Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - STEM Designated

Chemical engineering is concerned with the design, development, and management of facilities that convert raw materials into useful products. The engineer must assume responsibility for the economical use of the raw materials, preservation of the environment, and profitability of the operation. The chemical engineering program has been designed to provide both the engineering competence and the professional skills necessary to succeed in this endeavor.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc.

Program Overview

Gain a strong foundation in chemical and biological engineering fundamentals to prepare for a career in professional practice or to further advance your studies. Learn about equipment design, control-system design, fluid mechanics and heat transfer operations, mass-transfer operations, and chemical reaction engineering.

Coursework

The chemical engineering curriculum emphasizes basic knowledge and applications of transport processes, thermodynamics and kinetics of processes, automatic control, and design, as well as fundamental sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences. Design experience is spread across the curriculum, beginning with the Introduction to the Profession courses. Equipment design is emphasized in courses such as Fluid Mechanics, Heat and Mass-Transfer Operations, Thermodynamics, and Chemical Reaction Engineering. Control-system design is practiced in the Process Control course. Process modeling, simulations, and optimization are discussed and practiced in Transport Phenomena, Process Modeling and System Theory, Numerical and Data Analysis, Statistical Tools for Engineering, and Process Control courses. The capstone design courses (Chemical Process Design I & II) integrate these design concepts and practice process design and optimization. In addition to engineering competence, the program also examines the economic, environmental, and societal implications of chemical engineering.

Professional Training

Professional training is stressed in the design of the chemical engineering curriculum. Because engineering is largely a team effort, the department develops the individual’s ability to work effectively as a team member. Group projects are assigned starting with the Introduction to the Profession course. Laboratory courses and capstone design course projects are conducted by teams of students. The laboratory work is designed to reinforce the concepts developed in the lectures and to show the application of chemical engineering principles to the solution of real-world problems.

Because individual attention is so important to the student’s growth, laboratory sections are small and a high level of personal contact between student and instructor is maintained. Students are encouraged to become involved with state-of-the-art research projects at the undergraduate level. The industry/university co-op program is available to students who would like to use one or more extra semesters any time after their second year to work on an internship in the industry.

Specialized Programs

In addition to the core curriculum, special programs exist to accommodate students who want to develop a more extensive background in related areas. With their exposure to a wide range of industrial applications and problems, students are better equipped to make a decision to explore an area of interest in depth. Professional specializations are available in:

• Bioengineering
• Energy/Environment/Economics (E3)
• Environmental Engineering
• Polymer Science and Engineering
• Process Design and Operation

Why Illinois Tech is one of the best value universities in the country

As an Illinois Tech student, you’ll automatically be considered for our university’s generous institutional scholarships. On average, this adds up to a savings of $107,472 on tuition and housing for every student during your four years at Illinois Tech ($134,340 for five years, based on fall 2021 figures).

We’re committed to dramatically reducing the cost of your degree, so you can focus on learning at one of the most dynamic and innovation-driven universities in the country.

Want some more great reasons?

• On top of our institutional scholarship, on average, Illinois Tech awards our students an additional $34,412 each in need-based tuition aid over four years ($43,015 for five years). (among FAFSA filers, fall 2021)
• We’re the #44 Best Value School in the nation (U.S. News & World Report)
• 98% of our students receive some form of financial aid
• The mean starting salary of our undergraduates is $63,938

Located in the great global city of Chicago, Illinois Tech is a top-tier, nationally ranked, private research university with programs in engineering, computer science, architecture, design, science, business, human sciences, and law. As Chicago’s only comprehensive tech-focused university, Illinois Tech offers a bachelor of science, master of science, professional master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, as well as certificates, in in-demand STEM fields and other areas of innovation. Options include in-person, hybrid, and online courses. Undergraduate students can take part in dual-degree and pre-med/pre-health programs, as well as Illinois Tech’s Accelerated Master’s Program, which allows them to receive both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as few as five years.

Illinois Tech is the only university to offer all students the Elevate program. Elevate guarantees that students participate in hands-on experiences—internships, research, competitions, study away, career-focused short courses, and more—that empower them with the twenty-first-century skills that employers seek. Elevate also ensures students receive personalized academic and career mentorship from a team of advisers and are uniquely career-ready upon graduation.

Illinois Tech is ranked #1 in Illinois among private colleges for return on investment (after aid, PayScale) and is the #44 ranked best value school in the United States (U.S. News & World Report). Illinois Tech graduates achieve a 92.8% employment rate within six months of graduation (2021 class). Its alumni include the inventor of the cell phone, the pioneer of barcode technology, and the head scientist for Amazon Alexa, among other leaders.

Students enjoy studying and living on a historic campus just minutes from downtown Chicago, which offers networking, internship, and career opportunities. Less than a mile from Lake Michigan’s stunning beaches, Illinois Tech’s campus has been acclaimed as “one of America’s most beautiful college campuses.” Illinois Tech students come from more than 106 countries and all 50 states.