Undergraduate Study - Chemical Engineering
Paul Van Tassel
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Energy, the environment, and health care represent the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. No single discipline is better poised to confront these challenges than Chemical Engineering. From a foundation rooted in the basic sciences of mathematics, chemistry, physics, and (increasingly) biology; a traditional engineering science core of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and chemical kinetics; a rigorous design component; and an expanding focus on emerging topics in materials, nanotechnology, and life sciences; Chemical Engineering has grown from its petro-chemical origins to become a central discipline to state-of-the-art technologies in microelectronics, alternative energy, biomedicine, and pharmaceutics. Yale students -- with their well-rounded educational backgrounds and diverse interests -- are particularly well-suited to capitalize on emerging opportunities within Chemical Engineering.
The Yale Chemical Engineering program is principally focused on basic and engineering sciences, and problem solving. Additional focus is on communication, analysis of experiments, and chemical process design. A special feature of our program is the accessibility of laboratory research -- most Chemical Engineering majors participate in faculty-led research projects, often resulting in publication and/or presentation at national meetings.
Yale Chemical Engineering graduates find a wide range of professional opportunities. Many go on to top graduate programs in Chemical, Biomedical, or Environmental Engineering, or to esteemed medical, law, or business schools. Yale Chemical Engineering majors ultimately become leaders in academia, industry, government, business, and the non-profit sector.
The Department of Chemical Engineering at Yale offers the following two majors:
Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) for Chemical Engineering
Upon graduation, Yale's Chemical Engineering students are expected to achieve "Student Outcomes" as defined by ABET and the program. The Chemical Engineering major produces graduates who demonstrate:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- Have mastery of the basic principles of science and modern chemical engineering practice and be able to adapt and creatively apply them to solve new problems in a broad range of fields
- Become ethical professionals who advance chemical engineering practice and knowledge in multiple fields and recognize the local and global impacts of their work on humans and the environment
- Be able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and be committed to the advancement of women and under-represented groups in engineering
- Have a strong educational foundation enabling them to study in graduate and professional schools as well as become leaders in STEM or non-STEM career paths
- Be committed to, and engage in, lifelong learning throughout their careers
Engineering Graduates |
Engineering Majors+ |
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+ Yale College does not require students to declare a major until the end of their second year. Data reflects (BSCE) / (total of BSCE, BSES(CE)).
* Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences (Chemical)
For detailed curriculum information, visit Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum Information