Students graduating from the BS program in chemical engineering will have a firm and practical grasp of engineering principles and underlying science associated with traditional chemical engineering applications, and will also learn to tie together phenomena at the nano-scale with the behavior of systems at the macro-scale. While chemical engineers have always excelled at analyzing and designing processes with multiple length scales, modern chemical engineering applications require this knowledge to be extended to the nano-scale, and our program addresses this emerging need.
Curriculum
The core of the program consists of courses, which provide students with a solid foundation in engineering principles and their underlying science. The program culminates in the 5th year with 20 weeks of multidisciplinary design, a capstone design experience that integrates engineering theory, principles, and processes within a collaborative environment that bridges engineering disciplines. Students also choose three professional technical electives to form a concentration in one of five key application domains: biomedical, alternate energy systems, advanced materials, semiconductor processing, and environmental issues. Other concentration areas are also possible with guidance of faculty adviser, and can be chosen to reflect current societal needs and student interest. Students choose professional technical electives from a department-approved list of courses offered throughout the university in addition to those offered by the chemical engineering department.
Rounding out the program are courses in mathematics and science, which help to develop students' knowledge of science and its significance in the field of chemical engineering. Free electives provide students the opportunity to choose additional coursework to enhance a personal or professional interest, and liberal arts courses help to develop students' broader understating of society, the humanities, and the arts.
Cooperative education is a key component of the chemical engineering program. The 50-week requirement is met with five co-op blocks of 10-week duration. These full-time, paid experiences enable students to apply what they've learned in the classroom to real work scenarios. Students will also have the chance to network with professionals in the field and learn in a hands-on environment.