Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Major Requirements
To receive a B.S. in chemical engineering, students must complete 195 units for graduation, which includes forty-four units of general education (HSS) requirements of their colleges and the ABET requirements in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The balance consists of basic sciences (fifty-four units), chemistry core (twenty units), chemical engineering core (thirty-two units), process laboratory and design (sixteen units), general engineering (twelve units), and an area of specialization (sixteen units). Beyond the fifty-three units of basic sciences, the science and engineering courses total to ninety-six units. A one-unit introductory seminar (CENG 1) is required of all incoming freshmen and transfer students. The organization is shown in the chart below. Click on any of the boxes below to pop up the more specific breakdown and course numbers. Also included below is a chart of major classes and their prerequisites. Course descriptions can be found here.
Major Classes and their Prerequisites
Basic sciences (54 units): This lower-division requirement includes twenty-four units of mathematics (Math. 20A-F), fourteen units of physics (Phys. 2A-C, 2CL), and fifteen units of chemistry (Chem. 6A-C, 7L).
Chemistry core (20 units): Five advanced chemistry electives must be selected from among Chem. 131, 132, 133, 140A-B, 114A-B, and 120 A-B, and 143A. Two recommended options are Chem. 140A-B, 114A-B, and 143A for those interested in biochemical/organic, and Chem. 131, 132, 133, 120A, and 140A for those interested in inorganic/materials.
Chemical engineering core (32 units): This requirement covers chemical process modeling, solution thermodynamics, transport phenomena, chemical reaction engineering, process control, and unit operations (CENG 100, 101A–C, 102, 113, 120, 122).
Process laboratory and design (16 units): This requirement is crucial to fulfill the ABET design content (CENG 124A-B, 176A-B).
General engineering (12 units): This requirement covers basics in computer programming, probability and statistics, and instrumentation. The computer programming requirement can be satisfied with CENG 15. Probability and statistics can be satisfied with ECE 109 or an approved course with equivalent content. Instrumentation is satisfied with MAE 170.
Electives in an area of specialization (16 units): Electives are intended to broaden and enhance professional goals. They may be chosen to achieve either breadth or depth in one’s education. All electives must be upper-division courses in engineering. Suggestions are listed below.
See Technical Electives.
Independent Research:
CENG 199. Independent Study for Undergraduates (4-4) Research project as equivalent to a "senior thesis" can be approved for two elective courses (eight units). This course is taken as an elective on a P/NP basis. The two CENG 199s must be done in consecutive quarters and the student must find a faculty member who will oversee the research project. After obtaining the faculty member’s concurrence on the topic and scope of the study, the student must submit a Special Studies Course form (each quarter) and CENG 199 Contract form to the Undergraduate Affairs Committee. These forms must be completed, approved, and processed prior to the add/drop deadline. After the second quarter is completed, the student must petition to have the work accepted as two elective courses. Detailed policy in this regard and the requisite forms may be obtained from the Student Affairs Office.
