Chemical Engineering, BS
The Chemical Engineering program prepares engineers with necessary skills and knowledge to enter diverse job markets locally and globally. The energy sector in West Texas is thriving and chemical engineering graduates of the program are expected to find ample job opportunities in the local energy industry. Chemical engineers use all tools of other engineering disciplines plus applied chemistry. This makes the chemical engineering field one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse, engineering discipline of all. Chemical engineers use chemicals, materials, and energy to design systems, processes, and products that benefit humankind. The job market for chemical engineers is as broad as the field is. Chemical engineers upon graduation are among the most sought by employers in diverse industries including energy (oil/gas/alternatives), food and drink, pharmaceuticals, environment and water, materials and manufacturing, etc. Interesting to note that more chemical engineers are working in the energy industry (upstream & downstream) than any other engineering discipline, the same industry that started the field of chemical engineering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting 8% growth nationwide during the 2016-2026 decade with the estimated annual mean salary of $105,000. The annual mean salary for chemical engineers in Texas is estimated above $125,000 because of oil and gas industry.
Program Educational Objectives
Three to five years after graduation, the graduates are:
- Obtaining professional-level employment and practicing chemical engineering in a wide variety of private and government institutions.
- Applying technical expertise, communication, and leadership skills to solve complex problems following professional ethics standards with consideration of social and environmental impacts.
- Promoting diverse equitable, inclusive and multidisciplinary teams that work efficiently to lead innovation and recognize technological and societal changes.
- Engaging in life-long learning and continuous professional growth, such as obtaining licensure as a professional engineer and/or pursuing graduate studies.
Degree Requirements
Consistent with the existing Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs in engineering, a minimum of 126 semester credit hours is required for the B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. This degree requires a minimum of 65 upper-division hours. Since all students seeking a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering are required to take a cross-section of courses from a variety of engineering disciplines, the College does not award double majors. Students desiring a double major should seek a second baccalaureate degree. Minors are not required of students seeking a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering.
General Education Requirements
Communication
Language, Philosophy, and Culture
Mathematics
Life and Physical Science
U.S. History
| HIST 1301 | History Of The Us To 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History Of The Us Since 1877 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Political Science
Creative Arts
Social and Behavioral Science
Component Area
| COMM 1315 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Component Area Other Options
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| PHYS 2125 | University Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 42
Lower Division Required Courses
Total Credit Hours: 19
Upper Division Requirements
Total Credit Hours: 59
Upper Division Electives
Choose two:
Total Credit Hours: 6