2021 Graduate Curriculum
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of Delaware
Rev. 6/18/21
CBE Graduate Program Aims
• The PhD program aims to equip students to conduct research; enable them
to develop the maturity of judgment necessary for critical, creative, and
independent thinking; and prepare them to contribute to scientific and
engineering knowledge in a particular area of scholarship.
• The curriculum is a formal mechanism by which the program aims are
implemented. A new curriculum will put in practice in the fall of 2021.
• In addition to the curriculum, there are other formal and informal
mechanisms by which the program and UD offers opportunities for
intellectual and professional growth:
– Mentoring by advisors, thesis committees, external collaborators, etc.
– Group meetings
– Departmental Seminars, Centers’ Seminars
– The Colburn Club and other student organizations’ activities
– University-wide seminars, symposia and other events
Driving Change
• Field has changed fundamentally
– Greatly expanded / expanding diversity in research areas
– Computational toolsets available + data science revolution = foundational
changes in problem solving and problem types
– Life sciences + engineering = biomolecular engineering
– Multidisciplinary collaboration has become the norm
– Broader career landscape, different/diverse industry problems
– Entrepreneurship is increasingly central to discipline
• New vision of 21
st
Century Graduate Education has Emerged
– Provide core and field-specific scientific competencies
– Provide transferable professional competencies: communication, leadership and
ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
– Flexibility to foster individual student’s career development and preferences
– Offer opportunities for career exploration
New Curriculum
• Required Core Courses (14 credits)
– 6 x 2 credit modules
• 5 in fall
• CHEG803 Science Communication
– 2 x 1 credit CBE Seminar
• CBE Seminar series
– 2 x 1-credit course in different years
• Electives (11 credits)
– 2 x 2 credit modules (Spring)
• A Concentration can be obtained if the two
modules are in the same subfield
– 7 credits of graduate electives minimum (600 and
800 level)
• Research
– 9 credits of research
• TOTAL = 34 credits
Old Curriculum
• Required Core Courses
– 3 x 3 + 2 x 4 = 17 credits core
• Electives
– 8 credits of electives minimum
(600 and 800 level)
• Research
– 9 credits of research
• TOTAL = 34 credits
Course and Credit Requirements
New Organizational Elements
• A modularized, more adaptive core
– More relevant to student’s research preferences
– More flexible for students and across time
• 2-credit half-semester Course Units
– 4 x 50 min contact time per week
– First unit meets Aug. 31
st
to Oct. 15
th
.
– Second unit meets Oct. 18
th
to Dec. 10
th
.
• Seminar Class
– Complements content and skill development provided elsewhere with
professional competencies
• Communication
– Addressed explicitly and in a systematic manner
Fall I
5-6 modules
(10-12 credits)
Seminar
(1 credit)
Fall II
Spring I
2 modules = 4 cr
(1 req, 1 elective)
Spring II
1 module = 2 cr
(1 elective)
Molecular
Thermodynamics
Statistical
thermodynamics of
molecular systems.
intermolecular potentials,
molecular models of
gases, crystals , liquids,
molecular simulations
Kinetic Processes
Reaction networks and
rate theories, rates of
complex reactions,
model reduction
methods, stochastic
kinetics, catalysis and
biocatalysis
Soft Materials,
Colloids and
Polymers Integrates
continuum and
molecular descriptions
of matter as the basis
for engineering soft
materials
Diffusive Transport
Processes
Diffusive transport
processes ranging from
simple molecular models
of transport in gases and
liquids to macroscopic
processes
Chemical Interfaces
and Surfaces: Surface
forces; Lifshitz theory;
physisorption and
chemisorption,
adhesion and wetting;
friction and lubrication
Rate Processes and
Dynamics of
Microbial Systems:
enzyme kinetics,
translation and
transcription, genetic
regulation, cell growth,
chemotaxis and
quorum sensing
Rate Processes and
Dynamics of
Mammalian Cellular
Systems: Cell
signaling, proliferation
and growth, cell
phenotype and
function. Multicellular
processes
Applied
Thermodynamics
Principles of continuum
thermodynamics,
energy and entropy
balances with
applications to
contemporary
problems
Continuum Transport
in Materials
Continuum mechanics
of fluids and solids;
boundary layer theory;
creeping flows; scaling
and asymptotic
analysis; convective
transport
Electrochemical
Systems:
Fundamental principles
of electrochemistry,
electrokinetics,
transport and the
electrochemical
interface. Electro-
analytical techniques
Modeling, Analysis
and Acquisition of
Data: Modeling and
analysis of data with
uncertainty, describing
information in data,
strategies for efficient
data acquisition
Research
Communication
Written and oral
communication in
science, Audience
evaluation, creation
and editing of scientific
documents, persuasive
writing and speaking,
effective
communication in
person and through
social media.
Process Systems
Engineering: Systems
Approach to Problem
Solving. Mathematical
programming techniques
for solution of process
design, and operations
problems.
Data Science for
Chem. and
Biomolecular Eng.:
Data science,
probability and
statistics for application
to small and big data
problems in Chem. E.
Introduction to Data
and Systems
Analysis
Linear Algebra, math
underlying modern
Chem Eng. research,
analysis of data, math
modeling & simulation
Course Load (Electives not listed)
Spring Semester
Fall Semester
Core Courses
Either/Or
Chemical and
Biomolecular
Engineering
Seminar
Responsible and
effective research
practices, student-
advisor
relationship, work-life
balance and self-
care, time
management,
teamwork and
collaboration, mentor-
mentee relationships,
etc.
