Chemical Engineering
Chemical processes, materials science, and industrial-scale production.
Who It's For
You enjoy chemistry and math equally and want to apply them at an industrial scale. If you are curious about how pharmaceuticals, fuels, food, or materials are manufactured, chemical engineering connects lab science to real-world production. Students who enjoy both chemistry lab work and mathematical problem-solving thrive here.
If you love chemistry but dislike heavy math (thermodynamics, differential equations, transport phenomena), this degree will be a struggle. Students who prefer pure research in a lab without worrying about economics or process scale-up might prefer a chemistry or biochemistry degree instead.
How Your High School Classes Connect
How much each subject matters in this degree
Common Coursework
Study atoms, bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, equilibrium, and thermodynamics at the molecular level.
Track what goes in and out of chemical processes using conservation of mass and energy.
Extend single-variable calculus into 3D with multivariable functions, vectors, and surface integrals.
Solve equations describing how systems change over time, from circuits to population growth.
Study carbon-based molecules, their reactions, and how to synthesize new compounds step by step.
Use math and physics to explain why chemical reactions happen and how fast they go.
Apply energy and equilibrium principles to predict chemical reactions and phase changes in industrial processes.
Model how heat, mass, and momentum transfer through fluids in chemical processes.
Design distillation columns, filters, and membranes that separate chemical mixtures at scale.
Design and size chemical reactors by modeling reaction rates, yields, and conversion efficiency.
Build control systems that keep chemical plants running at the right temperature, pressure, and flow.
Design complete chemical plants from scratch, choosing equipment, layout, and safety systems.
Analyze how liquids and gases flow through pipes, over wings, and around objects.
Learn why metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites have different strength and flexibility properties.
Common Next Steps
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Is Chemical Engineering right for you?
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