Program Overview

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Chemical Engineering Bachelor of Science Degree

Chemical Engineering

Bachelor of Science Degree

Overview

The Chemical Engineering BS program at RIT provides students with a solid foundation in engineering principles and their underlying science. The program prepares students to advance nano-scale composites, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, plastics, fibers, metals, and ceramics, and to develop alternative energy systems, biomedical materials and therapies, and strategies that minimize the environmental impact of technological advancements.

Why Pursue a Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree at RIT

• Team-Based Capstone Project: A capstone design experience in the fifth year integrates chemical engineering theory, principles, and processes in a collaborative team environment.
• Hands-On Experience: Four blocks of cooperative education mean nearly a year of hands-on, full-time paid work experience in industry.
• Strong Career Paths: Students hired at industry-leading companies such as Bausch & Lomb, Boston Beer Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eastman Kodak Company, Global Tungsten and Powders, Northrop Grumman, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, The Hershey Company, and more.
• Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

How is Chemical Engineering Different from Chemistry?

Chemical engineering applies the core scientific disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics to transform raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms, invariably in processes that involve chemical change. They work in multidisciplinary teams to create novel materials that are at the heart of virtually every product and service that enhances our quality of life.

Hands-on Experience in Chemical Engineering

As a student in the chemical engineering BS, you will gain valuable hands-on experience through specific program requirements, including a capstone experience that features two dynamic courses:

• Design with Constraint: This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology.
• Advanced Design Capstone: This course requires you to work in teams to design and simulate a realistic chemical manufacturing plant, drawing upon and integrating the knowledge you have acquired from all of your core chemical engineering courses, electives, and co-op experiences completed over the previous five years of study.

Furthering Your Education in Chemical Engineering

Your degree in chemical engineering opens doors to a variety of options when it comes to furthering your education:

• Pre-Health Professions Program: An advising program designed to help you prepare a competitive application for admission into medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions.
• Pre-Vet Advising Program: An advising program to help you maximize your candidacy for admission to veterinary schools.

Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees

The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for combined accelerated degrees available with this bachelor's degree.

BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Science, Technology, and Public Policy

This accelerated dual degree option allows students to earn a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in science, technology, and public policy in approximately five years. The program is a natural fit that enables qualified students enrolled in chemical engineering, who also have an interest in public policy issues, with an opportunity to pursue a graduate level degree in a field that combines their engineering and public policy interests.

BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Materials Science and Engineering

In research and development, chemical engineers not only create new, more effective ways to manufacture chemicals, but also work collaboratively with chemists and material scientists to pioneer the development of new high-tech materials for specialized applications. High performance materials are needed across all industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental, space, and military applications.

BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Chemical Engineering

The BS program in chemical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Careers and Cooperative Education

Typical Job Titles

• Chemical Engineer
• Semiconductor Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Chemical Process Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Quality Engineer
• Systems Engineer

Industries

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Biotech and Life Sciences
• Defense
• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceuticals
• Utilities and Renewable Energy

Curriculum

Chemical Engineering, BS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • CHME-181: Chemical Engineering Insights I
  • CHME-182: Chemical Engineering Insights II
  • CHMG-141: General & Analytical Chemistry I
  • CHMG-142: General & Analytical Chemistry II
  • CHMG-145: General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab
  • CHMG-146: General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab
  • MATH-181: Calculus I
  • MATH-182: Calculus II
  • PHYS-211: University Physics I
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
• Second Year
  • CHME-230: Chemical Process Analysis
  • CHME-310: Applied Thermodynamics
  • CHME-320: Process Transport I
  • CHME-391: Chemical Engineering Principles Lab
  • CHMO-231: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHMO-235: Organic Chemistry Lab I
  • EGEN-099: Engineering Co-op Preparation
  • MATH-221: Multivariable and Vector Calculus
  • MATH-231: Differential Equations
  • STAT-205: Applied Statistics
• Third Year
  • CHMA-231: Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers
  • CHME-301: Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering
  • CHME-321: Process Transport II
  • CHME-330: Mass Transfer Operations
  • CHME-499: Co-op
• Fourth Year
  • CHME-302: Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering II
  • CHME-340: Reaction Engineering
  • CHME-350: Multiple Scale Material Science
  • CHME-491: Chemical Engineering Processes Lab
  • CHME-499: Co-op
• Fifth Year
  • CHME-401: System Dynamics and Control
  • CHME-451: Transport Phenomena
  • CHME-490: Design with Constraint
  • CHME-492: Advanced Design Capstone

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social studies and/or history
• 4 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, algebra 2/trigonometry, and pre-calculus. Calculus is preferred.
• 2-3 years of science. Chemistry and physics are required.

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:

• A minimum of pre-calculus is required. Calculus is preferred.
• Chemistry or physics is required.

Faculty

• Xiangcheng Sun: Assistant Professor
• Poornima Padmanabhan: Associate Professor
• Nicole Hill: Lecturer

Research

The faculty and students in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering are engaging in numerous areas of research, which takes place across all of our engineering disciplines and often involves other colleges at RIT, local health care institutions, and major industry partners. Explore the college's key research initiatives to learn more about our research in:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems
• Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering
• Cyber-physical Systems
• Data Analysis, Modeling and Simulations
• Energy and the Environment
• Micro/Nanoscale Systems, Devices, and Materials

Facilities

• Unit Operations Laboratory

Related News

• RIT Research Minute: Ethylene from Methane Feedstock
• Engineering faculty receives DARPA Young Faculty Award honors
• RIT Research Minute: Soft Matter Signaling

Contact

Program Contact:

• Brian Landi
• Department Head
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Kate Gleason College of Engineering
• 585‑475‑4726
• brian.landi@rit.edu