Our curriculum provides students with the option to specialize in one of six areas, including chemical process engineering.Academics / Undergraduate Study / Chemical Engineering MajorCurriculum & Requirements
The curriculum of the chemical engineering major is designed so that a student will:
- Behave ethically and consider the social implications of their work, especially as it affects the health, safety, and environment of citizens worldwide.
- Think critically and creatively, especially about the use of technology to address local and global problems.
- Be leaders in their chosen fields.
- Excel in engineering practice, research, and management in industries based on chemistry and biology, such as the chemical, energy, advanced materials, microelectronics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer products industries.
- Apply their broad chemical engineering training to excel in areas such as entrepreneurship, medicine, law, government, and education.
- Excel in top ranked graduate programs and professional schools.
Degree Requirements
The minimum number of units required for the bachelor of science in chemical engineering is 48 courses. Among them are:
Engineering, Math, Science, and Society Core Courses (27 units)
- Mathematics (4 units)
- Engineering analysis and computer proficiency (4 units)
- Basic sciences (4 units)
- Design and communications (3 units)
- Social sciences/humanities (7 units)
- Unrestricted electives (5 units)
Chemical Engineering Major (21 units)
Required Courses (16 units):
- CHEM 215-1 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 215-2 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM ENG 210 Analysis of Chemical Process Systems
- CHEM ENG 211 Thermodynamics
- CHEM ENG 212 Phase Equilibrium and Staged Separations
- CHEM ENG 275 Molecular and Cell Biology for Engineers*
- CHEM ENG 307 Kinetics and Reactor Engineering
- CHEM ENG 312 Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineering
- CHEM ENG 321 Fluid Mechanics
- CHEM ENG 322 Heat Transfer
- CHEM ENG 323 Mass Transfer
- CHEM ENG 341 Dynamics and Control of Chemical and Biological Processes
- CHEM ENG 342 Chemical Engineering Laboratory
- CHEM ENG 351 Process Economics, Design, and Evaluation
- CHEM ENG 352 Chemical Engineering Design Projects
- MAT SCI 301 Chemical Aspects of Engineering Materials
Notes:
*BIOL SCI 201 Molecular Biology or BIOL SCI 202 Cell Biology can be substituted for CHEM ENG 275 Molecular and Cell Biology for Engineers.
**Students who entered before 2022 have “Basic Engineering” in their degree plans which consists of CHEM_ENG 210, 211, 312, 321, and MAT_SCI 301, from the current listing of major program courses.
Technical Electives (5 units):
- Two advanced chemical engineering courses from an approved list available from the department.
- One engineering course from an approved list available from the department, or one unit of independent study.
- One advanced science or mathematics course from an approved list available from the department.
- One engineering, advanced science, or mathematics course from an approved list available from the department.
View the PDF below for more information on technical electives. The technical electives may be used to create an individualized area of specialization within the major. Those areas are bioengineering, chemical process engineering, environmental engineering and sustainability, design, polymer science and engineering, and nanotechnology and molecular engineering.
For more information about technical electives, areas of specialization, and chemical engineering degree requirements please download the following PDF: