Chemical Engineering Bachelor of Science Degree
Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science Degree
Overview for Chemical Engineering BS
Why Pursue a Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree at RIT
Team-Based Capstone Project: A capstone design experience in the fifth year integrates chemical engineering theory, principles, and processes in a collaborative team environment.
Hands-On Experience: Four blocks of cooperative education mean nearly a year of hands-on, full-time paid work experience in industry.
Strong Career Paths: Students hired at industry-leading companies such as Bausch & Lomb, Boston Beer Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eastman Kodak Company, Global Tungsten and Powders, Northrop Grumman, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, The Hershey Company, and more.
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
RIT’s degree in chemical engineering is a comprehensive program of study that prepares you to advance nano-scale composites, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, plastics, fibers, metals, and ceramics and to develop alternative energy systems, biomedical materials and therapies, and strategies that minimize the environmental impact of technological advancements.
Chemical engineering applies the core scientific disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics to transform raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms, invariably in processes that involve chemical change. All engineers employ mathematics, physics, and engineering to overcome technical problems in a safe and economical fashion. A chemical engineer provides the critical level of expertise needed to solve problems in which chemical specificity and change have particular relevance. They not only create new, more effective ways to manufacture chemicals, but they also work collaboratively with chemists to pioneer the development of high-tech materials for specialized applications. Well-known contributions include the development and commercialization of synthetic rubber, synthetic fiber, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. Chemical engineers contribute significantly to advances in the food industry, alternative energy systems, semiconductor manufacturing, and environmental modeling and remediation. A special focus on process engineering cultivates a systems perspective that makes chemical engineers extremely versatile and capable of handling a wide spectrum of technical problems. Students develop a firm and practical grasp of engineering principles and the underlying science associated with traditional and emerging chemical engineering applications.
RIT’s Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering
The core curriculum of RIT’s chemical engineering BS degree provides you with a solid foundation in engineering principles and their underlying science.
You will choose professional technical electives from within the major, as well as from a department-approved list of engineering courses offered throughout the Kate Gleason College of Engineering. These electives provide an in-depth examination of the chemical engineering field or provide breadth in other engineering disciplines. Mathematics and science courses, free electives, and liberal arts courses round out the curriculum.
Learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives for the chemical engineering BS degree.
How is Chemical Engineering Different from Chemistry?
Virtually every aspect of a modern industrial economy is critically dependent upon chemical engineering for manufacturing bulk and specialty chemicals and high-tech materials needed to create a limitless array of value-added products. Chemical engineering applies the core scientific disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics to transform raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms, invariably in processes that involve chemical change. They work in multidisciplinary teams to create novel materials that are at the heart of virtually every product and service that enhances our quality of life. Examples include nano-scale composites, pharmaceuticals, plastics, fibers, metals, and ceramics. Key applications include the development of alternative energy systems, biomedical materials and therapies, and strategies to minimize the environmental impact of technological advancements.
The line between the functions of chemists and chemical engineers can be blurred, but a general distinction can be made between the function of the two disciplines. Perhaps the clearest distinction can be made in the area of chemical transformation. Typically, chemists develop new molecules via chemical reaction, examine the underlying mechanisms involved, and make precise measurements of both physical and organic chemistry parameters on a bench scale in small volumes. Chemical engineers utilize the work of chemists to build processes to manufacture and purify chemicals and new materials on a larger scale. Using their knowledge of scientific principles (physical and organic chemistry integrated with physics, mathematics, and biology) and design constraints (such as economics and environmental requirements), chemical engineers develop processes to manufacture raw materials with desired purity on a scale that meets the demands of virtually every industry in our modern society.
Hands-on Experience in Chemical Engineering
As a student in the chemical engineering BS, you will gain valuable hands-on experience through specific program requirements, including a capstone experience that features two dynamic courses:
- Design with Constraint is taught in a workshop structure with lectures and in-class applications of concepts. You will examine typical constraints on design and their integration with technology.
- Advanced Design Capstone requires you to work in teams to design and simulate a realistic chemical manufacturing plant, drawing upon and integrating the knowledge you have acquired from all of your core chemical engineering courses, electives, and co-op experiences completed over the previous five years of study.
Furthering Your Education in Chemical Engineering
Your degree in chemical engineering opens doors to a variety of options when it comes to furthering your education:
- Pre-Health Professions Program: An advising program designed to help you prepare a competitive application for admission into medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions.
- Pre-Vet Advising Program: An advising program to help you maximize your candidacy for admission to veterinary schools.
RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years, giving you a competitive advantage.
- BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Science, Technology, and Public Policy: Throughout history, technology has been a major driver of social, political, and economic change. Societies around the globe employ public policies to solve problems and achieve their social, economic, and environmental objectives. The spheres of public policy and technology overlap as society is challenged to consider not only the role of new technologies in its quest for improved quality of life, but also how policies affect the development, emergence, and choice of new technologies. Because of the role engineers play in creating new technology, they increasingly have an important role in helping to shape public policy. Moreover, policies affecting how we as a society live and work—such as environmental, industrial, energy, and national security policy, to name a few—demand that engineers be prepared to integrate policy issues into their engineering practice.
- BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Materials, Science, and Engineering
- BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering
What’s the Difference Between Engineering and Engineering Technology?
It’s a question we’re asked all the time. While there are subtle differences in the course work between the two, choosing the right major in engineering or engineering technology is more about identifying what you like to do and how you like to do it.
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#51 Best Engineering Undergraduate Programs, 2025
RIT’s engineering majors are ranked among the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in the nation.
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Apply for Fall 2025
First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.
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Careers and Cooperative Education
Typical Job Titles
| Chemical Engineer | Semiconductor Engineer | Environmental Engineer |
| Chemical Process Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | Quality Engineer |
| Systems Engineer |
Industries
Cooperative Education
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Your engineering co-ops will provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your engineering knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Students in the chemical engineering degree are required to complete four blocks (48 weeks) of cooperative education. This work experience, coupled with the professional networks created by our students and alumni, often translates into job opportunities after graduation. Additionally, for those students who develop an interest in research and demonstrate aptitude in the classroom, a limited number of co-op opportunities are possible in which students will work alongside professors as they conduct research in the chemical engineering field.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Chemical Engineering BS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Chemical Engineering, BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CHME-181 | Chemical Engineering Insights I This is the first course of a two-course sequence that provides the foundation for success in the chemical engineering program at RIT and the field of chemical engineering. This course provides a historical perspective on the origin of the discipline and an overview of the traditional and contemporary issues that chemical engineers address. Within this context, the course compares and contrasts the differing roles of chemical engineers and chemists in society. Additionally the course introduces the methodology chemical engineers use to solve problems, engineering ethics, and career options in chemical engineering. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
1 |
| CHME-182 | Chemical Engineering Insights II This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
1 |
| CHMG-141 | General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education) This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-142 | General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education) The course covers the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. The relationship between energy and entropy change as the driving force of chemical processes is emphasized through the study of aqueous solutions. Specifically, the course takes a quantitative look at: 1) solubility equilibrium, 2) acid-base equilibrium, 3) oxidation-reduction reactions and 4) chemical kinetics. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-145 | General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| CHMG-146 | General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-142 lecture material. The course emphasizes the use of experiments as a tool for chemical analysis and the reporting of results in formal lab reports. Topics include the quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture using complexation and double endpoint titration, pH measurement, buffers and pH indicators, the kinetic study of a redox reaction, and the electrochemical analysis of oxidation reduction reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMG-142 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| MATH-181 | Calculus I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A) This is the first in a two-course sequence intended for students majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers functions, limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, applications of the derivative, Riemann sums, definite integrals, and indefinite integrals. (Prerequisites: MATH-111 or (NMTH-220 and NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) or equivalent courses with a minimum grade of B-, or a score of at least 60% on the RIT Mathematics Placement Exam.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| MATH-182 | Calculus II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B) This is the second in a two-course sequence. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers techniques of integration including integration by parts, partial fractions, improper integrals, applications of integration, representing functions by infinite series, convergence and divergence of series, parametric curves, and polar coordinates. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or MATH-181A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PHYS-211 | University Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or equivalent course. Co-requisites: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHME-230 | Chemical Process Analysis A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND.
Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-310 | Applied Thermodynamics This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-320 | Process Transport I This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-391 | Chemical Engineering Principles Lab Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions. Students work in teams to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisite: CHME-230 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Spring). |
2 |
| CHMO-231 | Organic Chemistry I (General Education) This course is a study of the structure, nomenclature, reactions and synthesis of the following functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes. This course also introduces chemical bonding, IR and NMR spectroscopy, acid and base reactions, stereochemistry, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and alkene and alkyne reactions. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the use of mechanisms in describing and predicting organic reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMO-235 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMO-235 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education) This course trains students to perform techniques important in an organic chemistry lab. The course also covers reactions from the accompanying lecture CHMO-231. (Corequisite: CHMO-231 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| EGEN-099 | Engineering Co-op Preparation This course will prepare students, who are entering their second year of study, for both the job search and employment in the field of engineering. Students will learn strategies for conducting a successful job search, including the preparation of resumes and cover letters; behavioral interviewing techniques and effective use of social media in the application process. Professional and ethical responsibilities during the job search and for co-op and subsequent professional experiences will be discussed. (This course is restricted to students in Kate Gleason College of Engineering with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MATH-221 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus (General Education) This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219. (Prerequisite: C- or better MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
| MATH-231 | Differential Equations (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include solutions to first order equations and linear second order equations, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, linear independence and the Wronskian, vibrating systems, and Laplace transforms. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| STAT-205 | Applied Statistics (General Education) This course covers basic statistical concepts and techniques including descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and quality control. The statistical package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on statistical applications and quality improvement in engineering. This course is intended for engineering programs and has a calculus prerequisite. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit is to be earned in STAT-145 or STAT-155 or MATH 252.. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHMA-231 | Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers This course presents a preliminary treatment of instrumental theory and technique as well as hands on experience with modern chemical instrumentation. The course will cover the theory and implementation of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and chemical separations instrumentation and techniques. Instrumental techniques include: atomic and molecular emission and absorption and emission spectroscopies, atomic and molecular mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Students will perform experiments utilizing modern chemical instrumentation and gain experience in analyzing data and presenting results experimental results. (Prerequisites: CHMA-161 or CHMG-142 or equivalent.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-301 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering Mathematical and computational techniques necessary for engineering analysis are introduced that augment training from core mathematics and engineering courses. The spreadsheet environment is used to implement mathematical procedures and examine results. Topics covered include roots of equations, fitting equations to data, solution of systems of algebraic equations, interpolation, optimization, numerical differentiation and integration, and the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Techniques are applied to mathematical problems arising in chemical engineering using Microsoft Excel. (Prerequisites: MATH-221 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Recitation 1 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-321 | Process Transport II This course is the continuation of fluid flow and heat transfer taught in Continuum Mechanics I (CHME-320) I. First half of the course is focused on heat transfer. Fins and extended surfaces, Heat exchangers, Internal and External flow for a variety of common configurations are studied. Open ended design problems involving heat transfer applications are solved to further understand practical applications. In the second part of the course, concepts of fluid are reiterated with more focus on energy balances and pipe flows. Pumps and fluid flow machinery are studied to understand their performance and efficiencies. (Prerequisites: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-330 | Mass Transfer Operations This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (fall and summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CHME-302 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering II This course introduces the student to more advanced mathematical and numerical methods necessary for engineering analysis. Mathematical problems naturally arising in chemical engineering are used to motivate the course topics and techniques taught. The MATLAB programming environment is utilized to facilitate computation, and students learn to use MATLAB’s inbuilt tools as well as Simulink. Topics examined include the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations and the solution of ordinary differential equations (initial value problems). Some important topics covered in CHME-301 are re-examined in the MATLAB environment, such as roots of equations, curve fitting, and numerical integration and differentiation. (Prerequisite: CHME-301 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-340 | Reaction Engineering The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
4 |
| CHME-350 | Multiple Scale Material Science This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-491 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab (WI-PR) This course extends the laboratory experience from the previous Chemical Engineering Principles Lab, and focuses on unit operations common to engineering practice. Students work in teams to employ experimental procedures on existing equipment, and to in some cases, manipulate experimental apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisites: CHME-391 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Fall). |
2 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (spring and summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Immersion 2, 3 |
6 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| CHME-401 | System Dynamics and Control The dynamic behavior of chemical process components is examined. The mathematics of Laplace transforms are examined extensively as a fundamental underpinning of control theory. Block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHME-302 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-451 | Transport Phenomena Heat transfer and diffusive transport in continuous media (solids, liquids, and gases) are examined over differential length scales. Heat and mass transfer coefficients used in engineering design are extracted from a precise description of local transport. Exact solutions of the differential equations governing fluid mechanics are examined under both steady state and transient conditions, and these analyses are used to determine forces on bodies and friction factors in pipe flows. The important interplay between differential and larger-scale analyses in engineering is emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHME-321 and CHME-330 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-490 | Design with Constraint This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology. Economics, environmental considerations, hazards analysis, ethics, and globalization and supply chain management ideas are among the concepts introduced. Modern examples that integrate knowledge of unit operations and processes with design constraints are examined. (Prerequisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.
Co-requisites: CHME-401 or equivalent course.) Lab 1, Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-492 | Advanced Design Capstone |
3 |
| PHYS-212 | University Physics II (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective) This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: (PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or PHYS-206 or PHYS-216) or (MECE-102, MECE-103 and MECE-205) and (MATH-182 or MATH-172 or MATH-182A) or equivalent courses. Grades of C- or better are required in all prerequisite courses.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
Professional Technical Electives |
9 | |
Open Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 129 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for combined accelerated degrees available with this bachelor's degree.
BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Science, Technology, and Public Policy
Throughout history, technology has been a major driver of social, political, and economic change. Societies around the globe employ public policies to solve problems and achieve their social, economic, and environmental objectives. The spheres of public policy and technology overlap as society is challenged to consider not only the role of new technologies in its quest for improved quality of life, but also how policies affect the development, emergence, and choice of new technologies. Because of the role engineers play in creating new technology, they increasingly have an important role in helping to shape public policy. Moreover, policies affecting how we as a society live and work—such as environmental, industrial, energy, and national security policy, to name a few—demand that engineers be prepared to integrate policy issues into their engineering practice.
This accelerated dual degree option allows students to earn a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in science, technology, and public policy in approximately five years. The program is a natural fit that enables qualified students enrolled in chemical engineering, who also have an interested in public policy issues, with an opportunity to pursue a graduate level degree in a field that combines their engineering and public policy interests.
