Chemical Engineering

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. Students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing are assigned to the faculty graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty research adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers. During the first quarter in residence, students meet with all faculty members in the department, and choose three professors with whom they would like to conduct master's thesis research. These choices are submitted to the graduate adviser. The faculty meets separately and assigns each student their faculty research adviser, taking into account the student's choices and the interests of the department as a whole. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student.

Provisionally admitted students meet with the graduate adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remove any deficiencies.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study towards the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

During the first quarter in residence, students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing should arrange for an appointment with the research adviser for this specialization, and obtain an approved plan of study for the semiconductor specialization. The program of study may be changed only with the approval of the adviser.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental Student Affairs Officer and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. The specialization requires that the student have advanced knowledge of processing semiconductor devices on the nanoscale. This knowledge is assessed in a comprehensive examination.

Course Requirements

The requirements for the M.S. degree are nine courses (36 units) and a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in the graduate courses. Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 are required. Two other courses must be taken from regular offerings of the department, and two additional courses may be Chemical Engineering 598, involving work on the thesis. The remaining two of the nine courses may be taken from those offered by the department, or from any other field in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. At least 24 units must be in letter-graded 200-level courses.

All master's degree candidates are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization are required to complete 10 courses (44 units) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average overall and in graduate courses. A minimum of five (20 units) 200-series courses are required including 270 and 270R. Students are also required to take Chemical Engineering 104C and 104CL; Electrical Engineering 123A; and Materials Science and Engineering 121. In addition, students must select two courses from the department's list of electives as well as two courses from elective offerings in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering; a minimum of two of these elective courses must be in the 200 series. Approved elective courses include: Chemical Engineering C219, C214, C218, 223, C240; Electrical Engineering 124, 221A, 221B, 223, 224; Materials Science and Engineering 210 and 223.

Students in the specialization of semiconductor manufacturing who have been undergraduates or graduates at UCLA and who have already taken some of the required courses may substitute electives for these courses. However, no courses taken while not enrolled in the semiconductor manufacturing specialization may be counted toward the 10-course requirement for the degree. A program of study encompassing the course requirements must be submitted to the research adviser for approval before the end of the student's first quarter in residence.

A program of study which encompasses these requirements must be submitted to the departmental Student Affairs Office for approval before the end of the student's second quarter of residence.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L,199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 270R, a directed research course, in the field, working at an industrial semiconductor fabrication facility. The proposed research must be approved by the graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing and the industrial sponsor of the research.

Capstone Plan

This plan is only for students in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students take Chemical Engineering 597A to prepare for a comprehensive written examination. The examination tests for knowledge of the engineering principles of semiconductor manufacturing. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once within one quarter with the consent of the graduate adviser for the specialization. Second failure of the examination leads to a recommendation to the Graduate Division for termination of graduate study.

Thesis Plan

Every master's degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research.

This plan is for all M.S. degree students who are not in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. These students must complete a thesis. Students should consult the research adviser for details on the thesis plan. Thesis plan students nominate a three member thesis committee that must meet University regulations and be approved by the Graduate Division, as outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of time for students in the M.S. program is six quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is three years (nine quarters) from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization must complete the degree in two years (six quarters). The program may be completed in one calendar year (three quarters and a summer session) by enrolling in three courses per quarter and for one summer session. Students who are enrolled less than full-time must complete the degree in three years (nine quarters).

Requirements

• An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Applicants who wish to specialize in semiconductor manufacturing must hold a B.S. degree in engineering or physical science. Experience working in the semiconductor industry is highly desirable but not required. Applicants with this work experience should have their supervisor write one of the letters of recommendation.
• In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental supplement, a statement of purpose, and a bachelor's degree in a field that provides the student with at least two years of preparation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering.
• When applying to a UCLA graduate program, each international applicant is required to submit to that program official records from all academic institutions she or he attended.
• If you achieved a score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT, or 7.5 or higher on the IELTS, the ESLPE requirement is waived.
• If you scored below 100 on the TOEFL iBT, or below 7.5 on the IELTS, you mustsit for the ESLPE upon arrival at UCLA and immediately enroll in any assigned English as a Second Language courses.

Scholarships

• Global Education