Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chemical Engineering.

Admission

Program Name

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering is a major offered by the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Address

5531 Boelter Hall
Box 951592
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1592 

Phone

(310) 825-9063 

Email

chemeng@ucla.edu  

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D. 

Admission Limited to

Consult department for deadlines. 

Deadline to apply

January 15th 

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General 

Letters of Recommendation 

3 

Other Requirements

In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental supplement, a statement of purpose, and a bachelor's degree in a field that provides the student with at least two years of preparation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Applicants who wish to specialize in semiconductor manufacturing must hold a B.S. degree in engineering or physical science. Experience working in the semiconductor industry is highly desirable but not required. Applicants with this work experience should have their supervisor write one of the letters of recommendation. 

Master's Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. Students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing are assigned to the faculty graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty graduate adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers. During the first quarter in residence, students meet with all faculty members in the department, and choose three professors with whom they would like to conduct master's thesis research. These choices are submitted to the graduate adviser. The faculty meets separately and assigns each student their faculty research adviser, taking into account the student's choices and the interests of the department as a whole. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student.

Provisionally admitted students meet with the program adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remove any deficiencies.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study towards the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

During the first quarter in residence, students in who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing should arrange for an appointment with the graduate adviser for this specialization, and obtain an approved plan of study for the semiconductor specialization. The program of study may be changed only with the approval of the adviser.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental Student Affairs Officer and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. The specialization requires that the student have advanced knowledge of processing semiconductor devices on the nanoscale. This knowledge is assessed in a comprehensive examination.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The requirements for the M.S. degree are a thesis, nine courses (36 units), and a 3.0 grade-point average in the graduate courses. Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 are required. Two courses must be taken from regular offerings of the department, and two courses may be Chemical Engineering 598, involving work on the thesis. The remaining two courses may be taken from those offered by the department, or from any other field in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. At least 24 units must be in letter-graded 200-level courses.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization are required to complete 10 courses (44 units) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average overall and in graduate courses. A minimum of five (20 units) 200-series courses are required. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 104C and 104CL, 270, and 270R; Electrical Engineering 123A; Materials Science and Engineering 121. In addition, students must select two elective courses from the department's list of electives, and two elective courses from elective offerings from the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, with a minimum of two of these in the 200 series. Approved elective courses include: Chemical Engineering C219, C214, C218, 223, C240; Electrical Engineering 124, 221A, 221B, 223, 224; Materials Science and Engineering 210 and 223.

Students in the specialization of semiconductor manufacturing who have been undergraduates or graduates at UCLA and who have already taken some of the required courses may substitute electives for these courses. However, no courses taken while not enrolled in the specialization may be counted toward the 10-course requirement for the degree. A program of study encompassing the course requirements must be submitted to the graduate adviser for approval before the end of the student's first quarter in residence.

All master's degree candidates are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

A program of study which encompasses these requirements must be submitted to the departmental Student Affairs Office for approval before the end of the student's second quarter of residence.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L,199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 270R, a directed research course, in the field, working at an industrial semiconductor fabrication facility. The proposed research must be approved by the graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing and the industrial sponsor of the research.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

This plan is only for students in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students take Chemical Engineering 597A to prepare for a comprehensive written examination. The examination tests for knowledge of the engineering principles of semiconductor manufacturing. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once with the consent of the graduate adviser for the specialization. Second failure of the examination leads to a recommendation to the Graduate Division for termination of graduate study.

Thesis Plan

Every master's degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research.

This plan is for all M.S. degree students who are not in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. These students must complete a thesis. Students should consult the graduate adviser for details on the thesis plan. Thesis-plan students nominate a three-member thesis committee that must meet University regulations and be approved by the Graduate Division, as outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of time for students in the M.S. program is six quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is three years from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization must complete the degree in two years (six quarters). The program may be completed in one calendar year (three quarters and a summer session) by enrolling in three courses per quarter and for one summer session. Students who are enrolled less than full-time must complete the degree in three years (nine quarters).

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty graduate adviser upon admission to the School. During the first quarter in residence, students meet with all faculty members in the department, and choose three professors with whom they would like to conduct Ph.D. dissertation research. These choices are submitted to the graduate adviser. The faculty meets separately and assigns each student their faculty research adviser, taking into account the student's choices and the interests of the department as a whole. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student.

Provisionally admitted students meet with the program adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remedy any deficiencies.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally, or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the Student Affairs Officer and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and implementation of the policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

All Ph.D students are required to take six courses (24 units). Three of these are Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220. Two additional courses must be taken from those offered by the department. The third course can be selected from offerings in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. All of these units must be in letter-graded, 200-level courses. Students are encouraged to take more courses in their field of specialization. These minor field courses should be selected in consultation with their research adviser. A 3.33 grade-point average in graduate courses is required. A program of study to fulfill the course requirements must be submitted for approval to the departmental Student Affairs Office no later than one quarter after successful completion of the preliminary oral examination.

All Ph.D. students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

For information on completing the Engineering degree, students should see Engineering Schoolwide Programs in Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees.

Teaching Experience

At least three quarters of teaching experience are highly recommended. During the quarters when they serve as teaching assistants, students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 375. Chemical Engineering 495A and 495B are highly recommended for all new teaching assistants.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations the University oral qualifying examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

All entering Ph.D. students are required to undergo a preliminary oral evaluation (POE) normally scheduled at the beginning of the Fall Quarter. This evaluation by a Faculty Committee assesses each student's understanding of chemical and biomolecular engineering fundamentals in the areas of the required core graduate courses. The POE outcome consists of a recommendation of a course plan for each student that ultimately can lead to successful completion of the course requirements for the PhD degree.

After completion of the required courses for the degree, each student must pass the written and oral qualifying examinations. These examinations focus on the student's dissertation research and are conducted by a doctoral committee consisting of at least four faculty members nominated by the department in accordance with university regulations. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold faculty appointments in the department. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member in another department. Students are required to have a 3.33 grade-point average in graduate coursework to be eligible to take these examinations.

The written qualifying examination consists of a dissertation research proposal that provides a clear description of the problem(s) considered, a literature review of the current state of the art, and a detailed explanation of the research plan that will be followed to solve the problem(s). The student normally submits the dissertation research proposal to the doctoral committee before the end of the winter quarter of the student's second year of academic residence.

The University Oral Qualifying examination consists of an oral defense of the dissertation research proposal, and is also administered by the doctoral committee. The written research proposal must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination to allow the members sufficient time to evaluate the work.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (including work for the master's degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 18 quarters (normative time to degree). Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the Spring Quarter of their second year in residence. All Ph.D. candidates are required to present a departmental oral seminar to the department; this seminar is normally scheduled in their fourth year of academic residence. With input from their research adviser, students may petition to postpone this seminar. After the departmental seminar, students should complete their dissertation research within the next one to two years.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school's Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master's

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(4) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.3 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the preliminary oral examination.

(3) Failure of the written and oral qualifying examination.

(4) Failure of a required final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.