Chemical Engineering, BS degree/Science, Technology and Public Policy, MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CHME-181 | Chemical Engineering Insights I This is the first course of a two-course sequence that provides the foundation for success in the chemical engineering program at RIT and the field of chemical engineering. This course provides a historical perspective on the origin of the discipline and an overview of the traditional and contemporary issues that chemical engineers address. Within this context, the course compares and contrasts the differing roles of chemical engineers and chemists in society. Additionally the course introduces the methodology chemical engineers use to solve problems, engineering ethics, and career options in chemical engineering. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
1 |
| CHME-182 | Chemical Engineering Insights II This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
1 |
| CHMG-141 | General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education) This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-142 | General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education) The course covers the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. The relationship between energy and entropy change as the driving force of chemical processes is emphasized through the study of aqueous solutions. Specifically, the course takes a quantitative look at: 1) solubility equilibrium, 2) acid-base equilibrium, 3) oxidation-reduction reactions and 4) chemical kinetics. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-145 | General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| CHMG-146 | General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-142 lecture material. The course emphasizes the use of experiments as a tool for chemical analysis and the reporting of results in formal lab reports. Topics include the quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture using complexation and double endpoint titration, pH measurement, buffers and pH indicators, the kinetic study of a redox reaction, and the electrochemical analysis of oxidation reduction reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMG-142 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| MATH-181 | Calculus I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A ) This is the first in a two-course sequence intended for students majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers functions, limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, applications of the derivative, Riemann sums, definite integrals, and indefinite integrals. (Prerequisites: MATH-111 or (NMTH-220 and NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) or equivalent courses with a minimum grade of B-, or a score of at least 60% on the RIT Mathematics Placement Exam.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| MATH-182 | Calculus II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B) This is the second in a two-course sequence. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers techniques of integration including integration by parts, partial fractions, improper integrals, applications of integration, representing functions by infinite series, convergence and divergence of series, parametric curves, and polar coordinates. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or MATH-181A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PHYS-211 | University Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or equivalent course. Co-requisites: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| YOPS-010 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – First Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHME-230 | Chemical Process Analysis A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND.
Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-310 | Applied Thermodynamics This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-320 | Process Transport I This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-391 | Chemical Engineering Principles Lab Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions. Students work in teams to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisite: CHME-230 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Spring). |
2 |
| CHMO-231 | Organic Chemistry I (General Education) This course is a study of the structure, nomenclature, reactions and synthesis of the following functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes. This course also introduces chemical bonding, IR and NMR spectroscopy, acid and base reactions, stereochemistry, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and alkene and alkyne reactions. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the use of mechanisms in describing and predicting organic reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMO-235 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMO-235 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education) This course trains students to perform techniques important in an organic chemistry lab. The course also covers reactions from the accompanying lecture CHMO-231. (Corequisite: CHMO-231 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| EGEN-099 | Engineering Co-op Preparation This course will prepare students, who are entering their second year of study, for both the job search and employment in the field of engineering. Students will learn strategies for conducting a successful job search, including the preparation of resumes and cover letters; behavioral interviewing techniques and effective use of social media in the application process. Professional and ethical responsibilities during the job search and for co-op and subsequent professional experiences will be discussed. (This course is restricted to students in Kate Gleason College of Engineering with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MATH-221 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus (General Education) This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219. (Prerequisite: C- or better MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
| MATH-231 | Differential Equations (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include solutions to first order equations and linear second order equations, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, linear independence and the Wronskian, vibrating systems, and Laplace transforms. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| STAT-205 | Applied Statistics (General Education) This course covers basic statistical concepts and techniques including descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and quality control. The statistical package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on statistical applications and quality improvement in engineering. This course is intended for engineering programs and has a calculus prerequisite. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit is to be earned in STAT-145 or STAT-155 or MATH 252.. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHMA-231 | Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers This course presents a preliminary treatment of instrumental theory and technique as well as hands on experience with modern chemical instrumentation. The course will cover the theory and implementation of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and chemical separations instrumentation and techniques. Instrumental techniques include: atomic and molecular emission and absorption and emission spectroscopies, atomic and molecular mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Students will perform experiments utilizing modern chemical instrumentation and gain experience in analyzing data and presenting results experimental results. (Prerequisites: CHMA-161 or CHMG-142 or equivalent.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-301 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering I Mathematical and computational techniques necessary for engineering analysis are introduced that augment training from core mathematics and engineering courses. The spreadsheet environment is used to implement mathematical procedures and examine results. Topics covered include roots of equations, fitting equations to data, solution of systems of algebraic equations, interpolation, optimization, numerical differentiation and integration, and the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Techniques are applied to mathematical problems arising in chemical engineering using Microsoft Excel. (Prerequisites: MATH-221 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Recitation 1 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-321 | Process Transport II This course is the continuation of fluid flow and heat transfer taught in Continuum Mechanics I (CHME-320) I. First half of the course is focused on heat transfer. Fins and extended surfaces, Heat exchangers, Internal and External flow for a variety of common configurations are studied. Open ended design problems involving heat transfer applications are solved to further understand practical applications. In the second part of the course, concepts of fluid are reiterated with more focus on energy balances and pipe flows. Pumps and fluid flow machinery are studied to understand their performance and efficiencies. (Prerequisites: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-330 | Mass Transfer Operations This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (fall, summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1 |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CHME-302 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering II This course introduces the student to more advanced mathematical and numerical methods necessary for engineering analysis. Mathematical problems naturally arising in chemical engineering are used to motivate the course topics and techniques taught. The MATLAB programming environment is utilized to facilitate computation, and students learn to use MATLAB’s inbuilt tools as well as Simulink. Topics examined include the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations and the solution of ordinary differential equations (initial value problems). Some important topics covered in CHME-301 are re-examined in the MATLAB environment, such as roots of equations, curve fitting, and numerical integration and differentiation. (Prerequisite: CHME-301 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-340 | Reaction Engineering The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
4 |
| CHME-451 | Transport Phenomena Heat transfer and diffusive transport in continuous media (solids, liquids, and gases) are examined over differential length scales. Heat and mass transfer coefficients used in engineering design are extracted from a precise description of local transport. Exact solutions of the differential equations governing fluid mechanics are examined under both steady state and transient conditions, and these analyses are used to determine forces on bodies and friction factors in pipe flows. The important interplay between differential and larger-scale analyses in engineering is emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHME-321 and CHME-330 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-491 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab (WI-PR) This course extends the laboratory experience from the previous Chemical Engineering Principles Lab, and focuses on unit operations common to engineering practice. Students work in teams to employ experimental procedures on existing equipment, and to in some cases, manipulate experimental apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisites: CHME-391 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Fall). |
2 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| PHYS-212 | University Physics II (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective) This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: (PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or PHYS-206 or PHYS-216) or (MECE-102, MECE-103 and MECE-205) and (MATH-182 or MATH-172 or MATH-182A) or equivalent courses. Grades of C- or better are required in all prerequisite courses.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PUBL-701 | Graduate Policy Analysis This course provides graduate students with necessary tools to help them become effective policy analysts. The course places particular emphasis on understanding the policy process, the different approaches to policy analysis, and the application of quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluating public policies. Students will apply these tools to contemporary public policy decision making at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| PUBL-702 | Graduate Decision Analysis This course provides students with an introduction to decision science and analysis. The course focuses on several important tools for making good decisions, including decision trees, including forecasting, risk analysis, and multi-attribute decision making. Students will apply these tools to contemporary public policy decision making at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| PUBL-610 | Technological Innovation and Public Policy Technological innovation, the incremental and revolutionary improvements in technology, has been a major driver in economic, social, military, and political change. This course will introduce generic models of innovation that span multiple sectors including: energy, environment, health, and bio- and information-technologies. The course will then analyze how governments choose policies, such as patents, to spur and shape innovation and its impacts on the economy and society. Students will be introduced to a global perspective on innovation policy including economic competitiveness, technology transfer and appropriate technology. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
|
| STSO-710 | Graduate Science and Technology Policy Seminar STP examines how local, state, federal and international policies are developed to influence innovation, the transfer of technology and industrial productivity in the United States and other selected nations. It provides a framework for considering the mechanisms of policy as a form of promotion and control for science and technology, even once those innovations are democratized and effectively uncontrollable. Further focus is dedicated to the structure of governance inherent in U.S. domestic policy, limits of that approach, the influences of international actors, and utilizing case studies to demonstrate the challenges inherent in managing differing types of technology. This seminar is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from the instructor. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Seminar (Biannual). |
|
General Education – Immersion 1, 2 |
6 | |
STPP Graduate Elective |
3 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| CHME-350 | Multiple Scale Material Science This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-401 | System Dynamics and Control The dynamic behavior of chemical process components is examined. The mathematics of Laplace transforms are examined extensively as a fundamental underpinning of control theory. Block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHME-302 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-490 | Design with Constraint This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology. Economics, environmental considerations, hazards analysis, ethics, and globalization and supply chain management ideas are among the concepts introduced. Modern examples that integrate knowledge of unit operations and processes with design constraints are examined. (Prerequisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.
