USC
University of Southern California
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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 COURSESUnits
WRIT 140*Writing and Critical Reasoning4
WRIT 340Advanced Writing3

GENERAL EDUCATION (see here)**Units
General education+20

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 Thermodynamics3
CHE 350Introduction to Separation Processes3
CHE 442Chemical Reactor Analysis3
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 Control3
CHE 480Chemical Process and Plant Design3

OTHER COURSESUnits
BUAD 301++Technical Entrepreneurship, or
ISE 460Engineering Economy3
CSCI 101LFundamentals of Computer Programming3

*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 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 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 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

*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 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 (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 courseUnits
CHEM 453Advanced Inorganic Chemistry4

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science CoursesUnits
CHE 487Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes3
CHE 491Nanotechnology Research for Undergraduates (two semesters)2-2
MASC 350Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing3

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

Other Engineering coursesUnits
Nano Technical Elective
EE 438LProcessing for Microelectronics, or
CHE 489Biochemical Engineering, or
PTE 463LIntroduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media3

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 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/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 COURSESUnits
CHEM 322bLOrganic Chemistry, or
CHEM 430bPhysical Chemistry4

OTHER CHEMICAL ENGINEERING/ MATERIALS SCIENCE COURSESUnits
CHE 405Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers3
CHE 472Polymer Science and Engineering3
CHE 476Chemical Engineering Materials, or
MASC 310Materials Behavior and Processing3
MASC 350Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing3

OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES (choose three courses)Units
Polymer/Materials Elective Courses
BME 410Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering3
CHE 474LPolymer Science and Engineering Laboratory3
CHE 475Physical Properties of Polymers3
CHE 477Computer Assisted Polymer Engineering and Manufacturing3
CHE 487Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes3
EE 438LProcessing for Microelectronics3
MASC 440Materials and the Environment3

Minor in Engineering Technology Commercialization

See listing in the Special Educational Opportunities section.