Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering |
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Degrees Offered
The Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering offers an ABET accredited program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (B.S. Ch.E.) degree. Chemical Engineering is the application of the principles of chemistry, physics and mathematics to the economic conversion of raw materials into useful products. The curriculum provides a thorough grounding in basic and advanced chemistry, mathematics through differential equations, and engineering physics. These courses are a firm foundation for engineering courses that include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, separations, reactor design, process control and pollution prevention. Additional courses in economics, communication skills, humanities, social sciences and various engineering electives broaden the curriculum and are capped by comprehensive chemical engineering design experiences. The goal of the chemical engineering program is to prepare graduates for professional careers in chemical engineering and/or graduate study. Through carefully selected electives, the student can choose to specialize in one of several areas of chemical engineering, including environmental engineering and polymer science and engineering. Chemical engineering graduates are in demand in many new and challenging fields. Chemical engineers are well suited to solve problems in many areas including environmental engineering, polymers and materials engineering, nuclear power, petrochemicals, fertilizers, new food sources, pharmaceuticals, improved refining and chemical processes, computer simulation, mathematical modeling and bioengineering. Many students go on to graduate work in engineering, law, business and medicine. Degree Requirements Students should follow and complete the degree requirements as displayed in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Program Plan A or B charts. Free Electives Three hours of free electives are required within the program. Free electives are any courses at the university that broaden your background in an area of interest. Courses that are considered remedial for engineering students may not be used to satisfy this requirement. If you have questions on this requirement, check with your academic adviser for details. Engineering Electives Twelve hours of engineering electives are required. Students must take either CIVE1150 Engineering Mechanics: Statics (3 hrs) or EECS2340 Circuits for Non-Majors (3 hrs), and one elective (3 hrs) from the Chemical Engineering department. An additional 6 hours may be chosen from engineering courses offered within the College of Engineering. Recommended courses include CIVE1160 Strength of Materials, CIVE3620 Air Pollution Engineering I, CIVE3680 Environmental Law, or any 4000-level Chemical Engineering elective course. Students should check this list of current courses, and consult their advisers before selecting engineering electives. Advanced Science Electives Nine hours of advanced chemistry and science electives are required. Students must choose one 3000/4000 level course from the following departments: Chemistry, Physics, Biological Science, and Earth, Ecological, and Environmental Sciences. At least 6 hours of advanced chemistry coursework is required. Students should select courses from recommended science sequences such as:
Environmental Engineering Sequence Current industrial needs require that all chemical engineers be aware of environmental issues when designing new chemical facilities or modifying existing ones. The environmental option allows chemical engineering students to apply engineering principles in the development of environmentally conscious chemical processes. Greater background in the sciences is provided in this program to allow the environmental specialist increased flexibility in understanding the environmental impact of current or proposed new practices. Specific examples of existing concepts are provided to demonstrate current practice. The trend toward pollution prevention is emphasized. Upon completion of these electives, the environmental chemical engineer will be able to analyze chemical processes for their environmental impact, suggest modifications to processes to minimize the production of wastes and develop treatment alternatives. The environmental chemical engineer provides an important bridge between the process engineer and the waste treatment specialist. The goals of this sequence are achieved through careful choice of the electives, without additional hours beyond those normally required for graduation. The sequence of recommended electives is: Engineering Electives
Advanced Science Elective
Advanced Chemistry Electives
HUM/SS Electives
Students should see an adviser for more information about this option. Polymer Engineering Sequence Polymers and plastics are extremely important materials in today's society. The volume of plastics used annually exceeds that of steel and aluminum. Chemical engineers with an expertise in polymers and plastics are in demand. Concepts that chemical engineers specializing in this area need to be familiar with include polymer synthesis and chemistry, polymer processing (mixing, extrusion, blow molding and injection molding), and polymer blends and composites. The Polymer Engineering sequence will enable students to apply their engineering skills to this important field and gather the necessary experience and expertise to work in the polymer industry upon graduation. Recommended polymer engineering electives include:
A complete list of courses in the Polymer Engineering sequence is available. Please see your adviser for more information. |