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Chemical Engineering

The University of Alabama’s bachelor of science in chemical engineering program is designed to be one of the most innovative engineering degree programs, allowing students maximum flexibility to select courses that will benefit them the most in support of their own career aspirations.

• BS Chemical Engineering Curriculum Flowchart
• Dual BS Chemical Engineering / BS Chemistry Curriculum Flowchart
• BS Chemical Engineering Curriculum Flowchart Pre-Med Option
• BS Chemical Engineering Curriculum Flowchart Accelerated Option 1
• BS Chemical Engineering Curriculum Flowchart Accelerated Option 2
• BS/MS Chemical Engineering Scholars Program Flowchart

• Basic Guide to ChBE and FAQs
• ChBE Advising Worksheet
• ChBE Career Electives
• Approval form for Approved Electives and unlisted Career Electives
• ChE, Advanced Science and Biochem Electives

If you have any questions about the undergraduate chemical engineering program, contact Dr. Chris Brazel.

Transfer Credits
Check with UA’s Office of Academic Records to make sure the classes will transfer before enrolling. Organic chemistry can be difficult. UA offers the organic chemistry sequence as CH 231 (3 hours lecture), CH 232 (3 hours lecture), and CH 237 (2 hours lab). Many other colleges and universities offer the sequence as two 4-hour classes, where the lab is included with the class. So, it is advisable to either take ALL organic chemistry at UA, or all of it off-campus. Consult the undergraduate catalog for further information about transfer credits.

Career Paths

Pre-Med (Medical School, Dental, Optometry, Pharmacy)
The chemical engineering curriculum incorporates all of the required classes to enter medical school. Beyond the required courses, pre-med students must take BSC 115, BSC 116 and BSC 117. Additional advanced biology courses may help prpare students for the MCAT and the rigors of medical school, 3 hours of which may fit into the Advanced Science elective slot. Medical school applications require BSC 114, BSC 115, BSC 116 and BSC 117. The 5 hours of BSC 115-117 can count towards the 6 hours of approved electives, as long as 1 additional “bio-related” course hour is added. Students interested in Pre-Med should also visit UA’s Health Professionals Advising. If you have any questions about the pre-med chemical engineering program, contact Dr. Chris Brazel.

NOTE: AP credits can be used for many classes at UA and will count toward your bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering (although the grade will not be included in your UA GPA). However, for students planning to apply to a medical school, most medical schools require the following classes be taken on campus (not AP credit): two semesters of biology (plus labs); two semesters of chemistry (plus labs); eight hours of organic chemistry (including the lab). You can meet this requirement by taking the classes required in the ChBE curriculum, plus BSC 115, BSC 116 and BSC 117. An alternative would be to use AP credit for some of these, but take higher-level CH or BSC classes with labs to satisfy these requirements.

Pre-Law
Some engineers decide to pursue law degrees, often practicing in the area of patent or corporate law or specializing in environmental law. The LSAT is required to enter law school. Students interested in Law should also visit UA’s Pre-Law Advising.

Business and Management (including MBA)
With the electives available in the curriculum, students that wish to prepare for an MBA program may want to consider a minor in business to compliment their engineering degree. Courses in economics, finance, management, and accounting will be useful in preparing for a career in business management.

Traditional Engineering
Electrical engineering, materials engineering, and statics and dynamics can compliment your chemical engineering degree and prepare you for work in a traditional engineering job, where you will interact with engineers with different backgrounds. These classes can also be helpful in passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in your senior year. While this exam is not required for obtaining a degree in the chemical and biological engineering program, it is required if you want to eventually be licensed as a professional engineer.

Biotechnology
Students interested in biotechnology-related careers should consider taking biological sciences classes, as well as chemistry and chemical engineering electives, related to advanced biology–genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomaterials, biochemical engineering, or other 300 and 400-level electives. While the course catalog shows all of the freshmen BSC classes as prerequisites for 300- and 400- level biologies, chemical engineering students may use BSC 114 to count for all 4 courses as prerequisites. 200-level BSC classes are not recommended, as these are courses for nursing majors.

Research and Development and Engineering Graduate School
A graduate degree is the springboard to a career in research and development. To prepare for graduate school, consider opportunities working in research labs at UA. Many faculty in the department, as well as other related departments (such as chemistry, biology, metallurgical and materials engineering), have openings for undergraduate researchers. The research can be done for credit (using ChE 491, ChE 492, ChE 498 or ChE 499), as a part-time job, or as part of a fellowship. Talk with professors or your adviser to find out about opportunities.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs sponsored by NSF are available during the summer at a number of universities across the United States. Visit the NSF and look for REU programs.