Note: A few inconsistencies in the video have been corrected. RFL 6/18
Graduate Seminar Plays Seminal Role
• Improves students’ knowledge of non-technical elements of a graduate
engineering career
• Exposure to diverse perspectives on science, engineering and the role of PhDs
in society
• Promotes wider mentoring opportunities and training among peers
• Expand informal advising network
• Improves knowledge of how to:
– Develop a career plan
– Work in teams effectively
– Mental health at UD and beyond
– Engage with entrepreneurship
Spring I
Spring II
Rate Processes and
Dynamics of
Microbial Systems:
enzyme kinetics,
translation and
transcription, genetic
regulation, cell growth,
chemotaxis and
quorum sensing
Rate Processes and
Dynamics of
Mammalian Cellular
Systems: Cell
signaling, proliferation
and growth, cell
phenotype and
function. Multicellular
processes
Applied
Thermodynamics
Principles of continuum
thermodynamics,
energy and entropy
balances with
applications to
contemporary
problems
Electrochemical
Systems:
Fundamental principles
of electrochemistry,
electrokinetics,
transport and the
electrochemical
interface. Electro-
analytical technques
Process Systems
Engineering: Systems
Approach to Problem
Solving. Mathematical
programming techniques
for solution of process
design, and operations
problems.
Data Science for
Chem. and
Biomolecular Eng.:
Data science,
probability and
statistics for application
to small and big data
problems in Chem. E.
Concentrations
• Students can pursue a concentration by taking two courses (4 credits)
on the same subject during the spring semester
• Concentrations are optional
• Courses can be taken over more than one year
Spring Semester
Data/Systems Soft Matter Energy
Biomolecular Eng.
Soft Materials,
Colloids and
Polymers Integrates
continuum and
molecular descriptions
of matter as the basis
for engineering soft
materials
Continuum Transport
in Materials
Continuum mechanics
of fluids and solids;
boundary layer theory;
creeping flows; scaling
and asymptotic
analysis; convective
transport
Note: A few inconsistencies in the video have been corrected here. RFL 6/18
CBE Graduate Curriculum in Table Format
Semester
Data/Systems
Soft Matter
Catalysis and
Energy
Biomolecular
Engineering
Integrative Courses
Fall I
CHEG802:
Introduction to Data
and Systems Analysis
CHEG810: Molecular
Thermodynamics
CHEG820:
Kinetic
Processes
CHEG800:
Chemical
and Biomolecular
Engineering Seminar
(1 semester)
Fall II
CHEG807:
Modeling,
Analysis and
Acquisition of Data
CHEG811:
Chemical
Interfaces and
Surfaces
CHEG821: Diffusive
Transport Processes
Spring I
CHEG860:
Process
Systems Engineering
CHEG830:
Continuum
Transport in
Materials
CHEG850:
Electrochemical
Systems
CHEG840:
Rate
Processes &
Dynamics for
Microbial Systems
CHEG803: Advanced
Scientific
Communication
(1 semester)
Spring II
CHEG861:
Data
Science for Chem.
and Biomolecular
Engineering
CHEG832:
Soft
Materials, Colloids
and Polymers
CHEG851:
Applied
Thermodynamics
CHEG 843:
Rate
Processes &
Dynamics for
Mammalian Cellular
Systems
Curricular Flexibility Leads to a Range of
Options
• Fall Academic Load: 11-14 credits
– 5 required modules + seminar = 11 cr
– 5 required modules + seminar + 2 cr elective module = 13 cr
– 5 required modules + seminar + 3 cr elective = 14 cr
• Spring Academic Load: 6-11 credits
– Science Communication + 2 modules = 6 cr
– Science Communication + 3 modules = 8 cr
– Science Communication + 3 modules + 3 credit elective = 11 cr
Representative Schedule I: Biomolecular
Engineering Concentration
Fall I
Fall II
CHEG800: Seminar
CHEG800: Seminar
CHEG810: Molecular Thermodynamics
CHEG807: Modeling, Analysis and Acquisition of
Data
CHEG820: Kinetic Processes
CHEG811: Chemical Interfaces and Surfaces
CHEG821: Diffusive Transport Processes
Spring I
Spring II
CHEG803: Scientific Communication
CHEG803: Scientific Communication
CHEG840: Rate Processes & Dynamics for
Microbial Systems
CHEG843: Rate Processes & Dynamics for
Mammalian Cellular Systems
CHEG 832: Soft Materials, Colloids, and Polymers
Representative Schedule II: Soft Matter
Concentration
Fall I
Fall II
CHEG800: Seminar
CHEG800: Seminar
CHEG810: Molecular Thermodynamics
CHEG832: Chemical Interfaces and Surfaces
CHEG820: Kinetic Processes
CHEG821: Diffusive Transport Processes
CHEG802: Introduction to Data and Systems
Analysis
Spring I
Spring II
CHEG803: Scientific Communication
CHEG803: Scientific Communication
CHEG830: Continuum Transport of Materials
CHEG832: Soft Materials, Colloids and Polymers
CHEG850: Electrochemical Systems (Elective)
FAQs
• Can I take any of these courses in my 2
nd
or 3
rd
year as a graduate student?
– Yes, they would count as elective credits since your core is completed.
Advisor approval is required.
• Can I take courses that are not part of this core graduate curriculum?
– Yes. Several of the elective 3 cr courses offered during academic year
count as graduate credits; look for CHEG8XX course numbers
• Can I take courses in another department?
– Yes, there are courses in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics,
Biology, etc., that count as elective graduate credits. These could be
XXX6XX or YYY8YY depending on the department
Acknowledgments
• We acknowledge the departmental Graduate Studies Committee that
developed and refined the new curriculum with input from many faculty
members
• In particular, we acknowledge Prof. Millicent Sullivan whose leadership and
perseverance were not only essential for the development of the new
curriculum, but also were key to drive this new program through the
University approval process seamlessly.
13
