Program of Study
Chemical Engineering Core Courses
The broad profession of chemical engineering is based on the fundamentals of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology. Therefore, the chemical engineering degree requires a thorough grounding in mathematics and basic sciences (4 units or 12 courses) as well as in advanced chemistry (2 units or 6 courses). The core chemical engineering coursework starts with CHE 1011 Introduction to Chemical Engineering in the freshman year and then includes 4 units (or 12 courses) selected form the list below taken from freshman through senior year:
- CHE 2011 Chemical Engineering Fundamentals
- CHE 2012 Elementary Chemical Processes
- CHE 2013 Applied Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
- CHE 2014 Advanced Chemical Processes
- ES 3004 Fluid Mechanics
- ES 3003 Heat Transfer
- ES 3002 Mass Transfer
- CHE 3201 Kinetics and Reactor Design
- CHE 3501 Applied Math in Chemical Engineering
- CHE 4401 Unit Operations Lab I
- CHE 4402 Unit Operations Lab II
- CHE 4403 Chemical Engineering Design
- CHE 4404 Chemical Plant Design Project
- CHE 4405 Chemical Process Dynamics and Control Lab
The freshman course is followed by an integrated sophomore year curriculum, where a series of interrelated courses on chemical processes, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and separation processes, are team-taught by a team of four faculty. This unique "spiral curriculum" revisits all the subjects each term at increasing levels of sophistication. This is distinct from traditional compartmentalized courses and results in improved retention and learning and in breaking down the barriers between individual courses. The junior level courses provide advanced training in the transport and kinetic sequence. The senior year provides opportunities of synthesizing the knowledge gained so far in cap-stone design and sequence of Unit Operations Laboratory courses as well as the major project.
Chemical Engineering Elective Courses
In addition, students take elective engineering science and design courses (1 unit or 3 courses) both within and outside the department. The current electives offered within the department are listed below:
- CHE 3601 Chemical Materials Engineering
- CHE 3910 Chemical and Environmental Technology
- CHE 3920 Air Quality Management
- CHE 3301 Introduction to Biological Engineering
- CHE 1011 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
There is a huge variety of engineering electives available outside the department.
The other WPI requirements include 2/3 units (2 courses) in social science, 2 units in humanities consisting of 5 self-selected thematically related courses ending with a Sufficiency study, 1 unit for Interactive Qualifying Project or IQP, and 1 unit of Major Qualifying Project or MQP.
Course Requirements for CHE Majors
The course requirements at WPI are called course distribution requirements. Thus, every chemical engineering graduate must complete 10 units of study in the areas of mathematics, basic science, engineering science and design, and 2 units of advanced chemistry as shown below.
In special cases, suitable CHE graduate courses or graduate courses from other departments may be acceptable to satisfy CHE undergraduate distribution requirements (The undergraduate catalog provides a list of CHE graduate courses - see Course Descriptions). Students may also petition the CHE Undergraduate Committee to have suitable undergraduate courses from other departments substitute for certain CHE courses.
In addition, students interested in research are encouraged to contact the faculty member of interest to see if opportunities exist for research projects. Typically, this does not carry academic credit.
Course Distribution Requirements
(Effective 2004-2005 Academic Year)
| Mathematics and Basic Science | 4 units required |
|---|---|
Must include differential and integral calculus and differential equations Typical courses: | |
| 5/3 | |
| 4/3 | |
PH 1111, PH 1121 (although PH 1110, PH 1120 will count, we recommend PH 1111, PH 1121) | 2/3 |
1 other chemistry/natural science*/math course (*Natural science includes BB, CH, GE, and PH; up to one unit of Advanced Chemistry may be double counted as both Advanced Chemistry and Basic Science, see note below under Advanced Chemistry) | 1/3 |
| Advanced Chemistry | 2 units required |
All CH courses, other than CH 1010, CH 1020, and CH 1030, count as Advanced Chemistry. Up to one unit of Advanced Chemistry may be double counted as both Advanced Chemistry and Basic Science. One course of Advanced Natural Science (2000 level or above BB, PH, GE) may be substituted for one Advanced Chemistry course. | |
| 5/3 | |
| 1 other advanced chemistry/advanced natural science course | 1/3 |
| Engineering Science and Design | 6 units required |
Any 12 courses from the following 14 Core Courses*:
ES 3004, ES 3003, ES 3002, CHE 2011, CHE 2012, CHE 2013, CHE 2014, CHE 3201, CHE 3501, CHE 4401, CHE 4402, CHE 4403, CHE 4404, CHE 4405 | 12/3 |
| Major Qualifying Project (MQP) | 3/3 |
| Must add at least one 2000 level or above engineering course outside the CHE Department and not listed above # (Non-CHE Eng. Elective) | 1/3 |
| Must add two (>2000 level) engineering courses $# (Eng. Free Electives) | 2/3 |
| $ May include CHE 1011 # May not include IE courses without prior approval of undergraduate committee | |
| Social Science | 2/3 units required |
For more information, see The Social Science Requirement. | |
| Humanities Sufficiency | 2 units required |
Normally fulfilled by two units of work consisting of five self selected thematically related courses and an independent study of 1/3 unit dealing with this theme. For more information, see The Sufficiency. | |
| Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) | 1 unit required |
The student uses his/her scientific and/or engineering background to help solve a societal problem. For more information, see The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP). |
Last modified: November 19, 2007 15:56:25