Undergraduate Program

The mission of the undergraduate program is to educate students in the scientific principles of chemical engineering and provide opportunities to explore their applications in the context of a humanistic education that prepares them to address technological and societal challenges.

In accordance with the mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and with the broader missions of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Lehigh University, the faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department has formulated the following Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the Undergraduate Program in Chemical Engineering will:

1. apply their broad education in chemical engineering to pursue careers in industry, government agencies, consulting firms, educational institutions, financial institutions, business, law, and medicine

2. engage in lifelong learning through graduate studies, research, and continuing education

3. be successful practitioners, innovators and leaders addressing technological and societal challenges

4. be sensitive to the social, ethical, and technical implications of their work as it affects the environment, safety, and health of citizens worldwide.

Chemical Engineers need a sound background in

  • the fundamental sciences of chemistry and physics
  • a working capability with mathematics, numerical methods, and application of computer solutions, and
  • a broad education in humanities, social sciences, and managerial techniques
These bases are applied in a sequence of chemical engineering courses in which creativity and applied mathematics are applied to chemical processing problems. Coupling precise thought to a broadly-based scientific and general education, Lehigh graduates have been effective throughout industry and in advanced professional education.

The program is also designed to prepare students for careers in industry as well as graduate study in chemical engineering, allowing them to participate in the technical development of the field. The increasing complexity of modern manufacturing methods requires superior education for men and women working in research, development, and the design fields or for teaching.

Requirements of the Major

133 credit hours are required for graduation with the degree of bachelor of science in chemical engineering. A typical schedule may be downloaded here. Additional details - such as a comprehensive course list - may be found at the Lehigh Course Catalog (2006 - 2007)

Special Programs and Opportunities

  • Co-op Program: The department, in conjunction with the College of Engineering and Applied Science, operates a cooperative program that is optional for specially selected students who are entering their junior year. This program affords early exposure to industry and an opportunity to integrate an academic background with significant periods of engineering practice. Our program is unique in offering two work experiences and still allowing the co-op students to graduate in four years with their class.
  • Study Abroad Program: Study abroad is available in exchange programs that have been established by the department for the junior year at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) and for the summer following the junior year at the University of Dortmund (Germany).
  • OSI: The Opportunities for Student Innovation (OSI) program develops students' abilities in critical assessment and innovative solution of industrially sponsored problems. The OSI program affords selected seniors an opportunity to experience team research leading toward technological benefits. Each project is hosted by a company and carried out under the supervision of a Lehigh faculty member.

Minors

  • Minor in Biotechnology: The department of Chemical Engineering encourages students to broaden their education by taking a minor. The Biotechnology minor requires 15 credit hours. A detailed listing of the required courses for the biotechnology minor can be obtained from the chemical engineering department.
  • Technical Minors: Technical minors are available in
    • computer science
    • environmental engineering
    • manufacturing systems
    • materials science and engineering, and
    • polymer science and engineering
Chemical Engineering also offers specialization certificates in
  • polymer science
  • biotechnology, and
  • process modeling and control
Minors are also available from the Business College and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Minor in Chemical Engineering

This program offers students of other disciplines specialized training in areas such as
  • bio-chemical systems
  • transport phenomena, and
  • reaction engineering
The chemical engineering minor is designed to help students in other disciplines communicate and cooperate with chemical engineers and increase their possibilities for employment.