Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Science College of Engineering
The Department of Chemical Engineering offers two undergraduate programs: Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering.
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program
The Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry and engineering to produce useful commodities, ranging from fuels to polymers. Chemical engineers are increasingly concerned with chemical and engineering processes related to the environment and food production. They work in diverse areas ranging from integrated circuits to integrated waste management. Preparation for a career in chemical engineering requires an understanding of both engineering and chemical principles to develop proficiency in conceiving, designing, and operating new processes.
The chemical engineering curriculum has been planned to provide a sound knowledge of engineering and chemical sciences so that you may achieve competence in addressing current and future technical problems.
Objectives
The objectives of the program in Chemical Engineering are to educate students in the fundamentals of chemical engineering, balanced with the application of these principles to practical problems; to train them as independent, critical thinkers who can also function effectively in teams; to foster a sense of community, ethical responsibility, and professionalism; to prepare them for careers in industry, government, and academia; to illustrate the necessity for continuing education and self-learning; and to help students to learn to communicate proficiently in written and oral form.
Students are encouraged to adhere carefully to all prerequisite requirements. The instructor is authorized to drop students from a course for which stated prerequisites have not been completed.
Exclusive of General Education units, the minimum number of units required for the Chemical Engineering major is 156.
Options for Junior & Senior Year
The focus in the junior year is on fundamentals such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, energy transfer, and mass transfer phenomena. In the senior year, students draw these fundamentals together and apply them in a study of kinetics, process design, and process dynamics and control. The program’s requirement of eight chemical engineering elective units allow students to strengthen specific areas in chemical engineering, explore new areas, or pursue new areas of specialization.
Honors Program
An Honors Program is available to qualified students in the Chemical Engineering & Biochemical Engineering majors It is a two-year program designed to challenge the most talented students in these majors. Students are invited to participate in their sophomore year. In the upper division coursework, students will complete either an honors thesis or a project that might involve local industry. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.500 to continue in the program. Successful completion of the Honors Program will be acknowledged on the student's transcript.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Required Courses | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MAT 021A | Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 021B | Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 021C | Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 021D | Vector Analysis | 4 |
| MAT 022A | Linear Algebra | 3-4 |
| or MAT 027A | Linear Algebra with Applications to Biology | |
| MAT 022B | Differential Equations | 3-4 |
| or MAT 027B | Differential Equations with Applications to Biology | |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 009A | Classical Physics | 5 |
| PHY 009B | Classical Physics | 5 |
| PHY 009C | Classical Physics | 5 |
| Chemistry | ||
| Choose One: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| Honors General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering | ||
| Choose One: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| Honors General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering | ||
| Choose One: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| Honors General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering | ||
| Chemical Engineering | ||
| ECH 005 | Introduction to Analysis & Design in Chemical Engineering | 3 |
| ECH 051 | Material Balances | 4 |
| ECH 060 | Engineering Problem Solving Using MATLAB | 4 |
| ECH 080 | Chemical Engineering Profession | 1 |
| Engineering | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Circuits I | ||
| Statics | ||
| Properties of Materials | ||
| Properties of Materials | ||
| Biotechnology | ||
| BIT 001Y | Introduction to Biotechnology | 4-5 |
| or BIS 002A | Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth | |
| Choose one: a grade of C- or better is required: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies: Online | ||
| Introduction to Academic Literacies | ||
| Major Works of the Ancient World | ||
| Major Works of the Medieval & Early Modern World | ||
| Major Works of the Modern World | ||
| Major Works of the Contemporary World | ||
| Introduction to Native American Literature | ||
| Lower Division Required Courses Subtotal | 76-79 | |
| Upper Division Required Courses | ||
| Chemical Engineering | ||
| ECH 140 | Mathematical Methods in Biochemical & Chemical Engineering | 4 |
| ECH 141 | Fluid Mechanics for Biochemical & Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH 142 | Heat Transfer for Biochemical & Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH 143 | Mass Transfer for Biochemical & Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH 145A | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics Laboratory | 3 |
| ECH 145B | Chemical Engineering Transport Lab | 3 |
| ECH 148A | Chemical Kinetics & Reaction Engineering | 3 |
| ECH 148B | Chemical Kinetics & Reaction Engineering | 4 |
| ECH 152A | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ECH 152B | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 4 |
| ECH 155 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics & Reactor Design Laboratory | 4 |
| ECH 157 | Process Dynamics & Control | 4 |
| ECH 158A | Process Economics & Green Design | 4 |
| ECH 158B | Separations & Unit Operations | 4 |
| ECH 158C | Plant Design Project | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHE 110A | Physical Chemistry: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
| CHE 110B | Physical Chemistry: Properties of Atoms & Molecules | 4 |
| CHE 128A | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 128B | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 129A | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| Chemical Engineering Electives | ||
| Choose 8 units: | 8 | |
At least 3 units must be completed in any upper division engineering course(s) not numbered 190C, 192, 198, and 199 (independent study, research, seminar, or internship courses). | ||
Remainder of units, for a total of a minimum of 8 units, may be completed in any upper division engineering and/or science course(s)1 including courses numbered 192 (internship) and 199 (independent study) but not numbered 190 or 1982 | ||
You may receive chemical engineering elective credit up to a maximum of 4 units of an internship (192) and/or independent study (199). | ||
| Upper Division Composition Requirement; a grade of C- or better is required: | ||
| Choose one: | 0-4 | |
| Writing in the Disciplines: Engineering | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Food Science & Technology | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Science | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Technical Writing | ||
Passing the Upper Division Composition Exam. | ||
| Upper Division Required Courses Subtotal | 80-84 | |
| Total Units | 156-163 | |
- 1
Acceptable science courses must carry one of the following subject designations: ATM, BIS, BIT, CHE, FPS, FST, MAT, MCB, PHY, STA, and VEN.
- 2
With the exception of ECH 198.