Department of Chemistry and Life Science: Site Pages

Chemical Engineering Major

Chemical engineering is perhaps the broadest and most diverse field in all of engineering. Any commercial process or product that uses or contains molecules probably involved a chemical engineer at some stage of development. This includes all materials used by the military, including such basic items as food, clothing, fuel, water, explosives, metals, polymers, ceramics, semiconductors, medicines, artificial organs, and prostheses, just to name a few. Chemical engineers design these materials at the molecular level, optimize the design for specific applications, and develop efficient methods for production, packaging, and distribution. Chemical engineers are also very concerned with the conversion between matter and energy, particularly since almost all chemical reactions require or produce energy. In terms of contemporary societal problems, chemical engineers are at the forefront of the effort to design new and more efficient fuels, and we are critical to efforts at environmental remediation, including waste recycling and remediation. Within the military, chemical engineers are uniquely qualified to address problems in fuel and water production and distribution, power generation, as well as detection, decontamination, and protection against chemical and biological agents.

Chemical Engineering Mission

The mission of the chemical engineering program is to prepare commissioned leaders of character who are proficient in applying chemical and engineering principles to solve problems in a complex operational environment.

Chemical Engineering Program Objectives

During a career as commissioned officers in the United States Army and beyond, program graduates:

Contribute to the solution of infrastructure or operational problems in a complex operational environment
Succeed in graduate school or other advanced study programs
Advance their careers through clear and precise technical communication
Demonstrate effective leadership and chemical engineering expertise

Chemical Engineering General Program Outcomes

On completion of the chemical engineering program, our graduates will be able to:

Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
Design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data
Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturing, and sustainability constraints
Function on multidisciplinary teams
Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
Understand professional and ethical responsibilities
Communicate effectively
Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global economic, environmental, and societal context
Recognize the need and develop the skills required for life-long learning
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues
Demonstrate an ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Chemical Engineering Curriculum Outcomes

The program provides the graduate with a thorough grounding and working knowledge of the chemical sciences, including:

General, organic, and physical chemistry
Material and energy balances on chemical processes, including safety and environmental factors
Heat, mass, and momentum transfer
Chemical reaction engineering
Continuous and staged separation operations
Process dynamics and control
Modern experimental and computing techniques
Process design

A cadet majoring in Chemical Engineering must complete 26 core and 18 program courses for a total of 44 academic courses. The program includes 15 required and 3 elective courses.