Students who are interested in taking up to four courses in specific topics to update their professional skills can enroll as Non-Degree students at Rutgers University. After taking the four courses, students can apply for a change of degree status to a degree program and courses (with grade A, B+ or B only) will count towards the degree. International students cannot apply or enroll as non-degree students as Rutgers will not sponsor a non-degree student for a visa. Students that do not require a U.S. visa can apply as a non-degree student. There are several advantages:
- It is easy to enroll in the courses and bypass the formal degree application process, which saves time.
- GRE scores are not required, but a final transcript with proof of a BS from an accredited university is required. A personal statement is also required.
- To apply to the non-degree program of study, please apply online at the Graduate School New Brunswick. To apply, search for the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Program of Study and choose the non-degree option. Make sure you state that you are interested in pharmaceutical engineering in your personal statement.
- Permission to enroll in a specific course is granted by the department by assigning a special permission number.
- Students are allowed to take up to 4 courses (12 credit hours) as non-degree students. Students are graded and receive a transcript. These courses on the transcript are preceded with the letter “K”. At a later time, if the student desires they can apply for a change of degree status to a degree program. Students who have not taken the GRE and would like to pursue the MS or ME program can apply for a change of degree status without the GRE. If a student is accepted into the MS, ME or PhD program, the courses with K-prefix (with grade A, B+ or B only) will count toward the degree and the K-prefix is deleted from the transcript.
- In general, students with an engineering, pharmacy, or science background tend to do well in the pharmaceutical engineering courses.
- Before applying for the non-degree program of study, we recommend that students contact the Director of the Pharmaceutical Engineering Program at pharmeng@soemail.rutgers.edu in order to ensure that they meet all program requirements.