Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Requirements

The field of chemical engineering deals with the science and engineering of chemical reactions and separation processes. It applies physical and life sciences together with engineering and economic principles to produce, transform, transport, and properly use chemicals, materials and energy.

A BSc in Chemical Engineering program educates engineers to design, develop, and operate chemical processes by which chemicals, petroleum products, food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods can be produced economically and safely. The program incorporates extensive laboratory work and computer process simulation to reinforce the principles and concepts used in the classroom.

Program Educational Objectives

  • Successful practice of the chemical engineering profession.
  • Design and safe operation of process plants.
  • Successful career in research and development.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BSc in Chemical Engineering degree will attain the following:

(1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
(2) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
(3) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
(4) An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
(5) An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
(6) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
(7) An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Facilities

The Chemical Engineering Program laboratories include:

  • Catalysis Laboratory
  • Computing Laboratory
  • Instrumentation Laboratory
  • Polymer Chemistry Laboratory
  • Polymer Processing Laboratory
  • Polymer Properties and Characterization Laboratory
  • Reaction Engineering Laboratory
  • Thermodynamics Laboratory
  • Unit Operations Laboratory
  • Petroleum Refinery Laboratory

Professional Chapters

The Chemical Engineering program is supported by a student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE). The aim of the chapter is to promote chemical engineering and establish a bridge between the students and the professional community at large. AIChE holds regular meetings for its members and organizes social and technical activities open to all students.

Degree Requirements

To be recommended for graduation with a BSc in Chemical Engineering, students must satisfactorily complete the courses in the specified categories as set out below. The categories cover the University General Education Requirements (GER, 48 credits), College of Engineering Requirements (CER, 20 credits), as well as Chemical Engineering Core and Technical Electives requirements. The normal length of the program is 137 credits.

Additional Math/Sciences Requirements (14 credits)

To satisfy the College of Engineering requirements, the BSc in Chemical Engineering requires the following Mathematics and Sciences courses in addition to the Math/Science required in GERs: CHEM 115, PHYS 121, PHYS 122, MATH 111, and MATH 112.

Chemical Engineering Core Requirements (54 credits)

Chemical Engineering Technical Electives (12 credits)

The following is a sample list of courses that will satisfy the Technical Electives requirement for the BSc in Chemical Engineering program. Students must select a total of 12 credits from this list. All Technical electives must be at 300-level or 400-level and at most three credits may be Undergraduate Research. In addition, courses from the list below may be taken to satisfy the free electives requirement. Additional courses may be approved by the department as technical electives.

Free Electives (3 credits)

Students must complete 3 credits of free electives which are intended to provide students with flexibility to support their career paths and individual interests.

Pre-MED Track for Chemical Engineering (Optional)

The Pre-MED track, as part of the undergraduate program in Chemical Engineering, is designed to provide the CHEG students with sufficient preparation to successfully take the American Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) exam upon the completion of their junior year.

CHEM 311: CHEG Technical Elective.

BIOL 111: Free Elective.

BIOL 112: Additional Course.

Hydrogen and Sustainable Energy Track (Optional)

This track will provide students with an appropriate mastery of knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools in major features of hydrogen and sustainable energy technologies, current impact and interactions of such technologies with the environment, as well as relevant hydrogen economic and policy developments. Students are expected to develop a thorough understanding of existing and emerging technologies to generate, purify, transport and safely utilize Hydrogen, in the framework of renewable and clean energies, with a strong focus on industrialization and technology implementation. Students should take all 4 courses.

CHEG 360, CHEG 460, CHEG 361, and CHEG 325: CHEG Technical Elective.

Water and Environmental Engineering Track (Optional)

This track aims to equip chemical engineering students with the basic tools needed to create engineered solutions to environmental challenges within the chemical industry and beyond. The track draws on a range of disciplines, including chemistry, ecology, mathematics, biology, and engineering to cover key topics, such as clean water supply, proper wastewater treatment and discharge, treatment and disposal of liquid and solid wastes, and the control of water, soil and atmospheric pollution. Students should take CHEG 472 as well as 3 of the remaining 5 offered courses.

CHEG 472, CHEG 415, CHEG 410, CHEG 411, and CHEG 471: CHEG Technical Elective.

Materials Track (Optional)

This track considers modern applications of downstream petroleum-based industries such as polymers and plastics and also novel nanomaterials such as carbon and metal oxide materials. Students should take 4 out of the 6 offered.

CHEG 325, CHEG 340, CHEG 380, CHEG 416, CHEG 470, and CHEG 488: CHEG Technical Elective.