Apr 19, 2024  
2015-2016 University Catalog 
    
2015-2016 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemical Engineering, B.S.: 194 units


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Offered by: College of Engineering, Chemical and Materials Engineering Department

The Chemical Engineering program provides the students with a strong foundation in the basic sciences with engineering fundamentals and prepares them to design, develop and engineer industrial processes and plants. Students are well prepared upon graduation to begin either their professional career or a program of graduate study. The chemical engineering curriculum in addition to a sound foundation in general education includes basic courses in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and materials, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Coursework in the major includes computer programming, engineering statistics, material and energy balances, transport phenomena, unit operations, process control, process synthesis and design, thermodynamics, kinetics, reactor design, and pollution abatement. The design aspect of chemical engineering is present throughout the curriculum and culminates in the senior-level, three-quarter capstone design sequence. Student project opportunities enable students to develop essential planning, experimenting and reporting skills in individual or theme-based projects. Extensive laboratory and computerized test facilities exist for process and materials investigations, as well as complete pilot plant scale equipment for extended development and confirmatory studies.

Students desiring to major in Chemical Engineering should have a particularly high aptitude for science and mathematics, and first-time college students should have taken substantial college preparatory courses in these disciplines in high school including one year of chemistry. Incoming transfer students should have completed at least one year of college calculus, one year of college chemistry, and one year of college physics (with laboratory) prior to beginning the program at Cal Poly Pomona. The community college student planning to transfer into this department should consult a school counselor or this department to determine which courses meets the program requirements.

The Chemical Engineering, B.S. program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

The program educational objectives of the Chemical Engineering Program (assessed by alumni survey three or more years after CPP students complete their CHE BS) are to develop engineers who will:

  1. Recognize, state and solve problems with attention to economics, the environment, health and safety
  2. Apply their ideas to create practical solutions
  3. Clearly communicate and implement solutions
  4. Tackle new problems and explore new developments using chemical engineering principles
  5. Be active life-long learners
  6. Be responsible citizens

 The student outcomes of the Chemical Engineering Program are:

  1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data
  3. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
  4. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
  5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. an ability to communicate effectively
  8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global economic, environmental and societal context
  9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
  10. a knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. 

Required Support Courses: 78 units


The following major support courses should be used to satisfy the indicated GE requirements. If these courses are not used to satisfy GE, the total units to degree may be more than 198 units.

Elective Support Courses: 3 units


  • Upper Division MTE/CHE Elective (3)

General Education Requirements: 68 units


Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are stated under Support Courses, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.

An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of Areas A, C, and D available for students in this major is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program.  Please see the description of IGE in the catalog.

Area A, Communication and Critical Thinking (12 units)

  1. Oral Communication
  2. Written Communication
  3. Critical Thinking

Area B. Mathematics and Natural Sciences (16 units)

  1. Physical Science
  2. Biological Science
  3. Laboratory Activity
  4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
  5. Science and Technology Synthesis

Area C. Humanities (16 units)

  1. Visual and Performing Arts
  2. Philosophy and Civilization
  3. Literature and Foreign Languages
  4. Humanities Synthesis

Area D. Social Sciences (20 units)

  1. U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals
  2. History, Economics, and Political Science
  3. Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnic and Gender Studies
  4. Social Science Synthesis

Area E. Lifelong Understanding and Self-development (4 units)

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