Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineering profession is a close-knit group with a common background in chemical processes, systems analysis, and systems economics. Chemical engineering training occurs through course and laboratory work addressing mathematical, scientific, and engineering fundamentals. Chemical engineers study, design and operate processes to provide food, water, energy, clothing, medicine and materials. These processes transform raw materials from the environment into desired products. They also return spent products and by-products to the environment in an ecologically sustainable manner.

Undergraduate Program

Chemical Engineering

105 Benson Hall
206-685-1634
chemeadv@uw.edu

Program of Study: Major: Chemical Engineering

Program Overview

Chemical engineering is the study of transforming matter under constraint. Chemical engineers find industrial employment in areas of energy, the environment, biomedicine, electronics, food production, and materials. Chemical engineers also find careers in academia and government and military service. Students study chemical processes at the molecular level and the chemical plant level and gain an engineering education deeply grounded in mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science.

Admission Requirements

Engineering Undeclared Students

See section on College of Engineering Admission for additional details on Direct-to-College admission and placement process for Engineering Undeclared students. The deadline to submit a request for placement in an engineering major occurs annually on July 1.

If the number of Engineering Undeclared students requesting the major exceeds the department capacity for such students, a matching process is implemented. Factors considered include performance in prerequisite courses, quality of overall academic record, content of personal statement, applicable work or extracurricular activities, and other special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.

Core courses within the department form a seven-quarter curriculum designed to start spring quarter of the sophomore year. Because the curriculum is cohort-based and all students start and proceed at the same pace, Engineering Undeclared students admitted to Chemical Engineering after their first year are expected to start the curriculum in spring quarter of their second year.

Engineering Undeclared students in good standing with respect to the continuation criteria described below may request placement into an engineering major after completion of minimum requirements as specified below:

  1. ENGR 101
  2. English composition
  3. MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136)
  4. CHEM 142 (or CHEM 143 or CHEM 145)
  5. PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141)
  6. One course from list of approved courses on the College of Engineering website. Students are encouraged to choose a course required for graduation in the majors they are considering. Students requesting placement in Chemical Engineering must take CHEM 152 (or CHEM 153 or CHEM 155) from this list and they are also strongly recommended to complete CHEM 162 (or CHEM 165) prior to requesting placement.
  7. Minimum 2.0 grade in each course used to satisfy a placement requirement.
  8. Minimum 12 credits as a matriculated UW student. Some departments require more credits. See department websites for details.

Chemical Engineering is the only engineering major that requires students to complete CHEM 152 (or CHEM 153 or CHEM 155) to request placement because that course is required in order to complete the major in four years.

Students in good standing who do not meet the placement requirements by July 1 will be placed into a major on a conditional basis pending the completion of all placement requirements and readiness to begin the chemical engineering core course sequence in the following spring quarter. Additional advising resources will be available to these students. See section on College of Engineering Continuation Policy for Engineering Undeclared Students for additional details.

Current UW Students and Transfer Students

The department follows a cohort model beginning in spring quarter. Transfer students, current UW students outside the College of Engineering, and current UW students with Engineering Undeclared status who are eligible to begin the chemical engineering core sequence of courses in their first spring quarter may apply. Admission is capacity constrained.

  1. Admission is for spring quarter only. Application deadline: January 15. The department has a single annual admission cycle focused on students starting the chemical engineering core sequence of courses in the spring quarter immediately following the deadline.
  2. Minimum course requirements: MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136); CHEM 142, CHEM 152 (or CHEM 143, CHEM 153; or CHEM 145, CHEM 155); PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141); 5 credits of English composition.
  3. Enrollment requirements: Students must be able to demonstrate they plan to complete the following spring quarter enrollment requirements and autumn quarter continuation requirements.
    1. Prior to the start of spring quarter: CHEM 162 (or CHEM 153 or CHEM 165); PHYS 122 (or PHYS 142); MATH 207 (or MATH 135 or AMATH 351)
    2. Prior to the start of autumn quarter: CHEM 237 (or CHEM 223 or CHEM 257), CHEM 238 (or CHEM 224 or CHEM 258); PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143); MATH 208 (or MATH 136 or AMATH 352); CHEM E 310; CHEM E 375

    Factors evaluated for admission include performance in prerequisite courses, quality of overall academic record, demonstrated ability to handle rigorous course load, record of honors, content of personal statement, applicable work or extracurricular activities, and other special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.

