Chemical Engineering (BS)
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.
The Program Educational Objectives, expectations of what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation, are:
- Careers in industries that require technical expertise in chemical engineering.
- Leadership positions in industries that require technical expertise in chemical engineering.
- Graduate-level studies in chemical engineering and related technical or scientific fields (e.g. biomedical or environmental engineering, materials science).
- Careers outside of engineering that take advantage of an engineering education, such as business, management, finance, law, medicine, or education.
- A commitment to life-long learning and service within their chosen profession.
Upon graduation, we expect our students to achieve the following Student Outcomes:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- 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
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- 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
- an ability to function effectively on teams whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
The first and sophomore years of study introduce general principles of science and engineering and include a broad range of subjects in the humanities and social sciences. Although the program for all engineering students in these first two years is to some extent similar, there are a few important differences for chemical engineering majors. Those wishing to learn about, or major in, chemical engineering should take the professional elective CHEN E1000 Chemical Engineering for Humanity in term I, taught by the Chemical Engineering Department. This course provides a broad overview of modern chemical engineering. Those wishing to major in chemical engineering should also take ENGI E1006 INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI in term II. Chemical engineering majors receive additional instruction in CHEN E3020 ANALYSIS OF CHEM ENGIN PROBLMS, and throughout the major core curriculum, on the use of computational methods to solve chemical engineering problems.
The Degree Track table spells out the core course requirements, which are split between courses emphasizing engineering science and those emphasizing practical and/or professional aspects of the discipline. Throughout, skills required of practicing engineers are developed (e.g., writing and presentation skills, competency with computers).
The Degree Track table also shows that a significant fraction of the junior-senior program is reserved for electives, both technical and nontechnical. Twenty-one points (7 courses) of technical electives are included in the junior and senior year requirements. Technical electives are science and/or technology based and feature quantitative analysis. Generally, technical electives must be 3000 level or above but there are a few exceptions including:
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS UN1403 | INTRO-CLASSCL ＆ QUANTUM WAVES | |
| PHYS UN2601 | PHYSICS III:CLASS/QUANTUM WAVE | |
| BIOL UN2005 | INTRO BIO I: BIOCHEM,GEN,MOLEC | |
| BIOL UN2006 | INTRO BIO II:CELL BIO,DEV/PHYS | |
| BIOL UN2501 | CONTEMPORARY BIOLOGY LAB | |
| CHEM UN2444 | ORGANIC CHEMSTRY II-LECTURES |
A full list of approved technical elective courses in each category can be found on the departmental website or obtained from the departmental advisers. The technical electives are subject to the following constraints:
- 1 Thermodynamics Elective: One technical elective must fall within the category “thermodynamics electives”: Chemical engineering courses with 50% or more content related to thermodynamics. Examples include:
Course List Code Title Points CHAP E4120 STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND COMP METHODS CHEN E4650 POLYMER PHYSICS CHEN E4880 ATOMISTIC SIMULATIONS FOR SCIENCE AND EN - 1 Transport Elective: One technical elective must fall within the category “transport electives”: Chemical engineering courses with 50% or more content related to transport phenomena (fluid mechanics, heat transfer, or mass transfer). Examples include:
Course List Code Title Points CHEN E4150 COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS I CHEN E4201 ENGIN APPL OF ELECTROCHEMISTRY CHEN E4600 AEROSOLS CHEN E4630 TOPICS IN SOFT MATERIALS
- 1 Chemical Engineering Elective: One upper-level technical course with the designator BMCH, CHEN, CHEE, CHAP, or MECH with significant engineering content
- 2 SEAS Electives outside Chemical Engineering: Two upper-level technical courses with significant engineering content
- 2 Advanced Science Electives: The remaining two technical elective courses must comprise "advanced science" coursework, which includes the natural sciences and certain engineering coursework. At least one of these courses must be taken outside of SEAS (e.g., in a science department at Columbia). Qualifying engineering courses are determined by Chemical Engineering department advisers.
The junior-senior technical electives provide the opportunity to explore new, interesting areas beyond the core requirements of the degree. Often, students satisfy the technical electives by taking courses from another SEAS department in order to obtain a minor from that department. Alternately, you may wish to take courses in several new areas, or perhaps to explore familiar subjects in greater depth, or you may wish to gain experience in actual laboratory research. Up to 6 points of CHEN E3900 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT may be counted toward the technical elective content. (Note that if more than 3 points of research are pursued, an undergraduate thesis is required.)
The undergraduate concentrations are a way for students to explore a subject area in modern chemical engineering in depth through their selection of technical elective courses. To fulfill a concentration, the student must complete any combination of four courses (12 points total) from the list of suggested courses in that subject area. Concentration areas are: Climate, Environment, and Energy Solutions; Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals; Data and Computational Science; and Advanced Materials. More information on courses satisfying the requirements for each concentration can be found on the departmental website.
The program details discussed above apply to undergraduates who are enrolled at Columbia as first-years and declare the chemical engineering major in the sophomore year. However, the chemical engineering program is designed to be readily accessible to participants in any of Columbia’s Combined Plans and to transfer students. In such cases, the guidance of one of the departmental advisers in planning your program is required (contact information for the departmental UG advisers is listed on the department’s website: cheme.columbia.edu).
Chemical Engineering Program
An overview of the degree track in PDF format can be found here.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | ||
| MATH UN1101 | CALCULUS I | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO TO MECHANICS ＆ THERMO | ||
| PHYSICS I:MECHANICS/RELATIVITY | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS I | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry courses depending on track: | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | ||
| 2ND TERM GEN CHEM (INTENSIVE) | ||
| INTENSVE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester l or ll) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| CHEN E1000 | Chemical Engineering for Humanity | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester l or ll) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Semester II | ||
| MATH UN1102 | CALCULUS II | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO ELEC/MAGNETSM ＆ OPTCS | ||
| PHYSICS II: THERMO, ELEC ＆ MAG | ||
| ACCELERATED PHYSICS II | ||
| Choose one of the following Chemistry courses depending on track: | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II-LECTURES | ||
| INTENSVE GENERAL CHEMISTRY-LAB | ||
| INTENSVE ORG CHEM-FOR 1ST YEAR | ||
| ENGL CC1010 (taken Semester l or ll) | UNIVERSITY WRITING | |
| ENGI E1006 | INTRO TO COMP FOR ENG/APP SCI | |
| ENGI E1102 (taken Semester l or ll) | THE ART OF ENGINEERING | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester III | ||
| APMA E2000 - APMA E2001 | MULTV. CALC. FOR ENGI ＆ APP SCI | |
| Choose one of the following Physics courses depending on track: | ||
| INTRO TO EXPERIMENTAL PHYS-LAB | ||
| INTERMEDIATE LABORATORY WORK | ||
| CHEM UN2443 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I-LECTURES | |
| One core humanities elective (3-4)1 | ||
| CHEN E2100 | Material and Energy Balances | |
| Semester IV | ||
| MATH UN2030 or APMA E2101 | ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| Three core humanities electives (11) | ||
| CHEN E3020 | ANALYSIS OF CHEM ENGIN PROBLMS | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester V | ||
| CHEN E3110 | PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPORT PHENOMENA | |
| CHEE E3010 | PRIN-CHEM ENGIN-THERMODYNAMICS | |
| Adv Natural Science Lab2 | ||
| Complete Required Nontech Elective | ||
| Complete Required Tech Elective3 | ||
| Semester VI | ||
| Math Elective4 | ||
| PHED UN1001 (may be taken any Semester) | ||
| CHEN E3230 | REACTOR KINETICS/REACTOR DESIGN | |
| CHEE E4140 | ENGINEERING SEPARATIONS | |
| Complete Required Nontech Electives | ||
| Complete Required Tech Electives3 | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester VII | ||
| CHEN E4500 | PROCESS ＆ PRODUCT DESIGN I | |
| CHEN E4300 | CHEM PROC. CONTROL ＆ SAFETY | |
| Complete Required Nontech Elective | ||
| Complete Required Tech Electives3 | ||
| Semester VIII | ||
| PHED UN1002 (may be taken any Semester) | ||
| CHEN E3810 | CHEM ENG ＆ APPLIED CHEM LAB | |
| Complete Required Tech Electives3 | ||
- 1
Four core humanities electives should be taken as follows: In Semester III, HUMA CC1001 EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I or COCI CC1101 CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I (4) or any initial course in one of the Global Core sequences offered by the College (3–4); in Semester IV, HUMA CC1002 EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTRPIECS II or COCI CC1102 CONTEMP WESTRN CIVILIZATION II (4) or ASCM UN2002 or the second course in the Global Core sequence elected in Semester III (3–4); also in Semester IV, ECON UN1105 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (4) with ECON UN1155 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS-DISC recitation (0) and either HUMA UN1121 MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART or HUMA UN1123 MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN MUSIC (3).
- 2
Total of 3 points required. Choose from CHEM UN2493 ORGANIC CHEM. LAB I TECHNIQUES (1.5), CHEM UN2496 ORGANIC CHEM. LABORATORY II (1.5), CHEM UN2543 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (3), CHEM UN2545 INTENSIVE ORGANIC CHEM LAB (3), CHEM UN3085 PHYSICL-ANALYTICL LABORATORY I (3), BIOL 2501 (3), EEEB 3015 (3), or another course approved by the major adviser.
- 3
See the bulletin text for technical elective requirements.
- 4
Math elective options include APMA E3101 APPLIED MATH I: LINEAR ALGEBRA, MATH UN2010 LINEAR ALGEBRA, APMA E3102 APPLIED MATHEMATICS II: PDE'S, APMA E4150 APPLIED FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS, APMA E4300 COMPUT MATH:INTRO-NUMERCL METH, STAT GU4001 INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS, or another course approved by the major adviser.