Mar 28, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2010-12 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2010-12 [Archived Catalog]

Chemical Engineering Major (B.S.Ch.E.)


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Major code BS7251
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Major Code BS7262
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - Materials Track

Major Code BS7263
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - Biological Track

Major Code BS7264
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - Energy and the Environment Track

 

Program Overview

Chemical engineering is that branch of engineering that deals with changing raw materials into valuable products that you use everyday. The discipline of chemical engineering is based on the application of chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, mathematics, and economics. The traditional chemical engineer develops a chemical process from its laboratory beginnings through pilot-plant equipment to full-scale, production plant operations. Chemical engineers are employed in a wide range of industrial and research positions. In addition to the traditional chemical engineering employers in the chemical and petroleum industries, chemical engineers increasingly find employment in the areas of polymers, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, environmental engineering, biotechnology, paper processing, energy, and electronics.

The chemical engineering program at Ohio University prepares undergraduate students for the opportunities and challenges that they will meet upon graduation. Our curriculum includes traditional chemical engineering courses such as mass and energy balances, thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat transfer, separation processes, reaction engineering, and process design. Our students also have the opportunity to take elective courses in materials engineering, environmental engineering, conventional and alternative energy, biochemical and biomedical engineering, corrosion, and electrochemical engineering.

The educational objectives of our chemical engineering program, listed below, describe the skills and abilities that we expect our students to gain as they progress towards graduation.

Objectives and Outcomes

As part of our accreditation process, the Department has defined Objectives and Outcomes for our program. Objectives are defined as traits or skills recent graduates will be able to demonstrate. Outcomes are defined as specific skills that support the objectives. These are evaluated as the required chemical engineering courses are completed. The Objectives and Outcomes as defined by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering are as follows:

Objective 1: Graduates will have a strong foundation in chemical engineering theory and practice.

Outcomes for Objective 1: Students will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. apply knowledge of mathematics, basic sciences, and computational tools to the solution of chemical and biomolecular engineering problems;
  2. apply knowledge of chemical and biomolecular engineering theory and science including mass and energy balances, thermodynamics (both mechanical and chemical), transport phenomena(momentum, heat, and mass), and chemical kinetics and reactions (both homogeneous and heterogeneous);
  3. apply knowledge of chemical and biomolecular engineering practice and application including material handling (fluid flow, e.g. piping systems, pumps, compressors), heat transfer devices (e.g. heat exchangers), separation systems (e.g. distillation, absorption), and chemical reactors(e.g. batch, CSTR, PFR, dispersion);
  4. complete experimental studies including designing and conducting experiments, formulating mathematical models, and interpreting results using statistical tools;
  5. identify, formulate, and solve chemical and biomolecular engineering problems;
  6. and design chemical processes including using process simulators, considering controllability, considering product quality and economics, and considering safety and environmental concerns.

Objective 2: Graduates will have communication and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in a professional environment.

Outcomes for Objective 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. participate effectively in a team through leadership, individual contributions, and multidisciplinary interactions;
  2. and communicate in oral, written, and graphical form.

Objective 3: Graduates will be scholars and professionals and dedicated to the betterment of themselves and society.

Outcomes for Objective 3. Students will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. articulate the responsibilities of engineering practice including professional responsibilities and ethical responsibilities;
  2. articulate the interaction between engineering solutions, contemporary issues, and cultural perspectives;
  3. and engage in life-long learning by learning independently and articulating the importance of independent learning for future professional development.

Transfer students must have at least 48 hours of basic math and science credit.

Specialization Tracks

Students may select to major in the traditional chemical engineering curriculum or one of the specialized tracks. The tracks allow students to focus their studies in a technical area of interest to them, while still receiving a chemical engineering degree. The three specialized majors offered are the Materials Track, Biological Track, and Energy and the Environment Track. All four of the majors have a common list of required courses (listed below), and result in a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. The traditional major requires 21 hours of technical electives. A list of allowable electives is maintained in the Department. Six of the 21 credit hours must be in advanced chemistry.

For the Material Track, in place of the 21 hours of technical elective the student must take:

1. CH E 431 
2. Three track electives (list maintained in the Department)
3. Additional technical electives to reach 18 hours total
4. Six hours of the technical or track electives must be in advanced chemistry

For the Biological Track, in place of the 21 hours of technical elective the student must take:

1. CH E 481  and 404  (one of the two is required of student in any of the four majors)
2. Three track electives (list maintained in the Department)
3. Additional technical electives to reach 18 hours total
4. Six hours of the technical or track electives must be in advanced chemistry

For the Energy and the Environment Track, in place of the 21 hours of technical elective the student must take:

1. Four track electives (list maintained in the Department)
2. Additional technical electives to reach 21 hours total
3. Six hours of the technical or track electives must be in advanced chemistry

Universitywide Graduation Requirements


To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements .

College-Level Requirements for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology


View the College-Level Requirements for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology .

Freshman


Fall


  • Tier II Requirement Credit Hours: 3
    See footnotes 1 and 2

Winter


  • Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 1

Spring


  • Tier II Requirement Credit Hours: 3
    See footnotes 1 and 2

Sophomore


Fall


Select one of the following


Spring


  • Tier II Requirement Credit Hours: 3
    See footnotes 1 and 2 

Junior


Fall


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 3 

Winter


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 3
  • Junior English Composition Credit Hours: 4

Spring


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 3
  • Tier II Requirement Credit Hours: 3
    See footnotes 1 and 2 

Senior


Fall


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 3 

Winter


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
    See footnote 3 

One from the following:


Spring


  • Technical Elective Credit Hours: 6
    See footnote 3

Footnote


  1. May be taken in any order
  2. Tier II courses should be selected from the humanities and literature (2HL), cross-cultural perspectives (2CP), fine arts (2FA), and social sciences (2SS) categories. One course in each category is required. 
  3. Technical electives must be from the approved list and include six hours of advanced chemistry. See the earlier description as to how the Technical Elective requirements change for the three specialized tracks.
  4. In the case both courses are completed, three hours will count toward the technical elecive requirements.
  5. CH E 444 fulfills the University’s Tier III requirement.

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