Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

One of the nation's top undergraduate
engineering, science, and mathematics colleges

Programs - Chemical Engineering

As has been done since we awarded the nation’s first degree in chemical engineering in 1889, the undergraduate program in chemical engineering undertakes to prepare individuals for careers in the chemical process industries. These include all industries in which chemical and energy changes are an important part of the manufacturing process, such as the petroleum, rubber, plastics, synthetic fiber, pulp and paper, fermentation, soap and detergents, glass, ceramic, photographic and organic and inorganic chemical industries. In view of the dynamic nature of this technology, the course of study stresses fundamental principles rather than technical details. It prepares the student either for advanced study at the graduate level or for immediate entrance into industry. Opportunities in the process industries are found in a variety of activities, including design, development, management, production, research, technical marketing, technical service, or engineering.

Mission: To provide an excellent chemical engineering education through a combination of theory and practice that prepares students for productive professional careers and advanced graduate studies.

Program Educational Objectives
Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve in three to five years.

Apply a strong academic foundation to make early career contributions to the profession.
Work in teams to tackle diverse, open-ended problems and to effectively communicate their findings.
Apply skills for a long-term, productive career in an ever changing global environment.

Program Outcomes
Program Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation.

Apply skills and knowledge to formulate and solve chemical engineering problems.
Design and conduct experiments and analyze and interpret the resulting data.
Define project specifications and design a process or system to meet those specifications.
Work effectively in teams.
Communicate effectively in presentations and reports.
Make appropriate use of computer-based tools, such as process simulators and numerical analysis packages.
Understand the ethical and professional responsibilities of a chemical engineer.
Understand how chemical engineering impacts the global society.
Be prepared to engage in life-long learning.
Understand how the chemical engineering profession is related to contemporary issues.

Curriculum
The curriculum covers a breadth of fundamental principles so that the chemical engineering graduates have a working knowledge of advanced chemistry, material and energy balances applied to chemical processes; thermodynamics; heat, mass, and momentum transfer; chemical reaction engineering; separation operations, process design and control. The program provides students with appropriate modern experimental and computing techniques in unit operation laboratory and requires them to work in teams and submit written and oral reports on their laboratory projects. A capstone experience in senior year gives students an opportunity to integrate their knowledge. Also included is the study of health, safety, environmental and ethical issues in the chemical engineering profession.

Graduate work leading to the degree of Master of Science in chemical engineering provides a more thorough understanding of the discipline and enhances a student's ability to handle complex problems. A thesis is required, but that requirement may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Most recent graduate students have chosen research topics in biotechnology, polymers, or automatic control, but other specialties also are possible.

Area Minor in Chemical Engineering
The area minor in chemical engineering is designed to introduce principles of chemical engineering to students majoring in other disciplines. Participation in this area minor will help students to understand chemical engineering aspects of industrial processes and enter a graduate program in chemical engineering if they desire.

Students who complete the area minor in chemical engineering during their sophomore and junior years open the possibility of taking some chemical engineering electives during their senior years.

The area minor in chemical engineering has the following requirements:

CHE 201 Conservation Principles and Balances or equivalent
CHE 202 Basic Chemical Process Calculations
CHE 301 Fluid Mechanics or equivalent
CHE 303 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics or equivalent
CHE 304 Multi-Component Thermodynamics
CHE 325 Mass Transfer
CHE 314 Heat Transfer or equivalent

Completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses with prefix CHE at 300 level or above is required toward the minor. Students interested in the CHE area minor should consult the CHE Department Head and receive approval for equivalent courses to be considered.

Area Minor in Biochemical Engineering
The biochemical engineering minor is designed to allow students to concentrate in an area of study that will give them a solid foundation for further work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology process industry.

