Chemical Engineering

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: None.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: A cumulative GPA not less than 2.0 in required CHE courses not including technical electives.

Other Requirements: Chemical Engineering program requires that students have a PC-compatible laptop computer capable of running Mathcad ©, Microsoft Office © and Aspen ©. Visit the Maine College of Engineering and Computing website for recommended configuration details.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience:  CHE 479  

Contact Information:  Peter van Walsum, Interim Chair, 115 Jenness Hall, 581-2277, peter.vanwalsum@maine.edu

The mission of the Chemical Engineering program reflects the mission of Maine’s Land Grant University, specifically to provide teaching, research and public service in the discipline of chemical engineering. The goals of the program are to provide a high quality educational program 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.

Chemical Engineers design, operate and manage processes that transform raw materials into valuable products. In the design and operation of such facilities the optimal outcome supports profitable enterprises while minimizing environmental impact and safety hazards. Since chemical engineers are employed in many different industries, the basic training is general and not industry-specific.

The program educational objectives are that in the time frame of three to five years after graduation our students will:

• hold positions that utilize their engineering training and have advanced in their job responsibilities, or be pursuing postgraduate education.
• be working as engineering professionals, act ethically by adhering to standards and being committed to the health and safety of employees and the general population.
• be pursuing innovative solutions to current societal challenges and continue to improve themselves through a variety of learning opportunities.
• contribute to their employer and society by working effectively in the global economy, contribute to professional, civic, or governmental organizations, be leading or working collaboratively in teams, and be communicating with diverse groups.

Upon completion of the program, our students will be able to:

• identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• apply engineering fundamentals to design solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• develop and conduct appropriate experiments, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Program Description

The program provides a broad base of knowledge for engineering practice in today’s society. The curriculum includes core courses in engineering, mathematics and science combined with electives in engineering, humanities, and social sciences. The engineering courses follow the “process engineering” approach. The required courses cover both the scientific foundations of the subject and the relevant engineering sciences such as stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics and unit operations. Economics and process design are learned in the senior year. Technical electives in the junior and senior years give students the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge in areas of interest. Additional information about the program is available on the Web at http://www.umche.maine.edu/chb/

The department offers a concentration for students who are interested in pulp and paper management. Additionally, UMaine’s Maine College of Engineering and Computing offers a Biomedical Engineering Minor, a five-year BS-MBA degree with the Maine Business School, as well as a minor in Engineering Leadership and Management.

Students intending to apply for admission to Medical School may consider completing a Minor in Pre-Medical Studies. Coursework in addition to the Chemical Engineering requirements is required. Some of these courses can be used to fulfill the technical elective requirements. For more details on the Pre-Medical Minor, click on the following link:  Pre-Medical Studies Minor  

The undergraduate program prepares students for immediate employment as well as graduate and professional studies. The degrees of Master of Science (Chemical Engineering) and Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering) are also offered in the Department. Several assistantships are available. The program is described in the University of Maine Graduate School online Catalog and on the Web.

The program in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

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 involves two fourteen-week sessions of paid, supervised professional experience as a junior engineer. The Co-Op sessions are typically scheduled during alternating semesters of the third year with a semester of coursework between the sessions. Students are able to participate in the Co-Op experience and still graduate in four years by scheduling one of the third-year semesters of coursework during a summer term. Students participating in Co-Op must register for CHE 494, but these credits cannot be substituted for the courses required for the BS degree. Students who do 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. This 200-level course is allowed to satisfy a technical elective requirement for those students.

Employment Opportunities
Chemical Engineering graduates find employment in all the major process industries: petroleum refining, petrochemicals, commodity or specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food processing, polymers, 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 Chemical Engineering undergraduates enjoy some degree of scholarship support. Students should inquire at the Office of Student Financial Aid to learn about opportunities. Additionally, the following scholarships are offered by the department on a competitive basis:

Eileen M. Byrnes Scholarship
S.T. Han Memorial Scholarship

In addition, the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation supports many undergraduate students with scholarships. Entry scholarships are offered to competitive first-year students based on their high school records. For more information about the opportunities, contact the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation, https://umaineppf.org/ , or call 207-581-2297.