Students in the PhD program in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University must pass a written qualifying examination within one year of their enrollment. Within one year of successfully passing the qualifying examination, the student forms an examining committee and takes the general examination, which is an oral defense of a written plan for doctoral research. A final examination must also be passed. The final examination is an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation.

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the Louisiana State University Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

Students already holding a master’s degree in chemical engineering can transfer up to nine hours of coursework, with a maximum of two core courses eligible for transfer. Every credit transfer is at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies. A minimum of six hours of coursework numbered 7300 or greater must be taken at LSU, regardless of the transferred credit.