To successfully complete a minor in Biochemical Engineering, a student must take six courses as follows:

Four required courses:
	AB110 - Cell Structure and Function CHEM330 - Biochemistry CHE545 - Introduction to Biochemical Engineering CHE 546 - Bioseparations

And then take 8 credit hours from the following list of electives (the courses cannot also be used towards another minor or second major):
	AB210 - Mendelian and Molecular Genetics AB220 - Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology or AB230 - Eukaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology AB411 - Genetic Engineering AB421 - Applied Microbiology AB431 - Genomics and Proteomics CHEM430 - Advanced Biochemistry CHEM433 - Biochemistry Lab (recommended but not required)

Interested students should obtain a form from the Chemical Engineering Department secretary

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Approximately one-half of the students will follow schedule A1, and one-half will follow schedule A2. Depending on the students’ schedules, elective courses may be taken in terms other than the ones designated.

Freshman Year (A1 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHEM	111	General Chemistry I*...........	4
CLSK	100	College & Life Skills .........	1
EM	104	Graphical Communications.	2
RH	131	Rhetoric & Composition .....	4
MA	111	Calculus I ...........................	5
			16

Winter Term		Credit
CHEM	113	General Chemistry II*.........	4
PH	111	Physics I..............................	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
MA	112	Calculus II ..........................	5
			17

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	110	Programming &
		Computation for
		Chemical Engineers......	2
CHEM	115	General Chemistry III.........	4
EM	103	Introduction to Design .....	2
MA	113	Calculus III..........................	5
PH	112	Physics II.............................	4
			17
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Freshman Year (A2 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHEM	111	General Chemistry I...........	4
CLSK	100	College & Life Skill ..........	1
EM	104	Graphical Communications.	2
RH	131	Rhetoric and Composition .	4
MA	111	Calculus I ...........................	5
			16

Winter Term		Credit
CHEM	113	General Chemistry II...........	4
PH	111	Physics I..............................	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
MA	112	Calculus II...........................	5
			17

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	110	Programming &
		Computation for
		Chemical Engineers......	2
CHEM	115	General Chemistry III* ........	4
EM	103	Introduction to Design .....	2
MA	113	Calculus III..........................	5
PH	112	Physics II.............................	4
			17
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Sophomore Year (A1 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	200	Career Preparation I...........	0
CHE	201	Conservation Principles
		and Balances....................	4
CHEM	251	Organic Chemistry I ..........	4
MA	211	Differential Equations .....	4
EM	101	Statics I ..............................	2
			14

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	202	Basic Chemical Process
		Calculations ....................	4
CHEM	252	Organic Chemistry II .........	4
MA	212	Matrix Algebra and Systems of Differential Equations.....	4
HSS		Elective ...............................	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	301	Fluid Mechanics.................	4
CHE	303	Chemical Engineering
		Thermodynamics............	4
		Elective (Approved) ..........	4
HSS		Elective.................................	4
			16
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Sophomore Year (A2 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	200	Career Preparation I...........	0
CHE	201	Conservation Principles
		and Balances...................	4
CHEM	251	Organic Chemistry I ..........	4
MA	211	Differential Equations ....	4
EM	101	Statics I ................................	2
			14

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	202	Basic Chemical Process
		Calculations ....................	4
CHEM	252	Organic Chemistry II .........	4
MA	212	Matrix Algebra and Systems of Differential Equations.....	4
HSS		Elective ...............................	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
MA	223	Engineering Statistics I......	4
CHEM	225	Analytical Chemistry I.......	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
CHE	315	Materials Science .................	4
			16
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Junior Year (A1 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	300	Career Preparation II .........	0
CHE	304	Multi-Component
		Thermodynamics ..........	4
CHE	314	Heat Transfer......................	4
CHE	315	Materials Science ..............	4
CHEM	225	Analytical Chemistry I.......	4
			16

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	325	Mass Transfer....................	4
CHEM	360	Intro Physical Chemistry...	4
MA	223	Engineering Statistics I......	4
RH	330	Technical and Professional Communication	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	404	Kinetics & Reactor Design	4
CHE	411	Chemical Engineering Lab I..	3
ECE	206	Elements of Electrical
		Engineering ...................	4
HSS		Elective.................................	4
			15
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Junior Year (A2 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	300	Career Preparation II .........	0
CHE	301	Fluid Mechanics.................	4
CHE	303	Chemical Engineering
		Thermodynamics ..........	4
		Elective (approved)..............	4
RH	330	Technical and Professional Communication	4
			16

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	304	Multi-Component
		Thermodynamics...........	4
CHE	314	Heat Transfer......................	4
ECE	206	Elements of Electrical
		Engineering ................	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	325	Mass Transfer.....................	4
CHE	411	Chemical Engineering Lab I.	3
CHEM	360	Intro Physical Chemistry...	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
			15
Summer		Intern/Co-op

Senior Year (A1 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	409	Professional Practice .........	1
CHE	412	Chemical Engineering Lab II	4
CHE	416	Design I ..............................	4
		Elective (Free).....................	4
		Elective (CHE) .......	4
			17

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	413	Chemical Eng. Lab III ........	4
CHE	417	Design II .............................	4
CHE	440	Process Control..................	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	418	Design III.............................	2
HSS		Elective.................................	4
HSS		Elective.................................	4
		Elective (Approved) ..........	4
		Elective (CHE)......................	4
			18

		Total credits required: 194

Senior Year (A2 Schedule)
Fall Term		Credit
CHE	404	Kinetics & Reactor Design.	4
CHE	409	Professional Practice .........	1
CHE	412	Chemical Engineering Lab II	4
CHE	416	Design I ..............................	4
		Elective (Free).....................	4
			17

Winter Term		Credit
CHE	413	Chemical Eng. Lab III ........	4
CHE	417	Design II .............................	4
CHE	440	Process Control..................	4
HSS		Elective................................	4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
CHE	418	Design III.............................	2
HSS		Elective................................	4
		Elective (CHE)......................	4
		Elective (CHE).......	4
		Elective (Approved) .........	4
			18

		Total credits required: 194

*Rose students who have changed their major to chemical engineering or students who have transferred to Rose and have credit for CHEM 105 and CHEM 107 (formerly CHEM 201 and CHEM 202) do not need to take CHEM 111 and CHEM 113, but must take CHEM 115.

Electives
Chemical Engineering students must complete 28 credits of electives in humanities and social sciences in addition to RH 131 and RH 330. They are also required to take 20 credits of electives (8 credits of CHE electives, 8 credits of approved electives and 4 credits of free electives) in addition to the humanities and social sciences mentioned above. The courses listed below qualify as a CHE elective. In very specific circumstances, independent projects or other courses may qualify as a CHE elective if approved by the department.

CHE 310 Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineers
CHE 419 Advanced MEMS: Modeling and Packaging
CHE 441 Polymer Engineering
CHE 450 Air Pollution Control
CHE 461 Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering
CHE 465 Energy and the Environment
CHE 470 Safety, Health, and Loss Prevention
CHE 502 Transport Phenomena
CHE 504 Advanced Reactor Design
CHE 512 Petrochemical Processes
CHE 513 Advanced Thermodynamics
CHE 540 Advanced Process Control
CHE 545 Introduction to Biochemical Engineering
CHE 546 Bioseparations

A minimum of eight credits, designated as approved electives, must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. Approved electives can be chosen from economics, engineering, engineering management, mathematics, or science courses. Students are encouraged to use their electives to focus their studies in an area of concentration. Some areas of concentration are Engineering Analysis (for students who would like to pursue a graduate degree), Chemistry and Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Material Science, Mathematical Modeling and Simulation, Computer Applications, Semiconductor Materials and Devices, and Environmental Management.

The chemical engineering profession is rapidly changing and knowledge of specialty areas has become essential in the real world. Technical elective courses are intended to provide an opportunity to introduce students to a specialty area in science and engineering and help them to expand their knowledge and expertise in new areas of chemical engineering. Although a minimum of eight credit hours are recommended in an area of concentration, students are encouraged to take all the 20 credit hours of electives in an area of concentration. In many cases students can use their electives to take a package of courses toward an area minor such as, biochemical engineering, applied biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, environmental engineering or toward a certificate in semiconductor materials and devices.

Undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on a research project under the guidance of one of the departmental faculty members. Students who are interested in learning about research should talk to members of the faculty to define a project of mutual interest and then enroll in CHE499, Directed Research. Credit hours of CHE499 can count toward a technical elective.