Prospective Students

What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and the other natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop economic ways of using materials and energy for the benefit of mankind.

What do Chemical Engineers Do?
Chemical Engineers design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, pharmaceutical products, and electronic materials. A background in chemical engineering offers a number of career options:

     • Research: Research engineers work with chemists to develop new products or new ways        to make existing products more efficiently.

     • Design: Design engineers create processes that convert a raw material into a final product.        Chemists invented the many synthetic fibers we use today, but chemical engineers        designed the plants that produce them at an affordable cost.

     • Development: Chemical engineers look for ways to improve new or existing processes.        The "greening" of much of the Third World is due to a big reduction in the cost of ammonia        production, which made it possible for poorer nations to manufacture this important        fertilizer.

     • Production: The manufacture of chemicals requires continuous supervision. Is the product        of specified purity? Is the production rate what it should be? Are control instruments        performing properly? Is the process as safe as it can be? Production engineers are always        answering such questions.

     • Technical Sales: Why isn't our product doing what it is supposed to for our customers?        Could our new product be used more economically than current materials? Why did that        new paint peel from one house? Sales engineers answer such questions. People skills,        as well as technical ability, are very important for these chemical engineers.

     • Management: Many chemical engineers are promoted to management positions. While        less involved in technology, they make policy and business decisions, train new engineers,        and solve human, rather than technical, problems.

Who Employs Chemical Engineers?

Petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies have been the traditional employers of chemical engineers. However, increasing numbers of chemical engineers are currently being hired by food, electronics, textile, pulp and paper, rubber, metal, cement, plastic, and biotech industries.


What About Money?

NACE July 2007 Salary Survey for average starting salaries at the B.S. level: