Chemical Engineering
Turning chemistry into large-scale processes, from fuel to medicine.
Chemical engineering applies chemistry, physics, and math to design processes that convert raw materials into useful products, everything from pharmaceuticals to plastics to fuel. Core coursework centers on thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and transport phenomena (how heat, mass, and momentum move through systems).
Lab and plant-design courses translate that theory into practice, often using process simulation software to model how a full-scale chemical plant would behave before anything is built.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓General & Organic Chemistry
- ✓Thermodynamics
- ✓Fluid Mechanics & Transport Phenomena
- ✓Chemical Reaction Engineering
- ✓Mass & Heat Transfer
- ✓Process Design & Simulation
- ✓Separations
- ✓Senior Plant Design Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓General & Organic Chemistry
- +General education requirement
- ✓Thermodynamics
- +General education requirement
- ✓Fluid Mechanics & Transport Phenomena
- +General education requirement
- ✓Chemical Reaction Engineering
- +Free elective
- ✓Mass & Heat Transfer
- +Free elective
- ✓Process Design & Simulation
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Separations
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Plant Design Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Strong in chemistry and math simultaneously
- ★Systems thinker who likes tracing how inputs become outputs
- ★Comfortable with lab work and quantitative modeling
- ★Interested in manufacturing, energy, or materials
Common minors & double-major pairings
Chemistry · Environmental Science · Business
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Chemical Engineering major?
Turning chemistry into large-scale processes, from fuel to medicine.
What courses do Chemical Engineering majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like General & Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics & Transport Phenomena, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Chemical Engineering program?
Chemical Engineering coursework typically builds skills like Applying chemistry at industrial scale, Process design and simulation, Quantitative problem-solving (thermodynamics, kinetics), Safety and risk analysis for chemical processes.
Is Chemical Engineering a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Strong in chemistry and math simultaneously" or "Systems thinker who likes tracing how inputs become outputs" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Chemical Engineer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Chemical Engineering?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Chemistry, Environmental Science, Business.
How is Chemical Engineering different from Chemistry?
They're related but distinct. Chemical Engineering: Turning chemistry into large-scale processes, from fuel to medicine. Chemistry: The science of matter, reactions, and how substances transform. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Chemical Engineering degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/chemical-engineering