Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

The Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at KU offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in both chemical and petroleum engineering. For students who desire to continue their studies, the department offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in either chemical or petroleum engineering as well as the undesignated Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the School of Engineering.

The Chemical Engineering program offers undergraduates the opportunity to focus their studies in the environmental, biomedical, or pre-medical options as well as the standard chemical engineering curriculum. A formal curriculum is also available for students who wish to alternate academics and work experience in the Coop program.

The primary focus of KU's petroleum engineering program is reservoir engineering, the science of improving the productivity of oil and gas reservoirs.

The undergraduate programs in chemical and petroleum engineering provide a foundation that enables a graduate to pursue a professional engineering career. For those who want a deeper academic understanding of these branches of engineering or who plan to work in research or development, graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels are available. The department offers the M.S. degree in the fields of chemical engineering and petroleum engineering. In addition, the Ph.D. degree in the School of Engineering may be earned in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

In the master's programs, the primary emphasis is on formal course work in engineering and related subjects. Students take a sequence of core courses in heat, mass and momentum transport, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, applied mathematics, phase equilibrium, and flow through porous media.

In the doctoral program, the emphasis is on research that involves an independent attack on a significant engineering problem. Specific course work at the Ph.D. level depends on the specialization selected by the student. Specializations reflect the research interests of the faculty. In addition to specialized courses in the department, advanced courses in mathematics and computer science, life sciences, physical sciences, and other branches of engineering may be used to prepare the plan of study for a Ph.D. student.