2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
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Telephone: (302) 831-2543
E-mail: che-info@udel.edu
Website: https://cbe.udel.edu/
Faculty Listing: https://cbe.udel.edu/people/faculty/
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, including an Honors Degree option. Chemical engineering combines biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics with the art and creativity of engineering. The Department has much more inclusive descriptions of the profession for those interested. The degree consists of 126 total credits, including 84 credits of core coursework in the chemical engineering department (39 of chemical engineering core classes, 21 credits of chemistry, 11 credits of math, 3 credits of computer science, 8 credits of physics, and 2 credits of introduction to engineering), 9 or 12 credits of chemical engineering electives, 9 or 12 credits of non-chemical engineering technical electives, and 21 credits of breadth (non-technical) electives and English composition. Within this structure, students are encouraged to pursue technical or non-technical minors and engage in research projects to personalize their training. Students are strongly encouraged to become involved in faculty research projects.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The Educational Objectives of the department are:
- To educate graduates who will be able to apply their knowledge of chemical engineering, including their problem solving, analytical, design, and communication skills, in the private or public sectors and/or in the pursuit of more advanced degrees.
- To cultivate graduates who will actively seek to provide technical, educational, public sector and/or business leadership in a rapidly changing, increasingly technological, global society and who recognize their professional responsibility toward the betterment of our community.
DEPARTMENTAL STANDARDS
The Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree requires a minimum grade of C- in every CHEG course used toward the major, MATH 242, MATH 243, MATH 305, CHEM 444, CISC 106, ENGL 110, and all University and College of Engineering breadth courses.
DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
With few exceptions, students are expected to complete this program in eight regular semesters. With chemical engineering courses being offered only once each year, it is imperative that students follow as closely as possible the course sequences outlined below.
During the first year, students take General Chemistry (CHEM 111 and 112); Analytic Geometry and Calculus (MATH 241, 242, and 243); General Computer Science for Engineers (CISC 106); Introduction to Engineering (EGGG 101); Introduction to Chemical Engineering (CHEG 112); Fundamentals of Physics I and Lab (PHYS 207/227); First-Year Writing (ENGL 110); and a breadth requirement course.
Students in their second year take Quantitative Chemistry and Lab (CHEM 220/221); Fundamentals of Physics II and Lab (PHYS 208/228); Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I and II (CHEG 231 and 325); Random Variability in Chemical Processes (CHEG 304); Materials Science for Engineers (MSEG 201); Physical Chemistry (CHEM 444) and optional Lab (CHEM 445); Applied Math for Chemical Engineers (MATH 305); and breath requirement courses.
In their junior year, students take Chemical Engineering Kinetics (CHEG 332); Fluid Mechanics (CHEM 341); Organic Chemistry I and Lab (CHEM 331 and 333; students who took CHEM 445 take the 1-credit version of CHEM 333 and all others take the 2-credit version); Heat and Mass Transfer (CHEG 342); Chemical Engineering Laboratory I (CHEG 345); either a second semester of Organic Chemistry (CHEM 332) or Introduction to Biochemistry (CHEM 527); a breadth requirement course; and chemical engineering and technical electives. If students choose to take Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 332), they need an additional biology course (typically BISC 207) unless they have credit from AP or IB exams.
During their last year, students take Chemical Process Dynamics and Control (CHEG 401); Chemical Process Analysis (CHEG 431 and 432); breadth requirement courses; and chemical and technical electives. Students have the option to take Chemical Engineering Laboratory II (CHEG 445) or conduct research for credit (CHEG 473 and 474 or UNIV 401 and 402) if they have met the requirements for each option. UNIV 401/402 requires students to write and defend a formal senior thesis. Students who take UNIV 401/402 achieve a Degree with Distinction. CHEG 473 and UNIV 401 satisfy CHEG 445; CHEG 474 and UNIV 402 are used as chemical engineering electives.
MINORS
Biochemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering also offers a minor in Biochemical Engineering designed for those students with special interest in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. The minor provides students with an opportunity to study how engineering design and modeling are applied to production and purification processes involving biological organisms, biological molecules, and biological reactions. The curriculum for the Biochemical Engineering minor consists of a sequence of courses in the biological and biochemical sciences and their engineering applications. A student can fulfill the requirements of both the Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Biochemical Engineering in four academic years.
Minor Advisor: Dr. Aditya Kunjapur, kunjapur@udel.edu.
Sustainable Energy Technology
A minor in Sustainable Energy Technology may be earned by a student in any University bachelor’s degree program. Inquiries should be made to the Minor Advisor.
Minor Advisor: Dr. Keith Goossen, goossen@udel.edu.
STUDY ABROAD
Australia - University of Melbourne
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers a 5-week study abroad experience for junior and senior chemical engineering students on a biennial basis. Courses offered include chemical engineering electives and an elective focused on Australian culture. All three courses are offered to both University of Melbourne and University of Delaware students. The program includes excursions to Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island as well as city tours of Melbourne and its surroundings. The final days of the program are spent in Sydney, where students visit local universities as well as some of the city’s celebrated landmarks.
UNDERGRADATE RESEARCH
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering encourages undergraduate students to get involved in the extensive research done in the department. Students can conduct fundamental and applied research on a diversity of topics spanning polymers and composites, energy and sustainability, systems analysis, and biomolecular engineering, among others. Research can be conducted through informal volunteer-style opportunities or formal programs such as UD Summer Scholars. Students in their senior year may pursue an Honors Thesis or Senior Project. The vigorous and ever-changing program has been a hallmark of our department since the late forties and attests to the dedication of both faculty and students to apply scientific understanding to meeting human needs.
GENERAL TECHNICAL AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES
Students must complete a minimum of 21 credits of General Technical and Chemical Engineering elective courses. These electives provide the student with an opportunity to advance their scientific and engineering background in areas of particular interest.
The general technical electives program consists of a minimum of nine credits taken from other departments in the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. These technical electives allow a student to complete a wide variety of technical minors and they are meant to allow the student to explore areas of interest that chemical engineers may encounter in the workplace or academia. Often students use these technical electives to partially fulfill the requirements for minors such as biochemical engineering, computer science, sustainable energy technology, chemistry, environmental engineering, or mathematics. Six of the nine credits must be at an intermediate level (typically 300+ level) for students to demonstrate technical depth in a particular subject.
The Chemical Engineering elective courses are designed to highlight the diversity of chemical engineering practice and applications. Courses vary in the Fall and Spring semesters and address topics such as bioprocessing, biomedical applications, energy and sustainability, polymers and composites, and process control and simulation.
The bachelor’s degree requires one additional three-credit course, either a technical elective or a chemical engineering elective, to complete the degree requirements.
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