Switching Disciplines/Programs in Graduate School at the Same Institution

[process chemist]

How easy is this. Myself and at least two other fellow graduate students in my cohort are seriously thinking about switching to

Chemical Engineering. We just don't see ourselves doing a PhD in chemistry. It makes no sense to waste two years getting enough credits to get an MS, then re-applying to the same university for a MS in the ChemE. program.

I think we are starting to have these conversations and looking at the job market for PhD chemist, and we are coming to the conclusion that we are not in the right field. We have already had two students from our 11 student cohort leave the program, as they were not happy with the program, and some felt misled (faculty member left during the summer, but was still telling students that he was going to be here); and one student came here to work with the only theoretical chemist in the department, to only be told when he got here that the prof wasn't taking students so the kid gets thrown on some project he doesn't want to do. I know that I am not happy in this department , but I don't know how to proceed. I have friends at other universities who aren't havinga hard time like we are here. Some of us (me included) are TAing three lab sections with grading/exam proctoring responsibilities, in addition taking classes, and doing research. Some of the classes are almost to the point of insanity, but semi-doable if you don't get bogged down doing TA activities (I spent 50% of my time last semester doing pre-labs, grade changes, and grading). I guess this is the downside of going to a smaller program.

[juilletmercredi]

This depends entirely on your university's policies and the policies of the chemical engineering department.  I suggest that you contact the Director of Graduate Studies of the ChemE department at your university and make an appointment to chat with him or her about what the policy would be for transferring departments within schools.  I would also keep your own DGS and/or advisor in the loop once you have made an actual decision to transfer, as you will need their support as well.

[Miro]

I was thinking about doing this, except i want to switch to biomedical engineering. I affiliated into an BME lab and currently taking a lot f classes in BME to help me do my research. The PI who i work for is also the current DGS of BME. I havent moved forward with this because i do not know if i could get into the BME program. our BME program is currently racked in the top 5 while the chem dept. is ranked 45ish.

please update if you decided to switch?

[SymmetryOfImperfection]

chemE classes are challenging. you need to get through graduate level thermodynamics, transport phenomena, reaction engineering and math methods at most schools. none of that is a cakewalk.

 

of course, some classes like graduate organic synthesis are so insanely hard (or so I've heard) that you'll think "ANYTHING is easier".

 

here's what i recommend: buy a copy of the recommended textbooks and just flip through them. if you think "I can get through this with a bit of review/I can do it NOW" then go for it.