Chemical Engineering
Major: Chemical Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCHE)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 184.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.0701
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2041
About the Program
The department of Chemical and Biological Engineering's chemical engineering curriculum is structured so that students progress through sequences in the fundamental physical sciences, humanities, engineering sciences, and engineering design.
Chemical engineers are concerned primarily with process engineering, the conversion of raw materials into valuable products. The products can include pharmaceuticals, specialized plastics, petrochemicals, materials for biomedical applications, and energy. The processes, which usually start out at a small laboratory scale, must be developed for production at a large chemical plant scale. The large change in scale requires careful engineering to minimize environmental contamination and to ensure public safety.
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is responsible for equipping our graduates with the broad technical knowledge and teamwork skills required for them to make substantial contributions to society.
Sample Senior Design Projects
A special feature of the major is senior design. A group of students in the chemical engineering major works with a faculty advisor to develop a significant design project. Some recent examples include:
- Design of a process to make petrochemical intermediates
- Plastics recycling design
- Process design for antibiotic products
Program Educational Objectives
The chemical engineering major has four goals for its students:
- Our graduates will succeed in careers requiring strong skills in engineering, science, communication, and teamwork.
- Our graduates will continue to upgrade their technological skills through life-long learning involving self- or group-study.
- Our graduates will conduct their work with an understanding of its global impact and ethical consequences.
- Our graduates will contribute to research and development at the forefront of chemical engineering and related fields.
To help students reach these goals, the curriculum is structured so that they progress through sequences in the fundamental physical sciences, humanities, engineering sciences, and design.
The department’s student outcomes reflect the skills and abilities that the curriculum is designed to provide to students by the time they graduate. These are:
a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
g) an ability to communicate effectively;
h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
j) a knowledge of contemporary issues;
k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for chemical engineering practice.
Additional Information
The Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
For more information about this program, visit Drexel University's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering web page.
Degree Requirements
| General Education/Liberal Studies Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| UNIV E101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| General Education Requirements * | 19.0 | |
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| BIO 141 | Essential Biology | 4.5 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 3.5 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4.5 |
| ENGR 100 | Beginning Computer Aided Drafting for Design | 1.0 |
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Design Laboratory I | 2.0 |
| ENGR 102 | Engineering Design Laboratory II | 2.0 |
| ENGR 103 | Engineering Design Laboratory III | 2.0 |
| ENGR 121 | Computation Lab I | 2.0 |
| ENGR 122 | Computation Lab II | 1.0 |
| ENGR 220 | Fundamentals of Materials | 4.0 |
| MATH 121 | Calculus I | 4.0 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
| MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
| MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | 4.0 |
| MATH 210 | Differential Equations | 4.0 |
| PHYS 101 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4.0 |
| PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
| Professional Requirements | ||
| CHE 211 | Material and Energy Balances I | 4.0 |
| CHE 212 | Material and Energy Balances II | 4.0 |
| CHE 220 | Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering I | 3.0 |
| CHE 230 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I | 4.0 |
| CHE 320 | Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering II | 3.0 |
| CHE 330 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II | 4.0 |
| CHE 331 | Separation Processes | 4.0 |
| CHE 341 | Fluid Mechanics | 4.0 |
| CHE 342 | Heat Transfer | 4.0 |
| CHE 343 | Mass Transfer | 4.0 |
| CHE 350 | Statistics and Design of Experiments | 3.0 |
| CHE 351 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory I | 2.5 |
| CHE 352 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory II | 2.5 |
| CHE 362 | Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design | 4.0 |
| CHE 371 | Engineering Economics and Professional Practice | 3.0 |
| CHE 372 | Integrated Case Studies in Chemical Engineering | 3.0 |
| CHE 453 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory III | 2.5 |
| CHE 464 | Process Dynamics and Control | 3.0 |
| CHE 466 | Chemical Process Safety | 3.0 |
| CHE 471 | Process Design I | 3.0 |
| CHE 472 | Process Design II | 3.0 |
| CHE 473 | Process Design III | 3.0 |
| CHEC 353 | Physical Chemistry and Applications III | 4.0 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 4.0 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry II | 4.0 |
| CHEM 356 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2.0 |
| Technical Electives ** | 12.0 | |
| Total Credits | 184.0 | |
| * | |
| ** | An optional concentration in Biological Engineering is available. If you elect to take that option, the 12.0 technical elective credits will count toward the concentration. |
| Biological Engineering Concentration | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| BIO 218 | Principles of Molecular Biology | 4.0 |
| BIO 270 | Development Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 306 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2.0 |
| BIO 311 | Biochemistry | 4.0 |
| BIO 214 | Principles of Cell Biology | 3.0 |
| CHE 360 | BioProcess Principles | 3.0 |
| Complete 5 credits from the following: | 5.0 | |
| Techniques in Cell Biology | ||
| Techniques in Molecular Biology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Biology of Cancer | ||
| Stem Cell Research | ||
| Structure and Function of Biomolecules | ||
| Proteins | ||
| Virology | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Independent Study in BIO | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | ||
| Transport Phenomena in Bioengineering Processes | ||
| Bioprocess Unit Operations | ||
| Independent Study in CHE | ||
| Graduate Course Options Require 3.0 GPA | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Proteins | ||
| Virology | ||
| Independent Study in BIO | ||
| Total Credits | 24.0 | |
Graduate-Level Electives
| CHE 502 | Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering | 3.0 |
| CHE 513 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3.0 |
| CHE 525 | Transport Phenomena I | 3.0 |
| CHE 543 | Kinetics & Catalysis I | 3.0 |
| CHE 554 | Process Systems Engineering | 3.0 |
| CHE 562 | Bioreactor Engineering | 3.0 |
| CHE 564 | Unit Operations in Bioprocess Systems | 3.0 |
| CHE 614 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II | 3.0 |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Center. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
Sample Plan of Study
5 YR UG Co-op Concentration
| Term 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 3.5 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| ENGR 100 | Beginning Computer Aided Drafting for Design | 1.0 |
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Design Laboratory I | 2.0 |
| ENGR 121 | Computation Lab I | 2.0 |
| MATH 121 | Calculus I | 4.0 |
| UNIV E101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| Term Credits | 16.5 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4.5 |
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| ENGR 102 | Engineering Design Laboratory II | 2.0 |
| ENGR 122 | Computation Lab II | 1.0 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
| PHYS 101 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4.0 |
| Term Credits | 19.5 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| BIO 141 | Essential Biology | 4.5 |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| ENGR 103 | Engineering Design Laboratory III | 2.0 |
| MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
| PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
| Term Credits | 17.5 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| CHE 211 | Material and Energy Balances I | 4.0 |
| CHE 220 | Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering I | 3.0 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 4.0 |
| MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | 4.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| CHE 212 | Material and Energy Balances II | 4.0 |
| CHE 230 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I | 4.0 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry II | 4.0 |
| MATH 210 | Differential Equations | 4.0 |
| Term Credits | 16.0 | |
| Term 6 | ||
| CHE 330 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II | 4.0 |
| CHE 341 | Fluid Mechanics | 4.0 |
| CHE 350 | Statistics and Design of Experiments | 3.0 |
| ENGR 220 | Fundamentals of Materials | 4.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 7 | ||
| CHE 320 | Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering II | 3.0 |
| CHE 342 | Heat Transfer | 4.0 |
| CHE 343 | Mass Transfer | 4.0 |
| CHE 351 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory I | 2.5 |
| General Education Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 16.5 | |
| Term 8 | ||
| CHE 331 | Separation Processes | 4.0 |
| CHE 362 | Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design | 4.0 |
| CHEC 353 | Physical Chemistry and Applications III | 4.0 |
| CHEM 356 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2.0 |
| Term Credits | 14.0 | |
| Term 9 | ||
| CHE 352 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory II | 2.5 |
| CHE 371 | Engineering Economics and Professional Practice | 3.0 |
| CHE 372 | Integrated Case Studies in Chemical Engineering | 3.0 |
| CHE Technical Elective | 3.0 | |
| General Education Elective* | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 14.5 | |
| Term 10 | ||
| CHE 453 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory III | 2.5 |
| CHE 464 | Process Dynamics and Control | 3.0 |
| CHE 471 | Process Design I | 3.0 |
| CHE Technical Elective | 3.0 | |
| General Education Elective* | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 14.5 | |
| Term 11 | ||
| CHE 472 | Process Design II | 3.0 |
| General Education Elective* | 7.0 | |
| CHE Technical Elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 13.0 | |
| Term 12 | ||
| CHE 466 | Chemical Process Safety | 3.0 |
| CHE 473 | Process Design III | 3.0 |
| CHE Technical Elective | 3.0 | |
| General Education Elective* | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 12.0 | |
| Total Credit: 184.0 | ||
| * | See degree requirements. |
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Chemical engineers tend to work for large corporations with such job assignments as process engineering, design engineering, plant operation, research and development, sales, and management. They also work for federal and state government agencies on projects related to environmental problems, defense, energy, and health-related research.
