2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Chemical Engineering (CHE)

CHE 2004 - Chemical Engineering Sophomore Seminar (1 credit)

Career opportunities and current topics of interest in the Chemical Engineering profession.

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

CHE 2114 - Mass and Energy Balances (3 credits)

Construction and analysis of chemical process flow diagrams, including mass balances, recycling operations, and energy balances. Engineering calculations including unit conversions and dimensional homogeneity, stoichiometric and composition relationships, behavior of gases, vapor pressures, solubility, first law of thermodynamics, thermophysics, thermochemistry, and combustion.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 1226 and (CHEM 1036 or CHEM 1056)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 2164 - Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3 credits)

First and Second Laws, properties of fluids, properties of homogeneous mixtures; phase equilibria, chemical-reaction equilibria. Grade of C- or better required in prerequisite CHE 2114.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2114 and MATH 2204 and PHYS 2306

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 2974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 2984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 3015 - Process Measurement & Control (3 credits)

3015: Common process measurements; applications to theory and practice of automatic control of chemical processes; 3016: Design and laboratory practice underlying the automatic computer control of chemical processes.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 2214 and CHE 3114

Corequisite(s): 3124, (3184 or 3185), (3044 or 3154) for 3015

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3044 - Heat Transfer (2 credits)

One and two dimensional conduction, convection, and diffusion of thermal energy; heat transfer rates, steady state and unsteady state conduction, convection; design of heat exchangers; forced and free convection boiling and condensation.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164 and CHE 3114 and MATH 4564

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd)

CHE 3114 - Fluid Transport (3 credits)

Fluid statics, surface tension, fluid dynamics, Newtons Law of viscosity, momentum transport, laminar and turbulent flow, velocity profiles, flow in pipes, flow around objects, non-Newtonian fluids, design of piping systems, pumps and mixing.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2114 and PHYS 2305 and MATH 2204

Corequisite(s): MATH 2214

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3124 - Chemical Engineering Simulations and Process Modeling (3 credits)

Development of strategies to pose and numerically solve sets of algebraic and differential equations that describe chemical engineering systems and processes. Iterative root finding and optimization approaches to solving non-linear equations, analyze data, and determine best-fit model parameters. Numerical strategies to integrate and differentiate models and data. Approaches to solve ordinary and partial differential equations that describe reaction kinetics, process control, and transport of momentum, heat and mass. Algorithm development, coding, and graphical representation of solutions. (3H,3C)

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2114 and MATH 2214

Corequisite(s): CHE 3114

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3134 - Separation Processes (3 credits)

Binary separations and multicomponent separations, distillation, batch distillation, extraction, absorption, McCabe-Thiele and Ponchon Savaret methods, short cut methods, design of plate columns, plate and column efficiencies.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2114 and MATH 2204 and PHYS 2306

Corequisite(s): CHE 2164 2164

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3144 - Mass Transfer (3 credits)

Multidimensional molecular diffusion and convection of single and multi-component systems; mass transfer rates; steady state, quasi-steady state and transient mass transfer; effect of reactions on mass transfer; convective mass transfer coefficients; design of stage and continuous gas/liquid contractors, membrane, liquid-liquid and liquid-solid separation processes, artificial kidney and drug delivery systems.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3114 and CHE 2164 and MATH 2214

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3154 - Heat Transfer Analysis (3 credits)

Principles of conduction, convection, and radiation of thermal energy through one or more phases; analytical and numerical methods for modeling multi-dimensional and unsteady-state conduction; analysis of forced and free convection in conduits and around submerged bodies; design of heat exchangers; radiative heat transfer; boiling and condensation.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164 and CHE 3114

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 3185 - Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design (2 credits)

Introduction to mathematical frameworks for analysis and modeling of chemical reactions within different reactor configurations. 3185: Reaction equilibria, power-law rate expressions, Arrhenius law, rate constants, analysis of kinetic data, design of single and multiple isothermal reactors. 3186: Reaction mechanisms, multiple reactions, selectivity, non-isothermal reactors, catalytic reactions and design of catalytic reactors.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2114 and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H)

Corequisite(s): CHE 2164, CHE 3114

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd)

CHE 3186 - Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design (2 credits)

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3185 and CHE 3114 and CHE 3144 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3154)

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd)

CHE 3984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 4014 - Chemical Engineering Laboratory (4 credits)

Practical experience in the planning of experimentation, gathering of experimental data, interpretation of data, and the preparation of written and oral reports. Use of small-scale processing equipment, automatic control, and data acquisition. Emphasis on teamwork, safety, engineering judgment, and professional behavior. Applications include fluid flow, mixing, filtration, and distillation, process control, heat transfer, mass transfer, and chemical reaction kinetics. Consideration of ethical choices in engineering practice and societal impacts of engineering solutions. In-major GPA of 2.0 or better.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164 and CHE 3015 and CHE 3114 and CHE 3124 and CHE 3134 and CHE 3144 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3154) and CHE 3185 and ENGL 3764

Instructional Contact Hours: (12 Lab, 4 Crd)

CHE 4015 - Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory (2 credits)

Practical experience in the planning of experimentation, gathering of experimental data, interpretation of data, and the preparation of written and oral reports. Use of small-scale processing equipment, automatic control, and data acquisition. Emphasis on teamwork, safety, engineering judgment, and professional behavior. 4015: Applications include fluid flow, mixing, filtration, distillation, and chemical reaction kinetics. Consideration of ethical choices in engineering practice. 4016: Applications in process control, heat transfer, mass transfer, and catalysis. Consideration of the societal impacts of engineering solutions. In-major GPA of 2.0 or better.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164 and CHE 3114 and CHE 3124 and CHE 3134 and (CHE 3184 or CHE 3185) and ENGL 3764

Instructional Contact Hours: (6 Lab, 2 Crd)

CHE 4016 - Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory (2 credits)

Practical experience in the planning of experimentation, gathering of experimental data, interpretation of data, and the preparation of written and oral reports. Use of small-scale processing equipment, automatic control, and data acquisition. Emphasis on teamwork, safety, engineering judgment, and professional behavior. 4015: Applications include fluid flow, mixing, filtration, distillation, and chemical reaction kinetics. Consideration of ethical choices in engineering practice. 4016: Applications in process control, heat transfer, mass transfer, and catalysis. Consideration of the societal impacts of engineering solutions. In-major GPA of 2.0 or better.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3015 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3154) and CHE 3124 and CHE 3134 and CHE 3144 and (CHE 3184 or CHE 3185) and CHE 4015 and ENGL 3764

Instructional Contact Hours: (6 Lab, 2 Crd)

CHE 4024 - Unit Operations and Scale-Up (1 credit)

Research of a chemical process unit, design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of experimental data, and scale-up of the unit to meet specific objectives. Teamwork, oral communication, and appropriate use of published information. Consideration of safety, and the societal and environmental impacts of an engineering design. Pre: In-major GPA of 2.0 or better is required.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3015 and CHE 3044 and CHE 3124 and CHE 3134 and CHE 3144 and CHE 3184 and ENGL 3764

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

CHE 4104 - Process Materials (3 credits)

Basics of materials science as it relates to the interest of the chemical engineer. The course emphasizes the three fundamental areas of material science being polymer materials, metallics, and ceramic/inorganic glasses. The general molecular structure property - application behavior of each area will be presented but with a focus when possible on topics related to the field of chemical engineering.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164 and (CHEM 2535 or CHEM 2565)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4114 - Energy and Climate Change Solutions (3 credits)

Fundamentals of energy production technologies, alternative and renewable energy sources, electrochemical energy storage, direct carbon capture technologies, negative emissions technologies, and chemical process that use CO2 as a feedstock. Fundamentals of water purification technologies, the water cycle, and the impact of climate change on water resources and demands. Discussion of carbon and water economics, and how geographical, societal, and environmental factors affect energy and water management policies. Techno-economic analysis of solutions based on chemical technologies, and the communication of those solutions in the context of policy development.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3144 and CHE 3185

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4144 - Business and Marketing Strategies for the Process Industries (3 credits)

Business strategies and industrial marketing concepts, and their application in the chemical, pharmaceutical and related process industries. The course is designed for engineers and other students planning a career in the process industries. Junior standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: MKTG 4144

CHE 4185 - Process and Plant Design (4 credits)

