Chemical engineers are responsible for producing products based on chemical processing and chemical transformations. They carry out basic research; they design, build, operate and manage chemical processes and plants; and they supply petroleum products, renewable resources, plastics, detergents, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biological compounds, photographic materials, microelectronic devices and various food and other products. Today's processes must be energy efficient, nonpolluting and profitable. Thus, students must master inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, mathematics, statistics, computers, physics and often biology and biochemistry. Students must learn to apply these fundamentals in the process industries. Paralleling the technical courses are studies in the humanities and the social sciences.
Requirements
Prerequisites and Passing Grades
Unless specified otherwise, the minimum passing grade for a course that is a prerequisite for another required course is C-. If a grade of D+ or lower is received in a course which is a prerequisite to another, the student may not register for the subsequent course until the first grade has been raised to a C- or higher.
Unless specified otherwise, the minimum passing grade for a course that is not specifically a prerequisite for another required course is D-.
Students may be dropped from courses if they do not meet the minimum prerequisite grade requirements. It is the student's responsibility to communicate with the department if summer coursework and/or transfer credit will be used to meet the prerequisite requirement.
Required Courses
A total of 128 credit hours is required.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
CHEN 1300 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering (This course is an optional Engineering Technical Elective.) | 1 |
CHEN 1310 | Introduction to Engineering Computing | 3 |
CHEN 2120 | Chemical Engineering Material and Energy Balances | 3 |
CHEN 2810 | Biology for Engineers | 3 |
or MCDB 1150 | Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | |
or EBIO 1210 & EBIO 1220 | General Biology 1 and General Biology 2 | |
CHEN 3010 | Applied Data Analysis | 3 |
or STAT 4000 & STAT 4010 | Statistical Methods and Application I and Statistical Methods and Applications II | |
CHEN 3200 | Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
or MCEN 3021 | Fluid Mechanics | |
CHEN 3210 | Chemical Engineering Heat and Mass Transfer | 4 |
CHEN 3220 | Chemical Engineering Separations | 3 |
CHEN 3320 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
CHEN 4090 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
CHEN 4130 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
or CHEN 4010 & CHEN 4020 | Chemical Engineering Senior Thesis 1 and Chemical Engineering Senior Thesis 2 | |
CHEN 4330 | Chemical Engineering Reaction Kinetics | 3 |
CHEN 4440 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
CHEN 4520 | Chemical Process Synthesis | 3 |
CHEN 4521 | Physical Chemistry for Engineers | 3 |
CHEN 4530 | Chemical Engineering Design Project | 2 |
CHEN 4570 | Instrumentation and Process Control | 4 |
Required Mathematics Courses
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4 |
or MATH 1300 | Calculus 1 | |
APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 for Engineers | 4 |
or MATH 2300 | Calculus 2 | |
APPM 2350 | Calculus 3 for Engineers | 4 |
or MATH 2400 | Calculus 3 | |
APPM 2360 | Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
or MATH 2130 & MATH 3430 | Introduction to Linear Algebra for Non-Mathematics Majors and Ordinary Differential Equations |
Required Science Courses
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
CHEM 1221 | Engineering General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
CHEN 1201 | General Chemistry for Engineers 1 | 4 |
CHEN 1203 | General Chemistry for Engineers 2 (If a student completes CHEN 1211 instead of CHEN 1201 & CHEN 1203, then they must take 5 Free Electives.) | 2 |
CHEM 3311 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 4 |
CHEM 3321 | Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1 | 1 |
CHEM 3331 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 4 |
CHEM 3341 | Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2 | 1 |
PHYS 1110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
PHYS 1120 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
PHYS 1140 | Experimental Physics 1 | 1 |
Advanced Chemistry Elective | 3 | |
Choose one of the following: | ||
Principles of Biochemistry | ||
Modern Inorganic Chemistry | ||
Physical Chemistry 2 |
Humanities, Social Sciences and Writing
Complete the College's Humanities, Social Sciences, and Writing requirements (18 credits total) as specified on the Engineering Advising website.
Required Technical Electives
Electives must meet specific requirements. Visit the department's Current Students webpage and consult the current advising guide.
Free Electives
If student completes CHEN 1211 instead of CHEN 1201 & CHEN 1203, the student must complete 5 credits of Free Electives. If students completes CHEN 1201 & CHEN 1203, the student will complete 3 credits of Free Electives
Program Tracks
Curricular options have been established in fields of major importance and particular interest. To follow one of these options requires careful planning and course selection by student and advisor.
Materials Track
The need to develop new materials for a rapidly broadening spectrum of applications is one of the major technological challenges confronting applied science. Chemical engineers have the required background in chemistry and transport theory to contribute significantly in this area. This option focuses on polymeric and ceramic materials by complementing the chemical engineering curriculum with elective courses stressing the interrelationship between materials fabrication, structure, properties and performance.
Premed Track
This track is offered for students preparing for medical school. Since chemical and engineering already requires most of the premed courses, it is a logical choice for students who desire an engineering degree and the opportunity to pursue a medical profession.
Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study
While there are several tracks, only the Standard Curriculum is shown here. For details on the other tracks, visit the department's Current Students webpage and consult the current advising guide.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4 |
CHEN 1201 | General Chemistry for Engineers 1 | 4 |
CHEN 1300 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering 1 | 1 |
CHEN 1310 | Introduction to Engineering Computing | 3 |
Humanities or social science elective 1 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 for Engineers | 4 |
CHEM 1221 | Engineering General Chemistry Lab | 1 |
CHEN 1203 | General Chemistry for Engineers 2 | 2 |
CHEN 2810 | Biology for Engineers | 3 |
PHYS 1110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
Humanities or social science elective 1 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 17 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall Semester | ||
APPM 2350 | Calculus 3 for Engineers | 4 |
CHEM 3311 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 4 |
CHEM 3321 | Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1 | 1 |
CHEN 2120 | Chemical Engineering Material and Energy Balances | 3 |
PHYS 1120 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
PHYS 1140 | Experimental Physics 1 | 1 |
Credit Hours | 17 | |
Spring Semester | ||
APPM 2360 | Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
CHEM 3331 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 4 |
CHEM 3341 | Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2 | 1 |
CHEN 3200 | Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
CHEN 4090 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
CHEN 4521 | Physical Chemistry for Engineers | 3 |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CHEN 3010 | Applied Data Analysis | 3 |
CHEN 3210 | Chemical Engineering Heat and Mass Transfer | 4 |
CHEN 3320 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
Free electives 2 | 2 | |
College-approved writing course 3 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CHEN 3220 | Chemical Engineering Separations | 3 |
CHEN 4330 | Chemical Engineering Reaction Kinetics | 3 |
CHEN 4440 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
Advanced chemistry elective 4 | 3 | |
Technical elective 2 | 3 | |
Humanities or social science elective 1 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 18 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CHEN 4130 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
CHEN 4520 | Chemical Process Synthesis | 3 |
CHEN 3000+ Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
Technical elective 2 | 3 | |
Humanities or social science elective 1 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CHEN 4530 | Chemical Engineering Design Project | 2 |
CHEN 4570 | Instrumentation and Process Control | 4 |
CHEN 3000+ Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
Technical elective 2 | 3 | |
Humanities or social science elective 1 | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Total Credit Hours | 128 |
1 | CHEN 1300 Introduction to Chemical Engineering (1) is an optional Engineering Technical Elective. |
2 | Students may choose courses from the list of college-approved humanities and social sciences (HSS) electives. |
3 | Students may choose a course from the list of college-approved writing courses. |
4 | Electives, including advanced chemistry electives, must meet specific requirements. Visit the department's Current Students webpage and consult the current advising guide. |
Learning Outcomes
Program Educational Objectives
The department prepares graduates to make significant contributions in many diverse areas. Specifically, within a few years of graduation our graduates will have achieved one or more of the following attributes:
- In their chosen field, be established in a professional career, be pursuing an advanced degree or be seeking advanced certification.
- Be recognized as academic, industrial or entrepreneurial leaders.
- Be successfully working and communicating in a variety of technical fields.
- Be adapting to new technologies and changing professional environments
Student Outcomes
At the time of graduation, students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s Degree Program(s)
The Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor’s degree first, but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year). Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees, students receive a master’s degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master’s degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor’s–accelerated master’s program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.
BS and MS in Chemical Engineering
Admissions Requirements
In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.250 or higher.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in CHEN coursework.
- Students must have completed CHEN 2120, CHEN 3200, CHEN 3210, CHEN 3320 and CHEN 3010 prerequisite courses with grades of B- in each course.
- Have at least junior class standing.
- Complete MAPS requirements.
- Provide a one-page Statement of Purpose. The statement should briefly describe your past work in the field, including noncourse educational experiences, teaching, or other relevant employment, publication, theses, research in progress, other scholarly activities and your plans for graduate study and a professional career
- GRE.
- Provide an unofficial transcript.
Program Requirements
Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program which can later be used toward the master’s degree. However, only six credit hours may be double counted toward the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor’s degree, and apply to continue with the master’s degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.
Please see the BAM degree program web page for more information.