Some major employers of Drexel’s chemical engineering graduates are DuPont, Merck, BASF, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, and Air Products. A number of graduates go on to pursue master’s and/or doctoral degrees. Graduate schools that Drexel’s chemical engineers have attended include the University of California at Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others.
Co-op Experiences
Drexel is located in downtown Philadelphia with easy access to major pharmaceutical, chemical, and petroleum companies. When students complete their co-op jobs, they are asked to write an overview of their experiences. These brief quotes are taken from some recent student reports:
Research assistant, chemicals manufacturer: “Conducted research in a developmental polyamide process. Aspects included scale-up from bench-scale to batch demonstration, installation and calibration of on-line composition sensors, off-line analytical techniques to assess product quality, and interfacing with plant sites to define and standardize a critical quality lab procedure. Documented results in technical memos and in a plant presentation . . .I had a lot of freedom and responsibility. It was great interacting with other researchers and technicians. Everyone was so helpful. ”
Co-op engineer, chemicals manufacturer: “Created material safety data sheets, which involved chemical composition, hazard communication, occupational safety and health, emergency response, and regulatory issues for numerous products and wastes. Handled domestic and international regulatory reviews. Determined hazardous waste reporting requirements, handling and disposal procedures. Evaluated toxicological and ecological data for assessment of hazard ratings. Provided input on product safety technical reports.”
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.
Facilities
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering occupies the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the Center for Automation Technology. Approximately 35,000 square feet (gross) are available for the department.
Two thousand square feet of laboratory facilities are designed for the pre-junior and junior year laboratory courses. Experiments in these laboratory courses focus on applying concepts in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, separations, and reaction engineering. Laboratory courses are run with class sizes of 18 students or less.
The department has two computer laboratories:
- The senior design laboratory features nine booths designed for team projects. Each booth contains a work station loaded with the latest process simulation software produced by Aspen, Simulation Sciences and HYSIS. Seniors use the room heavily during their Capstone design experience, although pre-junior courses in separations and transport also include projects requiring use of the process simulation software.
- A second computer lab contains over 30 individual work stations with general and engineering-specific software.
Many undergraduate students participate in research projects in faculty laboratories as part of independent study coursework or BS/MS thesis work. Chemical engineering faculty are engaged in a wide range of research activities in areas including energy and the environment, polymer science and engineering, biological engineering, and multi-scale modeling and process systems engineering. Further details can be found on the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering's Research Group web page.
Dual/Accelerated Degree
Accelerated Program
The accelerated program of the College of Engineering provides opportunities for highly-talented and strongly-motivated students to progress toward their educational goals essentially at their own pace. Through advanced placement, credit by examination, flexibility of scheduling, and independent study, the program makes it possible to complete the undergraduate curriculum and initiate graduate study in less than the five years required by the standard curriculum.
Bachelor’s/Master’s Dual Degree Program
Drexel offers a combined BS/MS degree program for our top engineering students who want to obtain both degrees in the same time period as most students obtain a Bachelor's degree. In chemical engineering, the course sequence for BS/MS students involves additional graduate courses and electives.