Chemical process synthesis and plant design, economic analysis of alternative processes, process equipment design and specifications, computer-aided process design and simulation, design case studies, application of scientific and engineering knowledge to practical design problems. Grade of C- or better in all CHE prefix courses and in-major GPA of 2.0 or better is required.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3015 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3154) and CHE 3124 and CHE 3134 and CHE 3144 and (CHE 3184 or CHE 3185) and ENGL 3764

Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd)

CHE 4186 - Process and Plant Design (4 credits)

Prerequisite(s): CHE 4185

Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd)

CHE 4214 - Introduction to Polymer Materials (3 credits)

Basics of polymeric materials including description and categorization of macromolecules; characterization; mechanical properties; rubbery, glassy, crystalline, and viscous flow behavior.

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 2536 and CHE 2164

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4224 - Introduction to Polymer Processing (3 credits)

Basic principles of momentum and heat transfer applied to the analysis of polymer processing operations. Introduction to polymer rheology.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3144 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3154)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4304 - Biological Transport Phenomena (3 credits)

Engineering analysis and predictive modeling of heat and mass transport in biological systems (e.g., tissues, organs, organisms, and biomedical devices). Examination of processes that involve conduction, convection, diffusion, generation/consumption. Application of analytical and computational methods to solve differential equations that describe unsteady and/or multi-dimensional transport. Topics include oxygen transport, pharmacokinetic analysis, kidney function, blood perfusion, burns, and cryopreservation.

Prerequisite(s): (CHE 3114 and CHE 3154 and CHE 3144) or (ME 3304 and ME 3414)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: ME 4344

CHE 4334 - Introduction to Colloidal and Interfacial Science (3 credits)

Properties and behavior of colloidal systems, primarily in liquid environments. Size characterization and description, Brownian motion, interparticle forces, dispersion stability, and experimental techniques for characterizing these systems.

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 3615 or CHE 2164

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4404 - Machine Learning in Chemical Sciences and Engineering (3 credits)

Development and application of data-driven computational models. Focus on applications in chemical sciences and engineering (e.g., materials discovery, property prediction, anomaly detection, process optimization). Preprocessing, data management and visualization, clustering, classification, and regression algorithms, and common pitfalls and practices in training and evaluation of data-driven models. Pre: 3124

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3124

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 4544 - Protein Separation Engineering (3 credits)

Concepts, principles and applications of various unit operations used in protein separations. Properties of biological materials, such as cells and proteins, and their influences on process design. Design of processes for protein purification based on the impurities to be eliminated. Concepts and principles of scale-up of unit operations. Case studies in practical protein recovery and purification issues, with a focus on enhanced protein purification by genetic engineering. Protein purification process simulation and optimization using process simulation software.

Prerequisite(s): BSE 3504 or CHE 3144

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BSE 4544

CHE 4904 - Project and Report (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 4974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 4984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 4994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 4994H - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits)

Honors course

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 5024 - Research Proposal Writing for Chemical Engineers (1 credit)

The course is designed to help early-stage graduate students succeed in research proposal writing and fellowship application. Various aspects of research proposal writing are covered, including how to formulate a research idea, structure and components, writing style, research ethics, and review process. The students write a research proposal which undergoes review by the instructor and other students by the end of the course.

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

CHE 5044 - Engineering Mathematics (3 credits)

Introduction to numerical solutions of partial differential equations using the finite element method in one-, two-, and three-dimensions with direct relevance to chemical engineering, biological systems engineering and biomedical engineering and sciences. Partial differential equations and ordinary differential equations using finite differences, model parameter sensitivity analysis, optimization, and data analysis. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BMES 5044, BSE 5044

CHE 5094 - Advanced Chemical Engineering Kinetics (3 credits)

Fundamental principles of chemical kinetics applied to the analysis and design of chemical reactors.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3184

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5125 - Transport Phenomena (3 credits)

Fundamentals aspects of transport of mass and chemical reaction. Application to complex chemical engineering problems. Advanced mathematical techniques, fundamental aspects of transport of mass, and chemical reaction. Application to complex chemical engineering problems.

