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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 Program of the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science 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 written 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 six Bachelor of Science degrees: chemical engineering (129 units); chemical engineering (biochemical engineering) (133 units); chemical engineering (environmental engineering) (132 units); chemical engineering (nanotechnology) (128 units); chemical engineering (petroleum engineering) (133 units); and chemical engineering (polymer science) (133 units).Sample student schedules are located on the department Web page (chems.usc.edu).
Common Requirements for all Bachelor of Science Degrees (108 units)
See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.| composition/WRITING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| WRIT 140* | Writing and Critical Reasoning | 4 |
| WRIT 340 | Advanced Writing | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (see here)** | units | |
|---|---|---|
| General education+ | 20 | |
| CHEMISTRY COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 105aL | General Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 115aL | Advanced General Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 105bL | General Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 115bL | Advanced General Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 300L | Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 322aL | Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 430a | Physical Chemistry | 4 |
| MATH COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 226 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 245 | Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I | 4 |
| PHYSICS COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 151*** | Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 4 |
| PHYS 152 | Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 120 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 330 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHE 350 | Introduction to Separation Processes | 3 |
| CHE 442 | Chemical Reactor Analysis | 3 |
| CHE 443 | Viscous Flow | 3 |
| CHE 444abL | Chemical Engineering Laboratory | 3-3 |
| CHE 445 | Heat Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes | 2 |
| CHE 446 | Mass Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes | 2 |
| CHE 460L | Chemical Process Dynamics and Control | 3 |
| CHE 480 | Chemical Process and Plant Design | 3 |
| OTHER COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| BUAD 301++ | Technical Entrepreneurship, or | |
| ISE 460 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
| CSCI 101L | Fundamentals of Computer Programming | 3 |
*GE Category VI is taken concurrently with WRIT 140.
**Diversity course must double count as a GE course in calculating the total unit count for the degree.
***Satisfies GE Category III requirement.
+The university allows engineering majors to replace the GE Category IV with a second course in Categories I, II or VI.
++Students in the biochemical option may not choose BUAD 301 as their engineering elective.
Additional Requirements for Individual Degrees
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
The requirement for the degree is 129 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in chemical engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:| CHEMISTRY TECHNICAL ELECTIVE | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 322bL | Organic Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 430b | Physical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| CHE 476 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
CHE Technical Elective | ||
| An upper division CHE course | 3 | |
| OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CE 205 | Statics | 2 |
| EE 438L | Processing for Microelectronics | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering)
The requirement for the degree is 133 units.* A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and biological sciences. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:| BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| BISC 300L | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| BISC 320L | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BISC 330L | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BISC 403 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| BME 410 | Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 489 | Biochemical Engineering | 3 |
CHE Technical Elective | ||
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or | |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
*Students in the biochemical engineering option must take 50 engineering units total to graduate.
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Environmental 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 chemical engineering and civil engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| CHE 476 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
| CHE 486 | Design of Environmentally Benign Process Plants | 3 |
| OTHER COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CE 453 | Water Quality Control | 3 |
| CE 463L | Water Chemistry and Analysis | 3 |
| PTE 463L | Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media | 3 |
Air Pollution Elective | ||
| ENE 428 | Air Pollution Fundamentals, or | |
| ENE 429 | Air Pollution Control | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology)
The requirement for the degree is 128 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering and chemistry. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:| Chemistry course | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 453 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 487 | Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes | 3 |
| CHE 491 | Nanotechnology Research for Undergraduates (two semesters) | 2-2 |
This title for this course will change to Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing beginning fall 2008.
| MASC 350 | Design, Synthesis and Processing of Engineering Materials | 3 |
CHE Technical Elective | ||
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or | |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
| Other Engineering courses | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Technical Elective | ||
| EE 438L | Processing for Microelectronics, or | |
| CHE 489 | Biochemical Engineering, or | |
| PTE 463L | Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Petroleum Engineering)
The requirement for the degree is 133 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in chemical engineering and petroleum engineering. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:| CHEMISTRY COURSE | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Technical Elective | ||
| CHEM 322bL | Organic Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 430b | Physical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| CHE 476 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
| OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| PTE 461 | Formation Evaluation | 3 |
| PTE 463L | Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media | 3 |
| PTE 464L | Petroleum Reservoir Engineering | 3 |
| PTE 465L | Drilling Technology and Subsurface Methods | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Polymer Science)
The requirement for the degree is 133 units. A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required in all upper division courses taken in 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 COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Technical Elective | ||
| CHEM 322bL | Organic Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 430b | Physical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| CHE 472 | Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 474L | Polymer Science and Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
| CHE 476 | Chemical Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CHE 477 | Computer Assisted Polymer Engineering and Manufacturing | 3 |
| CHE 485 | Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design | 3 |
| OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Materials Elective | ||
| BME 410 | Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, or | |
| CHE 475 | Physical Properties of Polymers, or | |
| EE 438L | Processing for Microelectronics | 3 |