Undergraduate Programs

Advising FAQ

1. TAKING CLASSES OFF CAMPUS (TRANSFER CREDITS)

You can take classes away from UA: junior colleges and other university classes will often transfer to UA and count towards your major. Check with the Office of Academic Records to make sure the classes will transfer before enrolling. Organic Chemistry can be a little tricky, though. 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.

2. MINORS

Minors are available to ChBE majors as described in the undergraduate catalog. The department offering the minor sets the rules for the minor, so questions should be directed to that department.

 Some common minors that ChBE students obtain include:

  • Math (6 additional hours: Statistics, plus one other 300+ level MATH course)
  • Chemistry (4 additional hours: PhysicalChemistry + Lab)
  • Biology (22 additional hours)
  • Business (22 total business hours)
  • Environmental Engineering (23 hours required; administered through Civil  Engineering)

In most cases, the electives in the ChBE curriculum can be used to complete some of the requirements for minors. Consult the undergraduate catalog (under the section for the department offering the minor) for further information.

3. CAREER PATHS

The ChBE curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in process engineering, product development, process optimization, or engineering design. With the many electives in the curriculum (Biology-3hrs, ChBE-3hrs, Engineering-3hrs, Advanced Science-3hrs, Approved Electives-6hrs, and HI/SB and HU/L/FA-18hrs), students may pursue numerous career paths.

Pre-Med (Medical School, Dental, Optometry) Track
The ChBE curriculum offers slots for all of the required classes to enter medical school. Beyond the required courses, pre-med students must take BSC 115, 116 and 117. Additional advanced biology courses may help prepare 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, 115, 116 and 117. The 5 hours of 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 consult UA’s health professions advisor, Chris Hutt (CHutt@as.ua.edu)  early in their college careers. A yearly program offered in ChBE is an “Engineering Trip to Centennial Hospital” in Nashville, hosted by UA ChE graduate and surgeon Mark Cooper, MD. ’84. Students will generally want to prepare for the MCAT at the end of their junior year at UA, while filling out applications in the summer prior to their senior year. Medical schools start in the fall semester only. For those interested in medical research, PhD or MD/PhD programs offer a career option that leads towards medical R&D as opposed to clinical or hospital practice.

Pre-Pharmacy Track
See above for pre-med, and contact the health professions advisor to learn more about the requirements for entering a graduate pharmacy program.

Pre-Law Track
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. Consult the undergraduate catalog for information about preparing for a career in legal studies.

Business and Management Track (including MBA)
With the electives available in the curriculum, students that wish to prepare for entering 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 (FE) Track
Electrical engineering, materials engineering, and statics and dynamics can compliment your ChBE 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 (a second exam, the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, is required after several years of work experience beyond the BS degree). The FE and PE are generally important to those who seek careers in consulting or government positions.

 Biotechnology Track
Students interested in biotechnology-related careers should consider taking BSC classes (as well as CH and ChBE electives) related to advanced biology- genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomaterials, biochemical engineering, or other 300 & 400-level electives. While the course catalog shows all of the freshmen BSC classes as prerequisites for 300- and 400- level biologies, ChBE 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 Track/Engineering Graduate School
A graduate degree is the springboard to a career in R&D. While some may enter industrial R&D with a B.S. degree, research is the main theme of a graduate education in chemical and biological engineering. To prepare for graduate school, consider opportunities working in research labs at UA. Many faculty in ChBE, 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 ChBE 491, 492, 498 or 499), as a part-time job, or as part of a fellowship. Talk with professors to find out about opportunities. REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) programs sponsored by NSF are available during the summer at a number of universities across the US. There are many advertisements that usually come out around January each year, or check nsf.gov and look for REU programs. Advanced math courses beyond differential equations are also helpful in preparing for graduate-level classes. In most cases, students will be required to take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) during their senior year while applying to graduate school. Unlike other advanced degree programs (law, medicine, business), attending graduate school in chemical and biological engineering (or related fields) will usually include a tuition waiver as well as a monthly stipend to cover living expenses while earning an MS or PhD Some ChBE graduate programs will allow students to start in the spring or summer, though most programs begin with a new class of graduate students in the fall semester. You may also opt to switch majors when entering graduate school- many students earn a BS degree in chemical engineering before entering a biomedical engineering graduate program. Check with the graduate program on requirements for acceptance.

4. CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION AND INTERNSHIPS

There are opportunities for students to gain valuable industrial or other work experience by participating as a co-op or intern student. Both programs are strong assets to career development and successful job placement upon graduation. In some cases, University credits can be earned through honors special problems courses in conjunction with advanced work projects (see the ChBE honors program coordinator for more information).

Co-operative Education Program
The Cooperative Education program is an alternating study/work program that can begin as early as the summer following your freshman year. Three work periods are generally expected, with the student following an alternating schedule of work/school/work/school, etc. over the spring, summer and fall semesters. Three work periods generally add one year to the time required to complete the B.S. degree, but the salaries can be used to help with tuition costs, and the experience gained is a strong addition to your resume and is helpful in finding full-time employment upon graduation. The UA Co-Op office coordinates interviews for Co-Op positions. See http://coop.eng.ua.edu/ for more information on the Co-Op program.

Internships    
Internships usually involve summer work programs that are arranged by the student with targeted companies. The ChBE department often gets requests for interns, so check with the main office to see if there are open positions. REU programs offer an alternative for internships for students interested in pursuing research-related careers. See the section on Research Track/Graduate School for more information on REUs.

5. PROFESSIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Within our department, the AIChE (American Institute for Chemical Engineers) student chapter hosts industrial speakers, fields intramural sports teams, offers department tours (E-Day), organizes regular meetings and plant trips, among other activities. AIChE is a great way to find out what chemical engineers do after graduation, network with your peers in the major, and build your resume.

Omega Chi Epsilon is the national honor society for chemical engineering. Eligible students are invited to join in their junior or senior year, with membership based on academics.

Other engineering and science-related organizations that can help with career planning include:

  • Ambassadors to the College of Engineering (ACEs)
  • Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society)
  • Society of Women Engineers
  • National Society of Black Engineers
  • Engineers without Borders
  • Tri-Beta Biology
  • Pre-Med
  • Pre-Law
  • Medical Advising Office (Chris Hutt)
     

6. PROGRAMS

Honors Programs
The University Honors Program, International Honors Program and Computer-Based Honors Program are administered by the Honors College.

Within ChBE, an honors program carries the same eligibility requirements as the UHP programs (3.3 GPA at UA). See the honors brochure or the honors coordinator for more details about joining ChBE honors.

For those who join the ChBE honors program in February 2006 or later, the following are required to graduate with ChBE honors:
(If you joined earlier than Feb. 2006, see the coordinator for honors requirements.)

  • maintain overall 3.3 GPA
  • complete at least one 1-hour ChBE honors forum class (ChBE 225, 325 or 425)
  • complete at least one 3-hour experiential (hands-on) course (Co-Op, Internship, Independent research or design)
  • including above hours, complete a minimum of 6 hours of ChBE honors courses (5xx classes or any 300- level or higher course as honors by contract)
  • complete an additional 6 hours of honors courses in the ChBE curriculum (ChBE, CH, BSC,   MA, PH, GES, EN)
  • complete an additional 6 hours of any honors courses at UA.
     

Total of 18 hours of UA honors credits.

University Scholars Program
Eligible undergraduate students can elect an advanced program to earn both the BS and MS. ChBE degrees in five years through the Scholars Program. Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA. A plan of study should be developed with the help of an advisor. The MS degree earned here is a non-thesis masters, and will not involve research, only classes. The stipends associated with graduate school generally don’t apply for the Scholars program, as the stipends are given to students pursuing a thesis (research-based) master’s degree. For more information, see the undergraduate catalog, or consult brochures available in the ChBE office.

7. HI/SB and HU/L/FA ELECTIVES

The history/social behavior and humanities/languages/fine arts electives are part of the UA core curriculum and are meant to round out your education while at UA. The College of Engineering lists specific courses that are approved for each category. Three courses in each category are required for a BS degree, with at least two classes being a “depth sequence”, or being in the same subject (for example, Economics- EC 110 and 111- taken as 2 HI/SB electives, or Spanish 101 and 102- taken as 2 HU/L/FA electives).

8. APPROVED ELECTIVES

Any 6 hours of classes offered at UA can count as “approved electives”. All 6 hours should be in a related area, and they can be classes directed towards a minor (ex., 2 math classes), towards a certificate (ex., classes towards the business certificate- finance, marketing, etc.), or just something that you feel will help you in your career (ex., a foreign language, communication, additional ChBE classes, etc.). For students pursuing a pre-med option, a common way to achieve the 6 approved elective hours is to combine BSC 115 (1 hour), BSC 116 (3 hours), BSC 117 (1 hour), plus one other biology-related seminar, forum or other class.

A form available in the ChBE main office must be completed for the approved electives you choose. Students should write one paragraph explaining how the approved electives will help their career, and have the form signed by a faculty advisor. Students generally select approved electives in their junior year, although these classes can be taken at any time. You may change your selections while working on your ChBE degree.
 

9. ChBE ELECTIVES

Advanced Biology
Students can select either CH 461 (Biochemistry I), which is taught every fall, or ChBE 445 (Biochemical Engineering), which is taught every spring.

Engineering Elective
Students may select MTE 271 or ECE 320 to count for the engineering elective.

 Advanced Science
Several classes can count towards an advanced science class. These include:

  • CHEMISTRY (CH): 213, 341, 424, 461, or 462
  • ChBE:  412/512, 438/538, 445/545 (not all ChBE electives count for advanced science)
  • BIOLOGY (BSC): 300, 310, 315, 448  (others may count, but require petitioning ChBE)
  • independent study courses (ChBE 491, 492, 498, 499), depending on science content

ChBE Elective
 Any non-required ChBE course can be used for this elective. These include ChBE 375, 412/512, 438/538, 445/545, 464, 524, 525, 535, or independent study courses, 491, 492, 498 or 499.
 

10. MY DEGREE IS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, BUT THE DEPARTMENT IS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING. WHY?

 The Alabama Commission on Higher Education has approved the degree plan, and regulates our offering an official degree in chemical engineering. The department’s official name includes biological engineering, and reflects the importance of biology and the life sciences for all students.

11. ABET

ABET is the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology, and certifies engineering programs at universities in the USA. This certification ensures that our program meets rigorous education goals. The accreditation process involves periodic independent reviews of our curriculum and departmental objectives. The University of Alabama’s Chemical and Biological Engineering program is fully accredited by ABET.