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University of Southern California
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Degree Requirements

Educational Program Objectives

Chemical Engineering is the engineering discipline which makes extensive use of chemical transformations (i.e., reactions) in addition to physical transformations (such as machining and molding) to achieve added value. Because all manufacturing involves chemical transformations in one way or another, chemical engineers are employed in virtually all manufacturing industries, from the basic chemical, materials, energy, food, pharmaceutical and microelectronics industries to the myriad consumer product industries. This means that chemical engineers must be very broadly educated and trained as well as highly adaptable.

To ensure that our graduates are adequately prepared for graduate studies in basic chemical engineering, as well as various related fields (such as health science professions, environmental, biochemical and biomedical engineering, for example) and for employment in the great variety of industries in California, the neighboring states and the Pacific Rim, the Chemical Engineering Department has set the following educational objectives:

(1) To provide each student with a rigorous education in mathematics, basic science and engineering science. These foundational courses will facilitate lifelong learning and professional adaptability in today's rapidly changing, highly technological society.

(2) To provide the students with a flexible selection of areas of emphasis within the major field of chemical engineering and to equip them with the ability to apply their scientific knowledge and engineering skills to the creative solution of problems.

(3) To ensure that students develop effective oral and writing communications skills and the ability to function well within groups.

(4) To impart to the students the importance of both personal and professional development.

(5) To develop in the students an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities towards the individual, society and the environment; as well as an appreciation of societal, historical and global issues.

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Degrees

The Department of Chemical Engineering offers five Bachelor of Science degrees: B.S., Chemical Engineering (132 units); B.S., Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (136 units); B.S., Chemical Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (135 units); B.S., Chemical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) (136 units); and B.S., Chemical Engineering (Polymer Science) (136 units).

Sample student schedules are located on the department Web page (www.usc.edu/dept/che).

Common Requirements for all Bachelor of Science Degrees (111 units)
See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees.

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES***units
PHYS 151 satisfies Category III20

WRITING COURSESunits
WRIT 140*Writing and Critical Reasoning4
WRIT 340Advanced Writing3

CHEMISTRY COURSESunits
CHEM 105aLGeneral Chemistry, or
CHEM 115aLAdvanced General Chemistry4
CHEM 105bLGeneral Chemistry, or
CHEM 115bLAdvanced General Chemistry4
CHEM 300LAnalytical Chemistry4
CHEM 322aLOrganic Chemistry4
CHEM 430aPhysical Chemistry4

MATH COURSESunits
MATH 125Calculus I4
MATH 126Calculus II4
MATH 226Calculus III4
MATH 245Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I4

PHYSICS COURSESunits
PHYS 151**Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics4
PHYS 152Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism4

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CHE 120Introduction to Chemical Engineering3
CHE 330Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics4
CHE 350Introduction to Separation Processes3
CHE 442Chemical Reactor Analysis4
CHE 443Viscous Flow3
CHE 444abLChemical Engineering Laboratory3-3
CHE 445Heat Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes2
CHE 446Mass Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes2
CHE 460LChemical Process Dynamics and Control4
CHE 480Chemical Process and Plant Design3

OTHER COURSESunits
CSCI 101LFundamentals of Computer Programming3
ISE 460Engineering Economy, or
BUAD 301Technical Entrepreneurship3

* Taken concurrently with GE Category VI course.
** Satisfies General Education Category III.
*** Diversity course must double count as a general education course in calculating the total unit count for the degree.

Additional Requirements for Individual Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
The requirement for the degree is 132 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:

CHEMISTRY TECHNICAL ELECTIVEunits
CHEM 322bLOrganic Chemistry, or
CHEM 430bPhysical Chemistry4

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers3
CHE 476Chemical Engineering Materials3
CHE 485Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design3

CHE Technical Elective
An upper division CHE course3

OTHER ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CE 205Statics2
EE 438LProcessing for Microelectronics3

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering)
The requirement for the degree is 136 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES COURSESunits
BISC 300LIntroduction to Microbiology4
BISC 320LMolecular Biology4
BISC 330LBiochemistry4
BISC 403Advanced Molecular Biology4

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
BME 410Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering3
CHE 489Biochemical Engineering3

CHE Technical Elective
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or
CHE 485Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design3

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Environmental Engineering)
The requirement for the degree is 135 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Civil Engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers3
CHE 476Chemical Engineering Materials3
CHE 485Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design3
CHE 486Design of Environmentally Benign Process Plants3

OTHER COURSESunits
CE 453Water Quality Control3
CE 463LWater Chemistry and Analysis3
PTE 463LIntroduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media3

Air Pollution Elective
ENE 428Air Pollution Fundamentals, or
ENE 429Air Pollution Control3

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering)
The requirement for the degree is 136 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the Department of Chemical Engineering and in the Department of Petroleum Engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:

CHEMISTRY COURSEunits

Chemistry Technical Elective
CHEM 322bLOrganic Chemistry, or
CHEM 430bPhysical Chemistry4

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers3
CHE 476Chemical Engineering Materials3
CHE 485Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design3

OTHER ENGINEERING COURSESunits
PTE 461Formation Evaluation3
PTE 463LIntroduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media3
PTE 464LPetroleum Reservoir Engineering3
PTE 465LDrilling Technology and Subsurface Methods3

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Polymer Science)
The requirement for the degree is 136 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Electrical Engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses.

CHEMISTRY COURSESunits
Chemistry Technical Elective
CHEM 322bLOrganic Chemistry, or
CHEM 430bPhysical Chemistry4

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSESunits
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers3
CHE 472Polymer Science and Engineering3
CHE 474LPolymer Science and Engineering Laboratory3
CHE 476Chemical Engineering Materials3
CHE 477Computer Assisted Polymer Engineering and Manufacturing3
CHE 485Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design3

OTHER ENGINEERING COURSESunits
Materials Elective
BME 410Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, or
CHE 475Physical Properties of Polymers, or
EE 438LProcessing for Microelectronics3

Accelerated Dual Degree Program: Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

The accelerated dual degree program offers qualified students the opportunity to simultaneously complete the requirements for the B.S. and M.S. degrees in five years. Students are eligible for the accelerated dual degree program upon completing 96 or more units toward their B.S. with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Qualified students who are interested should see their advisor in their junior year to begin planning for the inclusion of graduate courses during their senior year. Students should apply to the graduate program in the fall of their senior year. Eligible students will be automatically accepted to the M.S. program without needing to take the GRE. All requirements for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees must be met; however, up to six units of course work will be counted toward satisfying the unit requirements of both programs. Application information may be obtained in the Viterbi School of Engineering Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Students should see their departmental advisors for assistance with course selection.

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering with the exception that the minimum unit requirement is 28. Registration in CHE 550ab is required.

Engineer in Chemical Engineering

Requirements for the Engineer in Chemical Engineering are the same as set forth in the general requirements. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in chemical engineering is awarded in conformity with the general requirements of the Graduate School. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Departmental Policies and Requirements
In addition to the general requirements for the Ph.D. described in this catalogue, candidates in chemical engineering are required to demonstrate proficiency in the following fields: thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer and chemical engineering kinetics. Registration in CHE 550ab is required of all students. More detailed statements of the departmental requirements may be found in a brochure available upon request from the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Chemical Engineering Three-Two Plan

A special curriculum is available for obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering and a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in a letters, arts and sciences major in five years. For further information see departmental advisors.

Similar programs are available in cooperation with certain liberal arts colleges. Such programs are particularly suited for obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the liberal arts college and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at USC.