Degree Requirements
Educational Program Objectives
Chemical engineering is the only engineering discipline that makes extensive use of chemical transformations (reactions) in addition to physical transformations (refining, molding or machining) to achieve added value. 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. Our various curricula are designed to produce graduates who are broadly educated as well as highly adaptable.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering programs are prepared to achieve any of the following accomplishments:
- To obtain employment in organizations where physical, chemical or biochemical transformations are utilized to produce products and services that benefit society.
- To pursue graduate or professional education in a variety of related fields.
- To engage in continuous personal and professional development through lifelong learning.
- To assume leadership roles in their employment organization or community.
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/materials 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 |
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 |
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 |
| MASC 350 | Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing | 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/Materials 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 the Departments 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 COURSES | Units |
|---|
| CHEM 322bL | Organic Chemistry, or | |
| CHEM 430b | Physical Chemistry | 4 |
| OTHER CHEMICAL ENGINEERING/ MATERIALS SCIENCE COURSES | Units |
|---|
| CHE 405 | Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers | 3 |
| CHE 472 | Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 476 | Chemical Engineering Materials, or | |
| MASC 310 | Materials Behavior and Processing | 3 |
| MASC 350 | Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing | 3 |
| OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES (choose three courses) | Units |
|---|
| Polymer/Materials Elective Courses |
| BME 410 | Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| CHE 474L | Polymer Science and Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
| CHE 475 | Physical Properties of Polymers | 3 |
| CHE 477 | Computer Assisted Polymer Engineering and Manufacturing | 3 |
| CHE 487 | Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes | 3 |
| EE 438L | Processing for Microelectronics | 3 |
| MASC 440 | Materials and the Environment | 3 |
Minor in Engineering Technology Commercialization
See listing in the
Special Educational Opportunities section.
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