Chemical Engineering (B.Ch.E.)
At-a-Glance
Minimum hours required for degree: 135 (not including credits earned in the Engineering Cooperative Education Program and Orientation)
Admission to major: Admission to Fenn College of Engineering
Hours required for minor: There is no authorized minor in the Chemical Engineering Program. The chemical engineering curriculum fulfills the requirements for a minor in chemistry; the requirements for a minor in physics can be fulfilled with 4 additional credit hours. Interested students must complete an application with the Chemistry and Physics departments.
Certificate Program: Biotechnology - Engineering Track
(see description or call the department at 216-687-2571 for additional information.)
Evening Program: No evening program exists, but most non-CHE courses (and CHE electives) are offered evenings.
Advising: Students should meet with their assigned adviser each semester during advising week; phone: 216-687-2571.
Student Organizations: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Student Chapter.
Chemical Engineering Educational Objectives
The Chemical Engineering curriculum prepares the student for a successful career in a dynamic and progressive profession. A chemical engineer may pursue a wide scope of projects. Chemical engineers are responsible for the design and operation of processes that accomplish chemical changes. Examples of such processes are the production of antibiotics, detergents, drugs, paints, plastics, petrochemicals, advanced materials, and synthetics. A chemical engineer may also work on the research and development preceding or accompanying a given process design, or the management of a plant or an entire enterprise. The Cleveland State University chemical engineering curriculum provides a strong foundation to work in energy conservation and utilization, environmental pollution control, as well as the petrochemical industry and many other chemical-related industries. Consistent with mission of the university, college and department, this program has been designed to provide an attractive avenue for students interested in Chemical Engineering.
The chemical engineering program at CSU strives to prepare its graduates to:
- Utilize practical engineering skills for productive, gainful, and ethical careers in chemical and related industries and organizations; and
- Engage in lifelong learning through professional activities and/or the pursuit of higher educational degrees.
Special Notes:
Advanced Chemistry and Science Electives: A minimum of 6 credit hours of chemistry electives are required for the degree. These electives must be major courses at the 300-level or above, and include 4 credit hours of organic chemistry and a 2-credit-hour chemistry laboratory. In addition, 4 credit hours of advanced science are required. The advanced science credits must be earned in a 300-level or above course in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology or geology. Independent studies with faculty from the departments of Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Geology can be used to fulfill these requirements. These courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students are required to present a formal written petition to the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering prior to registration in such independent studies. Courses promoted on an S/U basis will not qualify to fulfill graduation requirements. Students can plan their electives sequence to fulfill the requirements for minors in chemistry and physics. These electives can also be selected to satisfy the Biotechnology Certificate track. Details and guidelines can be obtained from the department academic adviser.
Chemical Engineering Electives: Two chemical engineering electives are also required. These elective courses must be approved by the department, for engineering design and science contents. A varied selection is offered each year. These electives can be selected to satisfy the Biotechnology Certificate track.
2-D in ESC and CHE rule: Chemical Engineering students are limited to a combined maximum of two grades of D in Engineering Science (ESC) or Chemical Engineering (CHE) courses to be eligible for graduation.
Program for Chemical Engineering
First Year, Fall Semester |
Credits |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
| Total |
15-16 |
|
|
|
First Year, Spring Semester |
Credits |
|
2 or 3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
| Total |
17-18 |
|
|
|
Second Year, Fall Semester |
Credits |
|
5 |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
| Total |
17 |
|
|
|
Second Year, Spring Semester |
Credits |
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
General Education Elective |
3 |
General Education Elective |
3 |
| Total |
18 |
|
|
|
Third Year, Fall Semester |
Credits |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
2 |
|
CHE 308 Junior Laboratory (Writing) |
1 |
| Total |
18 |
|
|
|
Third Year, Spring Semester |
Credits |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
PHL 215 Engineering Ethics (Writing) |
3 |
| Total |
18 |
|
|
|
Fourth Year, Fall Semester |
Credits |
|
3 |
|
CHE 430 Process Control (Writing) |
4 |
CHE 4xx Chemical Engineering Elective I |
3 |
Advanced Science Elective |
4 |
General Education Elective |
3 |
| Total |
17 |
|
|
|
Fourth Year, Spring Semester |
Credits |
|
3 |
|
CHE 4xx Chemical Engineering Elective II |
3 |
CHE 420 Chemical Engineering Laboratory (Writing) |
4 |
General Education Elective |
3 |
General Education Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
|
|
*Not required for transfer students
Upper-Division Honors Program
Honors students majoring in Chemical Engineering are required to complete an Honors Thesis (three credit hours, minimum) and at least six (6) additional credits of approved Honors Courses and/or Honors Independent Studies. These credits can be used to fulfill graduation requirements within the traditional program, by substituting for Senior Chemical Engineering Electives as well as the Advanced Science Elective requirement.
Aiming to address a variety of educational goals (preparation for industry, graduate school, medical school, professional schools, etc.), the upper-division honors program of the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department is to be tailored for each individual student.
Students will be assigned an honors adviser who will work with the student to help define the student's educational goals and design an appropriate path for achieving them. During the first semester of the student's junior year, a study plan will be presented by the student to the department faculty for approval.
-
Upper-Division Honors Program:
CHE 494H/495H Honors Selected Topics in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (3 credit hours)An honors student may elect to enroll in a graduate-level course so long as the prerequisites are met or the instructor gives approval. The course will be registered for under CHE 494H with the same title as the graduate course and for the same number of credit hours as the graduate course is offered. If desired, a second graduate course can be taken as CHE 495H. These courses are intended to replace the (two) Chemical Engineering Technical Electives graduation requirement.
CHE 496H Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Honors Project (1 to 3 credit hours)
If the proposed project for the Honors Thesis is anticipated to require more than one semester, the student can register for this Honors Independent Study in semesters prior to the CHE 499H Honors Thesis. Unlike the traditional Chemical Engineering (Senior) Project (CHE 496, open to seniors only), this course will be open to both juniors and seniors in the Honors Program.
CHE 499H Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Honors Thesis (3 credit hours)
All Chemical Engineering Honors students are required to write and present a thesis in their senior year, as a culmination of their honors experience. Thesis work will be performed under the guidance of a faculty member of the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and may take the form of a proposal, a research paper, a business plan, or a design project, representing the work and interest of the student. At the outset, the topic and scope of the thesis will be detailed and approved by the student's academic and honors adviser(s).
- Conference attendance
Senior honors students will have the opportunity to travel to a regional, national, or international professional meeting with his or her project adviser. If appropriate, students will be encouraged to present work performed towards completion of the Honors Thesis. Funds will be available to support travel and/or conference fees.
- Replaced courses:
Credits from the honors courses can be used to replace two chemical and biomedical engineering electives as well as the advanced science elective.