    Continuation Policy

    All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in academic alert or warning, which can eventually lead to dismissal from the major. For the complete continuation policy, contact the departmental adviser or refer to the department website.

    Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree

    Credential Overview

    The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (B.S.Ch.E.) is a highly marketable, professional degree that prepares undergraduate students for employment in industry or graduate study. With a strong background in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, chemical engineering students study transport phenomena (the description of momentum, heat, and mass transfer in chemical processes); chemical kinetics and reaction engineering; process control and design; and optimization of chemical processes and apply this knowledge to engineering solutions in a wide variety of areas.

    Completion Requirements

    General Education Requirements

    1. Written and Oral Communication (12 credits)
      1. English Composition: 5 credits from the University list
      2. Writing: 7 remaining credits met by coursework in the major

      Areas of Inquiry

      1. Arts and Humanities (A&H) and Social Sciences (SSc) (24 credits)
        1. A&H (10 credits)
        2. SSc (10 credits)
        3. Additional credits in A&H or SSc to bring total to 24 credits
        1. Mathematics (18-25 credits) complete one of the following:
          1. MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 207 (or AMATH 351), MATH 208 (or AMATH 352); one of MATH 209, MATH 224, STAT 390, IND E 315, or AMATH 353
          2. MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136; one of MATH 209, MATH 224, STAT 390, IND E 315, or AMATH 353
          1. CHEM 142, CHEM 152, CHEM 162 (or CHEM 145, CHEM 155, CHEM 165), CHEM 237 (or CHEM 223 or CHEM 257), CHEM 238 (or CHEM 224 or CHEM 258), CHEM 455 (or CHEM E 456)
          2. CHEM 143, CHEM 153, CHEM 237 (or CHEM 223 or CHEM 257), CHEM 238 (or CHEM 224 or CHEM 258), CHEM 455 (or CHEM E 456)
          1. Chemical Engineering Core Courses (54 credits): CHEM E 310, CHEM E 325, CHEM E 326, CHEM E 330, CHEM E 340, CHEM E 375, CHEM E 435, CHEM E 436, CHEM E 437, CHEM E 457, CHEM E 465, CHEM E 480, CHEM E 485, CHEM E 486
          2. A minimum 2.00 GPA in core chemical engineering courses, based on the first time each course is taken, is required for graduation.
          3. Additional requirements specified below.

          Additional electives to reach 180 credits

          Of Special Note:

          Many engineers design new equipment and processes or design modifications to them. The design experience is integrated throughout the curriculum, with open-ended problems (sometimes involving economic constraints) in several courses: design of heat exchangers (CHEM E 340) and distillation towers (CHEM E 435), design of piping and pumping systems (CHEM E 330), design of chemical reactors (CHEM E 465). The design experience culminates in two capstone design courses (CHEM E 485 and CHEM E 486 or CHEM E 485 and CHEM E 497 or faculty approved alternative) which involve the design of an integrated chemical system.

          Additional Completion Requirements
          1. Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering (3 credits): CHEM E 455 or CHEM E 460
          2. Engineering Elective Courses (16 credits): See adviser for list of approved courses. Only one, 1-credit seminar allowed toward engineering electives. Maximum 9 credits undergraduate research (CHEM E 299, CHEM E 499, of which no more than 3 credits may be CHEM 299) may count toward engineering electives.

          Additional electives to reach 180 credits

          Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree: Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering

          Credential Overview

          The Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering (NME) Option in the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering is a transcriptable option focusing on nanoscale principles in molecular engineering that provides hands-on experience and stresses the interdisciplinary nature of the field.

