Academic Catalog
2025-2026

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering faculty member works with students.

Home Department: Chemical Engineering And Materials Science

Department Head:

Susan Farhat, Ph.D.
 

Program Overview

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, math, and physics to the design and operation of large-scale chemical manufacturing processes.  They translate processes developed in the lab into practical applications for the production of products such as plastics, medicines, detergents, and fuels; design plants to maximize productivity and minimize costs; and evaluate operations for performance and product quality.  Due to the diversity seen in the field, chemical engineers have a broad knowledge of engineering science and environmental regulations, and as a consequence are prepared to manage large scale, multi-disciplinary projects.

The BS in Chemical Engineering is designed to prepare graduates with an understanding of advanced chemistry topics; fundamental material and energy balances for chemical processes; thermodynamics; fluid dynamics and heat transfer; chemical reaction engineering; separations and mass transfer technology; and process design, optimization, and control. Students are also exposed to experimental and computational methods related to chemical engineering, in a sequential set of courses beginning in their sophomore year.  Many of these laboratory courses require students to work in teams to submit written and oral reports or apply computational software to complete their projects. In their senior year, students take part in a capstone design course which allows them to integrate the knowledge acquired from their prior foundational courses. Throughout the curriculum, process safety and health as well as environmental and ethical issues in engineering are incorporated.  Chemical engineering elective courses are designed to expose students to applications of chemical engineering - including polymer science and engineering, sustainable engineering design, battery technology, and process safety.   

Graduates of this program are working in a wide range of industries, including petrochemicals, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, alternative energy, food, electronics, health, automotive, aerospace, and the environment. Many of them work in product and process engineering, research and development, operations, technical sales, engineering systems design, plant or corporate management, and manufacturing. Common minors that complement the BS in Chemical Engineering degree include Sustainability, Business, Manufacturing, PreMed, and Statistics.

Kettering University’s Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering is a strong interdisciplinary program that draws on the strengths of our exceptional faculty, curricula, laboratories, and unique co-op component.

The Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.

Program Educational Objectives

The Chemical Engineering program is designed to provide its graduates a solid educational foundation on which they can build successful and sustainable careers in chemical engineering or a related field.  In particular, all graduates of the Chemical Engineering program will:

  • Be employed or pursuing an advanced degree in the field of chemical engineering or other related disciplines.
  • Be productive members of interdisciplinary teams.
  • Assume leadership positions in their industry, their continuing education, or in their communities, as their careers develop.
  • Continue their professional development and engage in the life-long learning necessary for a sustainable career.

BS/MASTERS PATHWAY

Undergraduate students also have an opportunity to get their bachelor's and master's degrees in five years with the BS/MASTERS Pathway

Chemical Engineering Program Curriculum Requirements

First Year Experience
CILE-101First Year Foundations1
General Education
COMM-101Rhetoric & Writing4
ECON-201Economic Principles4
200-level Liberal Arts Electives8
LA-489Sr. Seminar:Leadership, Ethics4
Advanced Humanities Electives 14
Advanced Social Science Electives 14
Advanced Humanities or Social Science Elective 14
Total Credit Hours33
1

Humanities and Social Science advanced electives must be selected from approved 300 and 400 level courses.

Basic Sciences
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Lab
Principles of Chemistry
and Principles of Chemistry Lab
CHEM-237
CHEM-238
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEM-345
CHEM-346
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
6
CHEM-347Organic Chemistry II4
Advanced Chemistry Elective 34
PHYS-114
PHYS-115
Newtonian Mechanics
and Newtonian Mechanics Laboratory
4
PHYS-224
PHYS-225
Electricity and Magnetism
and Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory
4
Credit Hours Subtotal: 30
Mathematics
MATH-101Calculus I4
or MATH-101X Calculus I
MATH-102Calculus II4
or MATH-102X Calculus II
MATH-203Multivariate Calculus4
or MATH-203X Multivariate Calculus
MATH-204Differential Equations & Laplace Transforms4
MATH-258Probability and Statistics4
Credit Hours Subtotal: 20
Engineering Topics
CHME-100Introduction to Chemical Engineering4
CHME-200Mass & Energy Balance4
CHME-210Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics4
CHME-225Computing in Chemical Engineering2
CHME-230Foundations of Materials4
CHME-310Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer4
CHME-325Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer Lab2
CHME-330Mass Transfer and Separations4
CHME-350Reaction Engineering4
CHME-425Separations, Reactions, and Prototyping Lab2
CHME-430Process Controls4
CHME-440Senior Chemical Engineering Design I4
Chemical Engineering Program Electives
Select 2 of the following:8
Sustainable Engineering Design: Energy and Environment
Polymer Science & Engineering
Fundamentals - Battery Systems
Alternative Fuels
Chemcial Engineering Special Topics
Electives
Programming Elective 44
Engineering Elective 54
Technical Electives 68
Free Electives8
Credit Hours Subtotal: 74
Undergraduate Thesis
CILE-400
CILE-401
Undergraduate Thesis Initiation
and Undergraduate Thesis Completion 7
4

(Minimum) Total Credits Required for Program: 1612

2

The minimum total number of credit hours required for graduation is 161; however, the total number of credit hours taken may exceed 161.  All Chemical Engineering majors must meet the general educational requirements and their program’s requirements for a minor or concentration.

3

The Advanced Chemistry Elective must be numbered 300 or higher and cannot be Organic Chemistry I or Organic Chemistry II, since these are are already required courses.

4

A Programming Elective can be chosen from the following options: IME-211, CS-101, ECE-101, or MECH 211.

5

An Engineering Elective is any course with the IME, EE, CE, ME, or ECE prefix, 100-level or higher.

6

A minimum of eight hours of technical electives are required for the Chemical Engineering Degree.  A technical elective may be any course numbered 300-599 in BIOL, CE, CHEM, CHME, CS, EE, IME, ISYS, MATH, MECH, or PHYS that is not used to complete core degree requirements.  Additional courses that can be used include BUSN-303, BUSN-304, and MGMT-419/619.  Other courses may be used but require approval by the Department Head of Chemical Engineering.

 
7

Students are automatically registered for CILE-400 in a co-op term when they reach Junior II status. 

Representative Program1,2

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman ICredit Hours
CILE-101 First Year Foundations 1
CHEM-137
General Chemistry I
or Principles of Chemistry
3
CHEM-136 Principles of Chemistry Lab 1
CHME-100 Introduction to Chemical Engineering 4
COMM-101 Rhetoric & Writing 4
MATH-101 Calculus I 4
 Credit Hours17
Freshman II
CHEM-237 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM-238 General Chemistry II Lab 1
ECON-201 Economic Principles 4
MATH-102 Calculus II 4
PHYS-114 Newtonian Mechanics 3
PHYS-115 Newtonian Mechanics Laboratory 1
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore I
CHME-200 Mass & Energy Balance 4
MATH-203 Multivariate Calculus 4
PHYS-224 Electricity and Magnetism 3
PHYS-225 Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory 1
200-level Liberal Arts Elective 4
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore II
CHME-210 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 4
CHME-225 Computing in Chemical Engineering 2
CHEM-345 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHEM-346 Organic Chemistry I Lab 2
MATH-204 Differential Equations & Laplace Transforms 4
 Credit Hours16
Junior I
CHME-310 Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer 4
CHME-325 Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer Lab 2
CHEM-347 Organic Chemistry II 4
MATH-258 Probability and Statistics 4
200-level Liberal Arts Elective 4
 Credit Hours18
Junior II
CHME-230 Foundations of Materials 4
CHME-330 Mass Transfer and Separations 4
CHME-350 Reaction Engineering 4
Programming Elective 4 4
Advanced Social Science Elective 2 4
 Credit Hours20
Senior I
CHME-425 Separations, Reactions, and Prototyping Lab 2
CHME-430 Process Controls 4
Technical Elective 6 4
Advanced Chemistry Elective 3 4
Advanced Humanities Elective 2 4
 Credit Hours18
Senior II
CHME-440 Senior Chemical Engineering Design I 4
Chemical Engineering Program Elective 4
Engineering Elective 5 4
Advanced Humanities or Social Science Elective 2 4
Free Elective 4
 Credit Hours20
Senior III
Technical Elective 6 4
Chemical Engineering Program Elective 4
Free Elective 4
LA-489 Sr. Seminar:Leadership, Ethics 4
 Credit Hours16
Any Term
CILE-400
CILE-401
Undergraduate Thesis Initiation
and Undergraduate Thesis Completion
4
 Credit Hours4
 Total Credit Hours161

(Minimum) Total Credits Required for Program: 1611

1

The minimum total number of credit hours required for graduation is 161; however, the total number of credit hours taken may exceed 161.  All Chemical Engineering majors must meet the general educational requirements and their program’s requirements for a minor or concentration.

2

Humanities and Social Science electives must be selected from approved 300 or 400 level courses.

3

The Advanced Chemistry Elective must be numbered 300 or higher and cannot be Organic Chemistry I or Organic Chemistry II, since these are are already required courses.

4

A Programming Elective can be chosen from the following options: IME-211, CS-101, ECE-101, or MECH 211.

5

An Engineering Elective is any course with the IME, EE, CE, ME, or ECE prefix, 100-level or higher.

6

A minimum of 8 hours of technical electives are required for the Chemical Engineering Degree.  A technical elective may be any course numbered 300-599 in BIOL, CE, CHEM, CHME, CS, EE, IME, ISYS, MATH, MECH, or PHYS that is not used to complete core degree requirements.  Other courses may be used but require approval by the Department Head of Chemical Engineering.