Chemical engineering (ChE) is a core engineering discipline with myriad applications across industries. Chemical engineers apply advanced knowledge of chemistry, among other sciences, to problems of mass manufacturing and distribution, as well as emerging issues like energy development, pollution control, and nanoscale drug delivery.
Chemical engineering is technology-intensive. It begins in the lab and ends with large-scale process implementation, from production for markets to public health projects. Jobs are commonly in settings like laboratories, factories, offices, and sometimes at field work sites.
Wherever the synthesis or processing of chemical materials is a concern, chemical engineers are needed to ensure sound science, productive viability, and safety. This is the case in diverse industries, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to environmental health, food processing, energy, medical devices, synthetics, and more.
Chemical engineers must be educated at least to the bachelor's level, preferably with a degree in chemical engineering. Programs should be approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the ABET, or Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology.
Chemical engineering requires relatively less education than other engineering disciplines; a bachelor's degree is sufficient professional qualification. More than 70 percent of chemical engineers have only a bachelor's qualification, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
While chemical engineering students are especially focused on chemistry, they also take classes in physics, biology, materials science, and applied mathematics, as well as communications and economics. They must also develop strong computer literacy skills, including in Computer-Aided Design.
Bachelors planning to go directly to a doctoral ChE program need to identify the necessary prerequisites defined by their desired program as early as possible. Some bachelors pursue a double major with an area like chemistry or materials science to enhance their competitive edge in grad school admissions.
Bachelor-level ChE classes include:
ChE bachelors can immediately enter the workforce as a:
About one-quarter of chemical engineers have a master's in the field, according to the U.S. BLS. Master chemical engineers tend to work in the private sector. The Bureau says that a master's in chemical engineering initially enhances job opportunities over a bachelor's degree, but over time, bachelor degree-holders' industry experience can neutralize these gains.
There are terminal Master of Science programs for ChE majors, many of which are coursework-only, requiring neither a thesis nor research. These are designed principally for those headed to the private sector, especially in manufacturing and professional-technical services.
It is possible to get into a master's level ChE program without having a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, although having a coursework or experiential foundation in a core engineering discipline is highly recommended. Students don't need to have chosen an area of specialization coming into graduate school. They should let their interests and skills guide a choice of specialization at this level.
Some students earn a master's in chemical engineering as part of a co-terminal track alongside a professional degree in medicine, law, education, or business. This would be a useful pathway for the executive of a bioscience startup, for example, or a ChE innovator working in cancer biotechnology.
The best chemical engineering schools have both interdisciplinary breadth and elective depth for purposes of specialization. There should be a strong research component for students who intend to apply to doctoral programs. Master-level coursework in Chemical Engineering might include:
What kinds of jobs are available to master degree-holders?
Less than 5 percent of chemical engineers have a Ph.D., according to the U.S. BLS. For those who plan to teach or conduct independent research, a doctorate is in order. Many chemical engineering Ph.D.s go on to postdoctoral research positions to further deepen their area of specialization.
Some Ph.D. admission committees allow a bachelor's in a discipline other than chemical engineering, preferably a related science or engineering discipline such as chemistry, mechanical engineering, or physics. Other bachelors may be accepted but they may be required to complete compensatory coursework, lengthening the time it takes to finish school.
The top chemical engineering schools are looking for candidates with a solid grasp of college-level mathematics, such as linear algebra and partial differential equations, and introductory engineering studies, covering subjects like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and reaction kinetics.
In most cases, candidates need to complete a research dissertation to earn the Ph.D. credential. Dissertations in chemical engineering might focus on:
A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering may lead to a career as a:
We found 163 schools offering chemical engineering degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 163 Chemical Engineering Colleges in the U.S.
