Graduate students in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering are educated to tackle complex issues through classroom, lab, and real-world training.

All students complete a minimum of 18 hours of coursework, serve two semesters as a Teaching Assistant (TA), and present their work as part of a seminar series during their 3rd year. They must write a preliminary research proposal and pass an oral exam before advancing to candidacy. Finally, all students submit dissertations and pass final oral examinations to complete the program. All of these requirements are designed to prepare students for careers in academia or industry, while allowing ample flexibility and time to focus on research.

Requirements in a nutshell

  • 18 hours of coursework (typically equaling 6 courses)
    • 9 credit hours in required Chemical Engineering technical coursework, maintaining a 3.0 GPA
    • 9 credit hours of electives
  • Two semesters of TA service to the department
  • Passing a candidacy examination by the 4th long semester
  • Participating in the 1st and 3rd year seminars
  • Completing annual committee update meetings after advancing to candidacy
  • Completing a dissertation and passing a Final Oral Examination

Supervisor Selection

Our department supports a direct match system for supervisor selection in a student’s first semester. Students may join labs of ChE faculty and can be co-advised by faculty from other UT departments. During orientation, students begin the process of getting to know our faculty and their research areas and spend the first semester meeting different groups to find the lab that they want to spend their PhD in. Students begin conducting research in their advisor’s lab starting in their second semester.

See our faculty research areas