Printer FriendlyStrong 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:
- Understand, analyze and design physical and chemical processes.
- Identify and solve chemical engineering problems.
- Be proficient in the oral and written communication of their work.
- Be proficient in the use of engineering tools and equipment.
- Learn and work independently, and practice leadership and teamwork in and across disciplines.
- Design and perform laboratory experiments to gather data, test theories and solve problems.
- Understand the safety and environmental consequences of their work.
- Understand the regional, global and societal impact of engineering problems and solutions.
- Be prepared for a lifetime of continuing education.
- Act in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
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.