Co-requisites: CHME-401 or equivalent course.) Lab 1, Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-492 | Advanced Design Capstone |
3 |
| PUBL-700 | Readings in Public Policy An in-depth inquiry into key contemporary public policy issues. Students will be exposed to a wide range of important public policy texts, and will learn how to write a literature review in a policy area of their choosing. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Seminar (Fall). |
3 |
| PUBL-703 | Evaluation and Research Design The focus of this course is on evaluation of program outcomes and research design. Students will explore the questions and methodologies associated with meeting programmatic outcomes, secondary or unanticipated effects, and an analysis of alternative means for achieving program outcomes. Critique of evaluation research methodologies will also be considered. Seminar (Spring). |
3 |
STPP Electives |
6 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 6 |
|
| PUBL-785 | Capstone Experience The Public Policy Capstone Experience serves as a culminating experience for those MS in Science, Technology and Public Policy students who chose this option in the Public Policy Department. Over the course of the semester, students will have the opportunity to investigate and address contemporary topics in science and technology policy using analytic skills and theoretical knowledge learned over the course of their MS degree. Project 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
|
| PUBL-799 | Public Policy Thesis |
|
| PUBL-798 | Comprehensive Exam plus two (2) Graduate Electives |
|
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 150 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
BS in Chemical Engineering/MS in Materials Science and Engineering
In research and development, chemical engineers not only create new, more effective ways to manufacture chemicals, but also work collaboratively with chemists and material scientists to pioneer the development of new high-tech materials for specialized applications. High performance materials are needed across all industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental, space, and military applications.
This accelerated dual degree option allows students to earn a BS in chemical engineering and an MS in materials science in approximately five years. This option educates students to not only be able to scale up and manufacture materials (by virtue of their BS degree in chemical engineering), but also manipulate novel soft and hard materials on the bench scale as they are developed. Upon graduation, BS/MS students will be immediate contributors to the material science industries and will be well prepared for employment opportunities ranging from research and development to manufacturing.
Chemical Engineering, BS degree/Materials Science and Engineering (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CHME-181 | Chemical Engineering Insights I This is the first course of a two-course sequence that provides the foundation for success in the chemical engineering program at RIT and the field of chemical engineering. This course provides a historical perspective on the origin of the discipline and an overview of the traditional and contemporary issues that chemical engineers address. Within this context, the course compares and contrasts the differing roles of chemical engineers and chemists in society. Additionally the course introduces the methodology chemical engineers use to solve problems, engineering ethics, and career options in chemical engineering. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
1 |
| CHME-182 | Chemical Engineering Insights II This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
1 |
| CHMG-141 | General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education) This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-142 | General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education) The course covers the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. The relationship between energy and entropy change as the driving force of chemical processes is emphasized through the study of aqueous solutions. Specifically, the course takes a quantitative look at: 1) solubility equilibrium, 2) acid-base equilibrium, 3) oxidation-reduction reactions and 4) chemical kinetics. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-145 | General & Analytical Chemistry Lab I (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| CHMG-146 | General & Analytical Chemistry Lab II (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-142 lecture material. The course emphasizes the use of experiments as a tool for chemical analysis and the reporting of results in formal lab reports. Topics include the quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture using complexation and double endpoint titration, pH measurement, buffers and pH indicators, the kinetic study of a redox reaction, and the electrochemical analysis of oxidation reduction reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMG-142 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| MATH-181 | Calculus I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A) This is the first in a two-course sequence intended for students majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers functions, limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, applications of the derivative, Riemann sums, definite integrals, and indefinite integrals. (Prerequisites: MATH-111 or (NMTH-220 and NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) or equivalent courses with a minimum grade of B-, or a score of at least 60% on the RIT Mathematics Placement Exam.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| MATH-182 | Calculus II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A) This is the second in a two-course sequence. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers techniques of integration including integration by parts, partial fractions, improper integrals, applications of integration, representing functions by infinite series, convergence and divergence of series, parametric curves, and polar coordinates. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or MATH-181A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PHYS-211 | University Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or equivalent course. Co-requisites: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| YOPS-010 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHME-230 | Chemical Process Analysis A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND.
Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-310 | Applied Thermodynamics This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-320 | Continuum Mechanics I This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-391 | Chemical Engineering Principles Lab Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions. Students work in teams to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisite: CHME-230 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Spring). |
2 |
| CHMO-231 | Organic Chemistry I (General Education) This course is a study of the structure, nomenclature, reactions and synthesis of the following functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes. This course also introduces chemical bonding, IR and NMR spectroscopy, acid and base reactions, stereochemistry, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and alkene and alkyne reactions. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the use of mechanisms in describing and predicting organic reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMO-235 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMO-235 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education) This course trains students to perform techniques important in an organic chemistry lab. The course also covers reactions from the accompanying lecture CHMO-231. (Corequisite: CHMO-231 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| EGEN-099 | Engineering Co-op Preparation This course will prepare students, who are entering their second year of study, for both the job search and employment in the field of engineering. Students will learn strategies for conducting a successful job search, including the preparation of resumes and cover letters; behavioral interviewing techniques and effective use of social media in the application process. Professional and ethical responsibilities during the job search and for co-op and subsequent professional experiences will be discussed. (This course is restricted to students in Kate Gleason College of Engineering with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MATH-221 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus (General Education) This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219. (Prerequisite: C- or better MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
| MATH-231 | Differential Equations (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include solutions to first order equations and linear second order equations, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, linear independence and the Wronskian, vibrating systems, and Laplace transforms. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| STAT-205 | Applied Statistics (General Education) This course covers basic statistical concepts and techniques including descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and quality control. The statistical package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on statistical applications and quality improvement in engineering. This course is intended for engineering programs and has a calculus prerequisite. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit is to be earned in STAT-145 or STAT-155 or MATH 252.. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHMA-231 | Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers This course presents a preliminary treatment of instrumental theory and technique as well as hands on experience with modern chemical instrumentation. The course will cover the theory and implementation of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and chemical separations instrumentation and techniques. Instrumental techniques include: atomic and molecular emission and absorption and emission spectroscopies, atomic and molecular mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Students will perform experiments utilizing modern chemical instrumentation and gain experience in analyzing data and presenting results experimental results. (Prerequisites: CHMA-161 or CHMG-142 or equivalent.