Undergraduate Programs

Chemical Engineering

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Petroleum Engineering

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Chemical Engineering

We provide our undergraduates with excellent preparation to enter either industry positions or to continue their educational training at the graduate level in M.S. and Ph.D. programs or professional degree programs such as MBA, Pharm.D, DDS, MD or JD. In addition to the required degree coursework, many of our students also acquire hands-on training through industry internships or research positions in academic laboratories. The undergraduate program in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. All the areas of emphasis within Chemical Engineering are part of the Chemical Engineering accreditation.

ChemE Program Educational Objectives

Chemical Engineering graduates are expected to attain the following educational objectives within a few years of graduation:

  • Apply their technical skills to model, analyze and design complex processes where physical, chemical or biochemical transformations are utilized to produce products and services that benefit society in an economically, environmentally and globally-conscious manner.
  • Be able to quickly respond to increasingly-rapid technological changes through continuous personal and professional development, and to pursue graduate or professional education in a variety of fields.
  • Thrive in multidisciplinary and multicultural setting, and to assume leadership roles in their employment, organization or community
  • To obtain employment in organizations where physical, chemical or biochemical transformations are utilized to produce products and services that benefit society.
  • To pursue graduate or professional education in a variety of related fields.
  • To engage in continuous personal and professional development through life-long learning.
  • To assume leadership roles in their employment organization or community.

Student Outcomes

Upon completing their degree in Chemical Engineering, graduates are expected to have gained abilities to:

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

Petroleum Engineering Emphasis

For undergraduates interested in Petroleum Engineering, a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering may be obtained with an emphasis in Petroleum Engineering. In addition, a Minor in Petroleum Engineering is available to other Science or Engineer majors.

A minor in petroleum engineering consisting of 16 required units is available to undergraduate majors in various fields of engineering and applied science. Besides preparing  for graduate study in petroleum engineering, the program will prepare  students for careers in areas of national need such as the exploration, recovery and production of subterranean resources, and the underground  disposal of hazardous wastes.

Prerequisite courses:

MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 226, MATH 245, PHYS 151L and CHEM 105aL

Required Courses

PTE 461 Formation Evaluation (3 units)

PTE 462 Economic, Risk and Formation Productivity Analysis (4 units)

PTE 463L Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media (3 units)

PTE 464L Petroleum Reservoir Engineering (3 units)

PTE 465L Drilling Technology and Subsurface Materials (3 units)