Skillful and creative applications of the principles of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics are needed to solve the problems now confronting society. Whether these problems involve energy, food, health, environmental quality, or whatever, the modern chemical engineer is the professional concerned with finding economically and socially acceptable solutions. The program prepares graduates for employment in a great variety of industries including the chemical, petroleum, biochemical, pharmaceutical, paper, environmental, fibers, plastics, food, electronics, and consumer product industries. Students may customize their academic program around an industry of their interest by judiciously selecting electives. For example, areas of concentration such as polymer, biotechnology, marketing, and environmental chemical engineering are common choices.
The goal of the undergraduate program is to produce chemical engineering graduates who are prepared for professional careers and/or graduate school. In fulfilling this goal the department has set three primary objectives for the graduates:
The curriculum has been developed to meet the department goal and the objectives for the graduates. A minimum of 136 semester credits is required for a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. The curriculum is demanding and a GPA of at least 2.50 is recommended for transfer into the program at the sophomore level. An average GPA of at least 2.00 in all ChE courses attempted is required for continued enrollment in the department. The department has specific grade policies for continuation in the program and for graduation. For further information on these policies, please contact the department.
The chemical engineering curriculum integrates studies in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, control, verbal and written communications, and reaction kinetics, along with professional ethics and environmental awareness. Students gain hands-on experience with the equipment described in the courses during the summer Unit Operations Laboratory. The laboratory and the senior design courses are recognized as two of the high points in the undergraduate program. Throughout these studies, the student learns the elements of the design of chemical processes and chemical processing equipment. The experience culminates in participation in a national senior-level design contest. The computer is a necessary tool in all the courses and the same software used in industry is used in the design courses.
In addition to the basic undergraduate program outlined here, more sophisticated and specialized programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering also are offered. See the Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering.
The department participates in the Cooperative Education Program whereby qualified students may alternate periods of study with periods of professional employment. Students interested in entering the co-op program should meet with the co-op advisor in the ChE Department.
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‡ Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET |