Chemical Engineering

Sc.B. in Chemical Engineering

The traditional role of a chemical engineer is to design and operate large-scale processes for producing chemicals. While this remains a cornerstone of the discipline, advances in nanotechnology (the ability to control matter at molecular scales) have transformed the role of the chemical engineer. Today, chemical engineers work on inter-disciplinary teams to design pharmaceuticals, artificial organs, biomedical devices, chemical sensors, and drug delivery systems. They work on energy technologies, such as batteries, fuel and solar cells. They are at the forefront of sustainable design and manufacturing.

The concentration has the following structure:

  • The interdisciplinary core program for the Sc.B., taken primarily in the first four semesters
  • Five upper level engineering courses, one of which is the required capstone design course for Chemical Engineering
  • Organic chemistry and one approved upper level chemistry elective
  • One approved, upper level elective course in the natural sciences
  • Four approved humanities or social science courses 

Students may also elect to take specialized courses focusing on

  • Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
  • Computer Applications in Chemical Processing
  • Electronics Applications in Chemical Processing
  • Energy Production and Conversion
  • Environmental Issues and Pollution Prevention
  • Materials Processing and Synthesis 

For complete requirements, please see the University Bulletin.

SEM.COURSEDESCRIPTION
IENGN 0030 or ENGN 0032Introduction to Engineering or Introduction to Engineering: Design
 MATH 0190Single Variable Calculus, Part II (Physics/Engineering)
 CHEM 0330Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure
 Elective † 
IIENGN 0040Engineering Statics and Dynamics
 MATH 0200Multivariable Calculus, Part III (Physics/Engineering)
 BIOL 0200The Foundation of Living Systems
 Elective 
IIIAPMA 0350Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
 ENGN 0510Electricity and Magnetism
 ENGN 0410Materials Science
 Elective 
IVAPMA 0360 or APMA 1650Applied Partial Differential Equations I or Statistical Inference I
 ENGN 0720Thermodynamics
 ENGN 0520Electrical Circuits and Signals
 Elective 
VENGN 0810Fluid Mechanics
 ENGN 1130* Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
 Chemical Engineering Elective ** 
 Elective 
VIENGN 1710Heat and Mass Transfer
 ENGN 1110Transport and Biotransport Processes
 Elective 
 Elective 
VIIENGN 1120* Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Design
 Elective 
 Chemical Engineering Elective 
 Elective 
VIIIENGN 1140Chemical Process Design
 Chemical Engineering Elective 
 Elective 
 Elective 
† A minimum of four electives must be in the humanities and social sciences.
* ENGN 1120 and ENGN 1130 are offered in the fall semester in alternate years.
** Of the listed electives, one must be CHEM 0350, one must be an advanced chemistry course, and one must be either an upper-level engineering or an upper level natural science course.