Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Water)
The University of Waterloo offers a unique research-based Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) collaborative program in Water. This program, jointly offered by ten departments across the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Environment, Mathematics and Science, is intended to promote multi- and inter-disciplinary perspectives related to water. The goal of the program is to supplement disciplinary (specialist) training offered in individual departments with perspectives from a variety of water-related disciplines. Students graduating from the collaborative program will be better equipped to work in multidisciplinary teams to solve increasingly complex water issues.
The over 130 faculty members involved in water research at the University of Waterloo represent international excellence and leadership in the field. The faculty cohort includes a Canada Excellence Research Chair, eight Canada Research Chairs, two NSERC Industrial Research Chairs and several University Chairs. The University’s water programs are diverse and collectively comprehensive, creating a dynamic research and learning environment. Core disciplinary expertise includes:
- Hydrological (groundwater, surface water) science and engineering;
- Water/wastewater treatment and technology;
- Ecohydrology;
- Aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology;
- Water management, policy and governance.
The collaborative program in Water represents tremendous opportunity for graduate students to train within their chosen disciplines while being exposed to perspectives of water research, innovation and management from other fields.
Admissions Requirements
Interested students should apply to the collaborative program in Water in one of the following departments via the regular university application process:
The collaborative program is available to students who are applying to thesis or major paper-based research programs in the home department and whose program of study will have a substantial focus on water. Admission requirements are the same as home department programs, who must approve the application. Students will be required to submit a brief statement of their research interests in water with their application.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all of the requirements of their home department, including any specific courses, thesis or seminar milestones, and all of the requirements of the Water program. Whether or not collaborative program courses can be used as electives in the home department will be determined by the department, and may differ from department to department. It is therefore possible that students will need to take additional courses beyond those prescribed by the home department in order to meet the specific requirements of the Water program.
The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Water) degree are:
PhD (with a MASc degree)
- 5 graduate courses (0.50 unit weight per course) towards degree credit as follows:
- Background Chemical Engineering at least 2 core courses, or Background Non-Chemical Engineering 3 core courses.
- 2 required WATER courses (WATER 601, WATER 602).
- At most 1 from this group: 500 level or held with.
- At most 2 courses may be taught by supervisor(s).
- At most 1 from this group: reading or seminar course.
- PhD comprehensive exam (due in 4th term).
- PhD Thesis.
- Seminar attendance.
PhD (without a MASc degree)
- 8 courses (.5 unit weight per course) towards degree credit as follows:
- At least 4 core courses.
- 2 required WATER courses (WATER 601, WATER 602).
- At most 1 from this group: reading or seminar course.
- At most 2 courses may be taught by supervisor.
- At most 1 reading/seminar course.
- PhD comprehensive exam (due in 4th term).
- PhD Thesis.
- Seminar attendance.
Notes
- At least half of the courses for degree requirements must be Faculty of Engineering graduate courses.
- All regular students must achieve a minimum cumulative average of 70% AND a minimum grade of 65% in any individual course (except for core courses which require 70%). Students are responsible for monitoring their academic records. Any inadequate grade or average should be brought to the immediate attention of the Graduate Coordinator.
- Full time MASc students should attend 12 seminars and PhD students should attend 24 seminars over the course of their degree program (seminars in Chemical Engineering, WIN and from units in the approved list only). Attendance is taken at Chemical Engineering Seminars, students must fill out attendance form and get it signed for WIN and other approved seminars.
Chemical Engineering core courses
-
CHE 610: Transport Phenomena
- CHE 612: Interfacial Phenomena
- CHE 620: Applied Engineering Mathematics
- CHE 622: Statistics in Engineering
- CHE 630: Chemical Reactor Analysis
- CHE 640: Principles of Polymer Science
- CHE 660: Principles of Biochemical engineering
- NANO 701: Fundamentals of Nanotechnology(*)
- NANO 702: Nanotechnology Tools(*)
All regular students must achieve at least 70% in each core course; a higher grade in core courses is required for probationary students as specified in their admission letters. At least 50% of the final grade in core courses will be determined by a final written exam.
(*)Students must complete two Nano 701 modules (0.25 credit each) to meet the core course requirement for Nano 701.
(*)Students must complete two Nano 702 modules (0.25 credit each) to meet the core course requirement for Nano 702.
Core courses
Core courses are designed to provide fundamental multidisciplinary knowledge and experience to complement the student’s specialist courses and water-related research in the home department.
The two required core courses are:
- WATER 601: Integrated Water Management (0.50 credit)
- WATER 602: Integrated Water Management Project (0.50 credit)
Research Seminar
Students will make a formal presentation on their research at an annual symposium or other designated event. This will be an opportunity to interact with a very broad multidisciplinary audience that crosses all areas of research in the collaborative programs.
Other opportunities
Students enrolled in the collaborative program will be offered other learning opportunities, such as participation in seminars and workshops and access to visiting fellows and scholars, which will enhance the learning experience.
Applying for the collaborative program in Water
For more information about the collaborative Water graduate programs, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator of a participating department or:
Dr. Mark Servos
Program Director
Phone: 519-888-4567 x36034
Email: mservos@uwaterloo.ca
Interested students should visit the Graduate Studies Office website.