum of 6 hours of credit for problems courses and a minimum of 12 hours in 500 level courses.

A program that allows the Plan II to be completed in one calendar year is also offered. This program should be requested at the time of application and should begin in the summer or fall semester. The program will typically include a course load of 14 hours in the fall semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar), 13 hours in the spring semester (two core courses, two electives and graduate seminar) and 6 hours in the summer semester (elective courses and/or individual problems).

All candidates for the M.S. degree must satisfactorily pass a final examination which emphasizes the fundamental principles and applications in either chemical or nuclear engineering. This examination is normally the thesis defense for Plan I students, and is normally based on a short term project for Plan II students, including those in the one year program. The examination is conducted by a committee of at least three faculty members. This committee is formed in consultation with the student’s research advisor or project advisor and is approved by the Department Chairperson.

Specific requirements pertaining to the chemical engineering and nuclear engineering programs are described below.


Nanoscience & Microsystems (NSMS) M.S. & Ph.D. Degree Program

This department participates in the interdisciplinary NSMS program; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this catalog.

Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering

The department is also a participating home department in the Mechanical Engineering program in Manufacturing Engineering. Details on that program are provided in the Mechanical Engineering Department section of the catalog.


Chemical Engineering

Students with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering may directly enter the graduate chemical engineering program. Students from other engineering/science fields are also encouraged to apply. However, certain undergraduate background courses, as determined by the graduate advisor on an individual basis, must be completed as prerequisites to graduate study.

Students in the chemical engineering M.S. and Ph.D. programs are required to take CHNE 521–Advanced Transport Phenomena I, CHNE 525–Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis, CHNE 561–Kinetics of Chemical Processes, CHNE 542–Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics and CHNE 501-502–Graduate Seminar. Equivalent courses taken at another institution may be used to satisfy this requirement, but they must be approved by the graduate committee. A maximum of 3 credit hours of Graduate Seminar can be applied toward the minimum degree requirement for the M.S. and a maximum of 6 can be applied to the Ph.D. Additional course work is chosen in consultation with the research advisor or Graduate Advisor.

General requirements for the Ph.D. degree are set by the School of Engineering and the Office of Graduate Studies, and are stated on other pages of this catalog. Required core courses are mentioned above. Students who wish to be admitted to a doctoral program in chemical engineering must pass a program qualifying examination. The qualifying examination consists primarily of an oral examination based on a short research proposal developed by the student. Written exams in core subject aeas may also be required depending on performance in the core courses. The qualifying exam should be completed as soon as possible after entering the program and completing the core courses. Advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering requires the student to demonstrate potential for independent study and research. A comprehensive examination based on the student’s written research proposal for their dissertation research is used to determine if the student should be advanced to candidacy status.

The Department has a variety of established research programs in chemical, biological and materials engineering. These include nano- and biomaterials synthesis, ceramics, bioanalytical micro- and nanosystems, tissue engineering, catalysis, fuel cells, optoelectronic materials, and interfacial and transport phenomena. In many cases, research is done in conjunction with industry and national laboratories. Research is being conducted in a variety of areas, including etching and thin films deposition for microelectronics, fuel cell technology, sol-gel synthesis, CVD thin films, ceramic composites, surface science, catalysis, coal utilization, solar energy, radioactive waste management, ceramics, inorganic membranes, advanced thermal insulation, separation processes and biomedical research.

The principal characterization facilities in the chemical engineering research laboratories provide equipment for: particle size analysis based on sedimentation as well as light scattering, surface area and density measurement of powders, surface analysis via x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, confocal microscopy with hyperspectral imaging, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy, in-situ IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis with mass spectrometry, fluid rheology and surface tension measurements and a small angle x-ray scattering facility based on a rotating anode generator and pinhole and Bonse-Hart optics. Additional facilities are available in the Center for Biomedical Engineering (CBME), Center for Emerging Energy Technologies (CEET), Center for Microengineered Materials (CMEM) and the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM). These include aerosol and catalytic reactors, fuel cell test stations, tissue culture and microbiology laboratories, MOCVD and MBE crystal growth facilities, sol-gel synthesis and optoelectronic materials fabrication and testing.


Ph.D. in Engineering – Chemical Engineering Concentration

Course Requirements:
In addition to the general University doctoral degree requirements listed in the Graduate Program section of the UNM Catalog, students pursing a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Chemical Engineering must meet the following criteria:

  1. A maximum of 6 hours of problems courses (CHNE 551/552) are allowed beyond the master’s degree.
  2. All students are required to enroll in CHNE 501 every semester up to a maximum of eight semesters beyond the B.S., or 4 semesters beyond the Masters degree. Up to 3 credits of CHNE 501 earned after an M.S. degree, or 6 credits total beyond a Bachelors degree, may be applied toward the 48 credit coursework requirement for the Ph.D. Students at remote locations who are unable to attend departmental seminars must make special arrangements with the seminar instructor to satisfy the seminar requirements.
  3. Students must complete CHNE 502, Research Methods Seminar, preferably in their first semester in the program. This course is a prerequisite to taking the oral portion of the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam.
  4. Students admitted to the chemical engineering doctoral program are required to complete the chemical engineering core courses listed below. Otherwise no specific courses are required for doctoral students. Courses are selected by the student in consultation with the research advisor and Committee on Studies.

Core Courses
The following core courses are required of all chemical engineering Ph.D. students.

CHNE 521    
Advanced Transport Phenomena
CHNE 525 Methods of Analysis in CHNE
CHNE 542 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics     
CHNE 561 Kinetics of Chemical Processes

Equivalent graduate-level courses taken at another institution may be used to satisfy this requirement, but this must be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Advisor or Graduate Committee in the CHNE department.

Qualifying Examination
The Qualifying Examination must be passed before applying for Candidacy or proceeding to the Comprehensive Exam.

Comprehensive Exam/Admission to Candidacy
Students are admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree by the University following approval of their application for candidacy by the program faculty and Dean of Graduate Studies and successfully passing a Doctoral Comprehensive Examination.

Defense of Dissertation
All candidates must pass a Final examination (Defense of Dissertation). The Dissertation Committee conducts the defense of the dissertation.


Courses

CHNE 101. Introduction to Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. (1)



CHNE 213. Laboratory Electronics for Chemical and Nuclear Engineers. (3)



CHNE 230. Principles of Radiation Protection. (3)



CHNE 231. Principles of Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 251. Chemical Process Calculations I. (3)



CHNE 253. Chemical Process Calculations II. (3)



CHNE 302. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (4)



CHNE 310. Neutron Diffusion Theory. (3)



CHNE 311. Introduction to Transport Phenomena. (4)



CHNE 312. Unit Operations. (3)



CHNE 313L. Introduction to Laboratory Techniques for Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 314. Thermodynamics and Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 317. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis. (3)



CHNE 318L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory I. (1)



CHNE 319L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory II. (1)



CHNE 321. Mass Transfer. (3)



CHNE **323L. Radiation Detection and Measurement. (3)



CHNE *330. Nuclear Engineering Science. (2)



CHNE 361. Biomolecular Engineering. (3)



CHNE 371. Introduction to Materials Engineering. (3)



CHNE 372. Nuclear Materials Engineering. (2)



CHNE 403 / 503. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 404 / 504. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 405 . High Performance Engines. (3)



CHNE 406 / 506. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE *410. Nuclear Reactor Theory I. (3)



CHNE *413L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory. (3)



CHNE 418L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory III. (1)



CHNE 419L. Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV. (2)



CHNE 432. Introduction to Medical Physics. (3)



CHNE 436 / 536. Biomedical Technology. (3)



CHNE 439 / 539. Radioactive Waste Management. (3)



CHNE 449 . Seminar in Hazardous Waste Management. (1, no limit Δ)



CHNE 451 / 452. Senior Seminar. (1, 1)



