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)
 

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

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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.

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General Education Requirements

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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

Students should complete undergraduate requirements in four years then convert to graduate status in their final year.

A full-time, academically qualified undergraduate student may take up to 9.0 quarter credits of graduate coursework with departmental permission while in an undergraduate degree program. This coursework may be counted to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements with departmental permission.

Students admitted to an accelerated degree program may take up to a total of 15.0 quarter credits of graduate coursework with departmental permission while in an undergraduate degree program. This graduate coursework must be counted to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements with departmental permission.

This graduate coursework may be used as Shared Credits toward an advanced degree. The course credits for each graduate course taken as an undergraduate student shall only be applied to one graduate degree with departmental permission.

Matriculated students should consult Drexel Central about maintaining Federal/State financial aid eligibility regarding graduate credits taken while in an undergraduate degree program.