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-301 | Analytical Techniques for Chemical Engineering I Mathematical and computational techniques necessary for engineering analysis are introduced that augment training from core mathematics and engineering courses. The spreadsheet environment is used to implement mathematical procedures and examine results. Topics covered include roots of equations, fitting equations to data, solution of systems of algebraic equations, interpolation, optimization, numerical differentiation and integration, and the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Techniques are applied to mathematical problems arising in chemical engineering using Microsoft Excel. (Prerequisites: MATH-221 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Recitation 1 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-321 | Continuum Mechanics II This course is the continuation of fluid flow and heat transfer taught in Continuum Mechanics I (CHME-320) I. First half of the course is focused on heat transfer. Fins and extended surfaces, Heat exchangers, Internal and External flow for a variety of common configurations are studied. Open ended design problems involving heat transfer applications are solved to further understand practical applications. In the second part of the course, concepts of fluid are reiterated with more focus on energy balances and pipe flows. Pumps and fluid flow machinery are studied to understand their performance and efficiencies. (Prerequisites: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-330 | Mass Transfer Operations This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (fall) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1 |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CHME-302 | Analytical Techniques for Chemical Engineering II This course introduces the student to more advanced mathematical and numerical methods necessary for engineering analysis. Mathematical problems naturally arising in chemical engineering are used to motivate the course topics and techniques taught. The MATLAB programming environment is utilized to facilitate computation, and students learn to use MATLAB’s inbuilt tools as well as Simulink. Topics examined include the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations and the solution of ordinary differential equations (initial value problems). Some important topics covered in CHME-301 are re-examined in the MATLAB environment, such as roots of equations, curve fitting, and numerical integration and differentiation. (Prerequisite: CHME-301 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-340 | Reaction Engineering The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
4 |
| CHME-350 | Multiple Scale Material Science This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-491 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab (WI-PR) This course extends the laboratory experience from the previous Chemical Engineering Principles Lab, and focuses on unit operations common to engineering practice. Students work in teams to employ experimental procedures on existing equipment, and to in some cases, manipulate experimental apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisites: CHME-391 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Fall). |
2 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MTSE-705 | Experimental Techniques The course will introduce the students to laboratory equipment for hardness testing, impact testing, tensile testing, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and thermal treatment of metallic materials. Experiments illustrating the characterization of high molecular weight organic polymers will be performed. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lab 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| PHYS-212 | University Physics II (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective) This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: (PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or PHYS-206 or PHYS-216) or (MECE-102, MECE-103 and MECE-205) and (MATH-182 or MATH-172 or MATH-182A) or equivalent courses. Grades of C- or better are required in all prerequisite courses.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
General Education – Immersion 2, 3 |
6 | |
MTSE Graduate Electives |
9 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| CHME-401 | System Dynamics and Control The dynamic behavior of chemical process components is examined. The mathematics of Laplace transforms are examined extensively as a fundamental underpinning of control theory. Block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHME-302 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-451 | Analysis of MultiScale Processes Heat transfer and diffusive transport in continuous media (solids, liquids, and gases) are examined over differential length scales. Heat and mass transfer coefficients used in engineering design are extracted from a precise description of local transport. Exact solutions of the differential equations governing fluid mechanics are examined under both steady state and transient conditions, and these analyses are used to determine forces on bodies and friction factors in pipe flows. The important interplay between differential and larger-scale analyses in engineering is emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHME-321 and CHME-330 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-490 | Design With Constraint This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology. Economics, environmental considerations, hazards analysis, ethics, and globalization and supply chain management ideas are among the concepts introduced. Modern examples that integrate knowledge of unit operations and processes with design constraints are examined. (Prerequisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.
Co-requisites: CHME-401 or equivalent course.) Lab 1, Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-492 | Advanced Design Capstone |
3 |
| MTSE-601 | Materials Science This course provides an understanding of the relationship between structure and properties necessary for the development of new materials. Topics include atomic and crystal structure, crystalline defects, diffusion, theories, strengthening mechanisms, ferrous alloys, cast irons, structure of ceramics and polymeric materials and corrosion principles. Term paper on materials topic. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MTSE-704 | Theoretical Methods in Materials Science and Engineering This course includes the treatment of vector analysis, special functions, waves, and fields; Maxwell Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions, and their applications. Selected topics of interest in electrodynamics, fluid mechanics, and statistical mechanics will also be discussed. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MTSE-790 | Research & Thesis Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor. (Enrollment in this course requires permission from the department offering the course.) Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
9 |
MTSE Graduate Elective |
3 | |
Open Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 150 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
Chemical Engineering, BS degree/Materials Science and Engineering (project option), MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CHME-181 | Chemical Engineering Insights I This is the first course of a two-course sequence that provides the foundation for success in the chemical engineering program at RIT and the field of chemical engineering. This course provides a historical perspective on the origin of the discipline and an overview of the traditional and contemporary issues that chemical engineers address. Within this context, the course compares and contrasts the differing roles of chemical engineers and chemists in society. Additionally the course introduces the methodology chemical engineers use to solve problems, engineering ethics, and career options in chemical engineering. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
1 |
| CHME-182 | Chemical Engineering Insights II This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
1 |
| CHMG-141 | General Education – Elective: General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education) This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-142 | General Education – Elective: General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education) The course covers the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. The relationship between energy and entropy change as the driving force of chemical processes is emphasized through the study of aqueous solutions. Specifically, the course takes a quantitative look at: 1) solubility equilibrium, 2) acid-base equilibrium, 3) oxidation-reduction reactions and 4) chemical kinetics. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-145 | General Education – Elective: General & Analytical Chemistry Lab I (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| CHMG-146 | General Education – Elective: General & Analytical Chemistry Lab II (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-142 lecture material. The course emphasizes the use of experiments as a tool for chemical analysis and the reporting of results in formal lab reports. Topics include the quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture using complexation and double endpoint titration, pH measurement, buffers and pH indicators, the kinetic study of a redox reaction, and the electrochemical analysis of oxidation reduction reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMG-142 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| MATH-181 | Calculus I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A) This is the first in a two-course sequence intended for students majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers functions, limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, applications of the derivative, Riemann sums, definite integrals, and indefinite integrals. (Prerequisites: MATH-111 or (NMTH-220 and NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) or equivalent courses with a minimum grade of B-, or a score of at least 60% on the RIT Mathematics Placement Exam.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| MATH-182 | Calculus II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B) This is the second in a two-course sequence. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers techniques of integration including integration by parts, partial fractions, improper integrals, applications of integration, representing functions by infinite series, convergence and divergence of series, parametric curves, and polar coordinates. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or MATH-181A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PHYS-211 | University Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or equivalent course. Co-requisites: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| YOPS-010 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHME-230 | Chemical Process Analysis A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND.
Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-310 | Applied Thermodynamics This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-320 | Continuum Mechanics I This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-391 | Chemical Engineering Principles Lab Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions. Students work in teams to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisite: CHME-230 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Spring). |
2 |
| CHMO-231 | Organic Chemistry I (General Education) This course is a study of the structure, nomenclature, reactions and synthesis of the following functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes. This course also introduces chemical bonding, IR and NMR spectroscopy, acid and base reactions, stereochemistry, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and alkene and alkyne reactions. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the use of mechanisms in describing and predicting organic reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMO-235 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMO-235 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education) This course trains students to perform techniques important in an organic chemistry lab. The course also covers reactions from the accompanying lecture CHMO-231. (Corequisite: CHMO-231 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| EGEN-099 | Engineering Co-op Preparation This course will prepare students, who are entering their second year of study, for both the job search and employment in the field of engineering. Students will learn strategies for conducting a successful job search, including the preparation of resumes and cover letters; behavioral interviewing techniques and effective use of social media in the application process. Professional and ethical responsibilities during the job search and for co-op and subsequent professional experiences will be discussed. (This course is restricted to students in Kate Gleason College of Engineering with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MATH-221 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus (General Education) This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219. (Prerequisite: C- or better MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
| MATH-231 | Differential Equations (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include solutions to first order equations and linear second order equations, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, linear independence and the Wronskian, vibrating systems, and Laplace transforms. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| STAT-205 | Applied Statistics (General Education) This course covers basic statistical concepts and techniques including descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and quality control. The statistical package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on statistical applications and quality improvement in engineering. This course is intended for engineering programs and has a calculus prerequisite. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit is to be earned in STAT-145 or STAT-155 or MATH 252.. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHMA-231 | Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers This course presents a preliminary treatment of instrumental theory and technique as well as hands on experience with modern chemical instrumentation. The course will cover the theory and implementation of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and chemical separations instrumentation and techniques. Instrumental techniques include: atomic and molecular emission and absorption and emission spectroscopies, atomic and molecular mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Students will perform experiments utilizing modern chemical instrumentation and gain experience in analyzing data and presenting results experimental results. (Prerequisites: CHMA-161 or CHMG-142 or equivalent.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-301 | Analytical Techniques for Chemical Engineering I Mathematical and computational techniques necessary for engineering analysis are introduced that augment training from core mathematics and engineering courses. The spreadsheet environment is used to implement mathematical procedures and examine results. Topics covered include roots of equations, fitting equations to data, solution of systems of algebraic equations, interpolation, optimization, numerical differentiation and integration, and the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Techniques are applied to mathematical problems arising in chemical engineering using Microsoft Excel. (Prerequisites: MATH-221 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Recitation 1 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-321 | Continuum Mechanics II This course is the continuation of fluid flow and heat transfer taught in Continuum Mechanics I (CHME-320) I. First half of the course is focused on heat transfer. Fins and extended surfaces, Heat exchangers, Internal and External flow for a variety of common configurations are studied. Open ended design problems involving heat transfer applications are solved to further understand practical applications. In the second part of the course, concepts of fluid are reiterated with more focus on energy balances and pipe flows. Pumps and fluid flow machinery are studied to understand their performance and efficiencies. (Prerequisites: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-330 | Mass Transfer Operations This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (fall) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1 |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CHME-302 | Analytical Techniques for Chemical Engineering II This course introduces the student to more advanced mathematical and numerical methods necessary for engineering analysis. Mathematical problems naturally arising in chemical engineering are used to motivate the course topics and techniques taught. The MATLAB programming environment is utilized to facilitate computation, and students learn to use MATLAB’s inbuilt tools as well as Simulink. Topics examined include the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations and the solution of ordinary differential equations (initial value problems). Some important topics covered in CHME-301 are re-examined in the MATLAB environment, such as roots of equations, curve fitting, and numerical integration and differentiation. (Prerequisite: CHME-301 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-340 | Reaction Engineering The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
4 |
| CHME-350 | Multiple Scale Material Science This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-491 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab (WI-PR) This course extends the laboratory experience from the previous Chemical Engineering Principles Lab, and focuses on unit operations common to engineering practice. Students work in teams to employ experimental procedures on existing equipment, and to in some cases, manipulate experimental apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisites: CHME-391 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Fall). |
2 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MTSE-705 | Experimental Techniques The course will introduce the students to laboratory equipment for hardness testing, impact testing, tensile testing, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and thermal treatment of metallic materials. Experiments illustrating the characterization of high molecular weight organic polymers will be performed. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lab 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| PHYS-212 | University Physics II (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective) This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: (PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or PHYS-206 or PHYS-216) or (MECE-102, MECE-103 and MECE-205) and (MATH-182 or MATH-172 or MATH-182A) or equivalent courses. Grades of C- or better are required in all prerequisite courses.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
General Education – Immersion 2, 3 |
6 | |
MTSE Graduate Electives |
9 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| CHME-401 | System Dynamics and Control The dynamic behavior of chemical process components is examined. The mathematics of Laplace transforms are examined extensively as a fundamental underpinning of control theory. Block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHME-302 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-451 | Analysis of MultiScale Processes Heat transfer and diffusive transport in continuous media (solids, liquids, and gases) are examined over differential length scales. Heat and mass transfer coefficients used in engineering design are extracted from a precise description of local transport. Exact solutions of the differential equations governing fluid mechanics are examined under both steady state and transient conditions, and these analyses are used to determine forces on bodies and friction factors in pipe flows. The important interplay between differential and larger-scale analyses in engineering is emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHME-321 and CHME-330 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-490 | Design With Constraint This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology. Economics, environmental considerations, hazards analysis, ethics, and globalization and supply chain management ideas are among the concepts introduced. Modern examples that integrate knowledge of unit operations and processes with design constraints are examined. (Prerequisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.
Co-requisites: CHME-401 or equivalent course.) Lab 1, Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-492 | Advanced Design Capstone |
3 |
| MTSE-601 | Materials Science This course provides an understanding of the relationship between structure and properties necessary for the development of new materials. Topics include atomic and crystal structure, crystalline defects, diffusion, theories, strengthening mechanisms, ferrous alloys, cast irons, structure of ceramics and polymeric materials and corrosion principles. Term paper on materials topic. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MTSE-704 | Theoretical Methods in Materials Science and Engineering This course includes the treatment of vector analysis, special functions, waves, and fields; Maxwell Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions, and their applications. Selected topics of interest in electrodynamics, fluid mechanics, and statistical mechanics will also be discussed. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MTSE-777 | Graduate Project This course is a capstone project using research facilities available inside or outside of RIT. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Project . |
3 |
MTSE Graduate Electives |
9 | |
Open Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 150 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
Chemical Engineering, BS degree/Chemical Engineering, MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| CHME-181 | Chemical Engineering Insights I This is the first course of a two-course sequence that provides the foundation for success in the chemical engineering program at RIT and the field of chemical engineering. This course provides a historical perspective on the origin of the discipline and an overview of the traditional and contemporary issues that chemical engineers address. Within this context, the course compares and contrasts the differing roles of chemical engineers and chemists in society. Additionally the course introduces the methodology chemical engineers use to solve problems, engineering ethics, and career options in chemical engineering. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
1 |
| CHME-182 | Chemical Engineering Insights II This course examines how chemical engineering analysis can be applied to address some of society’s current and future challenges. Particular attention is focused on the size and scale of a system and its affect on the engineering constraints and the ultimate solution of problems. The course enables students to recognize that the processes and equipment that chemical engineers design to solve local problems affect the broader problems that society faces, such as the supply of energy and preservation of the environment. The course demonstrates the power of the system balance as an essential tool for engineering analysis, and provides students with some elementary training in its use. (This class is restricted to CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND Major students.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
1 |
| CHMG-141 | General & Analytical Chemistry I (General Education) This is a general chemistry course for students in the life and physical sciences. College chemistry is presented as a science based on empirical evidence that is placed into the context of conceptual, visual, and mathematical models. Students will learn the concepts, symbolism, and fundamental tools of chemistry necessary to carry on a discourse in the language of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between atomic structure, chemical bonds, and the transformation of these bonds through chemical reactions. The fundamentals of organic chemistry are introduced throughout the course to emphasize the connection between chemistry and the other sciences. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-142 | General & Analytical Chemistry II (General Education) The course covers the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. The relationship between energy and entropy change as the driving force of chemical processes is emphasized through the study of aqueous solutions. Specifically, the course takes a quantitative look at: 1) solubility equilibrium, 2) acid-base equilibrium, 3) oxidation-reduction reactions and 4) chemical kinetics. (Prerequisites: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMG-145 | General & Analytical Chemistry I Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-141 lecture material. The course emphasizes laboratory techniques and data analysis skills. Topics include: gravimetric, volumetric, thermal, titration and spectrophotometric analyses, and the use of these techniques to analyze chemical reactions. (Corequisite: CHMG-141 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| CHMG-146 | General & Analytical Chemistry II Lab (General Education) The course combines hands-on laboratory exercises with workshop-style problem sessions to complement the CHMG-142 lecture material. The course emphasizes the use of experiments as a tool for chemical analysis and the reporting of results in formal lab reports. Topics include the quantitative analysis of a multicomponent mixture using complexation and double endpoint titration, pH measurement, buffers and pH indicators, the kinetic study of a redox reaction, and the electrochemical analysis of oxidation reduction reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-131 or CHMG-141 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMG-142 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| MATH-181 | Calculus I (General Education – Mathematical Perspective A) This is the first in a two-course sequence intended for students majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers functions, limits, continuity, the derivative, rules of differentiation, applications of the derivative, Riemann sums, definite integrals, and indefinite integrals. (Prerequisites: MATH-111 or (NMTH-220 and NMTH-260 or NMTH-272 or NMTH-275) or equivalent courses with a minimum grade of B-, or a score of at least 60% on the RIT Mathematics Placement Exam.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| MATH-182 | Calculus II (General Education – Mathematical Perspective B) This is the second in a two-course sequence. It emphasizes the understanding of concepts, and using them to solve physical problems. The course covers techniques of integration including integration by parts, partial fractions, improper integrals, applications of integration, representing functions by infinite series, convergence and divergence of series, parametric curves, and polar coordinates. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or MATH-181A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| PHYS-211 | University Physics I (General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective) This is a course in calculus-based physics for science and engineering majors. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton's Laws, gravitation, work and energy, momentum and impulse, conservation laws, systems of particles, rotational motion, static equilibrium, mechanical oscillations and waves, and data presentation/analysis. The course is taught in a workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: C- or better in MATH-181 or equivalent course. Co-requisites: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHME-230 | Chemical Process Analysis A first course for chemical engineers, introducing units, dimensions and dimensional analysis, simple material balances for batch and continuous systems in steady and unsteady states with and without chemical reaction, and elementary phase equilibrium in multiple component systems. Energy balances on non-reactive systems in open and closed systems are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 and CHME-182 or equivalent courses or student standing in CHME-BS or ENGRX-UND.
Co-requisite: MATH-182 or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-310 | Applied Thermodynamics This is a course in the fundamentals of both single and multiple-component thermodynamics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics and concepts of entropy and equilibrium are examined in open and closed control volume systems. Energy, work, and heat requirements of various unit operations are examined. Equations of states and properties of fluids are explored. Phase transition and equilibrium involving single-and multiple components are examined for both ideal and non-ideal systems. Energy released/absorbed during chemical reaction and solution creation are imbedded in analysis of chemical engineering processes (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-320 | Process Transport I This course focuses on an introduction both fluid flow and heat transfer. In the first two thirds of the course, mass and force balances on control volumes are considered in both static and dynamic situations. Hydrostatic effects in manometers and static forces are calculated. Bernoulli’s Equation and applications are considered. Head losses and pumping requirements are considered in piping systems with laminar and turbulent flow. Friction factors for internal flows are also studied. In the last third of the course, fundamentals of heat transfer are introduced from a point-wise yet continuum perspective involving conduction, convection, and radiation. Simplifying approximations of conduction, convection, and radiation dominated heat transfer are introduced, and combined modes of transfer are analyzed. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and MATH-231 and PHYS-211 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-391 | Chemical Engineering Principles Lab Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions. Students work in teams to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisite: CHME-230 or equivalent course.
Co-requisite: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Spring). |
2 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| CHMO-231 | Organic Chemistry I (General Education) This course is a study of the structure, nomenclature, reactions and synthesis of the following functional groups: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes. This course also introduces chemical bonding, IR and NMR spectroscopy, acid and base reactions, stereochemistry, nucleophilic substitution reactions, and alkene and alkyne reactions. In addition, the course provides an introduction to the use of mechanisms in describing and predicting organic reactions. (Prerequisites: CHMG-142 or CHMG-131 or equivalent course.
Corequisites: CHMO-235 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| CHMO-235 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (General Education) This course trains students to perform techniques important in an organic chemistry lab. The course also covers reactions from the accompanying lecture CHMO-231. (Corequisite: CHMO-231 or equivalent course.) Lab 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
1 |
| EGEN-099 | Engineering Co-op Preparation This course will prepare students, who are entering their second year of study, for both the job search and employment in the field of engineering. Students will learn strategies for conducting a successful job search, including the preparation of resumes and cover letters; behavioral interviewing techniques and effective use of social media in the application process. Professional and ethical responsibilities during the job search and for co-op and subsequent professional experiences will be discussed. (This course is restricted to students in Kate Gleason College of Engineering with at least 2nd year standing.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
| MATH-221 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus (General Education) This course is principally a study of the calculus of functions of two or more variables, but also includes a study of vectors, vector-valued functions and their derivatives. The course covers limits, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, Stokes' Theorem, Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and applications in physics. Credit cannot be granted for both this course and MATH-219. (Prerequisite: C- or better MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
4 |
| MATH-231 | Differential Equations (General Education) This course is an introduction to the study of ordinary differential equations and their applications. Topics include solutions to first order equations and linear second order equations, method of undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, linear independence and the Wronskian, vibrating systems, and Laplace transforms. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3, Recitation 1 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
| STAT-205 | Applied Statistics (General Education) This course covers basic statistical concepts and techniques including descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and quality control. The statistical package Minitab will be used to reinforce these techniques. The focus of this course is on statistical applications and quality improvement in engineering. This course is intended for engineering programs and has a calculus prerequisite. Note: This course may not be taken for credit if credit is to be earned in STAT-145 or STAT-155 or MATH 252.. (Prerequisite: MATH-173 or MATH-182 or MATH-182A or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Global Perspective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHMA-231 | Chemical Instrumental Analysis for Engineers This course presents a preliminary treatment of instrumental theory and technique as well as hands on experience with modern chemical instrumentation. The course will cover the theory and implementation of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and chemical separations instrumentation and techniques. Instrumental techniques include: atomic and molecular emission and absorption and emission spectroscopies, atomic and molecular mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Students will perform experiments utilizing modern chemical instrumentation and gain experience in analyzing data and presenting results experimental results. (Prerequisites: CHMA-161 or CHMG-142 or equivalent.) Lab 3, Lecture 2 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-301 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering Mathematical and computational techniques necessary for engineering analysis are introduced that augment training from core mathematics and engineering courses. The spreadsheet environment is used to implement mathematical procedures and examine results. Topics covered include roots of equations, fitting equations to data, solution of systems of algebraic equations, interpolation, optimization, numerical differentiation and integration, and the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Techniques are applied to mathematical problems arising in chemical engineering using Microsoft Excel. (Prerequisites: MATH-221 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lab 3, Recitation 1 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-321 | Process Transport II This course is the continuation of fluid flow and heat transfer taught in Continuum Mechanics I (CHME-320) I. First half of the course is focused on heat transfer. Fins and extended surfaces, Heat exchangers, Internal and External flow for a variety of common configurations are studied. Open ended design problems involving heat transfer applications are solved to further understand practical applications. In the second part of the course, concepts of fluid are reiterated with more focus on energy balances and pipe flows. Pumps and fluid flow machinery are studied to understand their performance and efficiencies. (Prerequisites: CHME-320 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-330 | Mass Transfer Operations This course covers the analysis and design of chemical processes for the separation and purification of mixtures. The course includes an introduction to the fundamentals of diffusion leading up to mass transfer coefficients and their use in solving a variety of engineering problems. Design methodologies are examined for equilibrium based processes (such as absorption, stripping, and distillation). Rate-based separation processes, including packed columns and batch adsorption, are examined and contrasted with equilibrium-based processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-499 | Co-op (fall and summer) One semester of paid work experience in chemical engineering. CO OP (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CHME-302 | Computational Techniques for Chemical Engineering II This course introduces the student to more advanced mathematical and numerical methods necessary for engineering analysis. Mathematical problems naturally arising in chemical engineering are used to motivate the course topics and techniques taught. The MATLAB programming environment is utilized to facilitate computation, and students learn to use MATLAB’s inbuilt tools as well as Simulink. Topics examined include the solution of systems of linear and nonlinear equations and the solution of ordinary differential equations (initial value problems). Some important topics covered in CHME-301 are re-examined in the MATLAB environment, such as roots of equations, curve fitting, and numerical integration and differentiation. (Prerequisite: CHME-301 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lec/Lab 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-340 | Reaction Engineering The fundamentals of chemical kinetics are integrated with the concepts of mass and energy conservation, from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective, to develop models that describe the performance of chemical reactors. Topics include mass action kinetics and absolute rate theory, series and parallel reaction systems, and the mathematical modeling of various reactor configurations. The conceptual framework and tools are developed to understand and design chemical reactor processes and to interpret experimental data obtained on a laboratory scale to design pilot scale and full scale manufacturing processes. (Prerequisites: CHME-230 and CHME-310 and MATH-231 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 4 (Fall). |
4 |
| CHME-451 | Transport Phenomena Heat transfer and diffusive transport in continuous media (solids, liquids, and gases) are examined over differential length scales. Heat and mass transfer coefficients used in engineering design are extracted from a precise description of local transport. Exact solutions of the differential equations governing fluid mechanics are examined under both steady state and transient conditions, and these analyses are used to determine forces on bodies and friction factors in pipe flows. The important interplay between differential and larger-scale analyses in engineering is emphasized. (Prerequisite: CHME-321 and CHME-330 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-491 | Chemical Engineering Processes Lab (WI-PR) This course extends the laboratory experience from the previous Chemical Engineering Principles Lab, and focuses on unit operations common to engineering practice. Students work in teams to employ experimental procedures on existing equipment, and to in some cases, manipulate experimental apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals. (Prerequisites: CHME-391 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.