          Completion Requirements

          General Education Requirements

          1. Written and Oral Communication (12 credits)
            1. English Composition: 5 credits from the University list
            2. Writing: 7 remaining credits met by coursework in the major

            Areas of Inquiry

            1. Arts and Humanities (A&H) and Social Sciences (SSc) (24 credits)
              1. A&H (10 credits)
              2. SSc (10 credits)
              3. Additional credits in A&H or SSc to bring total to 24 credits
              1. Mathematics (18-25 credits) complete one of the following:
                1. MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 207 (or AMATH 351), MATH 208 (or AMATH 352); one of MATH 209, MATH 224, STAT 390, IND E 315, or AMATH 353
                2. MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136; one of MATH 209, MATH 224, STAT 390, IND E 315, or AMATH 353
                1. CHEM 142, CHEM 152, CHEM 162 (or CHEM 145, CHEM 155, CHEM 165), CHEM 237 (or CHEM 223 or CHEM 257), CHEM 238 (or CHEM 224 or CHEM 258), CHEM 455 (or CHEM E 456)
                2. CHEM 143, CHEM 153, CHEM 237 (or CHEM 223 or CHEM 257), CHEM 238 (or CHEM 224 or CHEM 258), CHEM 455 (or CHEM E 456)
                1. Chemical Engineering Core Courses (54 credits): CHEM E 310, CHEM E 325, CHEM E 326, CHEM E 330, CHEM E 340, CHEM E 375, CHEM E 435, CHEM E 436, CHEM E 437, CHEM E 457, CHEM E 465, CHEM E 480, CHEM E 485, CHEM E 486
                2. A minimum 2.00 GPA in core chemical engineering courses, based on the first time each course is taken, is required for graduation.
                3. Additional requirements specified below.

                Additional electives to reach 180 credits

                Of Special Note:

                Many engineers design new equipment and processes or design modifications to them. The design experience is integrated throughout the curriculum, with open-ended problems (sometimes involving economic constraints) in several courses: design of heat exchangers (CHEM E 340) and distillation towers (CHEM E 435), design of piping and pumping systems (CHEM E 330), design of chemical reactors (CHEM E 465). The design experience culminates in two capstone design courses (CHEM E 485 and CHEM E 486 or CHEM E 485 and CHEM E 497 or faculty approved alternative) which involve the design of an integrated chemical system.

                Additional Completion Requirements

                Option specific credits (19 credits)

                1. Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering Fundamentals (7 credits): NME 220; CHEM E 455 or CHEM E 460
                2. Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering Elective Courses (12 credits): See adviser for list of approved courses. Only one, 1-credit seminar allowed toward engineering electives; maximum 9 credits undergraduate research (CHEM E 299, CHEM E 499, of which no more than 3 credits may be CHEM E 299) may count toward engineering electives; minimum 2 credits of research or other departmental approved alternative.

                Additional electives to reach 180 credits

                Additional Information

                Student Outcomes and Opportunities

                • Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Chemical engineering graduates possess knowledge (including safety and environmental aspects) of material and energy balances applied to chemical processes; thermodynamics of physical and chemical equilibria; heat, mass, and momentum transfer; chemical reaction engineering; continuous and stage-wise separation operations; process dynamics and control; and process design. They also gain ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering; ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data; ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; ability to function on multidisciplinary teams; and ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems. They also possess an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; an ability to communicate effectively; the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context; a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning; a knowledge of contemporary issues; and an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
                • Instructional and Research Facilities: The chemical engineering building, Benson Hall, contains classrooms, offices, stockrooms, computer rooms, machine and electronics shops, and laboratories. The Unit Operations Laboratory holds a variety of experiments designed to give undergraduate students the experience of using real chemical process equipment and to deepen their understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals of fluid flow, heat transfer, separation processes, and reactor behavior. Departmental computer facilities include a network of PCs located in a keyed room for the exclusive use of chemical engineering students. Ten of these machines have hardware for computer data acquisition (to collect experimental data and support experiments on process automation). All have fast connections to the Internet and to larger UW computers.
                • Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors); With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.
                • Research, Internships, and Service Learning: Students are encouraged to participate in internships, which are generally facilitated through the Engineering Co-op Office.
                • Department Scholarships: The department awards 20-25 full-tuition scholarships per year. See departmental website for application procedures.
                • Student Organizations/Associations: The undergraduates in the department run a dynamic chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

                Of Special Note:

                Entrance into most chemical engineering courses is ordinarily limited to majors in chemical engineering and bioresource science and engineering. Other students who wish to take departmental courses must meet the prerequisites and obtain instructor approval (except for CHEM E 485 and CHEM E 486, which are open to majors only).