Chemical Engineering

Kenneth A. Solen, Chair
350 CB, PO Box 24100, (801) 378-2586

College of Engineering Advisement Center
264 CB, PO Box 24101, (801) 378-4325

Admission to Degree Program

The degree program in the Department of Chemical Engineering carries special enrollment limitations. Please see the college advisement center for specific details.

The Discipline

Chemical engineering deals with the development and application of manufacturing processes in which chemical and physical changes of materials are involved. Chemical engineers research and develop new methods to manage energy resources as well as commercial consumer products. They design reliable, cost-effective manufacturing plants and implement air-quality control systems. As problem solvers, chemical engineers work on the leading edge of technology—researching and developing the ideas of today for the designs, systems, and products of tomorrow.

Areas of instruction include heat transfer, fluid dynamics, chemical reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, separation operations, materials science, process control, and plant design. In addition, chemical engineering places strong emphasis on computer skills.

The BS curriculum is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Career Opportunities

The combination of knowledge about process engineering, math, and chemistry obtained in the chemical engineering curriculum is a versatile preparation that opens a wide variety of opportunities to graduates. This versatility is one reason why chemical engineers have traditionally been among the highest paid professionals in the engineering and science disciplines.

Chemical engineers make a significant difference in our quality of life. Some develop clean, new energy sources to power society. Some develop and produce fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals to feed mankind. Virtually all pharmaceuticals are produced by chemical engineers to enhance the life of millions. Others study and produce biomedical devices and artificial organs. Still others are involved in development and production of new materials for use in new high-tech products.

The petroleum industry is one of the largest employers of chemical engineers, requiring their expertise for the discovery, production, and refining of petro-chemicals including fuels, chemicals, and oils. Engineers produce chemicals ranging in use from cleaning products to medicines and from man-made fibers for clothing and textiles to plastics for construction and consumer goods.

Many chemical engineers are employed in environmentally related positions, working on ways to improve air and water quality, to reduce acid rain and smog, and to recycle and reduce garbage. Additionally, chemical engineers are employed by universities as teachers and researchers and by government agencies to provide answers for energy, environmental, and defense concerns. Chemical engineers also train to work in the medical, business, and legal professions.

Though chemical engineering career opportunities are diverse, job functions can be categorized more easily. Chemical engineers are usually involved in research, design, development, production, technical sales, or management.

In research, they develop new ideas, new products, and new ways to produce existing products more economically and with less environmental impact.

In design, they create the processes that convert raw materials into finished products with emphasis on efficiency, safety, consumer needs, and environmental protection.

The development engineer improves existing processes and technology to better meet changing needs.

Production engineering involves supervision, quality control, and testing of production processes and operations.

Management and technical sales involve decision making with regard to consumer needs and technical capabilities.

Chemical engineers are creative problem solvers. Their careers are rewarding not only from an intellectual and financial view, but also from a personal perspective. Affecting the lives of millions, their solutions provide a better lifestyle for mankind.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree a student must fill three groups of requirements: (1) general education requirements; (2) university requirements; and (3) major requirements.

General Education Requirements

Students should contact their college advisement center for information about general education courses that will also fill major requirements.

Languages of Learning

Liberal Arts Core

Arts and Sciences Electives

Note 1: For a complete list of courses that will fill each GE category, see the General Education section of the current class schedule.

Note 2: Additional information about general education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the current class schedule or this catalog.

Minimum University Requirements

Cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0.

Note: See the Graduation section of this catalog for more information.

Major Requirements

Complete the major requirements listed for one of the following undergraduate degree programs.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

For more information see the 1999–2000 BYU Graduate Catalog.

General Information

The Chemical Engineering Department offers a professional program leading to the bachelor of science degree. The first two years of this program are considered to be preprofessional and permit unrestricted enrollment for any student who qualifies for admission to the university. The remaining two years are considered to constitute the professional program.

Any student who is admitted to the university may choose this program as a possible major. All students are urged to declare their intention to major in the department upon first entry to the university or as soon thereafter as possible by contacting the college advisement center (264 CB). Students electing to major in this program must successfully complete the minimum preprofessional program requirements that follow before applying for acceptance into the department professional program.

Transfer Students. Provisions have been made so that a qualified student transferring from a junior college or from another university, college, or department, who has completed the equivalent of the first two years of the academic program, can complete the BS degree requirements in another two years. Contact the department at the earliest date possible so that any variations can be accommodated with minimum loss of time.

