Graduate School Bulletin

Requirements for the MS in Chemical and Molecular Engineering

Course requirements: Successful completion of a total of 30 course credits, which include four core courses (CME 501, CME 502, CME 503, CME 504) for a total of 12 credits, a choice of two out of five advanced elective chemical engineering courses (CME 511, CME 512, CME 513, CME 514, CME 515) for a total of six credits, two out of five specialization elective courses, all requiring capstone projects; (CME 522, CME 523, CME 524, CME 525, CME 526) for a total of six credits. If any of the above courses are not offered, students can replace/substitute a course with any other course offered in the program and/or in the department with GPD approval.

In addition to these courses the different programs have the following requirements;
Masters (MS) Degree requires another six credits for a total of 30 credits. Each track has different
requirements for these six credits as follows;

Track:

Non-Thesis :

The election of this option must be made by the student by the end of the first semester in the program and it will be considered a terminal degree.Six credit of special topics (CME 696), additional electives or research (CME 599) , and satisfactory completion of a capstone project as part of the specialization elective course selection

Thesis:

The election of this option must be made by the student by the end of the first semester in the program. Students may not transfer to the Non-Thesis Option once registered for a Thesis Master’s track. Students are required to complete six credits of research course (CME 599), which culminate in an original Master’s thesis. Students on this track may changeinto the PhD program at the completion of this track.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Chemical and Molecular Engineering

A. Plan of Work 
Before completion of one year of full-time residency, the student must have selected a research advisor who agrees to serve in that capacity. The student will then prepare a plan of further coursework. This must receive the approval of the student’s advisor and of the Graduate Program Committee.

B. Coursework

• An average grade of B or higher is required for all courses. 
• A minimum of 24 graduate course credits is required to graduate (excluding CME 555, 599, 697, 698, and 699). 
• The 24 course credits must include the following four core courses: CME 501,502,503 and 504. If the student does not receive a minimum of a B in a core course, he or she may repeat that course one other time. 
• All students must complete CME 555 Teaching and Mentoring Techniques. This course does not count towards the 24 graduate course credits
• The student must pass at least three credits of CME 698 Practicum in Teaching and six credits of CME 699 Dissertation Research on Campus. 
• All courses taken outside the Department require permission from the Graduate Program Director.
• All PhD students must act as teaching assistants for five semesters (regardless of support), and they must register for CME 698 Practicum in Teaching- in all five semesters for a total of  3 credits and 0 credits for the rest.

C. Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination must be taken before the beginning of the student’s fifth semester. This is an oral examination designed to test the student’s ability to utilize his or her chemical engineering background to carry out research in a chosen field of study, and to make clear written and oral presentations of research. At least ten days prior to the examination, the candidate should submit a research proposal (10-15 pages) to the examiners that places the research in context of other work in the area, demonstrates original thought , clearly outlines its broader impact,  and  provides a sustainable  timeline  for its completion.

The examination committee will consist of three Chemical and Molecular Engineering faculty members, and one member from another department or institution. If a second examination is required, it must be completed by the tenth week of the fifth semester.

Once the student has advanced to candidacy, the student must report to the committee at least once a year before the end of the spring semester on progress towards his/her dissertation.

D. Advancement to Candidacy

After the prelims, the department processes the Advancement to Candidacy once the student’s preliminary examination committee has signed to confirm that the student has passed the prelims. It is important to note, that a student must have no “I” or “U” grades for courses that count towards the degree to advance to candidacy. He/she must have completed all coursework requirements to advance to candidacy.

E. Dissertation
The most important requirement of the Ph.D. degree is the completion of a dissertation, which must be an original scholarly investigation. The dissertation shall represent a significant contribution to the scientific literature, and its quality shall be compatible with the publication standards of appropriate and reputable scholarly journals. At least two semesters should elapse between the preliminary exam and submission of the dissertation.

F. Defense
The candidate shall defend the dissertation before an examining committee consisting of four members, including the research advisor, two members of the Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, and one member from outside the Department.

G. Time Limit
All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven years after completing 24 credit hours of graduate courses in the program.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree/Master of Science Degree Accelerated Program

The Accelerated BE/MS program is designed to allow Chemical and Molecular Engineering (CME) students in good academic standing to graduate with both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in five years. This is made possible by allowing the students to take up to 6 credits of graduate courses to substitute for 6 credits of undergraduate specialization courses as an undergraduate student that can be counted towards the MS degree, consistent with the Graduate School policy. However, the undergraduates can only take graduate technical electives (not core courses), totaling 6 credits and completing the remaining 24 credits to fulfill the 30-credit requirement for completion of the M.S. degree in their fifth year. 

The program will be highly selective, and it is anticipated that only a few students will be admitted each year. The admissions requirements for students entering the accelerated degree program are as follows:

1. Applicant must be a senior in the CME major with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 at the time of application and must graduate from the undergraduate program that year;
2. GPA in courses required in the CME undergraduate major of at least 3.3;
3. Three letters of recommendation from Stony Brook faculty members.
4. Please contact the department at ESMandCME_GradAdmissions@stonybrook.edu to apply to the program.

Applications are reviewed by the CME Graduate Admissions Committee and students will be notified if they have been admitted to the Accelerated Program. The BE/MS is a sequential degree program; Students typically matriculate to the graduate career at the beginning of their third semester in the accelerated program. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher to be admitted to the Graduate School. The Master's in Chemical Engineering is a 30 credit program and 24 of those credits must be earned as a matriculated graduate student.

Students who transfer to Stony Brook must complete at least one semester at Stony Brook before they will be considered for admission to the five-year BS/MS program and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis to ensure they meet all other requirements to qualify for the combined degree program.