CHNE 454. Process Dynamics and Control. (3)



CHNE **461. Chemical Reactor Engineering. (3)



CHNE 462. Monte Carlo Techniques for Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 464 / 564. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE *466. Nuclear Environmental Safety Analysis. (3)



CHNE 468 / 568 . Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



CHNE 470. Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials. (3)



CHNE *475. Polymer Science and Engineering. (3)



CHNE *476. Nuclear Chemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE 477 / 577. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE *485. Fusion Technology. (3)



CHNE 486 / 586. Statistical Design of Experiments for Semiconductor Manufacturing. (3)



CHNE 491 – 492. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHNE 493L. Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



CHNE 494L. Advanced Chemical Engineering Design. (3)



CHNE 495 – 496. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Honors Problems I and II. (1-6, 1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHNE *497L. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering Design. (3)



CHMS 498L. Nuclear Engineering Design. (4)



CHNE 499. Selected Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



CHNE 501. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (1, no limit Δ)



CHNE 502. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Research Methods Seminar. (1)



CHNE 503 - 403. Heterogeneous Catalysis Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 504 / 404. Nanomaterials Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 506 / 406. Bioengineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 507 . Surface and Material Engineering. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 508 . Nuclear Engineering Seminar. (2 to a maximum of 20 Δ)



CHNE 511. Nuclear Reactor Theory II. (3)



CHNE 512. Characterization Methods for Nanostructures. (3)



CHNE 513L. Nuclear Engineering Laboratory II. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHNE 515. Special Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



NONE 516. Medical Imaging I-X-ray Physics. (3)



CHNE 518. Synthesis of Nanostructures. (3)



CHNE 519. Medical Imaging II - MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine Physics. (3)



CHNE 519L. Medical Imaging Laboratory II - MR, Ultrasound and Nuclear Imaging Physics. (1)



CHNE 520. Radiation Interactions and Transport. (3)



CHNE 521. Advanced Transport Phenomena I. (3)



CHNE 522L. Fundamentals of Nanofluidics. (3)



CHNE 523L. Environmental Measurements Laboratory. (1 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHNE 524. Interaction of Radiation with Matter. (3)



CHNE 525. Methods of Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 526. Advanced Analysis in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. (3)



CHNE 527. Radiation Biology for Engineers and Scientists. (3)



CHNE 528. External Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



CHNE 529. Internal Radiation Dosimetry. (3)



CHNE 530. Surface and Interfacial Phenomena. (3)



CHNE 531. Nanoscale Quantum Structure Growth and Device Applications. (3)



CHNE 536 / 436. Biomedical Technology. (3)



CHNE 539 / 439. Radioactive Waste Management . (3)



CHNE 540. Radiation Oncology Physics. (3)



CHNE 541L. Radiation Oncology Physics Laboratory. (3)



CHNE 542. Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. (3)



CHNE 546. Charged Particle Beams and High Power Microwaves [Charged Particle Beams.] . (3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



CHNE 550. Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology. (1-3, [3])



CHNE 551 – 552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3 each semester Δ)



CHNE 560. Nuclear Reactor Kinetics and Control. (3)



CHNE 561. Kinetics of Chemical Processes. (3)



CHNE 563. Advanced Radiation Shielding. (3)



CHNE 564 / 464. Thermal-Hydraulics of Nuclear Systems. (3)



CHNE 568 / 468. Introduction to Space Nuclear Power. (3)



CHNE 575. Selected Topics in Material Science. (1-3, no limit Δ)



CHNE 576. Selected Topics in Aerosol Science. (3 to a maximum of 6 hours Δ)



CHNE 577 / 477. Electrochemical Engineering. (3)



CHNE 582. Inertial Confinement Fusion. (3)



CHNE 586 / 486. Statistical Design of Experiments for Semiconductor Manufacturing. (3)



CHNE 591. Practicum. (6)



CHNE 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



CHNE 610. Advanced Nuclear Reactor Theory. (3)



CHNE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809