Degree Pathway for Ph.D. in Engineering, Plastics Engineering Option
For students entering Spring 2026 and before.
Course Requirements for the Ph.D. in Engineering, Plastics Engineering Option
```| Required Core Courses (total number of courses required is 2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| Sub total | 24 | |
| PLAS.5090 | Plastics Processing Theory I | 3 |
| PLAS.6820 | Physical Polymer Science | 3 |
| PLAS.5480 | Numerical and Analytical Methods | 3 |
| PLAS.5730 | Graduate Polymer Laboratory | 3 |
| PLAS.6780 | New Development in Polymer Manufacturing | 3 |
| PLAS.6420 | Characterization of Polymers and Plastics | 3 |
| PLAS.6180 | Structural Product Design | 3 |
PLAS.5850 OR | Computer Aided Engineering OR Advanced Mold Design | 3 |
| Elective Course Choices (total courses required is 5, see below for more choices) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
| PLAS.XXXX | Plastics Engineering elective 1 | 3 |
| PLAS.XXXX | Plastics Engineering elective 2 | 3 |
PLAS.5440 OR | Advanced Plastics Materials (or placement exam) OR elective | 3 |
PLAS.5180 OR | Plastics Product Design (or placement exam) OR elective | 3 |
PLAS.5030 OR | Mechanical Behavior of Polymers (or placement exam) OR elective | 3 |
PLAS.5060 OR | Polymer Structure Properties and Applications (or placement exam) OR elective | 3 |
PLAS.5780 OR | Advanced Plastics Processing (or placement exam) OR elective | 3 |
PLAS.7530 OR PLAS.7560 OR | Doctoral Dissertation / Plastics Engineering | 21-33 |
| Sub Total | 39 | |
Additional electives can be found on our Course Listing for Plastics Engineering.
Total number of courses required for the degree is 13.
Total credit hours for the degree is 63.
Updated 6/12/26