May 09, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemical Engineering, BS


Program Description


The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering students select one of several emphasis areas (such as energy studies or environmental engineering), a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering (to prepare them for medical school or a career in biotechnology), or any approved minor.

Chemical engineering is based on chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. The curriculum at Clemson includes classroom and laboratory instruction and emphasizes broadly applicable fundamental principles and current technology to prepare graduates for professional practice and professional growth. The Educational Objectives of the BS degree program are to produce graduates who within three to five years of graduation will  

  • Practice chemical engineering in a professional, ethical, and safe manner; and cultivate cross-disciplinary collaborations to solve contemporary challenges 
  • Provide leadership in industry, government organizations, or higher education 
  • Pursue life-long learning in chemical engineering, other engineering or science disciplines, medicine, law, or business

Chemical engineers are involved in the research, manufacture, sales, and use of commodity and specialty chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals, electronic components, synthetic fibers and textiles, food and consumer goods, and many other products. They work on environmental pollution prevention and remediation and apply engineering science to solve medical and health-related problems.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria. Visit the Chemical Engineering program’s website to learn about the Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science

Qualified students can reduce the time to earn a Master’s Degree by applying graduate credits to both the Bachelor’s and Master’s program requirements. Undergraduate Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or above and completed 90 credit hours can begin work toward a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering or a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science by selecting approved graduate courses for their emphasis area. Details are available in the ChBE Undergraduate Handbook, which can be found at http://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/chbe/.

Program Requirements


Freshman Year


First Semester


All General Engineering students take the same classes their first term, regardless of their intended major. Coursework in the second term varies. Students should consult with a General Engineering advisor to determine appropriate courses.

Credit Hours: 17

Second Semester


Credit Hours: 17

Sophomore Year


Junior Year


Senior Year


Total Credits: 130


Footnotes


1 Must be passed with a grade of C or better.

2 The combination of ENGR 1050  and ENGR 1060  or the combination of ENGR 1510  and ENGR 1520  may be substituted for ENGR 1020 .

3 Depending on a student’s Clemson Mathematics Placement Test score, MATH 1040  and MATH 1070  may be substituted for MATH 1060 ; or the student may be required to take MATH 1050  before enrolling in MATH 1060 .

4 See General Education Requirements . Three General Education credits must also satisfy the South Carolina REACH Act R­­equirement. See the South Carolina REACH Act Requirement in the Academic Regulations  s­­ection.

5 CH 2270  and CH 2280  may be substituted for CH 2290 .

6 Nine credit hours devoted to the completion of an emphasis area or approved minor are required. Emphasis Area courses may not be used to satisfy other degree requirements. Select from the following Emphasis Areas:

Applied Engineering, Mathematics and Science Emphasis Area-Select from the following lists. At least one course must be selected from the Engineering courses list.

Engineering Courses-CHE 4010 , CHE 4140 , CE 2010 , IE 3600 , IE 3610 , IE 4620 , ME 2040  

Mathematics Courses-MATH 4340  or MATH 4500  

Science Courses-CH 3130 , CH 4020 , CH 4110 , CH 4130 , CH 4210 , CH 4270 , CH 4350 , PHYS 2220 , PHYS 4200 , PHYS 4320 , PHYS 4410 , PHYS 4450  

Biomolecular Science and Engineering Emphasis Area-Select from the following lists. At least one course must be selected from the Engineering courses list and Science courses list.

Engineering Courses-BE 4280 BIOE 3020 , BIOE 4010 , BIOE 4020 , BIOE 4400 , BIOE 4480 , BIOE 4490 , BMOL 4260 , BMOL 4270  

Science Courses-BCHM 3050 , BCHM 4060 , BCHM 4310 , BCHM 4330 , BCHM 4360 , BIOL 4340 , CH 3600 , CH 4040 , CH 4140 , CH 4250 , GEN 4400 , MICR 3050 /MICR 3060 , MICR 4070 , MICR 4130 , PHYS 4170  

Business Management Emphasis Area-MGT 2010  is required. Select two additional courses from ACCT 2010 ECON 3060 , ECON 3100 , ECON 3210 , ELE 3010 ELE 4010 , ELE 4070 , MGT 3900 , MGT 4110 , MGT 4230 , MKT 3140  

Energy Studies Emphasis Area-Select from AGRB 4570 , BE 4400 , CE 4370 , CE 4400 , CE 4430 , CE 4910 , CHE 4140 , CHE 4150 , ECE 4200 , ECE 4570 , ECE 4610 , ECE 4710 , ECON 4570 , EES 3100 , EES 4100 , EES 4120 , GEOL 4090 , ME 4200 , ME 4220 , ME 4260 , ME 4570  

Environmental Engineering and Science Emphasis Area-Select two engineering courses and one science or policy course from the following lists:

Engineering Courses-BE 4240 , BE 4400 , BMOL 4030 CHE 4010 , CHE 4140 , CHE 4150 , EES 4010 , EES 4020 , EES 4100 , EES 4300 , EES 4800 , EES 4850 , EES 4860 , ETOX 4210 , ETOX 4460  

Science/Policy Courses-CH 4110 , CH 4130 , ENR 3120 , ENSP 4000 , PHYS 2450 , PHYS 4200  

Polymeric Materials Emphasis Area-Select from BIOE 3020 , CH 4650 , CHE 4120 , CHE 4130 , CHE 4450 , MSE 4150 , MSE 4610 , PKSC 4160 . Students may not use both CHE 4120  and MSE 4150  to satisfy this requirement.

7 Select a three-credit 3000- or 4000-level course that satisfies the Global Challenges General Education Requirement.

NOTES:

  1. If a student has completed all of the courses listed in the General Engineering core, in order to register for a complete schedule, they may need to consider registering for courses required in the engineering degree program they intend to pursue. Students should see the list of possible courses in the Major Specific Coursework section of the General Engineering Program  entry. Major specific coursework is coursework outside the General Engineering core that will count towards an engineering major once a student has officially changed their major. Note that not all courses will count towards every engineering major. The courses listed in the Major Specific Coursework should not be considered alternatives or substitutes for the courses listed in the General Engineering core. If a student takes one of these other courses in place of the courses specifically listed in the General Engineering core, they could delay their eligibility to transfer from General Engineering into one of the degree-granting programs in engineering.

  2. No student may exceed a maximum of two attempts, including a W, to complete successfully any BMOL or CHE course.
  3. In addition to institutional requirements, candidates for a BS degree in Chemical Engineering are required to have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher in all engineering courses taken at Clemson. Undergraduate and graduate courses taught in the following rubrics are used in the calculation of a student’s engineering GPA (eGPA): AMFG, AUE, BE, BIOE, BMOL, CE, CES, CHE, CME, ECAS, ECE, EES, EG, EM, ENGR, ESED, IE, ME, and MSE. All attempts of these courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F, and I are included in the calculation. Grades of CE, CR, FGD, FGF, NP, P, SCD, SCN, SCP, TR, and W are NOT included in the calculation.
  4. Depending on a student’s math placement, they may be invited to take part in the General Engineering Learning Community where they complete the following courses: ENGR 1000 , ENGR 1010 , ENGR 1100 , ENGR 1110 , ENGR 1510 , and ENGR 1520 . The combination of ENGR 1510  and ENGR 1520  may be substituted for ENGR 1020 .
  5. A transfer course may not be used to satisfy the General Education Global Challenges Requirement. While a transfer course may fulfill other degree requirements, students must enroll in a Clemson course(s) on the Global Challenges list to fulfill the Global Challenges Requirement.