Chemical Engineering (CHE)

Department Administration

Department Chair

Prof. Sharon Glotzer, PhD, NAS, NAE

Anthony Lembke Department Chair of Chemical Engineering, John Werner Cahn Distinguished University Professor of Engineering, Stuart W. Churchill Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering

North Campus Research Complex, Bldg 28, Room G066W

For more specific information on contacting people, go to our People page.

Mission Statement

Mission

Michigan Chemical Engineering seeks to drive human excellence by shaping the future of chemical engineering through groundbreaking research and by producing engineers whose empathy, insight, and knowledge enable them to translate ideas and discoveries into equitable engineering solutions.

Goals

To educate and support diverse students and prepare them to be leaders in chemical engineering or related fields.

Objectives

Within a few years of graduation, graduates of the University of Michigan Chemical Engineering Program will have attained leadership roles among peers in chemical engineering, or another field, such as medicine, law, business, and education, through:

• Effectiveness as proactive and creative problem solvers and innovators
• Ability to think critically to solve relevant problems
• Effectiveness as communicators to gain and convey information
• Competence and comfort collaborating in multifunctional and multicultural environments
• Exhibiting and demanding high ethical standards

Outcomes

The outcomes we desire are that graduates of the University of Michigan Chemical Engineering Program demonstrate:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment and Graduation Data

The University Registrar publishes the number of students enrolled annually in this program, and the number of degrees granted each term by this program. Additionally you can see recent degrees granted below:

Level	2021	2022	2023
Bachelors Degrees	118	73	97
Masters Degrees	39	32	26
Doctoral Degrees	21	26	28

Accreditation

The Chemical Engineering 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

Program Outcomes

The matrix maps how each course in our curriculum addresses our program outcomes. Only the outcomes tracked are noted below. 

	Student Outcomes (Black; assessed)
Course	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
ChE 230
ChE 330
ChE 341
ChE 342
ChE 343
ChE 344
ChE 360
ChE 460
ChE 466
ChE 485
ChE 487
ChE 488/489

 

Undergraduate Degree Program

Sample Schedule

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering

The Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Please see the PDF version of the sample schedule. Additional information can be found on the Chemical Engineering Department Advising website.

Concentrations

Chemical Engineering students have the option of focusing their technical and some free electives in a specific area, fulfilling a concentration within their chemical engineering degree. Concentration areas include:

• BioPharmaceutical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Energy Systems Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Life Sciences
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Petroleum and Gas Exploration

All optional concentrations consist of 12 credits and must include at least one 300 or higher level course. Only elective courses can be used as part of a concentration. Students may not earn a concentration in a field in which they are also enrolled for a dual degree. Please review the Minors, Concentrations, and Specialized Studies page for more information on concentration requirements.

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Study (SUGS)

The following programs are available for Chemical Engineering students interested in pursuing joint BSE and MSE and MEng degrees. For more information on each of these programs, including program requirements and graduate program contact information, please visit the Master’s and SUGS Programs page.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering

This SUGS program is open to all undergraduate students from Chemical Engineering who have achieved senior standing (85 credit hours or more) and have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Chemical Engineering

A University of Michigan undergraduate with a GPA of 3.5 or greater may apply, after completing the first term of the junior year, for admission to the departmental SUGS combined degree program leading to both the baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Most students selecting this program have chosen not to pursue a PhD but wish to have a greater depth in the fundamentals before embarking on an industrial career.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.Eng. in Energy Systems Engineering

The program aims to prepare students to design and implement energy systems for innovative applications. An overall GPA of 3.2 or above is required.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering

Undergraduate students who will be within 6 credit hours of graduation within the term in which they start the SUGS program and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 may apply.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Industrial and Operations Engineering

Non-IOE engineering students pursue the IOE master’s degree either as the first step toward the IOE Ph.D. degree, or more typically to enhance their qualifications for business-focused professional engineering careers. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering

The Master’s in Macromolecular Science and Engineering degree is a 30-credit program focusing on polymer science and engineering, with several specializations from which to choose. A 3.5 GPA is required to apply for this program.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.Eng. in Manufacturing

The Master of Engineering in Manufacturing (M.Eng. in Mfg.) degree is a professional practice-oriented degree designed to further the education of engineers who already have experience working in industry and plan to return to an industrial environment after completing their studies. The degree requirements can be completed in one calendar year (12 months). This degree combines coursework from various engineering disciplines (80%) and business (20%). Applicants to this program must have completed 80 or more credits of coursework with a GPA of 3.2 or better.

B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering / M.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering

Students who enter a Chemical Engineering program out of an interest in chemistry could opt to pursue a master’s in Materials Science and Engineering. This master’s degree enhances their understanding of the relationship between chemical structure, processing, and material properties, which in turn prepares them to pursue careers in research, design, or manufacturing of materials. A GPA of 3.5 is required to apply.

Graduate Degrees

• Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Chemical Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering

M.S.E. in Chemical Engineering

The minimum requirement for the M.S.E. degree for a student entering with a baccalaureate degree in chemical engineering is 30 graduate credit hours with an average grade of “B.” A thesis is not required. The coursework must include at least 21 hours in chemical engineering (courses with a CHE prefix), of which up to 6 credit hours of research are accepted (e.g., CHE 695); and at least three credits outside the chemical engineering program. The required courses are Fluid Flow (CHE 527), Statistical and Irreversible Thermodynamics (CHE 538), Chemical Reactor Engineering (CHE 528), Transport Processes (CHE 542), Chemical Engineering Research Survey (CHE 595) and Math for Chemical Engineers (CHE 505). Each student is encouraged to develop a program to fit their professional objective and should consult with the graduate advisor concerning a plan of study.

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

The doctoral degree is conferred in recognition of marked ability and scholarship within some relatively broad fields of knowledge. A part of the work consists of regularly scheduled graduate courses of instruction in the chosen field and in such cognate subjects as may be required by the committee. In addition, the student must pursue independent investigation in a subdivision of the selected field and must present the result of the investigation in the form of a dissertation.

A student becomes an applicant for the doctorate when admitted to the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and accepted in a field of specialization. Candidacy is achieved when the student demonstrates competence in their broad field of knowledge through completion of a prescribed set of courses and passing a comprehensive examination.

The course requirements are the same as the M.S.E. degree, plus six (6) additional graduate-level credits. Students must pass a comprehensive examination in chemical engineering and be recommended for candidacy for the doctorate. A special doctoral committee is appointed for each applicant to supervise the work of the student as to the election of courses, conduct of new research, and preparation of the dissertation.

Information on the general procedure leading to the doctorate is available at the Rackham Graduate School website.

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