Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Degree Requirements

The first year program is much the same for all professional curricula in the College of Engineering. Each curriculum requires completion of the basic program as well as the curriculum designated requirements (125.5 total credits required).

Basic Program

Entering undergraduates must demonstrate proficiency in trigonometry based on test scores, or by having transfer credits from a college trigonometry course, or by passing either Math 141 or 142 before enrolling in Math 166 or C E 160.

The Department of English may recommend placement in one or more sections of Engl 101 because of unsatisfactory performance on the English placement test administered to students whose first language is not English. Satisfactory completion of the recommended course(s) will be required of students in the College of Engineering.

Engineering students are required to complete certain basic courses as a condition of enrollment in engineering courses at the 200-level or above.

The general requirement is to complete the basic engineering program with a quality point average of 2.00 or better, including transfer courses.

The basic program courses are the following:

• Mathematics 165, 166
• Chemistry 177 (or 167)
• English 104, 105
• Physics 221
• Engineering 101, 160
• Library 160

Prior to satisfying the basic program requirement, a chemical engineering student may (if otherwise qualified) enroll in 200-level or above engineering courses for no more than one semester.

Transfer Waivers and Substitutions

For transfer students, enrollment is permitted for no more than two semesters before satisfying the basic program requirement. For transfer students, certain waivers and substitutions are possible and should be discussed with the academic advisor as early as possible.

It is allowable to waive or substitute the following basic program requirements:

1. Waive Engr. 101 for declared students presenting thirty (30) or more semester credits.
2. Substitute a technical elective for Engr. 160 only if the coursework contains both engineering problemsolving and computer programming experience.
   
3. Substitute Chemistry 167 for Chemistry 177.

Transfer students should also review the transfer plans and equivalency guides.

A minimum of 30 graduate credits must be earned for the MS degree. A minimum of 15 credits of this must be coursework, including at least 13 credits of chemical engineering, which must be ChE 545, 554, 583, and 587.  In addition to the chemical engineering courses, a minimum of 6 credits of course work must be taken outside of the department.

In addition to satisfying the normal graduate degree requirements, students without an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering must demonstrate proficiency in the major undergraduate subjects of chemical engineering: material and energy balances, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, and process control. This is usually accomplished by completion of at least three undergraduate courses, as determined by the student's major professor and the program of study committee.

The Departmental Examination, taken after the first two semesters (normally without furnishing a research report) will serve as a guide for the faculty to determine if additional courses or experiences should be required. Completion of the equivalent of Math 267, Chemistry 331 and 332 is also required.

The requirements for the Master of Engineering (ME) degree are generally the same as those for the Master of Science. However, the ME student completes a special project rather than a research thesis. Credit for the special project is given under ChE 599 and is limited to 6 credits. Students without an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering must meet the same additional requirements specified for the Master of Science degree.

A minimum of 72 graduate credits must be earned for the PhD degree. A minimum of 30 credits of this must be coursework, including at least 19 credits of chemical engineering, 13 of which must be ChE 545, 554, 583, and 587. The chemical engineering coursework must include at least two 600 level courses other than 699. Coursework for the PhD degree must include at least 8 credits taken outside of the Chemical Engineering Department. This outside work may include a declared minor, in which case the student must meet any requirements set by the department administering the minor.