Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical engineering combines the study of chemistry with the disciplines of engineering, physics and computer science to solve problems. The mission of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is to provide a broad-based education in chemical engineering and related fields for highly qualified undergraduates; to accomplish, in conjunction with a program of graduate education, research recognized by peers as among the most significant in the world; and to serve society through chemical engineering leadership in matters of national policy, education, standards, and professionalism.
What do Chemical Engineers do?
Chemical engineers make use of our basic natural resources, such as petroleum, natural gas, minerals and various agricultural products, and converts them to products ranging from computer ships to corn syrups. Some problems that chemical engineers are currently working on include improving the efficiency of petroleum refining, producing cheaper fertilizers and pesticides and improving the process for the fabrication of semi-conductor chips.
Chemical Engineering at UIUC
The American Chemical Society ranks the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at UIUC among the best in the country. Such excellence is possible because of the high quality and activity of the faculty.
The chemical engineering curriculum is arranged in a flexible manner to accommodate various specific areas of chemical engineering or interdisciplinary areas. Areas that a student can choose to emphasize include environmental engineering, bioengineering, and computer science. Research opportunities are also available to undergraduates in the program. Hence, early planning with an advisor from the department will be advantageous to the student. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology.
Students entering without adequate preparation in mathematics and chemistry may find it difficult to complete the chemical engineering curriculum in four years. The department offers an introductory course to the chemical engineering profession (CH E 161) every Spring semester. This class covers the history and scope of chemical engineering endeavors as well as the decisions and criteria for process development and plant design.
The curriculum requires 129 hours for graduation, including 16 hours of approved social sciences and humanities courses for a well-rounded undergraduate education. Also, the department requires all students in the curriculum to maintain a 2.5 general average in order to be accepted by the department as juniors and seniors.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this department are sought-after, and many companies often interview students on campus for internships, cooperative programs, and employment. Examples of such companies include Abbott Laboratories, Amoco, Dupont, Exxon, IBM, Intel and Proctor and Gamble. Areas of employment by industry and consulting firms include research, manufacturing and process control. More information can be obtained from the placement office in the School of Chemical Science located at 107 Noyes.
Why Chemical Engineering?
The Chemical Engineering department at the University of Illinois offers a challenging, diverse and well-rounded curriculum to all undergraduates. Although the department comes under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, it maintains close ties with the College of Engineering. The department offers a comprehensive graduate program for MS and Ph.D. degrees on the UIUC campus. In addition, it is working to develop a joint Masters of Science Degree with the National University of Singapore. This will allow graduate students to study and carry research out at both university campuses. The department also offers a special joint degree with the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This program allows students to receive a B.S. in ChemE and a nonthesis M.S. in Food Science in five years, and it is an excellent opportunity to get a heads-up on one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States.
Department Contact Information:
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
114 Roger Adams Laboratory, MC-712
600 South Mathews
Urbana IL 61801-3782
Telephone: (217) 333-3640
Fax: (217) 333-5052
Web page: http://www.chemeng.uiuc.edu
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