What is a Chemical Engineering Major?
Run-of-the-mill chemists develop new compounds and determine the structures and properties of things that already exist. You knew that. Chemical Engineering is different from and more complicated than chemistry because it emphasizes the commercial applications of chemical reactions; it involves harnessing chemical reactions to produce things people want. It's a very broad field that overlaps considerably with other branches of engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry.
If you major in Chemical Engineering, you'll learn how to reorganize the structure of molecules and how to design chemical processes through which chemicals, petroleum, foods, and pharmaceuticals can undergo. You'll learn how to build and operate industrial plants where raw materials are chemically altered. You'll learn how to keep the environment safe from potential pollution and hazardous waste, too.
Chemical Engineering is not an easy major (at all), but if you can make it through to graduation day, you'll be in demand. Paper mills, manufacturers of fertilizers, pharmaceutical companies, plastics makers, and tons of other kinds of firms will be looking for just your expertise, and they'll pay you pretty handsomely for it. You should also know that, traditionally, more Chemical Engineering majors obtain master's and doctoral degrees than students in almost any other engineering field, and that this major makes for a wonderful stepping stone to both law and medicine.
- $30,240 Tuition
- 1260 Avg SAT
- 24,931 Enrolled
- $67,446 Tuition
- 1260 Avg SAT
- 3,846 Enrolled
- $58,058 Tuition
- 1290 Avg SAT
- 2,513 Enrolled
- $36,430 Tuition
- 1320 Avg SAT
- 21,653 Enrolled
- $44,620 Tuition
- 1220 Avg SAT
- 3,469 Enrolled
- $18,566 Tuition
- 1160 Avg SAT
- 44,045 Enrolled
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HIGH SCHOOl PREPARATION
A strong background in chemistry, biology, math, and physics is essential if you want to major in Chemical Engineering, as is extensive knowledge of computers and computer programming skills. Take A.P. chemistry, and take calculus or the highest-level math class that your high school offers.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS & CAREERS