Chemical Engineers are concerned primarily with the design, operation and
management of processing systems to alter and upgrade raw materials into
products that are more useful to society (and therefore more valuable). In the
design and operation of such facilities two competing concerns are generally
paramount: the need to minimize both costs and environmental impact. Since
chemical engineers are employed in many different industries, the basic
training is general and not industry-specific.
The mission of the Chemical Engineering program is to provide education,
research and public service in chemical engineering. The goals of the program
are to provide high quality educational programs at both the undergraduate and
postgraduate levels; to conduct research projects that further fundamental
understanding and address practically relevant problems; to act as a center of
technical expertise and service to industry and to government agencies that
may require assistance in the general area of chemical engineering; and to
sustain our established strength as a center of excellence for teaching,
research and service in areas related to the pulp and paper industry. More
information about chemical engineering can be found on our web site
http://www.umecheme.maine.edu/che
Program Description
The BS program in chemical engineering is broadly based and built on a
thorough grounding in mathematics, physics and chemistry followed by the study
of thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics and unit operations. Economics,
process design and more specialized technical electives are studied during the
final year. With the exception of BIO 100 (which is required for BLE students)
the chemical engineering (CHE) and biological engineering (BLE) programs are
common for the first five terms. This means that students who are undecided
between CHE and BLE can defer their decision until the second term of the
junior year.
Key objectives of the program are to develop analytical and problem solving
skills, communication skills and a level of general education that will allow
the graduate to function effectively as a chemical engineer in the
twenty-first century. The specific educational objectives of the program are:
- To provide students with a sound foundation in the principles of
chemical engineering and an understanding of the scientific principles on
which chemical engineering is based.
- To assist students to develop their problem solving skills so that they
learn how to apply chemical engineering principles to the solution of
practical problems.
- To assist students in developing their communication skills so that they
learn how to present complex ideas in a clear, logical and concise way, both
orally and in writing.
- To provide students with practical laboratory training and with the
opportunity to participate in the CHE cooperative education program and thus
to gain experience and understanding of chemical engineering practice.
- To provide students with the broad educational background needed to
understand how our society functions and to appreciate their legal and
ethical responsibilities.
- To assist students to develop their teamwork skills.
- To introduce students to the application of modern computer software,
including advanced process simulation programs, to the solution of chemical
engineering problems.
The program, which requires successful completion of 130 credits of course
work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in the major, can
be completed in four academic years of full time study. It is accredited by
the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Cooperative “Work-Experience” Program Option in Chemical Engineering
Students with satisfactory academic standing at the end of their fourth
semester may elect to participate in the “Co-Op” program. This fifteen month
program, which is undertaken during the junior year, involves a combination
of two fourteen week periods of supervised (paid) professional experience as
a junior engineer separated by a regular academic term and either followed
or preceded by a summer term at Orono. Participating students must register
for six credits but, in general, these cannot be substituted for the courses
required for the BS degree. Student who plan to take their co-op work
experience within the Pulp and Paper sector are strongly advised to take the
Introductory course PPA 264 prior to their first co-op term. For such
students this course will be considered as a technical elective.
Employment Opportunities
Chemical Engineering graduates find employment in all the major process
industries: petroleum refining, petrochemicals, commodity chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, extractive metallurgy, production of semiconductors and the
pulp and paper industry. Job functions cover a wide range of activities
including research and development, process design, control, operation and
management of production facilities and technical sales.
Scholarships
Many of the Chemical Engineering undergraduates enjoy some degree of
scholarship support. The following (unrestricted) awards are offered on a
competitive basis:
Eileen M. Burns Scholarship
Charles A. Brautlecht Scholarship
Omar F. and Lenora L. Tarr Memorial Scholarship
S.T. Han Memorial Scholarship
Louis Calder Foundation Scholarship
Thomas and John Mangan Scholarship
In addition the Pulp and Paper Foundation offers merit based scholarships to
students who intend to seek careers in the pulp and paper or related
industries. Further information can be obtained from Peter Duncan, Executive
Director, UM Pulp and Paper Foundation, Jenness Hall, Orono 04469-5737.
Phone (207) 581-2298. FAX (207) 581-2000, email:
woodcock@maine.edu
The University of Maine The University of Maine
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