Chemical Engineering BSCHE / Chemical Engineering MSCHE

Major: Chemical Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCHE) and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (MSCHE)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 226.5
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five 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 is responsible for equipping graduates with the broad technical knowledge and teamwork skills required to make substantial contributions to society. The rigorous curriculum is grounded in the fundamental physical sciences, integrating practical engineering design and modern computational techniques throughout, and includes expansive opportunities to explore the humanities. An extensive, hands-on laboratory experience rounds out a dynamic program that prepares our graduates for rewarding careers in chemical engineering as well as other quantitative disciplines. 

Chemical engineers are dedicated to designing devices and processes that convert input materials into more valuable products and to the design of those products. Such end products include pharmaceuticals, plastics and other materials, fine chemicals, integrated circuits, electrical energy, petrochemicals, biologically derived fuels and much more. Chemical engineering often begins with small laboratory scale processes that must be scaled up to production levels through carefully integrated design, optimization, economic, environmental and safety analyses.

The BS/MS is an accelerated degree program that provides academically qualified students the opportunity to develop technical depth and breadth in their major and an additional complementary related area, earning two diplomas (BS and MS) within the typical duration of earning the bachelor's degree alone. Students develop technical depth and breadth, which enhances their professional productivity, whether in industry or as they proceed to the PhD. The undergraduate courses provide the necessary, prerequisite understanding and skills for the graduate studies in the later years of the program. BS/MS students take graduate courses that delve deeper into the fundamentals of chemical engineering in the graduate core courses and gain knowledge and exposure to advanced applications through diverse graduate technical electives, all alongside the PhD and MS students participating in our robust research enterprise.

Program Educational Objectives

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has four goals pertaining to student outcomes within a few years of graduation:

  • Our graduates will succeed in careers requiring strong skills in engineering, science, creative problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and appropriate leadership.
  • Our graduates will continue their professional development through lifelong learning involving group or self-study and on-the-job training.
  • Our graduates will hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. They will conduct their work ethically and understand its global impact and sustainability.
  • Our graduates will be thought leaders in their area of expertise who are prepared to contribute to research, development, and industrial innovation at the forefront of chemical engineering and related fields.

Additional Information

For more information on the BS portion of the BS/MS, please visit the Chemical Engineering BSCHE catalog page or the BS/MS webpage.

Admission Requirements

Students must have an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and have taken at least two CHE courses with a cumulative CHE GPA of at least 3.3. 

Degree Requirements

General Education/Liberal Studies Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV E101The Drexel Experience1.0
General Education Requirements **18.0
Foundation Requirements
Chemistry Requirements ***3.5-7.5
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I
OR
General Chemistry I
CHEM 102General Chemistry II4.5
Engineering (ENGR) Requirements
ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Data Analysis3.0
ENGR 113First-Year Engineering Design3.0
ENGR 131Introductory Programming for Engineers3.0
or ENGR 132 Programming for Engineers
MATE 220Fundamentals of Materials4.0
Math Requirements †4.0-10.0
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry
and Calculus I
OR
Calculus and Functions I
and Calculus and Functions II ‡
OR
Calculus I
MATH 122Calculus II4.0
MATH 200Multivariate Calculus4.0
MATH 201Linear Algebra4.0
MATH 210Differential Equations4.0
Physics Requirements †4.0-8.0
Preparation for Engineering Studies
and Fundamentals of Physics I
OR
Fundamentals of Physics I
PHYS 102Fundamentals of Physics II4.0
Biology Elective (select one):3.0-4.5
Applied Cells, Genetics & Physiology
Applied Biological Diversity, Ecology & Evolution
Cells and Genetics
Essential Biology
Professional Requirements
CHE 211Material and Energy Balances I4.0
CHE 212Material and Energy Balances II4.0
CHE 220Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering I3.0
CHE 230Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I4.0
CHE 320Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering II3.0
CHE 330Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II4.0
CHE 331Separation Processes3.0
CHE 341Fluid Mechanics4.0
CHE 342Heat Transfer4.0
CHE 343Mass Transfer4.0
CHE 350Statistics and Design of Experiments3.0
CHE 351 [WI] Chemical Engineering Laboratory I2.5
CHE 352 [WI] Chemical Engineering Laboratory II2.5
CHE 362Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design4.0
CHE 371Engineering Economics and Professional Practice3.0
CHE 372Integrated Case Studies in Chemical Engineering3.0
CHE 453 [WI] Chemical Engineering Laboratory III2.5
CHE 464Process Dynamics and Control3.0
CHE 466Chemical Process Safety3.0
CHE 471Process Design I4.0
CHE 472 [WI] Process Design II3.0
CHE 473 [WI] Process Design III3.0
CHEC 353Physical Chemistry and Applications III4.0
CHEM 241Organic Chemistry I4.0
CHEM 242Organic Chemistry II4.0
CHEM 356Physical Chemistry Laboratory2.0
Technical Electives ^12.0
Master's Degree Courses
Graduate Core Courses
CHE 502Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering3.0
CHE 513Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I3.0
CHE 525Transport Phenomena I3.0
CHE 543Kinetics & Catalysis I3.0
CHE 554Process Systems Engineering3.0
Graduate Technical Electives ‡15.0
Graduate Thesis/Non-Thesis9.0
For Thesis Option:
Master's Thesis
For Non-Thesis Option:
Graduate Major Technical Electives ^^
Graduate Free Electives6.0
Total Credits226.5-242.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

