Graduate Course Descriptions

The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.

5001. Advanced Chemical Engineering Fundamentals

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course will provide graduate-level introduction to thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and kinetics within the context of chemical engineering applications. Primary attention will be paid to developing an understanding of the fundamentals of each of these topic areas. As the course progresses, integration and application of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reaction kinetics will be discussed.

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5013. Principles of Regenerative Engineering and Applications

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Foundations, principles, and technologies of regenerative engineering.

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5301. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An advanced study of classical thermodynamics with emphasis on phase and chemical equilibria and applications to the chemical process industries. Kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on the prediction and correlation of physical and chemical properties of gases and liquids, including mixtures. Theory and application of flames, plasmas, and shock waves.

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5302. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An advanced study of classical thermodynamics with emphasis on phase and chemical equilibria and applications to the chemical process industries. Kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on the prediction and correlation of physical and chemical properties of gases and liquids, including mixtures. Theory and application of flames, plasmas, and shock waves.

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5315. Transfer Operations I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An advanced study of momentum, heat and mass transfer with application to complex problems. Cartesian tensors, non-Newtonian flow, statistical theory of turbulence. Mass transfer in multicomponent systems and with chemical reaction. Mass transfer in drops and bubbles; two-phase flow and fluidization.

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5321. Reaction Kinetics I

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Chemical kinetics and reactor design. An advanced study of chemical reaction engineering with emphasis on catalysis. Applications to stirred-tanks, fixed-bed, and fluidized bed reactors.

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5323. Surface Chemistry and Heterogeneous Catalysis

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: CHEM 1128; Math 1132; CHEG 2103 or equivalent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Quantum Mechanics, Physical Chemistry. Grading Basis: Graded The course will serve as an in-depth introduction to heterogeneous catalysis from a surface chemistry perspective. The course will cover topics of modern catalysis as well as the fundamental physics, chemistry, and engineering of catalysis and catalytic reactors.

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5330. Applied Machine Learning in Chemical Engineering

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

This course is an applied machine learning algorithms course tailored for the chemical/process engineers. The focus of this course from is on case studies and real-world examples seen by chemical engineers. The course will include exposure to machine learning, data science & analytics, and big data in a chemical engineering context. Students are taught to identify descriptors, and predict and optimize system properties using a machine learning approach.

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5333. Computer Simulation in Chemical Engineering

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: CHEG 5001 or equivalent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Learning and applying modern tools for computer simulation of chemical engineering processes. Covers the basic equations required to simulate generic types of processes and interactive Computer Labs where we solve examples from the course textbook. You will integrate theory with modeling, determine other solutions and find bugs, and identify inaccuracies or problems in the proposed solution. Short introductions to the Interface of each Software (Aspen Plus, Matlab, Comsol) will be given. The Computer Labs structure will be based on a step-by-step solution of chemical engineering problems. Will work with PowerPoint slides to perform a step for a simulation, while working with the instructor to ensure understanding before proceeding to the next slide.

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5336. Optimization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Advanced topics in optimization such as linear and nonlinear programming, mixed-integer linear and nonlinear programming, deterministic and stochastic global optimization, and interval global optimization. Example applications drawn from engineering.

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5339. Uncertainty Analysis, Robust Design, and Optimization

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Provides students with a thorough understanding of platform-based and model-driven methods for uncertainty analysis and robust design of cyber-physical systems. Topics include modeling of uncertainties, sensitivity analysis, robust design analysis methodologies (DFSS, IDOV), and critical parameter management (CPM).

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5341. Fuel Processing

3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: Coursework taken from the Process Engineering Certificate.

Grading Basis: Graded

Concepts and principles of energy and fuel resources, production and processing by applying energy and mass balances. Fundamentals of fuels processing in refinery and biorefinery processes and industrial (catalytic and non-catalytic) processes by constructing and analyzing systems level flow diagrams. Develop, solve and analyze chemical engineering systems and processes by applying fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics as well as fundamental concepts from physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics. Analyze, propose solutions and present modern challenges in chemical engineering processes which involve fuel processing.

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5351. Polymer Physics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Modern concepts relating to glassy, rubbery and organized states of bulk polymers. Considers rubber elasticity, glass-to-rubber transitions, networks, elements of crystallization, blends and interfacial phenomena.

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5352. Polymer Properties

Also offered as: POLY 5352

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Interrelationships between solid state structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties of non-crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers. Considers polymer viscoelasticity, diffusion, failure mechanism, and elementary polymer rheology.

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5358. Composite Materials

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

An introduction to the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composite materials. Included are discussions of the behavior of unidirectional composites, short fiber composites and laminates. Special topics such as fatigue, fracture and environmental effects are also included.

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5363. Electrochemical Engineering

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles underlying electrochemical processes. Transformation of chemical and electrical energy. Applications of fundamental electrochemical laws to industrial processes, energy conversion, and electrometallurgical operations.

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5367. Polymer Rheology

Also offered as: POLY 5367

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Analysis of the deformation and flow of polymeric materials. Topics include non-Newtonian flow, viscoelastic behavior and melt fracture with application to polymer processing.

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5373. Biochemical Engineering

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles and design of processes involving biochemical reactions. Nature of biological materials, biochemical kinetics, heat and mass transfer, application to fermentation and other biological processes.

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5375. Fermentation and Separation Technology Laboratory

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to techniques used for industrial mass culture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and methods used to extract useful products from these cultures. Metabolic processes, energentics, growth kinetics and nutrition of microorganisms. Synthesis of cellular material and end products. Heat exchange, oxygen transfer, pH control, sterilization and design of fermentors. Culture of eukaryotic cell mass. Immobilized enzyme and cell reactors. Product recovery methods of precipitation centrifugation, extraction filtration and chromatography. Formerly CHEG 384. Also offered as MCB 384.

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5376. Bioseparations

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Instructor consent; enrollment in the School of Engineering.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to bioseparations, review of mass transport, adsorption, chromatography, filtration, extraction, electrophoresis, and field flow fractionation.

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5393. Seminar

Zero credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Registered

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5394. Seminar

Zero credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Registered

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5395. Investigation of Special Topics

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Designed for special topics, or for individual students who desire to pursue investigations in a specialized field.

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5399. Independent Study

1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 6 credits.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Independent study under the supervison of a Chemical Engineering faculty member.

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