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The Undergraduate Curriculum
The chemical engineering curriculum is organized to include 3 semesters of science and general engineering fundamentals followed by 5 semesters of chemical engineering fundamentals and applications. An optional ‘track’ system is introduced at the junior year which allows students to structure free electives into one of several specialty applications areas. Courses in the chemical engineering portion of the curriculum may be categorized according to the following general system.

A. Chemical Engineering Fundamentals

The following courses represent the basic knowledge component of the chemical engineering curriculum at CSM.

  1. Mass and Energy Balances (ChEN 201)
  2. Fluid Mechanics (ChEN 307)
  3. Heat Transfer (ChEN 308)
  4. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (ChEN 357)
  5. Mass Transfer (ChEN 375)
  6. Transport Phenomena (ChEN 430)
B. Chemical Engineering Applications

The following courses are applications-oriented courses that build on the student’s basic knowledge of science and engineering fundamentals.

  1. Unit Operations Laboratory (ChEN 312 and 313)
  2. Reaction Engineering (ChEN 418)
  3. Process Dynamics and Control (ChEN 403)
  4. Chemical Engineering Design I & II (ChEN 402)
  5. Bioprocess Engineering (ChEN 460)
  6. Chemical Engineering Technical Electives (one at 400 level)
C. Chemical Engineering Elective Tracks

Students in chemical engineering may elect to structure free electives into a formal Minor program of study (18 hours of coursework), an Area of Special Interest (12 hours) or a Specialty Track in Chemical Engineering (9 hours). Minors and ASI’s can be developed by the student in a variety of different areas and programs as approved by the student’s advisor and the Heads of the relevant sponsoring academic programs. Specialty tracks in chemical engineering are available in the following areas:

Microelectronics
Bio Engineering and Life Sciences
Polymer and Materials
Molecular Modeling
Environmental
Energy
Business and Economics

Details on recommended courses for each of these tracks can be obtained from the student’s academic advisor.

Requirements (Chemical Engineering)

Freshman Year

Chemical Engineering Students take the common core except they take Biological and Environmental Systems (BELS198) rather than Earth and Environmental Systems (SYGN101)

Sophomore Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

MACS213 Calculus for Sci.  & EngnÕrs III

 

4

 

4

PHGN200 Physics II

 

3.5

3

4.5

DCGN210 Introduction to  Thermodynamics

 

3

 

3

CHGN221 Organic Chemistry I

 

3

 

3

CHGN223  Organic Chemistry Lab I

   

3

1

PAGN201 Physical Education III

   

2

0.5

Total

     

16

Sophomore Year Spring Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

MACS315 Differential Equations

 

3

 

3

EBGN201 Principles of   Economics

 

3

 

3

ChEN201 Mass and Energy Balances

 

3

 

3

ChEN202 Chemical Process Principles Lab

   

1

1

CHGN222 Organic Chemistry II

 

3

 

3

EPIC251 Design II

 

2

3

3

PAGN202 Physical Education IV

   

2

0.5

Total

     

16.5

Junior Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

CHGN351 Physical Chemistry I

 

3

3

4

ChEN307 Fluid Mechanics

 

3

 

3

ChEN357 Chemical. Eng. Thermodynamics

 

3

 

3

SYGN200 Human Systems

 

3

 

3

Elective*

 

3

 

3

Total

     

16

Junior Year Spring Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN358 Chemical. Eng. Thermodynamics Lab

   

3

1

CHGN353 Physical Chemistry II

 

3

3

4

ChEN375 Chemical Eng. Mass Transfer

 

3

 

3

ChEN308 Chemical Eng. Heat Transfer

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective I

 

3

 

3

Elective*

 

3

 

3

Total

     

17

Summer Field Session

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN312/313 Unit Operations Laboratory

   

6

6

Total

     

6

Senior Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN418 Reaction Engineering

 

3

 

3

ChEN430 Transport Phenomena

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective II

 

3

 

3

Electives*

 

6

 

6

Total

     

15

Senior Year Spring Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN402 Chemical Engineering Design

 

3

 

3

ChEN403 Process Dynamics and Control

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective III

 

3

 

3

ChEN421 Engineering Economics

 

3

 

3

Elective*

 

3

 

3

Total

     

15

Degree total                                                                               134.5

*Two of the electives must be Chemical Engineering courses, one at the 400 level.

