Chemical engineering concerns the design, scale-up, and operation of chemical processes, and the understanding and design of technologically useful materials. Chemical engineers are responsible for the economical, safe, and environmentally benign production of useful quantities of vital materials - from grams of a new drug to tons of a commodity chemical. Chemical engineers use these same skills to understand and manipulate natural processes, such as in biological systems. The program at UB is broadly based to prepare graduates for positions in engineering development, design, economic evaluation, sales, construction, production, and management. A number of undergraduates go on to graduate work and careers in research, and some pursue degrees in medicine, business, or law.
Students intending to major in chemical engineering should have strong backgrounds in chemistry and mathematics. Sophomore- and junior-year students take a combination of theoretical and applied courses in chemical engineering, in addition to several courses in physical and organic chemistry. The senior year extends this base and builds upon it with courses in systems, design and electives. Many of the courses are accompanied by laboratory sessions. Communication skills, both oral and written, are stressed through laboratory reports. Some senior students are exposed to research in a senior projects course; others obtain industrial experience through local internships or through the chemical engineering co-op program.
In 2003 the department changed its name (adding "Biological") to reflect the important and growing contributions that chemical engineers make in the field of biological applications. The profession is evolving to meet the increasing need for engineers who speak the languages of chemistry and biology, and who possess strong quantitative skills. Although the degree offered by the department is still in chemical engineering, several courses are offered to permit study of biological engineering, and there is even more opportunity to focus in biology through selection of electives following a Biological Engineering track.
Our curriculum is designed to meet several educational objectives, which are stated as goals and abilities we expect our graduates to achieve within a few years of the conferral of their degree. Our educational objectives read as follows:
Within a few years of obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University at Buffalo, the recent graduate:
Last updated: September 08, 2009 1:35 pm EST
