Undergraduate students

ABET accreditation

Visit the VCU course database online for the most current undergraduate course descriptions:

Mission Statement

We will prepare the graduates of our program for a broad range of exciting professional opportunities in the chemical and life science industries or for advanced study in graduate school and other professional schools. To meet this goal we will present to our students a rigorous curriculum in the fundamentals of chemical and life science engineering that builds on the course work they will receive in the sciences of mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology. To better prepare our students to compete and contribute to society, we will foster a pedagogical approach that promotes teamwork, communication and entrepreneurial skills.

Program objectives

1. Competency

Graduates of our program will solve a variety of engineering problems in their professional setting with full regard and demonstrated command of the principles of the foundational disciplines of science and mathematics, including:

• mathematics and computing
• chemistry
• physics
• biology

2. Fluency

Graduates of our program will efficiently solve engineering problems in their professional setting utilizing the foundational chemical and life science engineering subject areas, including:

• mass, energy and economic balances
• thermodynamics
• transport phenomena
• unit processes
• kinetics and reaction engineering
• process design and control

3. Expertise

Graduates of our program will demonstrate the ability to communicate their engineering solutions to problems in chemical engineering to other professionals and to function in dynamic, interactive professional settings. Our third objective is to have our graduates in their professional settings to affirm not only their engineering skills, but also establish a commitment to:

• excellence in written and oral communications
• multidisciplinary problem solving and teamwork
• continuing education
• good business practice and ethics

Program Outcomes

• A. an ability to apply a knowledge of mathematics, engineering,physics, chemistry, and biology (C3.a).
• B. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (C3.b)
• C. 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. (C3.c).
• D. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams (C3.d).
• E. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve chemical and life science engineering problems (C3.e).
• F. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility (C3.f).
• G. an ability to communicate effectively (C3.g).
• H. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context (C3.h).
• I. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning (C3.i).
• J. a knowledge of contemporary issues (C3.j).
• K. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for chemical and life science engineering practice (C3.k).