Requirements (Chemical and Biochemical Engineering)

Freshman Year

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Students take the common core except they take Biological and Environmental Systems (BELS198) rather than Earth and Environmental Systems (SYGN101)

Sophomore Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

MACS213 Calculus for Scientists& EngnÕrs III

 

4

 

4

PHGN200 Physics II

 

3.5

3

4.5

DCGN210 Introduction to     Thermodynamics

 

3

 

3

CHGN221 Organic Chemistry I

 

3

 

3

CHGN223  Organic Chemistry     Lab I

   

3

1

PAGN201 Physical Education III

   

2

0.5

Total

     

16

Sophomore Year Spring Sem.ester

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

 

MACS315 Differential Equations

 

3

 

3

EBGN201 Principles of   Economics

 

3

 

3

ChEN201 Mass and Energy Balances

 

3

 

3

ChEN202 Chemical Process Principles Lab

 

 

1

1

CHGN222 Organic Chemistry II

 

3

 

3

EPIC251 Introduction to BCE Design

 

2

3

3

PAGN202 Physical Education IV

   

2

0.5

Total

     

16.5

Junior Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

CHGN351 Physical Chemistry I

 

3

3

4

ChEN307 Fluid Mechanics

 

3

 

3

ChEN357 Chemical. Eng. Thermodynamics

 

3

 

3

SYGN200 Human Systems

 

3

 

3

Elective

 

3

 

3

Total

     

17

Junior Year Spring Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN358 Chemical. Eng. Thermodynamics Lab

 

3

1

 

ChEN375 Chemical Eng. Mass Transfer

 

3

 

3

ChEN308 Chemical Eng. Heat Transfer

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective I

 

3

 

3

CHGN428 Introduction to Biochemistry

 

3

 

3

CHGN462 Microbiology

 

3

 

3

Total

     

16

Summer Field Session

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN312/313 Unit Operations Laboratory

   

6

6

Total

     

6

Senior Year Fall Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN418 Reaction Engineering

 

3

 

3

ChEN430 Transport Phenomena

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective II

 

3

 

3

ChEN460  Bioprocess Engineering

 

3

 

3

ChEN461  Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory

   

3

1

Elective

 

3

 

3

Total

     

16

Senior Year Spring Semester

 

lec.

lab.

sem.hrs.

ChEN402 Chemical Engineering Design

 

3

 

3

ChEN403 Process Dynamics and Control

 

3

 

3

LAIS/EBGN H&SS Elective III

 

3

 

3

ChEN421 Engineering Economics

 

3

 

3

Elective

 

3

 

3

Total

     

15

Degree total                                                                               134.5

 

Chemical Engineering Department

Sophomore Year

ChEN200. COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Fundamentals of computer programming as applied to the solution of chemical engineering problems. Introduction to Visual Basic, computational methods and algorithm development. Prerequisite: MACS112 or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN201. MATERIAL AND ENERGY BALANCES Introduction to the principles of conservation of mass and energy. Applications to chemical processing systems. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisite: MACS315 (co-requisite), DCGN210 or DCGN209 or consent of instructor. Co-requisite ChEN202. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN202. CHEMICAL PROCESS PRINCIPLES LABORATORY Laboratory measurements dealing with the first and second laws of thermodynamics, calculation and analysis of experimental results, professional report writing. Introduction to computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisites: DCGN210 or DCGN209; corequisites: ChEN201, MACS315 or consent of instructor. 3 hours laboratory; 1 credit hour.

ChEN250. INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DESIGN.  Introduction to chemical process industries and how analysis and design concepts guide the development of new processes and products.  Use of simple mathematical models to describe the performance of common process building blocks including pumps, heat exchangers, chemical reactors, and separators.  Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in DCGN 210 or consent of instructor.  3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN272/MTGN272.  PARTICULATE MATERIALS PROCESSING.  Field session.  Characterization and production of particles.  Physical and interfacial phenomena associated with particulate processes.  Applications to metal and ceramic power processing.  Laboratory projects and plant visits.  Prerequisites:  DCGN210 or DCGN209 and PHGN200.  3 weeks; 3 semester hours.