Integrated Master's Program. At the end of the sophomore year or during the junior year, a student who desires to obtain a master's degree in chemical engineering may elect to enter the integrated master's program. The purpose of this program is to afford greater flexibility in scheduling course work than is normally available through the traditional BS degree followed by MS degree program. In this program students may work toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously, either receiving the BS degree before or at the same time as the MS degree. At the end of the sophomore year students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or more. All credit to be counted toward the master's degree must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Before completing the final 30 hours of undergraduate course work, students should submit a formal application for admission to the Office of Graduate Studies. Additional details may be obtained from the college advisement center.

Professional Registration. The Chemical Engineering Department encourages graduates to become registered professional engineers. General qualifications for becoming registered are explained in the College of Engineering and Technology section of this catalog. Some states require this status for consulting and practice in the private sector. Successful completion of the basic chemical engineering program outline prepares graduates to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. Students who wish to become registered as professional engineers are also advised to talk to their advisor about developing their own professional engineering option, which may include additional FE preparation courses.

BS Chemical Engineering (103–105 hours*)

Major Requirements

1. Due to the complex prerequisite relationships and limited scheduling of these courses, students should consult with the department about their course scheduling.

2. Complete the following preprofessional courses:
   Math 112, 113, 212, 213.
   Chem 111, 112 (or 105, 106, 107).
   ChEn 170, 263, 273, 291R (twice).
   Phscs 121, 122.

   Complete the following professional courses:

   ChEn 373, 374, 376, 378, 436, 451, 475, 476, 477, 478, 491.

   Complete the following supporting courses:

   ECEn 301R (2 hours).

   Engl 316.

   Chem 351, 352, 461.

   Biol 100.

   And select one course from the following:

   Econ 110.

   EngT 200.

   Complete a technical option that emphasizes particular aspects of chemical engineering and requires an additional 19 hours minimum. For each option:

   • Obtain departmental approval of proposed option.

   • Complete 2 hours of mathematics or statistics.

   • Complete 5 hours of engineering.

   • Complete 7 hours of advanced chemistry, of which at least 2 hours must be laboratory hours. Advanced chemistry is defined as being 300 level or above with the following exceptions: Chem 213 is acceptable; 367 and 391 are not; only 1 hour of 497R may be applied to the option requirements. Up to 4 hours of the advanced chemistry requirement may be satisfied with approved natural science courses in departments other than chemistry. The approved courses are ChEn 578, Zool 460, and Phscs 221.

   • Fill remaining hours with advanced technical electives (300 level or above).

   • No more than 2 hours of ChEn 498R (only 1 hour if Chem 497R is taken) may be applied to the option requirements.

   Details of specific recommendations for technical options are listed in the Major Academic Plan (MAP), which is available from the college advisement center or from the Chemical Engineering Department.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill GE or university requirements.

Chemical Engineering (ChEn)

Class Schedule					Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

170. Introduction to Chemical Engineering. (2:2:0) F, W

Fundamentals of polymer chemistry and physics and their implications in engineering applications. Topics include polymerization chemistry, structure-property relationships, polymer physics, and transport properties.

Graduate Courses

For 600- and 700-level courses, see the 1999–2000 BYU Graduate Catalog.

Chemical Engineering Faculty

Professors

Bartholomew, Calvin H. (1973) BES, Brigham Young U., 1968; MS, PhD, Stanford U., 1970, 1972.

Beckstead, Merrill W. (1977) BS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1961, 1965.

Fletcher, Thomas H. (1991) BS, MS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1979, 1980, 1983.

Hedman, Paul O. (1977) BS, U. of Utah, 1957; PhD, Brigham Young U., 1973.

Oscarson, John L. (1974) BES, Brigham Young U., 1968; MS, PhD, U. of Michigan, 1972, 1985.

Pitt, William G. (1987) BS, Brigham Young U., 1983; PhD, U. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1987.

Rowley, Richard L. (1984) BS, Brigham Young U., 1974; PhD, Michigan State U., 1978.

Smoot, L. Douglas (1967) BS, BES, Brigham Young U., 1957, 1957; MS, PhD, U. of Washington, 1958, 1960.

Solen, Kenneth A. (1976) BS, U. of California, Berkeley, 1968; MS, PhD, U. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1972, 1974.

Terry, Ronald E. (1987) BS, Oregon State U., 1971; PhD, Brigham Young U., 1976.

Associate Professors

Harb, John N. (1988) BS, Brigham Young U., 1983; PhD, U. of Illinois, 1988.

Hecker, William C. (1982) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1974, 1975; PhD, U. of California, Berkeley, 1982.

Wilding, W. Vincent (1994) BS, Brigham Young U., 1981; PhD, Rice U., 1985.

Emeriti

Barker, Dee H. (1959) BS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1948, 1951.

Hanks, Richard W. (1963) BES, Yale U., 1957; PhD, U. of Utah, 1960.

Pope, Bill J. (1958) BS, U. of Utah, 1947; MS, PhD, U. of Washington, 1948, 1959.

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