Chemical Engineering

major

Although Chemical Engineering has existed for only 100 years, its name is no longer completely descriptive of this dynamic profession. The work of the chemical engineer is not restricted to the chemical industry, chemical changes, or chemistry. Instead, modern chemical engineers are concerned with all the physical, chemical, and biological changes of matter that can produce an economic product or result that is useful to humankind.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The work of the Department of Chemical Engineering is not restricted to the chemical industry, chemical changes or chemistry. Instead, modern chemical engineers are concerned with all the physical, chemical, and biological changes of matter that can produce an economic product or result that is useful to humankind.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.294.2891 (tel) | 352.392.9513

1030 Center Drive
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT CENTER (CESC)
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-2030
Map

Curriculum

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 have earned a minimum grade point average in the better of two attempts of 2.5 in 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.

To proceed to succeeding courses, minimum grades of C are required in the following within two enrollments (including drops and/or withdrawals) for each course:

ECH 3023Material and Energy Balances4
ECH 3101Process Thermodynamics3
ECH 3203Fluid and Solid Operations3
ECH 3223Energy Transfer Operations3
ECH 3264Elementary Transport Phenomena3
COT 3502Computer Model Formulation4
ECH 4714Chemical Process Safety3

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:

EGN 4912Engineering Directed Independent Research0-3
ECH 4948Internship Work Experience1
ECH 4949Co-op Work Experience1

Educational Objectives

Within a few years of obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida, the recent graduate 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

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 3023
  • Complete ECH 4934
  • 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.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
ABE 2062
Biology for Engineers
or Integrated Principles of Biology 1
3
Select one: 4
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
Chemistry for Engineers 1
and Chemistry Lab 1 for Engineers (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 2 3
 Credits17
Semester Two
Select one: 4
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences)
Chemistry for Engineers 2
and Chemistry Lab 2 for Engineers (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences)
ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing (State Core Gen Ed Composition) 3
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
PHY 2048
2048L
Physics with Calculus 1
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 3
 Credits18
Semester Three
ECH 2934 Professional Development of Chemical Engineers (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 1
ECH 3023 Material and Energy Balances (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 2,3 4
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (Critical Tracking) 4
MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations (Critical Tracking) 3
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
 Credits16
Semester Four
CHM 4411
Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 4
or Thermal Physics 1
3-4
COT 3502 Computer Model Formulation (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 2,3 4
ECH 3264 Elementary Transport Phenomena (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 1 3
STA 3032
Engineering Statistics (Critical Tracking; upper-division)
or Introduction to Statistics 1
3
Technical elective 3
 Credits16-17
Semester Five
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 3
ECH 3101 Process Thermodynamics (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 2,3 3
ECH 3203 Fluid and Solid Operations (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 2,3 3
ECH 3223 Energy Transfer Operations (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 2,3 3
ENC 3246 Professional Communication for Engineers (Critical Tracking; upper-division; Gen Ed Composition) 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
CHM 2211
2211L
Organic Chemistry 2
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Critical Tracking; upper-division)
5
ECH 4123 Phase and Chemical Equilibria (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3 3
ECH 4224L Fluid and Energy Transfer Operations Laboratory (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 5 2
ECH 4403 Separation and Mass Transfer Operations (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3 3
ECH 4714 Chemical Process Safety (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3
 Credits16
Semester Seven
CGN 3710
Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering (Critical Tracking; upper-division)
or Elements of Electrical Engineering
3
ECH 4404L Separation and Mass Transfer Operations Laboratory 2
ECH 4504 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3 4
ECH 4604 Process Economics and Optimization (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3 3
ECH 4824 Materials of Chemical Engineering (Critical Tracking; upper-division) 3 2
Technical elective 3
 Credits17
Semester Eight
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 2 3
ECH 4323
4323L
Process Control Theory
and Process Control Laboratory
4
ECH 4644 Process Design 4,3,6 3
Chemical engineering technical elective 3
Technical elective 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits131
1

Students are also expected to complete the General Education International and Diversity requirements. This is often done concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically Gen Ed Composition, Gen Ed Humanities, or Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences).

2

Minimum grade of C required.

3

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

4

If the Physical Chemistry Topics 3 credit requirement is satisfied by a 4 credit course, the additional credit satisfies 1 credit of the Technical elective requirement.

5

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

6

The Integrated Product and Process Design program (EGN 4951 ) 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

  1. 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

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

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4
ECH 2934 A
ECH 3101 A
ECH 3223 A I
ECH 4224L I
ECH 4404L I
ECH 4644 A A

Assessment Types

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