Junior Year

ChEN307. FLUID MECHANICS Theory and application of momentum transport and fluid flow in chemical engineering. Fundamentals of microscopic phenomena and application to macroscopic systems. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisite: ChEN201, MACS315. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN308. HEAT TRANSFER Theory and applications of energy transport: conduction, convection and radiation. Funda­mentals of microscopic phenomena and application to macroscopic systems. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisite: ChEN201, ChEN307, MACS315, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture;
3 semester hours.

ChEN311/MTGN311.  STRUCTURE OF MATERIALS.  Principles of crystallography and crystal chemistry.  Characterization of crystalline materials using X-ray diffraction techniqures.  Applications to include compound identification, lattice parameter measurement, orientation of single crystals and crystal structure determination.  Laboratory experiments to supplement the lectures.  Prerequisites:  PHGN200

ChEN312/313. UNIT OPERATIONS LABORATORY. Field Session (WI) Principles of mass, energy, and momentum transport as applied to laboratory-scale processing equipment. Written and oral communications skills. Aspects of group dynamics, teamwork, and critical thinking. Prerequisite: ChEN201, ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, ChEN375, EPIC251.  6 hours lab; 6 semester hours.

ChEN334/MTGN334.  CHEMICAL PROCESSING OF MATERIALS.  Development and application of fundamental principles related to the processing of metals and materials by thermochemical and aqueous and fused salt electrochemical/chemical routes. The course material is presented within the framework of a formalism that examines the physical chemistry, thermodynamics, reaction mechanisms and kinetics inherent to a wide selection of chemical-processing systems. This general formalism provides for a transferable knowledge-base to other systems not specifically covered in the course.  Prerequisite: ChEN357. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN340. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION Cooperative work/education experience involving employment of a chemical engineering nature in an internship spanning at least one academic semester. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 1 to 3 semester hours.

ChEN350. HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Scholarly research of an independent nature. Prerequisite: junior standing, consent of instructor. 1 to 3 semester hours.

ChEN351. HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Scholarly research of an independent nature. Prerequisite: junior standing, consent of instructor. 1 to 3 semester hours.

ChEN357. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS Fundamentals of thermodynamics for application to chemical engineering processes and systems. Phase and reaction equilibria. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Integrated laboratory experiments. Prerequisite: DCGN210 or DCGN209, ChEN201, MACS315, or consent of instructor. Corequisite: ChEN358. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN348/MTGN348. MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT.  (WI) Introduction to the relationships between microstructure and properties of materials, with emphasis on metals. Fundamentals of imperfections in crystalline materials, phase equlibria, recrystallization and grain growth, strengthening mechanisms, and phase transformations. Laboratory sessions devoted to experiments illustrating the fundamentals presented in the lectures. Prerequisites: MTGN311 and ChEN357. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab; 4 semester hours.

ChEN358. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY Laboratory measurement, calculation and analysis of physical properties, phase equilibria and reaction equilibria and their application to chemical engineering. Relevant aspects of computer-aided simulation. Prerequisites: DCGN210 or DCGN209, ChEN201, MACS315, or consent of instructor. Corequisite: ChEN357. 3 hours laboratory; 1 semester hour.

ChEN375. MASS TRANSFER Fundamentals of stage-wise and diffusional mass transport with applications to chemical engineering systems and processes. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisite: ChEN201, ChEN357, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN398. SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Topical courses in chemical engineering of special interest. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 1 to 6 semester hours.

ChEN399. INDEPENDENT STUDY Individual research or special problem projects. Topics, content, and credit hours to be agreed upon by student and supervising faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and department head, submission of Independent Study form to CSM Registrar. 1 to 6 semester hours.

Senior Year

ChEN402. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN (WI) Advanced computer-aided process simulation and process optimization. Prerequisite: ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, ChEN375, or consent of instructor. Co-requisite: ChEN418, ChEN421. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN403. PROCESS DYNAMICS AND CONTROL Mathematical modeling and analysis of transient systems. Applications of control theory to response of dynamic chemical engineering systems and processes. Prerequisite: ChEN201, ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN375, MACS315, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN408. NATURAL GAS PROCESSING Application of chemical engineering principles to the processing of natural gas. Emphasis on using thermodynamics and mass transfer operations to analyze existing plants. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisites: CHGN221, ChEN201, ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, ChEN375, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture, 3 semester hours.

ChEN409. PETROLEUM PROCESSES Application of chemical engineering principles to petroleum refining. Thermodynamics and reaction engineering of complex hydrocarbon systems. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation for complex mixtures. Prerequisite: CHGN221, ChEN201, ChEN357, ChEN375, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN415/CHGN430/MLGN530. POLYMER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Chemistry and thermodynamics of polymers and polymer solutions. Reaction engineering of polymerization. Characterization techniques based on solution properties. Materials science of polymers in varying physical states. Processing operations for polymeric materials and use in separations. Prerequisite: CHGN221, MACS315, ChEN357, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN416. POLYMER ENGINEERING AND TECH­NOLOGY Polymer fluid mechanics, polymer rheological response, and polymer shape forming. Definition and measurement of material properties. Interrelationships between response functions and correlation of data and material response. Theoretical approaches for prediction of polymer properties. Processing operations for polymeric materials; melt and flow instabilities. Prerequisite: ChEN307, MACS315, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN418. REACTION ENGINEERING (WI) Applications of the fundamentals of thermodynamics, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry to the engineering of reactive processes. Reactor design; acquisition and analysis of rate data; heterogeneous catalysis. Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisite: ChEN201, ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, MACS315, CHGN221, CHGN351, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN420. MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Formulation and solution of chemical engineering problems using exact analytical solution methods. Set-up and solution of ordinary and partial differential equations for typical chemical engineering systems and transport processes. Prerequisite: MACS315, ChEN201, ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN375, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN421. ENGINEERING ECONOMICS Economic analysis of engineering processes and systems. Interest, annuity, present value, depreciation, cost accounting, investment accounting and financing of engineering enterprises along with taxation, market evaluation and break-even analysis. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN430. TRANSPORT PHENOMENA Theory and chemical engineering applications of momentum, heat, and mass transport. Set up and solution of problems involving equations of motion and energy. Prerequisite: ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, ChEN375, MACS315, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

ChEN435/PHGN435. INTERDISCIPLINARY MICROELECTRONICS PROCESSING LABORATORY (II) ­Application of science and engineering principles to the ­design, fabrication, and testing of microelectronic devices. Emphasis on specific unit operations and the interrelation among processing steps. Prerequisites: Senior standing in PHGN, ChEN, MTGN, or EGGN. Consent of instructor. Due to lab space the enrollment is limited to 20 students. 1.5 hours lecture, 4 hours lab; 3 semester hours.

ChEN440. MOLECULAR PERSPECTIVES IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Applications of statistical and quantum mechanics to understanding and prediction of equilibrium and transport properties and processes. Relations between microscopic properties of materials and systems to macroscopic behavior. Prerequisite: ChEN307, ChEN308, ChEN357, ChEN375, CHGN351 and 353, CHGN221 and 222, MACS315, or consent of instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours

ChEN450. HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Scholarly research of an independent nature. Prerequisite: senior standing, consent of instructor. 1 to 3 semester hours.

ChEN451. HONORS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Scholarly research of an independent nature. Prerequisite: senior standing, consent of instructor. 1 to 3 semester hours.

ChEN460 BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING. The analysis and design of biochemical unit operations and processes used in conjunction with bioreactors are investigated in this course. Industrial enzyme technologies are developed and explored. A strong focus is on the basic processes for producing bioethanol and biodiesel. Biochemical systems for organic oxidation and fermentation and inorganic oxidation and reduction will be presented. Prerequisites: ChEN375, CHGN428, and CHGN462 or consent of the instructor. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.

CHEN461 BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY. Laboratory measurement, calculation and analysis of processes including separations and reaction equilibria and their application to biochemical engineering.  Relevant aspects of computer-aided process simulation. Prerequisites:  CHEN375, CHGN428 and CHGN462 or consent of instructor.  Co-requisite, CHEN460. 1 credit hour; 3 hours laboratory.

ChEN498. SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Topical courses in chemical engineering of special interest. Prerequisite: consent of instructor; 1 to 6 semester hours.

ChEN499. INDEPENDENT STUDY Individual research or special problem projects. Topics, content, and credit hours to be agreed upon by student and supervising faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and department head, submission of Independent Study form to CSM Registrar. 1 to 6 semester hours.

 

 

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