Chemical engineering has become a highly diversified discipline. The program at the University is broadly based and builds upon a student's high school training in science and mathematics. It provides a fundamental base from which graduates can develop their skills by entering general engineering practice or pursuing an advanced degree.
The Department has many focus areas that reflect its strengths such as biotechnology, bioprocessing, advanced engineered materials, nuclear engineering, paper engineering and process controls. Students may select a basic chemical engineering curriculum or a more focused curriculum in biological, nanomaterials, nuclear or paper engineering stemming from the basic program.
The faculty are involved with University Centers and research facilities such as the Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center, the Toxic Use Reduction Institute, the Center for Advanced Materials, the University Research Nuclear Reactor. The Department has and is associated with several laboratories such as the biotechnology and bioprocessing laboratories, the ceramics laboratory, the advanced materials characterization laboratories, the pulp and paper testing laboratories and a computer laboratory.
The faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for research especially in the areas of bioprocessing and biotechnology, advanced materials, nuclear engineering and paper engineering.
Strong Foundation
The Chemical Engineering Program builds a strong foundation for the professional development of its students. With a bachelor’s degree, graduates are well equipped for a wide variety of positions as practicing chemical engineers or for graduate studies in engineering and science. To achieve these broad objectives, the program provides the knowledge, skills and resources for lifelong learning and professional development.
Educational Objectives
The program emphasizes its historic, nationally-recognized strength in processing and manufacturing and draws on the scholarly accomplishments of its faculty to integrate traditional chemical engineering topics with specialized studies in the contemporary fields of biological engineering, nanomaterials engineering, nuclear engineering and paper engineering. The goals of the program are to produce competent graduates that have a solid foundation in basic mathematics, science and engineering, have good analytical and problem solving abilities, are aware of the ethical implications of work in their profession and have the foundation and understand the need for life-long learning.
Program Outcomes
The Chemical Engineering Department integrates the knowledge and skills acquired in a rigorous set of courses and extracurricular experiences with the faculty scholarship and mentoring needed to enable the graduates of the program to:
An Undergraduate Focus with a Complementary Graduate Program
The Department of Chemical Engineering's primary focus is undergraduate education. The graduate program focuses on the strengths of the faculty and complements the undergraduate program. Faculty members have close ties with local and regional industry through consulting, research, advising graduate students from regional companies, and participation in local, as well as national professional society meetings. The department obtains input from its advisory board to continually assess the relevancy of the curriculum to the needs of industry.
Interaction with industry helps maintain and improve the quality of the department. Strong regional industry ties also help graduates who want to remain in New England find jobs in the region. Unlike other schools, courses are taught exclusively by faculty members. Graduate students are used only as laboratory and grading assistants.
