The education of the chemical engineer is based on the fundamental sciences of physics, chemistry and biology, on mathematical and computer techniques, and on basic engineering principles. This background makes the chemical engineer extremely versatile and capable of working in a variety of industries: chemical, biochemical, petroleum, materials, microelectronics, environmental, food processing, consumer products, consulting and project management. It is also good preparation for law and medical schools.

Department Requirements

Successful applicants must have earned a minimum 2.5 grade point average in the better of two attempts of the eight preprofessional courses and a minimum 2.5 grade point average in the better of two attempts of the preprofessional calculus course sequence.

For the purposes of determining admission to or retention in the department, grade point averages will be based on no more than two attempts for each course. Students must maintain satisfactory progress (minimum GPA of 2.0) in chemical engineering courses and in their overall record.

Minimum grades of C are required in the courses listed below. These must be achieved within two enrollments (including drops and/or withdrawals) for each course, with the exception of ECH 4714, for which the number of attempts allowed to earn a C is not limited.

Any course taken to satisfy a degree requirement (General Education, required course, or technical elective) cannot be taken S/U, with the exception of the following:

Educational Objectives

Within a few years of obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida, the recent graduates will achieve one or more of the following:

• Graduates will demonstrate professional engineering competence via promotions and/or positions of increasing responsibility.
• Graduates will be successful in pursuing advanced degrees in chemical engineering or in other disciplines.
• Graduates will be able to work in diverse professional environments as demonstrated in their pursuit of continuing education, professional certification/registration and/or career path into business, government, education, etc.

Chemical engineers apply math, chemistry, physics, biology, thermodynamics (classical and molecular), transport phenomena, and reaction kinetics to design products and to design, operate, control, optimize, and scale up manufacturing processes that rely on physical and bio/molecular transformations. Graduates of the Chemical Engineering undergraduate program contribute to the production of energy, including green energy, fertilizers, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals including antibiotics and vaccines, semiconductors and other components of cell phones and computers, fuel cells, batteries, consumer products, plastics, paint, paper, and a myriad of other products that benefit humankind.

Goal

To prepare students for lifelong careers in chemical engineering.

Mission

To offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs in chemical engineering and to conduct research that helps educate graduate students and serves the needs of Florida and the nation.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
• Complete 2 of 8 critical-tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts: CHM 2045 or CHM 2095, CHM 2046 or CHM 2096, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048, PHY 2049
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete 3 additional critical-tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
• 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete the remaining critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
• 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
• Complete ECH 2934
• Complete ECH 3023
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete at least 4 additional upper division critical-tracking courses (reference Model Semester Plan)
• 2.0 CHE GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete at least 4 additional upper division critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 CHE GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

• Complete at least 5 additional upper division critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 CHE GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

• Complete at least 4 additional upper division critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 CHE GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

• Complete all remaining upper division critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 CHE GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

¹

Students may replace BME 3406 and a 3-credit technical elective by BSC 2010 and BSC 2011 (pre-health students are required to take BSC 2010 and BSC 2011). Pre-health students are recommended to take BSC 2010 instead of BME 3406 in semester 1 and use 9 technical elective credits for courses required by the pre-health program, BSC 2010L (1 credit), BSC 2011 (3 credits), BSC 2011L (1 credit), and BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 (4 credits).

²

To complete General Education requirements, a student must select a General Education course in the Humanities that features the UF Quest 1 subject area for 3 credits, a General Education course in the Social and Behavioral Science or Natural Science that features the UF Quest 2 subject area for 3 credits, a General Education course that features the International subject area for 3 credits, and a General Education course that features the Diversity subject area for 3 credits.

³

Minimum grade of C required.

⁴

Major Critical Path courses must be taken and completed in sequence.

⁵

Register for ECH 4224L immediately following completion of ECH 3101, ECH 3203, and ECH 3223.

⁶

One of the options for the technical elective in semester 7 is the first course of the Integrated Product and Process Design Program (EGN 4951), which requires six credits of coursework and is offered as a sequence of two three-credit courses during Fall and Spring of the senior year. These two courses are pre-approved substitutes for three credits of technical electives and for ECH 4644.

⁷

ECH 4644 may be substituted by the second semester of the Integrated Product and Process Design Program (EGN 4951). This program requires six credits of coursework and is offered as a sequence of two three-credit courses during Fall and Spring of the senior year. These two courses are pre-approved substitutes for three credits of technical electives and for ECH 4644.

Technical Electives 

Technical electives are defined as department-approved, upper-division courses with significant technical science, engineering, and/or math content. Provision is made to receive up to five credits of approved co-op, internship and/or research experience with no more than three credits coming from industry work and no more than three coming from academic research. Military courses cannot be used for technical electives.

The Chemical Engineering program enables students to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering principles to chemical engineering problems; to design and conduct chemical engineering experiments and to analyze and interpret the data; to design a chemical engineering system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability constraints; and to communicate technical data and design information effectively in speech and in writing to other chemical engineers.

The Chemical Engineering BS Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Pass an assessment by two or more faculty and/or industry practitioners of performance on a major design experience.
• Pass assessment in two courses of individual assignments targeted to each learning outcome. Assessment will be provided by the instructor of the course according to department standards.
• Complete an exit interview in your final semester.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering principles to chemical engineering problems.
2. Design and conduct chemical engineering experiments and analyze and interpret the data.

Critical Thinking

3. Design a chemical engineering system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability constraints.

Communication

4. Communicate technical data and design information effectively in writing and in speech to other chemical engineers.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Exams
• Oral and written reports
• Group presentations
• Co-op and internship employer evaluations
• Additional assessments include the student survey and exit interview