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

The mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is to provide an excellent chemical engineering education through a combination of theory and practice that prepares students for productive professional careers including postgraduate studies.

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 degrees of Master of Science in chemical engineering or Master of Chemical Engineering provides a more thorough understanding of the discipline and enhances a student's ability to handle complex problems. A thesis is required for the Master of Science degree, but not for the Master of Chemical Engineering degree. Most recent graduate students have chosen research topics in biotechnology, polymers, or automatic control, but other specialties also are possible.

The chemical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Chemical Engineering

Depending on the students’ schedules, elective courses may be taken in terms other than the ones designated.

Electives

Chemical Engineering students must complete 28 credits of electives in humanities and social sciences in addition to HUM H190 First-Year Writing Seminar and ENGL H290 Technical & Professional Communication. They are also required to take 24 credits of electives (8 credits of CHE electives, and 16 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 310Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineers4
CHE 405Introduction to MEMS: Fabrication & Applications4
MDS 539Advanced topics in MEMs4
CHE 430Petrochemical Processes4
CHE 441Polymer Engineering4
CHE 460Particle Technology4
CHE 462Membrane Separations4
CHE 465Energy and the Environment4
CHE 470Safety, Health, and Loss Prevention4
CHE 502Transport Phenomena4
CHE 504Advanced Reaction Engineering4
CHE 513Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics4
CHE 515Nanomaterials Science & Engineering4
CHE 525Process Analytics4
CHE 530Petrochemical Processes4
CHE 540Advanced Process Control4
CHE 545Introduction to Biochemical Engineering4
CHE 546Bioseparations4
CHE 562Advanced Wastewater Treatment4
CHE 563Advanced Water Treatment4

Students are encouraged to use their electives to focus their studies in a particular subject area.

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 it is recommended that a minimum of eight credit hours be focused in one subject area, students are encouraged to focus most or all of the 24 credit hours of electives in a particular subject area. In many cases students can use their electives to take a package of courses toward an area minor such as biochemical engineering, chemistry, environmental engineering, modern languages, materials science and engineering, sustainability, toward a certificate in semiconductor materials and devices, or toward an area of concentration (see below).

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 CHE 499 Directed Research, Directed Research. Credit hours of CHE 499 Directed Research can count toward an approved elective.

Areas of Concentration

Although it is not a requirement, students may pursue a concentration in one or more of the following areas. Students who complete the requirements of a concentration may receive, upon request, a letter from the Department Head that attests to the fact that the requirements have been completed. With proper planning, a student should be able to complete the requirements for an area of concentration without overload.

Advanced Chemical Engineering Analysis

Students need to take CHE 502 Transport Phenomena and 3 additional courses from the list below. Other courses may be substituted only with prior approval by the Department Head. No more than two courses with a MA prefix may be applied towards the concentration.

CHE 310Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineers4
or MA 332 Introduction to Computational Science
CHE 499Directed Research4
CHE 504Advanced Reaction Engineering4
CHE 513Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics4
MA 336Boundary Value Problems4
MA 371Linear Algebra I4
or MA 373 Applied Linear Algebra for Engineers
MA 438Advanced Engineering Mathematics4
or MA 538 Advanced Engineering Mathematics

Energy Production and Utilization

Students need to take 4 courses from the list below. Other courses may be substituted only with approval of the Department Head.

CHE 465Energy and the Environment4
CHE 430/530Petrochemical Processes 14
ECE 204AC Circuits 24
ECE 371Conventional & Renewable Energy Systems 34
ME 407Power Plants4
ME 408Renewable Energy4
ME 411Propulsion Systems4
ME 450Combustion4
PH 265Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics & Radiation4
1

At least one of these courses is required in order to earn the concentration.

2

PH 113 Physics III is a prerequisite.

3

PH 113 Physics III and ECE 204 AC Circuits are prerequisites.

Industrial and Process Engineering

Students need to take CHE 470 Safety, Health, and Loss Prevention, either CHE 540 Advanced Process Control or CHE 525 Process Analytics, 2 courses from the Statistics and Modeling list below, and 1 course from the Engineering Management Electives list below. Other courses may be substituted only with approval of the Department Head.

Statistics and Modeling
EMGT E445Quality Methods4
EMGT E446Statistical Methods in Six Sigma4
MA 487Design of Experiments4
MA 444Deterministic Models in Operations Research4
Engineering Management Electives
EMGT E524Production/Operations Management4
EMGT E527Project Management4
EMGT 562Risk Analysis and Management4
EMGT E581Multi-Objective Optimization4
EMGT E586Supply Chain Management4
EMGT E589Manufacturing Systems4

Below is a sample plan of study that illustrates one way to achieve the program requirements. Any given student's plan of study may differ based on a variety of factors (e.g., advanced credit, placement exams, adding a minor). Enrolled students will work with their academic advisor; utilize the degree audit/planner to create a specific plan of study.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallHours
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I 3
CHEM 111L General Chemistry I Lab 1
RHIT 100 Foundations for Rose-Hulman Success 1
MA 111 Calculus I 5
HUM H190 First-Year Writing Seminar 4
CHE 101 Introduction to Chemical Engineering 2
 Hours16
Winter
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 113L General Chemistry II Laboratory 1
MA 112 Calculus II 5
PH 111 Physics I 4
PH 111L Physics I Lab 0
HSSA Elective 4
 Hours17
Spring
CHE 110 Excel for Chemical Engineers 2
CHEM 115 General Chemistry III 3
CHEM 115L General Chemistry III Laboratory 1
MA 113 Calculus III 5
PH 112 Physics II 4
PH 112L Physics II Lab 0
 Hours15
Sophomore
Fall
CHE 201 Conservation Principles and Balances 4
CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 251L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1
MA 221 Matrix Algebra & Differential Equations I 4
HSSA Elective 4
 Hours16
Winter
CHE 202 Basic Chemical Process Calculations 4
CHEM 252 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 252L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1
MA 222 Matrix Algebra & Differential Equations II 4
HSSA Elective 4
 Hours16
Spring
CHE 301 Fluid Mechanics 4
CHE 303 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 4
MA 223 Engineering Statistics 4
HSSA Elective 4
 Hours16
Junior
Fall
CHE 304 Multi-Component Thermodynamics 4
CHE 320 Fundamentals of Heat & Mass Transfer 4
CHE 315 Materials Science and Engineering 4
CHEM 225 Analytical Chemistry 3
CHEM 225L Analytical Chemistry Laboratory 1
 Hours16
Winter
CHE 210 Programming for Chemical Engineers 2
CHE 321 Applications of Heat & Mass Transfer 4
CHEM 360 Introduction to Physical Chemistry for Engineers 4
CHE 340 Process Control 4
ENGL H290 Technical & Professional Communication 4
 Hours18
Spring
CHE 404 Reaction Engineering 4
CHE 409 Professional Practice 1
CHE 411 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I 3
Free Elective 2
Free Elective 4
 Hours14
Senior
Fall
CHE 412 Chemical Engineering Laboratory II 4
CHE 416 Design I: Proc Econ & Equp Dsn 4
Free Elective 4
Elective (CHE) 4
 Hours16
Winter
CHE 413 Chemical Engineering Laboratory III 4
CHE 417 Design II: Proc Synth & Analys 4
Free Elective 4
HSSA Elective 4
 Hours16
Spring
CHE 418 Chemical Engineering Design III: Capstone Design Project 2
HSSA Elective 4
HSSA Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Elective (CHE) 4
 Hours18
 Total Hours194

Program Educational Objectives

  • Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation.
  • Our graduates will attain a promotion and/or responsibilities beyond their entry-level position, or progress toward the completion of an advanced degree.
  • Our graduates will continue to develop professionally.
  • Our graduates will collaborate professionally within or outside of their organizations at a regional, national and/or international level.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to have by the time of graduation.

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies