Chemical Engineering MS Program
Program Mission:
The mission of the Chemical Engineering Program at KAUST is to educate and inspire future leaders to advance chemical and process engineering knowledge through cutting-edge research, innovative education, and industry engagement that drive sustainable energy, environmental, and materials solutions for the Kingdom and the world.
Program Goals:
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Deliver an advanced, research-driven education that equips students with deep theoretical knowledge and practical skills in chemical and process engineering.
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Cultivate leadership, integrity, and a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning among graduates to serve the Kingdom and the global community.
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Dynamically integrate chemical engineering with emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, and environmental technology to address complex global challenges.
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Strengthen partnerships with industry, government, and global research institutions to translate discoveries into technologies that drive economic and societal impact.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Knowledge and Understanding:
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K1: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of advanced chemical engineering principles, including thermodynamics, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, and separation processes.
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K2: Explain and integrate interdisciplinary scientific and engineering concepts underpinning sustainable energy systems, environmental technologies, and advanced materials.
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K3: Critically analyze current research, emerging technologies, and industrial practices in chemical and process engineering to identify opportunities for innovation.
Skills:
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S1: Apply advanced chemical engineering principles and computational tools to design, optimize, and evaluate chemical and process systems.
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S2: Conduct independent and collaborative research using appropriate experimental, analytical, and modeling methods to generate new scientific knowledge or technological innovations.
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S3: Analyze complex engineering problems and propose creative, data-driven, and sustainable solutions relevant to energy, environmental, and materials challenges.
Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility:
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V1: Demonstrate ethical conduct, professional integrity, and responsibility in research, teaching, and engineering practice.
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V2: Work effectively and respectfully in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams, assuming leadership roles when appropriate to achieve shared research and innovation goals.
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V3: Evaluate the societal, environmental, and economic impacts of engineering solutions, upholding sustainability and safety as core professional values.
MS Course Requirements
MS students must complete the following requirements:
- Core Courses (12 credits)
- Elective Courses (12 credits)
- Research/Capstone (12 credits)
- Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
- Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
Core and Elective Courses must be technical courses and cannot be substituted with Research or Internship to fulfill degree requirements.
Core Courses (12 credits)
Core Courses provide students with the background needed to establish a solid foundation in the program area. Students must complete 12 credits (4 Core Courses) and be aware that Core Courses may be offered only once per academic year.
| CE 201 | Chemical Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CE 202 | Advanced Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| CE 203 | Advanced Reaction Engineering | 3 |
| CE 319 | Chemical Process Technology | 3 |
Elective Courses (12 credits)
The Elective Courses allow students to tailor their educational experience to meet individual research and educational objectives with the permission of the Academic Advisor. To complete these twelve credit hours in CE, students must preferably pass four electives from the list below. However, alternative Elective Courses from other KAUST programs can also be approved by the Academic Advisor.
| CE 300 | Sustainable Process Design | 3 |
| CE 305 | Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment | 3 |
| CE 310 | Colloids, Interfaces, and Surfaces | 3 |
| CE 335 | Heterogeneous Catalysis | 3 |
| ME 256 | Electrochemical Energy Systems | 3 |
CE 390: Special Topics can be used as an elective.
Graduate Seminars (non-credit)
All MS students must register for two semesters and receive a Satisfactory grade in each semester. Students must attend a minimum of 8 Graduate Seminars per semester to receive a Satisfactory (S) grade. The seminars can be chosen from any Graduate Seminar series offered by the PSE division. Attendance of additional seminars in other KAUST programs is highly encouraged.
Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)
All students must complete the Winter Enrichment Program (WE 100) for credit at least once during their studies at KAUST. Students who have previously completed WEP will be exempt from this requirement in their future studies.
MS Thesis
Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of Thesis Research (CE 297).
For more details on the Thesis Application, Thesis Committee Formation, Thesis Defense Results, Thesis Document and Thesis Archiving please check the policy page