Prerequisite(s): (CHE 3044 and CHE 3144) or (CHE 3044 and CHE 3144)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5126 - Transport Phenomena (2 credits)

Prerequisite(s): (CHE 3044 and CHE 3144 and CHE 5125) or (CHE 3044 and CHE 3144 and CHE 5125)

Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd)

CHE 5144 - Advanced Thermodynamics (3 credits)

Fundamentals of physical and chemical equilibria, statistical thermodynamics, and applications to situations of current special interest.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 2164

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5204 - Applied Rheology (3 credits)

Study of the flow and deformation of matter, with an emphasis on practical application in processing of polymeric non-Newtonian fluids. Differential balances to describe fluid transport and velocity profiles, properties and flow behavior of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Rheology measurement techniques and analysis in shear and extensional flow fields. Process-structure-property relationships in polymer melts, solutions and suspensions. Chemorheology of reacting systems. Pre: Graduate standing.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5214 - Polymeric Biomaterials (3 credits)

Topics include polymer design and processing, inflammatory responses to polymers, interaction of blood with polymeric materials, and the effect of mechanical, chemical, and surface properties of polymers on cells. The culmination of this course will provide students with the knowledge to successfully design polymer-based biomaterials, drug-delivery devices, and bio-implants. Graduate standing required.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BMES 5434

CHE 5304 - Biological Transport Phenomena (3 credits)

The fundamental principles of mass transport phenomena will be introduced and applied to the characterization of transport behavior in biological systems (e.g., cell, tissues, organs, people). Topics will include active, passive, and convective molecular transport mechanisms. These fundamentals will be used to develop analytical and predictive models that describe phenomena such as oxygen transport, kidney function, systemic drug delivery, and design of extracorporeal devices. Graduate standing required.

Prerequisite(s): (CHE 3114 and (CHE 3044 or CHE 3144 or (ME 3304 and ME 3404

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BMES 5304

CHE 5334G - Colloid and Interface Science (3 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5404 - Machine Learning in Chemical Sciences and Engineering (3 credits)

Data-driven machine learning models in chemical sciences and engineering for materials discovery, property prediction, anomaly, detection, process optimization. Data preprocessing, data management and visualization, clustering, classification/regression algorithms, uncertainty quantification, Bayesian statistics, and open access tools. Common pitfalls and practices. Potential bias and ethical issues in training and evaluation of machine learning models. Pre: Graduate standing.

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5414 - Explainable AI for Domain Insights (3 credits)

Interpretability and its importance for machine learning in chemical sciences and engineering. Integration of scientific principles into machine learning including Bayesian inference of physical models from data and physics-informed neural networks. Feature importance analysis for local and global interpretations. Performance metrics for evaluating interpretation algorithms. Open-source libraries for interpretation. Applications of explainable artificial intelligence (AI) for materials design and process engineering. General tradeoffs between model performance and interpretability. Common pitfalls of explainable AI and their solutions.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 5404

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5424 - Computational and Data Sciences for Materials Design (3 credits)

Computational modeling and data science techniques for the design of new materials. Data curation from material databases and literature. Data generation by multiscale simulations of materials. Supervised and unsupervised machine learning models. Evolutionary optimization and reinforcement learning algorithms, materials property prediction, materials screening from existing databases, inverse design of materials with desired properties. Advantages and limitations of different approaches and assessment of different steps involved in materials discovery.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 5404 and CHE 5414

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5434 - Computational and Data Sciences for Process Engineering (3 credits)

Data curation and preprocessing, handling time series data, design of experiments, machine learning algorithms, optimization, design rules and analysis of physics-based process models in chemical sciences and engineering domains. Case studies on industrial problems in process design, optimization, control, operations, supply chain, scheduling, planning, and monitoring.

Prerequisite(s): CHE 5404 and CHE 5414

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

CHE 5544G - Advanced Protein Separation Engineering (3 credits)

Prerequisite(s): CHE 3144 or BSE 3504

Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd)

Course Crosslist: BSE 5544G

CHE 5904 - Project and Report (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 5944 - Chemical Engineering Seminar (1 credit)

This course is designed to improve a students ability to present formal seminars concerned with technical and nontechnical information. Numerous presentations are given by each student enrolling in this class.

Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd)

CHE 5974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 5984 - Special Study (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 5994 - Research and Thesis (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course

CHE 7994 - Research and Dissertation (1-19 credits)

Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course