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B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering students explore chemical processes and production, develop innovative materials, and discover new energy sources. Their degree equips them for diverse industries—ranging from plastics and textiles to biotechnology—where they design solutions to combat diseases and enhance medication delivery.

Format

In-Person

Page Contents

Note: This page provides a general overview. For complete and accurate information, please refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook and chemical engineering major course flowchart and consult with your advisor. For current course offerings and information, refer to the Cornell University Registrar: Courses of Study.

Eligibility and Academic Standards

Affiliation Eligibility Requirements

Cornell Engineering undergraduates who meet the eligibility requirements can affiliate with the Chemical Engineering major. Preparation for affiliation should be done thoughtfully and intentionally in advance with guidance from and coordination with the student’s academic advisor.

Academic Standards

Good standing requirements for chemical engineering:

  • Semester GPA > 2.3
  • Cumulative GPA > 2.1
  • No grade below C- in any core or concentration course required for graduation. Only one course below a C- within major required courses is allowed for graduation.
  • No failing grade
  • Minimum of 12 credits per semester completed with passing grades. No course with a grade lower than C- may be used to satisfy a prerequisite for a subsequent chemiical engineering course.

Required Engineering Distributions

  • ENGRD 2190

    Mass and Energy Balances (required)

  • CHEM 3890

    Honors Physical Chemistry I (recommended)

Required Major Courses

  • CHEM 2510

    Introduction to Experimental Organic Chemistry

  • CHEM 2900

    Introductory Physical Chemistry Laboratory

  • CHEM 3570 or CHEM 3530 or CHEM 3590

    Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences or Principles of Organic Chemistry or Honors Organic Chemistry I

  • CHEM 2200

    Physical Chemistry II for Engineers

  • CHEME 3010

    Career Perspectives

  • CHEME 3130

    Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

  • CHEME 3230

    Fluid Mechanics

  • CHEME 3240

    Heat and Mass Transfer

  • CHEME 3320

    Analysis of Separation Processes

  • CHEME 3720

    Introduction to Process Dynamics and Control

  • CHEME 3900

    Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design

  • CHEME 4320

    Chemical Engineering Laboratory

  • CHEME 4620

    Chemical Engineering Design

  • CHEME/CEE 6667

    Transportation Energy Systems Module

  • CHEME 6670

    Fossil Fuels Module

  • CHEME 6671

    Nuclear Energy Module

  • CHEME 6676

    Energy Markets and Regulations Module

  • CHEME 6679

    Energy Storage Module

  • CHEME 6680

    Special Topics in Sustainable Energy

  • CHEME 6681

    Energy Analysis Project

  • CHEME 6800

    Computer Optimization

  • CHEME 6880

    Industrial Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning

  • CHEME 6888

Electives for Advanced Chemical Engineering

Six credits of elective courses should be chosen from this list.

  • CHEME 4020

    Molecular Principles of Biomedical Engineering

  • CHEME 4130

    Introduction to Nuclear Science and Engineering

  • CHEME 4840

    Microchemical and Microfluidic Systems

  • CHEME 5430

    Bioprocess Engineering

  • CHEME 5440

    Advanced Principles of Biomolecular Engineering

  • CHEME 5610

    Concepts of Chemical Engineering Product Design and Lean Manufacturing

  • CHEME 6110

    Mathematical Methods of Chemical Engineering Analysis

  • CHEME 6130

    Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

  • CHEME 6230

    Transport Phenomena for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

  • CHEME 6240

    Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer

  • CHEME 6310

    Engineering Principles of Drug Delivery

  • CHEME 6400

    Polymeric Materials

  • CHEME 6440

    Aerosols and Colloids

  • CHEME 6660

    Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems

  • CHEME 6661

    Bioenergy and Biofuels Module

  • CHEME 6662

    Solar Energy Module

  • CHEME 6663

    Geothermal Energy Module

  • CHEME 6664 / CEE 6364

    Hydrokinetic and Aerodynamic (Water and Wind) Energy Module

  • CHEME/CEE 6667

    Transportation Energy Systems Module

  • CHEME 6670

    Fossil Fuels Module

  • CHEME 6671

    Nuclear Energy Module

  • CHEME 6672

    Electric Power Systems Module

  • CHEME 6675

    Energy Life Cycle Assessment Module

  • CHEME 6676

    Energy Markets and Regulations Module

  • CHEME 6679

    Energy Storage Module

  • CHEME 6680

    Special Topics in Sustainable Energy

  • CHEME 6681

    Energy Analysis Project

  • CHEME 6800

    Computer Optimization

  • CHEME 6880

    Industrial Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning

  • Four Major-approved Electives

    Includes the Biology Elective

  • Two Advisor-approved Electives

    Includes CHEM 2080

Focus Areas for Chemical Engineering

Tailor your undergraduate degree based on career goals or personal interests, you can choose your electives around an area of focus. Focus’ are not required, and the options below are intended as a roadmap—a selection of courses to help shape your studies.

These courses may or may not count as a major-approved elective, so always ask your advisor. Note that some courses are only offered once per year (either fall or spring) or alternate years.

Applied Mathematics Focus

  • MAE 3100

    Introduction to Applied Mathematics

  • MATH 3110

    Introduction to Analysis

Biomedical Engineering Focus

  • BME 3010 / CHEME 4010

    Cellular Principles of Biomedical Engineering

  • BME 3020 / CHEME 4020

    Molecular Principles of Biomedical Engineering

  • BME 6210 / CHEME 6310

    Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery

  • BIOG 1500

    Investigative Biology Laboratory

  • BIOMG 1350

    Introductory Biology: Cell and Developmental Biology

  • BIOAP 3160

    Cellular Physiology

  • BIOAP 4580

    Mammalian Physiology

  • BIOBM 3300 or BIOBM 3310

    Principles of Biochemistry, Individual Instruction or Proteins and Metabolism

  • BIOBM 4320

    Survey of Cell Biology

Biotechnology Focus

  • CHEME 5430

    Bioprocess Engineering

  • BME 5010

    Bioengineering Seminar

  • BEE 4640

    Bioseparation Processes

  • BIOBM 3300 or 3310

    Principles of Biochemistry

  • BIOBM 4320

    Survey of Cell Biology

  • BIOMI 2900

    General Microbiology

  • BIOMI 2910

    General Microbiology Laboratory Lectures

  • BIOMI 4160

    Bacterial Physiology

Chemical Processes Focus

  • CHEME 4700

    Process Control Strategies

  • CHEME 5430

    Bioprocess Engineering

Computational Optimization and Big Data Analytics Focus

  • CHEME 6800

    Computational Optimization

  • CHEME 6880

    Industrial Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning

  • ENGRD 2700

    Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics

  • ORIE 3300

    Optimization I

  • ORIE 3310

    Optimization II

  • ORIE 3510

    Introductory Engineering Stochastic Processes I

Computer-Aided Design Focus

  • CS/ENGRD 2110

    Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures

  • CS 3420 / ECE 3140

    Embedded Systems

  • CS 4320

    Introduction to Database Systems

Economic Analysis Focus

  • ENGRD 2700

    Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics

  • ORIE 3150

    Financial and Managerial Accounting

  • ORIE 4150

    Economic Analysis of Engineering Systems

  • ORIE 4152 / MAE 4610

    Entrepreneurship for Engineers

  • NCC 5060

    Managerial Finance

  • NBA 5530

    Accounting and Financial Decision Making

Electronic Materials Focus

  • ECE 3150

    Introduction to Microelectronics

  • MSE 3050

    Electronic, Magnetics, and Dielectric Properties of Materials

  • MSE 5410 / ECE 4360

    Nanofabrication

Energy Focus

  • CHEME 5207

    Hydrocarbon Resources

  • CHEME 5208

    Renewable Resources from Agriculture

  • CHEME 6640

    Energy Economics

  • CHEME 6650

    Energy Engineering

  • CHEME 6660

    Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems

  • Energy Modules

    Three core courses give students an overview of key topics in Energy Systems.

Environmental Quality Focus

  • BEE 4750

    Environmental Systems Analysis

  • CHEME 5430

    Bioprocess Engineering

  • CHEME 6610

    Air Pollution Control

  • CEE 3510

    Environmental Quality Engineering

  • CEE 6580

    Biodegradation and Biocatalysis

Food Science Focus

  • FDSC 2000

    Introduction to Physiochemical and Biological Aspects of Foods

  • FDSC 3940 / BIOMI 3940

    Applied and Food Microbiology

  • FDSC 3960

    Food Safety Assurance

  • FDSC 4170 and FDSC 4180

    Food Chemistry I and II (BIOBM 3300 recommended)

  • FDSC 4230

    Food Processing A: Unit Operations and Food Packaging

  • FDSC 4250

    Unit Operations and Dairy Foods Processing

Materials Science Focus

  • CHEME 6400

    Polymeric Materials

  • MSE 3010

    Materials Chemistry I

  • MSE 2610 / MAE 3120

    Mechanical Properties of Materials / Junior Laboratory II

  • MSE 5210

    Properties of Solid Polymers

  • MSE 5310

    Introduction to Ceramics

Polymer Processing Focus

  • CHEME 6400

    Polymeric Materials

  • MSE 5210

    Properties of Solid Polymers

  • MSE 5230

    Physics of Soft Materials

  • MSE 5240

    Synthesis of Polymeric Materials

  • FSAD 3350

    Fiber Science

Quality Control Focus

  • ENGRD 2700

    Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics

  • ORIE 3120

    Industrial Data and Systems Analysis