Department of Chemical Engineering

What are the career opportunities for Chemical Engineers?

Some representative industries include the following:

• Chemical - producing bulk and specialty chemicals
• Oil and gas - refining and processing of fuels
• Agricultural - manufacturing fertilizers, pesticides and animal health products
• Food - producing food products from agricultural products
• Consumer - manufacturing cosmetics, household chemicals and personal care products
• Materials - developing and producing metals, plastics and ceramic materials
• Biotechnology - developing and manufacturing pharmaceuticals, medical devices, artifical organs, biomaterials and biological processing
• Environmental - pollution prevention, control and remediation
• Pulp and paper - producing paper and paper products
• Design and construction - developing chemical process plants
• Public utilities - power generation, water and waste water treatment

• Abbott Laboratories
• AE Staley
• Bethlehem Steel
• Campbell Soup
• Dow Chemical USA
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Marathon Oil Company
• National Starch Company
• Northern Indiana Public Service Company
• Saturn Corporation
• Voltek, Division of Sekisui America Corporation

Why should I study chemical engineering at Tri-State?

The students are active in shaping the future of the department in participation with our faculty and industrial partners. The distinctions of the program include strong industrial involvement; qualified, accessible faculty; friendly, personal environment; and emphasis on laboratory and project work. The program is committed to the success of its students from admission to placement.

Why should I consider cooperative education?

What is the history of chemical engineering at Tri-State?

The first graduate of that program, Clarence Williamson, went on to become the publisher of Chemical Engineering magazine at McGraw Hill, and the first woman to graduate from the program, Brenda Stubbs, earned her chemical engineering degree in 1930.

Since 1911, over 1,000 other students have joined Williamson and Stubbs as Tri-State chemical engineering alumni. Many of these alumni have been employed worldwide and have achieved professional success at the highest levels.

What professional degree is awarded?

What kind of person should consider chemical engineering?

A person considering chemical engineering must not be satisfied with the “easy road.” The chemical engineering curriculum is demanding with rigorous courses in chemistry, mathematics and physics, yet, the rewards are many.

The College Placement Council (CPC), in the July 1995 CPC Salary Survey, listed the starting salary for chemical engineers as $40,268. In addition, as a professional, the chemical engineer contributes in a vital way to the basic processes of modern science and technology, and to the health and safety of everyone.

What skills and knowledge are required for admission to chemical engineering?

• Graduation from an accredited high school or an acceptable score on the General Education Develop-ment (GED) examination.
• Results from either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), unless the student has been out of high school for more than five years.
• Minimum high school preparation which should include four years of English, two years of science (including chemistry and physics), two years of Social studies, two years of algebra, one year of geometry and one semester of trigonometry.

What do chemical engineering students study?

• One year of mathematics, including calculus and differential equations, and basic sciences, including general chemistry and calculus-based general physics
• One and one-half years of engineering science, which acts as a bridge between mathematics and the basic sciences, and engineering practice (i.e. mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical circuits, materials science, transport phenomena, and computer science), and engineering design (the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs)
• One-half year of humanities and social sciences.

• Engineering science coursework in material and energy balances; thermodynamics; heat, mass, and momentum transfer; chemical reaction engineering; continuous and stagewise separation operations; and process dynamics and control
• Capstone design courses which bring together various elements of the curriculum
• Computer use which includes programming in a high level language (i.e. FORTRAN or C+), use of software packages for analysis and design, use of utilities such as editors, and simulation of engineering problems.

First Year

General Chemistry I, II

Quantitative Analysis

General Physics I, II

General Physics Laboratory I

Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, II, III

English Composition I, II

Humanities/Social Sciences Elective

FORTRAN Programming

Freshman Engineering

Second Year

Chemical Process Principles I, II

Organic Chemistry I, II

Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Physical Chemistry I

Physical Chemistry Laboratory I

General Physics III

General Physics Laboratory II, III

Calculus and Analytic Geometry IV

Differential Equations

Microeconomics

Humanities/Social Sciences Elective

Problem Solving Skills

Physical Education

Third Year

Engineering and Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Unit Operations I, II

Unit Operations Laboratory I

Physical Chemistry II

Physical Chemistry Laboratory II

Instrumental Analysis

Statics

Network Analysis I

Electrical Circuits Laboratory I

Engineering Economics

Speech

Humanities/Social Sciences Electives

Fourth Year

Unit Operations III

Unit Operations Laboratory II

Chemical Process Controls

Chemical Process Controls Laboratory

Chemical Engineering Kinetics

Chemical Process Design I, II

Chemical Engineering Electives

Professional Practice

Humanities/Social Sciences Electives

Free Electives

Chemical Engineering Courses

CHE 215 — Chemical Process Principles I

An introduction to the practice of chemical engineering. Fundamental principles are applied to chemical engineering problems involving conservation of mass, stoichiometry, and conservation of energy. Numerical methods relevant to the problems will be presented. Process flow diagrams and piping and instrument diagrams will be presented. Measurement of process variables and illustration of fundamental concepts will be presented in the laboratory. Calculation laboratory is also included. Prerequisites: MA 145, PH 223, CS 163

CHE 235 — Chemical Process Principles II

Continuation of CHE 215, Chemical Process Principles I. Prerequisite: CHE 215.

CHE 304 — Plastics and Corrosion

An introduction to the engineering properties of plastics and the fundamentals of corrosion. The effect of the environment on the corrosion of metals, weathering, and the deterioration of plastics are examples of some of the topics covered. Prerequisites: CH 115, PH 113.

CHE 305 — Unit Operations I

The study of unit operations in chemical engineering is started with a thorough consideration of fluid flow and heat transfer by conduction and convection. Particular attention is given to equipment design. CHE 312 — Unit Operations Laboratory I

A laboratory course to study fluid mechanics and heat transfer in industrial process equipment. Laboratory safety and statistics are covered. Technical writing is required. Corequisite: CHE 315.

CHE 315 — Unit Operations II

Continuation of CHE 305, radiation heat transfer and mass transfer applied to the design of fired heaters, evaporators, and distillation and extraction equipment.

Prerequisite: CHE 305.

CHE 322 — Unit Operations Laboratory II

A laboratory course to study mass transfer, heat transfer, and reaction kinetics in industrial process equipment. Corequisite: CHE 325.

CHE 324 — Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Application of thermodynamics and equations of statics to determine real gas properties. Phase equilibria considered in connection with the applications of the third law of thermodynamics to such equilibria. Phase and chemical equilibria applied to single and multicomponent systems. Methods are presented for the estimation of thermodynamic properties. Prerequisite: ES 314.

CHE 325 — Unit Operations III

The principles of fluid flow, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and mass transfer applied to cooling towers, drying, gas absorption, and crystallization.

Prerequisite: CHE 315.

CHE 400 — Special Problems in Chemical Engineering

Course content arranged according to the student’s abilities and with the permission of the chair of the department. No student may pursue this course off-campus during his or her last quarter prior to graduation.

CHE 411 — Chemical Process Controls Laboratory

Process dynamics and control principles are studied. Processes are computer simulated. Computer data acquisition applied. Corequisite: CHE 413.

CHE 413 — Chemical Process Controls

An introduction to process dynamics and the application of control systems. Prerequisite: MA 234;

Corequisite: CHE 411.

CHE 434 — Chemical Engineering Kinetics

A study of reaction processes with applications to the equipment design. Prerequisites: CH 323, MA 234, CHE 324, CHE 315.

CHE 473 — Biochemical Engineering

Microbiological and biochemical phenomena are treated from an engineering standpoint. Aspects of biomass growth and substrate utilization, cell cultivation, biological waste treatment, product separation and purification, and biomedical topics are discussed. Laboratory content consists of research experiences within plant cell culture, microbial fermentation, enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, and biological remediation of waste.

Prerequisite: Junior standing in majors of engineering, chemistry, biology, or environmental science required.

CHE 483 — High Polymer Processes

The chemical and engineering aspects of high-polymers, structure, property, and relationships. Physical methods of characterizing high polymers, basic chemistry and kinetics of polymerization reactions, industrial polymerization processes. Compounding and processing of plastics and elastomers, molding, extrusion, and other polymer-manipulation techniques.

Prerequisites: CH 205, CHE 305.

CHE 4043 — Air Environmental Control

Effect, detection, and control of pollutants from motor vehicles and power plants. Process equipment for control of industrial pollution. Non-polluting incinerators, noise and odor pollution, air quality in conditioned enclosures. Library topics and field trips.

Prerequisite: Senior standing.

CHE 4063 — Chemical Engineering Plant Management I

A comprehensive overview of the factors and issues which must be considered related to the successful management and operation of a chemical plant. Typical areas addressed include process evaluation and optimization, maintenance operations and planning, environmental pollution control and hazardous waste management, manufacturing economics, plant safety, labor relations, community relations, and regulatory compliance. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

CHE 4073 — Chemical Engineering Plant Management II

Continuation of CHE 4063.

Prerequisite: Senior standing.

CHE 4124 — Chemical Process Design I

Economic design of commonly used chemical process components such as piping systems, pumps, process vessels, heat exchangers, fired heaters, and distillation columns. Methods employed for design include shortcut calculations and computer methods.

Prerequisite: CHE 315.

CHE 4134 — Chemical Process Design II

Capstone design experience unifying the principles of previous coursework. Comprehensive process projects required. Prerequisites: CHE 4124, CHE 434, ES 484

Chemical Engineering Faculty

What Chemical Engineering student organizations are there?

AIChE’s purpose is to provide professional development to students in chemical engineering. The local chapter sponsors field trips, industry speakers, conferences and biweekly meetings. Students are encouraged to participate and assume leadership roles in the organization.

Omega Chi Epsilon recognizes chemical engineering students with outstanding academic performances and leadership abilities.

Both organizations participate in department development activities which include curriculum review and personnel hiring and evaluation.

How does industry participate in the chemical engineering program?

• C.T.S. Corporation
• DePuy, Inc.
• Dow Chemical North America
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Kellogg Company
• Magnavox Electronic Systems
• Nalco Chemical Company
• National Starch and Chemical Company
• Voltek, Division of Sekisui America Corporation
• Wilson Industrial Sales
• The members of the board meet twice a year with faculty, students and administration to review and make recommendations to the program. In addition, these member companies make donations of funds and equipment to the department and provide employment assistance to students.

Accreditation

For Further Information

Engineering Programs Page

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