John R. and Jeanette Dachille McWhirter Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering

Start making a difference

If you’re seeking an opportunity to solve the important problems facing society today, the Department of Chemical Engineering is a great place for you! As a Penn State chemical engineering graduate student, you would work collaboratively with experts from diverse backgrounds at both Penn State and around the world.

Why choose Penn State for your graduate experience?

• Endowed program: We offer our graduate students fellowships, travel funds, an active graduate student association, and our own research symposium to enhance our graduate student experience.
• Established and growing program: Our program began in the 1920s and we’re looking to a bright future with our new building and a growing group of impactful faculty covering six research areas.
• Expert faculty as mentors: Students have their choice of faculty with extensive academic and industry backgrounds as their research mentors.
• Impactful research opportunities: With funding from industry and federal sources, our research projects tackle some of society's most pressing societal issues in human health, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, accessible food supply, and more.
• Cutting-edge facilities: The Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building features 109,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs, innovative collaborative spaces, bright and roomy graduate student office space, and more. Click here to watch a video featuring the facilities.

Our graduate degree programs include:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Ph.D.)
  Application Deadline: December 15 for early admission and January 8 for regular admission.
• One-year, Non-thesis Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (M.S.)
  Application Deadline: April 15. Please note that the application review will begin as early as mid-February and continue on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Admission may be granted after April 30 if spaces remain unfilled.
• Graduate Minor in Chemical Engineering

Applying to McWhirter Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering

We use holistic admissions and encourage prospective students to read the assessment approach for the applications before starting their application

Applications are accepted online only through the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School’s Online Application Portal.