General Education Requirements

***

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

†

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

‡

Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.

^

6.0 credits in the following subjects (200-499): ACCT, AE, BIO, BLAW, BMES, BUSN, CAE, CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, CT, ECE, ECEC, ECEE, ECEP, ECES, ECON, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENVE, ENVS, FDSC, FIN GEO, INDE, INFO, INTB, MATE, MATH, MEM (except MEM 310), MET, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, NFS, ORGB, OPM, PBHL, PENG, PHYS, SE, or CHE 399-480, CHE I399, CHE T480, ENGR 370, or courses approved by CHE advisor.

AND

6.0 credits in the following subjects (300-499): AE, BIO, BMES, CAE, CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, CT, ECE, ECEC, ECEE, ECEP, ECES, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENVE, ENVS, FDSC, GEO INDE, INFO, MATE, MATH, MEM (except MEM 310), MET, NFS, PBHL, PENG, PHYS, SE, or CHE 360, CHE 373, CHE 452, CHE 460, CHE 399-480, CHE I399, CHE T480, CHEM 230, CHEM 231 [WI] , CHEM 243, ENGR 370, or courses approved by CHE advisor.

^^

Choose from:

  • Any graduate course (500+ level) in the College of Engineering

  • Graduate courses (500+ level) in these disciplines, which are subject to advisor approval: AE, BIO, BMES, CAEE, CHE (including CHE I799), CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, DSCI, ECE, ECEC, ECET, ECEE, ECES, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENTP, ENVP, ENVS, FDSC, GEO, MATE, MEM, PROJ, REAL, SYSE, PENG, MATH, PHYS, SE, or approved by CHE advisor.

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 Program. 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.

Sample Plan of Study

5 year, 3 coop Co-Terminal

(Co-op cycle for Chemical Engineering is only spring/summer.)

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5ENGL 102 or 1123.0VACATION
CIVC 1011.0COOP 101**1.0ENGR 1133.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0ENGR 131 or 1323.0MATH 2004.0 
ENGR 1113.0MATH 1224.0PHYS 1024.0 
MATH 1214.0PHYS 1014.0(UG) General Education Elective*3.0 
UNIV E1011.0   
(UG) General Education Elective*3.0   
 18.5 16.5 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHE 2114.0CHE 2124.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CHE 2203.0CHE 2304.0  
CHEM 2414.0CHEM 2424.0  
MATH 2014.0MATH 2104.0  
(UG) Biology Elective***3.0   
 18 16 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHE 3304.0CHE 3203.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CHE 3414.0CHE 3424.0(GR) Graduate Technical Elective†3.0 
CHE 3503.0CHE 3434.0  
CHEM 3562.0ENGL 1033.0  
MATE 2204.0(GR) Graduate Technical Elective†3.0  
(GR) Graduate Free Elective3.0   
 20 17 3 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHE 3313.0CHE 3512.5COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CHE 3624.0CHE 3522.5(GR) Graduate Technical Elective†3.0(GR) Graduate Thesis/Non-Thesis†††3.0
CHEC 3534.0CHE 3713.0  
(UG) Education Elective*3.0CHE 3723.0  
CHE 5133.0(UG) Technical Elective††3.0  
(GR) Graduate Technical Elective†3.0(GR) Graduate Free Elective3.0  
 (GR) Graduate Technical Elective†3.0  
 20 20 3 3
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CHE 4532.5CHE 4723.0CHE 4663.0 
CHE 4643.0(UG) General Education Elective*3.0CHE 4733.0 
CHE 4714.0(UG) Technical Electives††6.0(UG) General Education Elective*3.0 
(UG) General Education Elective*3.0CHE 5253.0(UG) Technical Elective††3.0 
CHE 5023.0(GR) Graduate Thesis/Non-Thesis†††3.0CHE 5433.0 
(GR) Graduate Thesis/Non-Thesis†††3.0 CHE 5543.0 
 18.5 18 18 
Total Credits 226.5
*

General Education Requirements

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

Select from BIO 100, BIO 101, BIO 122, or BIO 141

†

Choose from:

  • Any graduate course (500+ level) in the College of Engineering

  • Graduate courses (500+ level) in these disciplines, which are subject to advisor approval: AE, BIO, BMES, CAEE, CHE (including CHE I799), CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, DSCI, ECE, ECEC, ECET, ECEE, ECES, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENTP, ENVP, ENVS, FDSC, GEO, MATE, MEM, PROJ, REAL, SYSE, PENG, MATH, PHYS, SE, or approved by CHE advisor.
     

