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Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture


 

QUICK JUMP
  Chemical Engineering
  Study Options
  Requirements and Core Courses
  Facilities and Equipment
  Careers in Chemical Engineering
  Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
  Scholarship and Financial Aid
  Related Fields of Study that Might Interest You
  Contact Information

Chemical Engineering

Almost all manufacturing, product development, or processing involves chemical engineering to convert raw materials into useful products. Chemical engineering has had a hand in developing many things used today—from shampoo, peanut butter, and vitamins, to cars, athletic gear, nylons, fuel, electronic games, acoustical systems, and clean air. The work of chemical engineers affects our food, energy, medicines, and much more. They develop new products, design new chemical plants, and keep existing plants running better, safer, and more environmentally sound.
• Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science, master of science, doctorate
• Available at: Pullman

Study Options

--Biochemical Engineering
--Environmental Engineering: This option provides a focus on designing chemical processes that either remove existing pollutants or transform materials to useful purposes while preventing pollution.
--Fuel Processing
--Pre-Medicine: Your major in chemical engineering, together with the University's pre-medicine advising, can be ideal preparation for medical school.

Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

CERTIFICATION
Criteria for certification in chemical engineering include overall GPA, grades earned in mathematics and physical science courses, and performance in Ch E 201, Chemical Process Principles and Calculations. Eligibility usually occurs in the middle of the sophomore year.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To earn a bachelor of science in chemical engineering, students must complete 132 semester credit hours. In addition to general education requirements, required courses include the following:
Ch E 201—Chemical Process Principles and Calculations
Ch E 211—Process Simulation
Ch E 298—Technical Seminar
Ch E 301—Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Ch E 310—Introduction to Transport Processes
Ch E 321—Kinetics and Reactor Design
Ch E 332—Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Ch E 334—Chemical Engineering Separations
Ch E 398—Technical Seminar
Ch E 432—Chemical Engineering Lab I
Ch E 433—Chemical Engineering Lab II
Ch E 441—Process Control
Ch E 450—Chemical Process Analysis and Design I
Ch E 451—Chemical Process Analysis and Design II
Ch E 498—Technical Seminar
One chemistry, math, technical, and engineering elective
Three chemical engineering electives
And the following required chemistry courses
     Chem 105/106—Principles of Chemistry I and II
     Chem 331/333—Physical Chemistry and Lab
     Chem 336—Classical Physical Chemistry
     Chem 340/341—Organic Chemistry I and Lab
     Chem 342—Organic Chemistry or
          MBioS 303—Introductory Biochemistry

NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the catalog to graduate.

Facilities and Equipment

The chemical engineering department has 12 chemical engineering labs in the new Engineering Teaching and Research Laboratory building, including the premier O.H. Reaugh Laboratory for Oil and Gas Processing. A unit operations laboratory on the lower level of Dana Hall includes upgraded equipment such as a distillation tower, an ion exchange column equipped with multiple detectors, and an absorption tower modified for use of amine solutions. Computerized data acquisition has been implemented on many pieces of equipment. Two privately endowed funds ensure support for equipment. The Center for Multiphase Environmental Research also allows for student discovery in interdisciplinary realms.

Careers in Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers work in the processing industries, where 70,000 consumer products—such as computer chips, foods, paper products, plastics, fuels, dyes, synthetic fibers, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and many others—are produced by 7,000 companies in 12,000 plants in the United States. Industries and government agencies employ chemical engineers for energy production, transportation, environmental protection, electronics, computing, and medicine. They also work for companies around the world in offices, plants, in the field, or at other locations. Chemical engineering can be a springboard to other careers, such as consulting, law, medicine, business, policymaking or government, technical marketing and sales, plant management, research, and teaching.

Demand for chemical engineering graduates is high. Starting salaries for new graduates exceed $50,000 per year. Northwest organizations such as BP, Boeing, Weyerhaeuser, Intel, Micron, Battelle Pacific Northwest National Labs, and Hanford contractors actively recruit new graduates, as do smaller companies in the region and international companies of all sizes.

Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Strong high school preparation in the sciences and mathematics
• Minimum of four years high school math—including trigonometry—and one year each of chemistry and physics
• Enjoy solving problems and working with people and in teams
• Have some background in chemistry, math, and sciences

Scholarship and Financial Aid

The College of Engineering and Architecture offers more than 300 scholarships a year to first- and second-year students. Once certified in chemical engineering, departmental scholarships are available for students who achieve a 3.2 GPA or better and show leadership and academic promise. Students may also apply for University-wide scholarships.

Related Fields of Study that Might Interest You

• Environmental engineering
• Chemistry

Contact Information
Chemical Engineering Program
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-2710
Phone: 509-335-4332
thorntd@che.wsu.edu
 

Strengths of the Program

  • The College of Engineering and Architecture offers a nationally accredited bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.
  • Companies like to hire WSU chemical engineering graduates because of their sound and practical education and for their leadership experiences outside the classroom.
  • The chemical engineering program provides opportunities for students to partner with industry and government and participate in hands-on research.
  • The small student-to-faculty ratio allows for plenty of individual attention.
  • There is an active chapter of the Chemical Engineering Professional Organization. Among the activities of this group is the Chemically Powered Car Competition.
  • You can join a math, science, and engineering community residence hall at WSU Pullman—share classes with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s computer lab.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us