Contents > Ira. A. Fulton School of Engineering > Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
Andino, Beckman, Burrows, Rivera
The faculty in the Department of Chemical Engineering offer the BSE degree in Chemical Engineering. This major builds on a broad base of knowledge within the basic and mathematical sciences, and engineering, and offers excellent career opportunities.
Chemical engineers design and operate processes that may include chemical change. They combine the science of chemistry with the discipline of engineering in order to solve complex problems in a wide variety of industries. Challenging job opportunities exist not only in the chemical and petroleum industries, but also in the plastics, electronics, computer, metals, space, food, drug, and healthcare industries. In these industries, chemical engineers practice in a wide variety of occupations, including environmental control, surface treatments, energy and materials transformation, biomedical applications, fermentation, protein recovery, extractive metallurgy, and separations. In the environmental area, chemical engineers develop methods to reduce the pollution created in manufacturing processes, devise techniques to recover usable materials from wastes, design waste storage and treatment facilities, and design pollution control strategies.
Chemical engineers are generally concerned with transfer within and between liquid, gas, and solid phases and the chemical changes that may also occur. Engineers design and operate processes that accommodate such changes, including the chemical activation of materials. Typically this involves complex multicomponent systems wherein the interactions between species have to be considered and analyzed. The new challenge in chemical engineering is to apply the principles of fluid dynamics, mass transfer, solution thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and separation techniques to technological endeavors such as pollution control within manufacturing and the environment, integrated circuit design, solid-state surface treatments, and materials processing.
Consequently, in addition to the chemical and petroleum industries, chemical engineers find challenging opportunities in the plastics, solid-state, electronics, computer, metals, space, food, drug, and healthcare industries, where they practice in a wide variety of occupations, such as environmental control, surface treatments, energy and materials transformations, biomedical applications, fermentation, protein recovery, extractive metallurgy, and separations. While a large percentage of the industrial positions are filled by graduates with bachelor’s degrees, there are lucrative and creative opportunities in research and development for those who acquire postgraduate education.
Subspecializations have developed within the profession. However, the same broad body of knowledge is generally expected of all chemical engineers for maximum flexibility in industrial positions. The preparation for chemical engineering is accomplished by a blend of classroom instruction and laboratory experience.
The chemical engineering faculty are committed to fully developing the potential of students by providing a unique learning environment that encourages them to take responsibility for their education; exposes students to a diversity of viewpoints and teaching/learning styles; prepares students to work in teams to solve real-world, multidisciplinary problems; and sets them on a path of lifelong learning. The faculty demand high quality work. They are fair, honest, courteous, and professional. They are sensitive to students’ needs and dedicated to student success. They are interested in capitalizing on the nontraditional student demographics, including cultural background, age group, and the full- and part-time employed, to develop a vibrant and flexible education and research environment.
To achieve this commitment, the following program educational objectives were established by the chemical engineering faculty:
1. Graduates will have a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering with a balance of theoretical understanding and ability to apply modern techniques, skills, and tools to solve real-world chemical engineering problems.
2. Graduates will have the skills and experience necessary to design component systems and processes for the manufacturing of chemical engineering products.
3. Graduates will have the skills and experience necessary to communicate effectively in oral, written, and graphical forms to various types of audiences.
4. Graduates will have the skills necessary to perform as engineers in a professional and ethical manner.
5. Graduates will have the skills and attitudes for continued life-long learning of new technologies and concepts.
6. Graduates will have opportunities to interact with local industries, educational institutions, and constituent populations.
Freshman and Sophomore Courses
Each student admitted to the Chemical Engineering program follows the first-year and second-year sequence of courses listed in the curriculum outline. Included in the first two semester schedules are all skill-set courses or equivalents:
CHE 100 Introduction to Chemical Engineering CS (3)
CHM 113 General Chemistry I SQ (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II SQ (4)
ENG 101 First-Year Composition (3)
ENG 102 First-Year Composition (3)
MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I (3)
MAT 266 Calculus for Engineers II (3)
PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ* (3)
PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ* (1)
* Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.
Advancement to Upper-Division Courses
Advancement to the junior and senior portion of the program (formerly known as professional) is competitive and granted to those students demonstrating the promise for professional success in Chemical Engineering. A faculty committee considers overall transfer and ASU GPA numbers as well as the transfer and ASU GPA numbers in Chemical Engineering skill-set courses. Freshmen admitted to ASU starting fall 2007 semester will use critical requirements to obtain advancement to upper-division courses. Students not following critical requirements must be in the process of completing all of the skill-set courses and then request advancement to upper division courses as described on the Chemical Engineering Web site. Completion of the specified courses does not guarantee advancement to upper-division courses. Only students who have been admitted to ASU are eligible to request advancement to upper-division courses. Students are encouraged to visit the Chemical Engineering undergraduate advising office or access fulton.asu.edu/~cme.
A minimum of 120 semester hours is necessary for the BSE degree in Chemical Engineering. A minimum of 45 upper-division semester hours is required. Students must attain a GPA of at least 2.00 for the courses in the major field.
In addition to fulfilling school and major requirements, majors must satisfy all university graduation requirements. See University Graduation Requirements.
The course work for the undergraduate degree can be classified into the following categories (in semester hours):
Choose among the course combinations below (6)
ENG 101 First-Year Composition (3)
ENG 102 First-Year Composition (3)
ENG 105 Advanced First-Year Composition (3)
Elective chosen with an advisor (3)
ENG 107 English for Foreign Students (3)
ENG 108 English for Foreign Students (3)
General Studies/School Requirements
Humanities and Fine Arts/Social and Behavioral Sciences
Six hours of literacy and critical inquiry credit is satisfied by courses in the major.
Natural Sciences/Basic Sciences
CHM 113 General Chemistry I SQ (4)
CHM 116 General Chemistry IISQ (4)
CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ2 (3)
PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ2 (1)
PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ3 (3)
MAT 242 Elementary Linear Algebra (2)
MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I (3)
MAT 266 Calculus for Engineers II (3)
MAT 267 Calculus for Engineers III (3)
MAT 275 Modern Differential Equations MA (3)
General Studies/program requirements total 54
CHE 100 Introduction to Chemical Engineering CS (3)
CHE 211 Introduction to Chemical Processing (3)
CHE 231 Introduction to Transport Phenomena I: Fluids (3)
CHE 334 Introduction to Transport Phenomena II: Heat and Mass Transfer (3)
CHE 342 Introduction to Applied Chemical Thermodynamics (3)
CHE 352 Transport Laboratories (3)
CHE 432 Principles of Chemical Engineering Design (3)
CHE 433 Modern Separations (3)
CHE 442 Introduction to Chemical Reactor Design (3)
CHE 451 Chemical Engineering Laboratory (3)
CHE 461 Process Dynamic Control CS (3)
IEE 220 Business and Industrial Engineering (3)
MAE 384 Numerical Methods for Engineers (3)
Engineering elective (200 level) (3)
1 Engineering students may not use aerospace studies (AES) or military science (MIS) courses to fulfill HU or SB requirements.
2 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.
3 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.
4 See Bioscience Electives for a list of electives.
5 Students must complete a total of 15 semester hours of upper-division technical electives in the natural sciences, math, or engineering. These must include at least six hours of CHE courses and at least six hours of advanced chemistry content. Courses with advanced chemistry content include CHM, BCH, and approved CHE courses.
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
BCH 461 General Biochemistry (3)
BCH 463 Biophysical Chemistry (3)
BIO 188 General Biology II (4)
BME 111 Engineering Perspectives on Biological Systems (3)
BME 235 Physiology for Engineers (4)
BME 411 Biomedical Engineering I (3)
MBB 245 Introductory Cellular and Molecular Biology SQ (4)
MBB 247 Applied Biosciences: Biotechnology (4)
MIC 220 Biology of Microorganisms (3)
CHE 475 Biochemical Engineering (3)
Students should consult with their department academic advisors to ensure that all requirements are met.
The technical elective courses must be selected from upper-division courses with an advisor’s approval and must include two three-semester-hour chemistry courses; a three-semester-hour natural science or materials course; and a three-semester-hour chemical engineering course.
To fulfill accreditation requirements and to prepare adequately for the advanced chemistry courses, Chemical Engineering majors are required to take the CHM 113 and 116 introductory chemistry sequence (CHM 117 and 118 are acceptable substitutes). Other freshman chemistry courses are not acceptable, and transfer students who have taken another chemistry course may be required to enroll in CHM 113 and 116.
Chemical Engineering Areas of Study
Students who wish to specialize may develop an area of interest through the use of technical electives and selective substitutions for required courses. Substitutions must be approved by the advisor and the Department Standards Committee and must be consistent with ABET accreditation criteria. No substitution of CHE 462 is allowed. The following are possible elective areas with suggested courses. A student may choose electives within the general department guidelines and does not have to select one of the areas listed.
Students wishing to prepare for a career in biotechnology, fermentation, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and other areas within biochemical engineering should select from the following:
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
or BCH 461 General Biochemistry (3)
BCH 462 General Biochemistry (3)
CHE 475 Biochemical Engineering (3)
CHE 494 ST: Biotechnology Techniques (3)
Students who are interested in biomedical engineering but wish to maintain a strong, broad chemical engineering base should select from the following:
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
or BCH 461 General Biochemistry (3)
BCH 462 General Biochemistry (3)
Students interested in environmental engineering are encouraged to pursue a BSE degree in Chemical Engineering with this area of study. Students interested in the management of hazardous wastes and air and water pollution should select from the following:
BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
or BCH 461 General Biochemistry (3)
CHM 302 Environmental Chemistry (3)
CHM 494 ST: Chemistry of Global Climate Change (3)
CEE 561 Physical-Chemical Treatment of Water and Waste (3)
CEE 563 Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (3)
Students interested in the development and production of new materials such as alloys, ceramics, composites, polymers, semiconductors, and superconductors should select from the following:
CHM 345 Physical Chemistry I (3)
CHM 346 Physical Chemistry II (3)
CHM 453 Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CHM 471 Solid-State Chemistry (3)
CHE 458 Semiconductor Material Processing (3)
EEE 352 Properties of Electronic Materials (4)
MSE 353 Introduction to Materials Processing and Synthesis (3)
MSE 354 Experiments in Materials Synthesis and Processing (2)
MSE 431 Corrosion and Corrosion Control (3)
MSE 470 Polymers and Composites (3)
Students planning to attend medical school should select courses from those listed under the biomedical area. In addition, BIO 187, 188, and CHM 238 must be taken to satisfy medical-school requirements but are not counted toward the Chemical Engineering bachelor’s degree.
The engineering core and required chemical engineering courses serve as a suitable background for students intending to enter the traditional petrochemical and chemical process industries. Students can build on this background by selecting courses with the approval of their advisor. Examples of these courses are as follows:
CHE 494 ST: Advanced Process Control (3)
Students interested in the development and manufacturing of semiconductor and other electronic devices should select from the following:
CHM 345 Physical Chemistry I (3)
CHM 346 Physical Chemistry II (3)
CHM 453 Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CHM 471 Solid-State Chemistry (3)
CHE 458 Semiconductor Material Processing (3)
CHE 494 Special Topics (1 to 4)
EEE 352 Properties of Electronic Materials (4)
EEE 436 Fundamentals of Solid-State Devices (3)
EEE 439 Semiconductor Facilities and Cleanroom Practices (3)
MSE 353 Introduction to Materials Processing and Synthesis (3)
MSE 354 Experiments in Materials Synthesis and Processing (2)
Chemical Engineering Program of Study
Typical Four-Year Sequence
CHE 100 Introduction to Chemical Engineering (3)
CHM 113 General Chemistry I SQ (4)
ENG 101 First-Year Composition (3)
MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I (3)
CHM 116 General Chemistry II SQ (4)
ENG 102 First-Year Composition (3)
MAT 266 Calculus for Engineers II (3)
PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ1 (3)
PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I SQ1 (1)
CHE 211 Introduction to Chemical Processing (3)
MAT 242 Elementary Linear Algebra (2)
MAT 275 Modern Differential Equations MA (3)
PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ2 (3)
Engineering elective (200 level) (3)
CHE 231 Introduction to Transport Phenomena I: Fluids (3)
MAE 384 Numerical Methods for Engineers (3)
MAT 267 Calculus for Engineers III (3)
CHE 334 Introduction to Transport Phenomena II: Heat and Mass Transfer (3)
CHE 342 Introduction to Applied Chemical Thermodynamics (3)
CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHE 352 Transport Laboratories (3)
CHE 433 Modern Separations (3)
CHE 442 Introduction to Chemical Reactor Design (3)
CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
IEE 220 Business and Industrial Engineering (3)
CHE 432 Principles of Chemical Engineering Design (3)
CHE 451 Chemical Engineering Laboratory (3)
CHE 461 Process Dynamic Control CS (3)
1 Both PHY 121 and 122 must be taken to secure SQ credit.
2 Both PHY 131 and 132 must be taken to secure SQ credit.
3 See Bioscience Electives for a list of electives.
Courses
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.
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