††

6.0 credits in the following subjects (200-499): ACCT, AE, BIO, BLAW, BMES, BUSN, CAE, CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, CT, ECE, ECEC, ECEE, ECEP, ECES, ECON, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENVE, ENVS, FDSC, FIN GEO, INDE, INFO, INTB, MATE, MATH, MEM (except MEM 310), MET, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, NFS, ORGB, OPM, PBHL, PENG, PHYS,  SE, or CHE 399-480, CHE I399, CHE T480, ENGR 370, or courses approved by CHE advisor.

AND

6.0 credits in the following subjects (300-499): AE, BIO, BMES, CAE, CHEM, CIVE, CMGT, CS, CT, ECE, ECEC, ECEE, ECEP, ECES, EET, EGMT, ENSS, ENVE, ENVS, FDSC, GEO INDE, INFO, MATE, MATH, MEM (except MEM 310), MET, NFS, PBHL, PENG, PHYS, SE, or CHE 360, CHE 373,CHE 460, CHE 399-480, CHE I399, CHE T480, CHEM 230, CHEM 231 [WI] , CHEM 243, ENGR 370, or courses approved by CHE advisor.

†††

9.0 credits in one of: 

Chemical Engineering Faculty

Cameron F. Abrams, PhD (University of California, Berkeley). Professor. Molecular simulations in biophysics and materials; receptors for insulin and growth factors; and HIV-1 envelope structure and function.
Nicolas Alvarez, PhD (Carnegie Mellon University). Assistant Professor. Phototonic crystal defect chromatography; extensional rheology of polymer/polymer composites; surfactant/polymer transport to fluid and solid interfaces; aqueous lubrication; interfacial instabilities.
Jason Baxter, PhD (University of California, Santa Barbara). Professor. Solar cells, semiconductor nanomaterials, ultrafast spectroscopy.
Richard A. Cairncross, PhD (University of Minnesota). Professor. Effects of microstructure on transport and properties of polymers; moisture transport and degradation on biodegradation on biodegradable polymers; production of biofuel.
Aviel Chaimovich, PhD (University of Southern California, Santa Barbara). Assistant Teaching Professor. Molecular simulations.
Megan A. Creighton, PhD (Brown University). Assistant Professor. Sustainable manufacturing practices. Valorization of waste, feasibility assessments of commercialization pipelines, circular economy strategies, and responsible innovation.
Peter Deak, PhD (University of Notre Dame). Assistant Professor. Design of innate immune modulating nanoparticles for vaccines, autoimmune diseases and transplantation. Chemical modulation of immunity.
Aaron Fafarman, PhD (Stanford University). Associate Professor. Photovoltaic energy conversion; solution-based synthesis of semiconductor thin films; colloidal nanocrystals; electromodulation and photomodulation spectroscopy.
Joshua Lequieu, PhD (University of Chicago). Assistant Professor. Polymer physics; statistical mechanics; field-theoretic simulation; molecular simulation.
Matthew A. McDonald, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology). Assistant Professor. Automation and machine learning to accelerate development of challenging chemical processes; pharmaceutical discovery and process engineering; crystallization as a separation technology.
Joshua Snyder, PhD (Johns Hopkins University). Associate Professor. Electrocatalysis (energy conversion/storage); hetergeneous catalysis corrosion (dealloying nanoporous metals); interfacial electrochemical phenomena in nanostructured materials; colloidal synthesis.
Masoud Soroush, PhD (University of Michigan). Professor. Process systems engineering; polymer engineering.
John H. Speidel, BSHE, MCHE (University of Delaware; Illinois Institute of Technology). Teaching Professor. Chemical process safety; process design engineering.
Maureen Tang, PhD (University of California, Berkeley). Associate Professor. Batteries and fuel cells; nonaqueous electrochemistry; charge transport at interfaces.
Michael Walters, PhD (Drexel University). Associate Teaching Professor. Undergraduate laboratory.

Emeritus Faculty

Raj Mutharasan, PhD (Drexel University) Frank A, Fletcher Professor. Biochemical engineering; cellular metabolism in bioreactors; biosensors.
Charles Weinberger, PhD (University of Michigan). Professor Emeritus. Suspension rheology; fluid mechanics of multi-phase systems.