Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Regular admission requires a 3.5 grade point average in the Master of Science degree or in the Bachelor of Science degree, from an accredited U.S. institution, and the written approval of the student’s advisor (selected from the departmental faculty). Evaluation of admission credits is determined by the Department Graduate Officer.

Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete sixty credits beyond the baccalaureate, including eighteen credits of dissertation direction and forty-two credits of coursework. The eighteen credit dissertation registration requirement is fulfilled by registering for dissertation research courses (Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, II, III, and IV, respectively), in consecutive academic year semesters. Didactic credit distribution must also include at least fifteen credits in graduate courses numbered 7000 and above, including the core courses.

Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, II, III, and IV, respectively, in consecutive academic year semesters. Credit distribution must also include at least fifteen credits in graduate courses numbered 7000 and above, including four core courses:

MSE 9991, MSE 9992, MSE 9993, and MSE 9994

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
MSE 5650	Surface Science	3
MSE 7300	Advanced Thermodynamics	3
MSE 7400	Mechanical Behavior of Materials	3
CHM 7060	Materials Chemistry and Engineering	3
or PHY 6450	Introduction to Material and Device Characterizations

The PhD program follows requirements mandated by our department and requirements mandated by the graduate school.

The department requires: (1) proficiency in core chemical engineering knowledge, as demonstrated by GPA 3.0 or higher (see core course evaluation below for details), (2) the successful completion of the qualifying exam, (3) the successful completion of the prospectus and proposal (that is, oral and written prospectus), (3) the successful completion of a data meeting(s), (4) the successful completion of a yearly presentation, and (5) completion of at least 60 total credits, including 18 dissertation credits, and 42 credits of graduate coursework. Students should consult the Graduate School's regulations governing doctoral study for additional requirements from the graduate school.

Requirements for the 42 credits of graduate coursework are:

1. All students are required to take GS 0900 in their first year of their PhD program, a responsible conduct of research course.
2. 15 credits of graduate coursework numbered 7000 and above, including 12 credits in core courses: MSE 7300, MSE 7400, MSE 5650, and CHM 7060 or PHY 6450. Details on course offerings and example fall and winter terms below and on the bulletin.
3. Minimum 9 credits from the ChE or MSE course catalog in addition to the student’s core course requirements and excluding research-based courses (999X series, CHE 8996, 7990, 8570, or 8510).
4. Maximum 8 credits of research-type courses: CHE 8996, 7990, 8570, or 8510.
5. Three total credits from 0.5 credits seminar-course once per semester for eight consecutive semesters
6. All remaining courses outside of the above requirements may be STEM-based credits  unspecified by the program.

Dissertation requirements are:

1. 18 credits of dissertation research in consecutive academic semesters (MSE 9991, MSE 9992, MSE 9993, and MSE 9994: Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, II, III, and IV, respectively). A range of credits can be chosen and should be discussed with your primary research advisor prior to registration.
2. The qualifying examination
3. The prospectus and proposal (that is, oral and written prospectus)
4. One or more data meetings, as suggested by your dissertation committee
5. Yearly presentations, either external or internal to WSU (with completed presentation form for each academic year).
6. Dissertation and defense.