Co-requisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.) Lab 6 (Fall). |
2 |
| CHME-620 | Advanced Transport Phenomena Fundamentals of fluid flow are examined on a differential scale. Local differential equations governing fluid flow are derived from their corresponding integral forms using classical integral theorems. The form of these equations in various coordinate systems is examined. Exact solutions of differential equations are considered under both steady state and transient conditions, as are typical approximations to those equations such as creeping, potential, lubrication, and boundary layer flows. The theoretical basis of these approximations are unified via asymptotic theory. Forces on surfaces are determined by coupling differential velocity and pressure fields with appropriate integral representations. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-640 | Advanced Reaction Engineering The application of ideal reactor concepts and analyses is extended to the design, modeling and performance evaluation of reactors used in manufacturing processes. Catalytic reactions are discussed in terms of mechanisms and kinetics, and used to design, model and evaluate the performance of fixed bed, suspended bed and other types of catalytic reactors. Concepts of mass transport limitations and non-ideal flows are introduced to provide the framework for the analysis of deviations from ideal behavior experienced by real reactors. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-709 | Advanced Engineering Mathematics The course begins with a pertinent review of linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations and Laplace transforms and their applications to solving engineering problems. It then continues with an in-depth study of vector calculus, complex analysis/integration, and partial differential equations; and their applications in analyzing and solving a variety of engineering problems. Topics include: ordinary and partial differential equations, Laplace transforms, vector calculus, complex functions/analysis, complex integration. Chemical engineering applications will be discussed throughout the course. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Chemical Engineering.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| PHYS-212 | University Physics II (General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective) This course is a continuation of PHYS-211, University Physics I. Topics include electrostatics, Gauss' law, electric field and potential, capacitance, resistance, DC circuits, magnetic field, Ampere's law, inductance, and geometrical and physical optics. The course is taught in a lecture/workshop format that integrates the material traditionally found in separate lecture and laboratory courses. (Prerequisites: (PHYS-211 or PHYS-211A or PHYS-206 or PHYS-216) or (MECE-102, MECE-103 and MECE-205) and (MATH-182 or MATH-172 or MATH-182A) or equivalent courses. Grades of C- or better are required in all prerequisite courses.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall, Spring). |
4 |
General Education – Immersion 2 |
3 | |
Graduate Focus Area Electives |
6 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| CHME-350 | Multiple Scale Material Science This course provides the student with an overview of structure, properties, and processing of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. Structural imperfections, atom packing, and phase diagrams are also discussed. The course develops a basic understanding of the structure/properties relationship in materials and introduces the principles governing phenomena occurring on the smallest continuum scales. Topics include force fields and interatomic bonding, crystallography, microscopy, order-disorder transitions and solidification phenomena. Conventional chemical engineering analyses topics, such as transport processes and thermodynamics, are adjusted and extended to the micro[nano]-scale. (Prerequisites: CHME-310 and CHMO-231 and CHMO-235 and CHME-499 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-401 | System Dynamics and Control The dynamic behavior of chemical process components is examined. The mathematics of Laplace transforms are examined extensively as a fundamental underpinning of control theory. Block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis are introduced. (Prerequisites: CHME-302 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-490 | Design with Constraint This course examines typical constraints on design and their integration with technology. Economics, environmental considerations, hazards analysis, ethics, and globalization and supply chain management ideas are among the concepts introduced. Modern examples that integrate knowledge of unit operations and processes with design constraints are examined. (Prerequisites: CHME-340 or equivalent course.
Co-requisites: CHME-401 or equivalent course.) Lab 1, Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| CHME-492 | Advanced Design Capstone |
3 |
| CHME-610 | Advanced Thermodynamics The course extends the concepts of energy, entropy, phase equilibrium and multi-component mixtures from ideal to real fluids via the introduction of state functions, fluid models and generalized conditions for equilibrium of solutions and phases. Models for real-fluid behavior are implemented in the context of actual chemical processes. Additionally, real-fluid behavior is linked to molecular properties in order to introduce predictive approaches to fluid behavior. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| CHME-792 | Project with Paper This course is used by students as a qualifying capstone experience to their M.S. degree. The student must demonstrate an acquired competence in a topic that is chosen in conference with a faculty advisor. The work may involve a research and/or design project with demonstration of acquired knowledge. The project scope should be designed with the intent of being completed in a single academic semester. In all instances, a final report determined by the faculty advisor/ supervisor of the work are required to satisfy the capstone experience. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Chemical Engineering.) Ind Study 3 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
3 |
Graduate Focus Area Electives |
9 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
Open Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 150 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is STEM designated when studying on campus and full time.
First-Year Admission
A strong performance in a college preparatory program is expected. This includes:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of social studies and/or history
- 4 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, algebra 2/trigonometry, and pre-calculus. Calculus is preferred.
- 2-3 years of science. Chemistry and physics are required.
Transfer Admission
Transfer course recommendations without associate degree
Pre-engineering courses such as calculus, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and liberal arts.
Appropriate associate degree programs for transfer
AS degree in engineering science
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
Accreditation
The BS program in chemical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Visit the college's accreditation page for information on enrollment and graduation data, program educational objectives, and student outcomes.
Research
The faculty and students in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering are engaging in numerous areas of research, which takes place across all of our engineering disciplines and often involves other colleges at RIT, local health care institutions, and major industry partners. Explore the college's key research initiatives to learn more about our research in:
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September 19, 2024
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Contact
Program Contact
- Brian Landi
- Department Head
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Kate Gleason College of Engineering
- 585‑475‑4726
- bjlsps@rit.edu
Offered within
the
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering