Prospective Graduate Students

Admissions

To join the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Graduate Program, applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the LSU Graduate School and the department. Applications for admission are evaluated by the department graduate admissions committee on a competitive basis. Each applicant is assessed for success at the graduate level, taking into consideration academic credentials, undergraduate preparation, research skills, industry experience, recommendations, and TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores (for international students whose native language is not English), as well as any other information that contributes to the review. Program admission is also dependent on the availability of departmental funding, office/laboratory space, and faculty interest.

All applicants are encouraged to visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on this page, as well as the Graduate School's FAQ section, for additional information and answers to the most common admission questions.

 

  • Bachelor’s degree from accredited U.S. or equivalent from a foreign institution
  • A 3.0 cumulative grade point average on undergraduate course work or in the final 60 credit hours or at least 9 hours of any graduate work already completed with appropriate grades for regular admission 

A GPA of 3.0 is required for all students, but in some cases, a high GRE score may be used to compensate for a GPA between 2.75 - 3.00 

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School.

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Official transcripts (along with an English translation version for non-English speaking universities) from each and every institution attended, official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores (for international students whose native language is not English), and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: Graduate Admissions, 114 West David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

In addition to the documents and scores listed in the "Departmental Admission Requirements" section above, applicants can include a letter of intent, writing sample(s), and a GRE score. All of these additional items should be submitted electronically through the Graduate School admission system. Direct mailing of these items is discouraged. While these items are not required, they could give you a competitive edge over applicants who do not submit these items.

  • Individual transcripts for EVERY institution at which you have attempted hours (including dual enrollment and/or AP courses) must be submitted. Transcripts can be unofficial, however, a transcript for each school is required for review. If admitted, then all official transcripts are required within the first 30 days of courses beginning. 
    • In addition to transcripts, international applicants are required to submit degree certificates/diplomas.
  • Resume or CV containing employment and educational history. 
  • 3 Recommendation Letters are requested under the recommendation tab in the application portal 
  • Statement of Purpose 
    • Your format will reflect your level of professionalism. Your statement of purpose should be limited to three pages or less (unless a program requests additional pages).  Be concise. As a good rule, a single-spaced, 10-12 point-size font, with reasonable margins is best. Before uploading your Statement of Purpose, ask an adviser, a trusted colleague, or a faculty member to read and comment on your work. Try to revise your statement at least once. 
      • Use the following prompts to guide you in writing your Statement of Purpose.  
      • Introduce yourself and your reasons for pursuing graduate study. 
      • Discuss your experiences with the following: 
        • Explain why you chose the field of Chemical Engineering 
        • List your expertise and accomplishments in your major field. 
        • Describe your undergraduate studies, current career track or volunteer activities and how they relate to what you intend to do in graduate school. 
        • Include specific experiences that demonstrate your motivation and inspiration for continued study. 
        • Mention specific faculty with whom you are interested in working with at LSU. 
        • Leave the reader with a statement of your perceived qualifications and your view of why you will be successful in graduate school. 
        • Describe how you will manage the academic demand of graduate school. If you are applying to the PhD program, discuss how will you manage the academic demand of graduate school while completing research. 
        • Explain what it is that you hope to experience or contribute while you are a student at LSU? 
        • Describe your plans or goals after you have received your graduate degree and how this program will help you reach those goals.  
  • The Graduate School requires either a TOFEL or IELTS score for international applicants.   
    • The minimum TOFEL requirement is   
      • 550 (paper-based exam)   
      • 213 (computer-based exam)   
      • or 79 (internet-based exam)  
    • The minimum IELTS requirement is 6.5   
  • Optional Documents 
    • GRE Score: Goal score of 297 or higher 
      • Should be requested directly from ETS to the LSU Graduate School code using the school code 6373. 
    • Writing Sample / Previous Publications

Fall Semester:

April 15 (International Students)

June 30 (Domestic Students)

Spring Semester:

October 1 (International Students)

November 15 (Domestic Students)

Completed applications received by the priority deadline of February 1 are given first consideration

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After You Apply

 

Track your application status online.

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The Graduate Committee begins reviewing applications at the end of January.

Completed applications received by the priority deadline of February 1 are given first consideration. During departmental review of your application, if the review committee has further questions, you may be asked to participate in a short interview.

Completed applications are those for which all required documents and information have been received by the Graduate School. 

The department graduate admissions committee reviews the record of each applicant, taking into consideration grade point average, undergraduate preparation, engineering experience, recommendations, and any other information which can contribute to the review.

Superior applicants will be invited to visit the department at our expense.

 


 

FAQ

Our deadline for fall admission is April 15, but we start admitting students in early February. Applications that are received after we have started the admission process have a reduced chance of admission because there will be fewer open positions remaining. For fall applicants, we recommend that the application be submitted no later than January 1 in order to have the best chance of admission.

The answer to both questions is yes. However, our program is best suited for fall admission, and the spring class is typically much smaller than the fall class. Occasionally, we do not have a spring class.

Our department graduate admissions committee makes all decisions concerning admission and assistantships. They review the record of each applicant, taking into consideration grade-point average, undergraduate preparation, engineering experience, recommendation letters, and any other information which can contribute to the review.

That is difficult to say. The decision process usually begins in early February (for fall applicants) and continues through the spring semester. A decision may be made shortly after we receive your application, but a pool of qualified applicants is kept on hold until we have received as many acceptances as we have openings. Applicants will receive the decision via the email address provided on the online application. No decisions will be given over the phone.

No. However, we can say that a large number of our students are granted financial aid. You will be notified via email if you are offered financial aid. We do not respond to inquiries concerning financial aid status.

No. During the application process, you must supply the names and email addresses of the three (or more) people from whom you are requesting a recommendation letter. An automatic email will be sent to them with instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. You will be able to see which letters have been received via your Graduate School online application. You may also have your recommenders write letters, seal the envelopes, sign over the seal, and give them to you to mail to us.

Yes, but if you are admitted, you must then request that ETS sends the official scores to the Graduate School before the beginning of your first semester.

Probably not. Most faculty members are deluged with emails from prospective students and will not commit themselves to work with a student based only on email correspondence and an application package. Matching students with projects is a complex process involving student competition and available funding. Therefore, most faculty members will want to meet students in person and see how well they perform in core CHE courses before making a decision. However, most faculty members will be more willing to commit to advising a student if this commitment does not include a financial obligation to support the student. Therefore, if you are financially self-supported and do not require an assistantship, it may make sense to contact potential research advisors in advance.

Shortly after the semester begins, faculty members offering projects will give short presentations on these projects. New students will then have most of the semester to talk to the faculty members for whom they would like to work. Each student must hand in a list of three or more desired projects, ranked in order of preference. Students are then assigned projects based on these lists, preferably in such a way that everyone gets his or her first choice. Obviously, this is not always possible.

The LSU Graduate School requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper based exam), 213 (computer based exam), or 79 (internet based exam); IELTS score of 6.5; or PTE score of 59 (for international students whose native language is not English). No exceptions. Our department prefers scores of at least 620 (pBt), 260 (cBt), or 105 (iBt), but these scores are not required for admission as many factors are evaluated when considering admission of each applicant.

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.

No. However, submitting an outstanding GRE score can separate you from other applicants. You can submit an unofficial GRE score. If you are admitted, you will be required to have ETS send the official score to the LSU Graduate School prior to your first semester at LSU.

Contact Information

Kevin McPeak, Director of Graduate Studies
Email: kmcpeak@lsu.edu
Office: 3315L Patrick Taylor Hall
Telephone: 225-578-0058