The Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Program at Clemson is praised for its research opportunities and small class sizes that provide greater possibilities for interaction between students and faculty.
Information on admission requirements, financial assistance, and academic policies and procedures as a student in ChBE can be found in the catalog and handbooks.
The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
B.S. Program
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers a B.S. degree that allows students to select from several emphasis areas or choose a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering; the concentration in Biomolecular Engineering can prepare a student for medical school or a career in biotechnology. Chemical engineering is based on chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. The curriculum highlights fundamental principles and current technology to prepare graduates for professional practice and professional growth.
Undergraduate Chemical Engineering majors who have completed at least 90 credit hours with a grade point ratio of 3.4 can begin work toward a combined B.S./M.S. in Chemical Engineering or an M.S. or M.ENGR in Environmental Engineering and Science.
Chemical engineers are involved in researching, manufacturing, sales, and using commodity and specialty chemicals, fuels, pharmaceuticals, electronic components, synthetic fibers and textiles, food and consumer goods, and many other products. They work on environmental pollution prevention and remediation and apply engineering science to solve medical and health-related problems.
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Emphasis Areas
The Chemical Engineering curriculum includes Emphasis Areas to allow students flexibility in selecting courses and planning their future careers. Students in this curriculum must declare an area of interest and plan a sequence of Emphasis Area courses in the Fall semester of the sophomore year. These initial plans can be modified later in consultation with an academic advisor.
Alternatively, students may elect to complete a minor or second major offered by Clemson, except the Chemistry Minor and the Cluster Minor, or students may enroll in the Biomolecular Concentration instead of an emphasis area.
Before graduation, each student in the regular Chemical Engineering curriculum must complete 9 credit hours of approved courses in one of 6 Emphasis Areas. A list of courses for each area can be found in the ChBE Undergraduate Student Handbook.
- Applied Engineering, Mathematics, and Science - Students must complete 1-3 engineering course(s), 0-2 mathematics course(s), and 0-1 science course from the lists below. Students who qualify for admission to the Combined B.S./M.S. program can also use graduate-level courses that apply toward the M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering to satisfy requirements in this Emphasis Area.
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering - Students must complete 1-2 science course(s) and 1-2 engineering course(s).
- Business Management - Students must take MGT 2010 (Principles of Management) plus two other courses.
- Energy Studies - Students must complete 9 credit hours.
- Environmental Engineering and Science - Students must complete 1 science or policy course and 2 engineering courses from the lists below. Students who qualify for admission to the Combined B.S./M.S. Program can also use graduate-level courses that apply toward the M.S. or MENGR degree in Environmental Engineering and Science to satisfy requirements in this Emphasis Area.
- Polymeric Materials - Students must complete the required 9 hours.
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ChBE Program Curriculum
First Semester Curriculum
All General Engineering students take the same classes their first term, regardless of their intended major. Coursework in the second term varies. Students should consult with a General Engineering advisor to determine appropriate courses.
- CH 1010 - General Chemistry (3)
- ENGL 1030 - Composition and Rhetoric (3)
- ENGR 1020 - Engineering Disciplines and Skills (3)
- MATH 1060 - Calculus of One Variable I (4)
- General Education Requirement - (3)
B.S. Chemical Engineering credit hours: 129
B.S. Chemical Engineering with Biomolecular Engineering Concentration credit hours: 130Combined B.S./M.S.
Qualified students can reduce the time to earn a master's degree by applying graduate credits to both the bachelor's and master's program requirements. Undergraduate Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or above and completed 90 credit hours can begin work toward a master's degree.
Emphasis Areas
The Chemical Engineering curriculum includes Emphasis Areas to allow students flexibility in selecting courses and planning their future careers. Students in this curriculum must declare an area of interest and plan a sequence of Emphasis Area courses in the Fall semester of the sophomore year.
- Applied Engineering, Mathematics, and Science
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering
- Business Management
- Energy Studies
- Environmental Engineering and Science
- Polymeric Materials
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Department Honors Program
Students in the Chemical Engineering Departmental Honors program will conduct a major research project under the direction of a faculty member and write an honors thesis. A project description and class timeline need to be completed.
In specific lab courses, students conduct research, write progress reports, and review their results periodically with their faculty advisor. Later, students present a seminar before faculty, graduate students and other honors students taking CHE 3000. In the last semester of the senior year, the student will write an honors thesis. With the approval of the faculty research advisor the exact timing of the honors sequence can be adjusted to accommodate students who are also involved in the cooperative education program.
Honors Theses are due to the departmental Honors Coordinator in the next to last week before finals week of the graduate year. Please have your Honors Thesis reviewed and approved by your mentor, ensuring that you follow the template guide.
Honors theses are bound, and a copy is lodged with the ChBE department's main office and the thesis mentor. An electronic copy of the honors theses MUST be deposited with the Clemson University Honors College. This must be lodged with the office by the end of finals week and BEFORE the last official day of school.
Honors Curriculum
- CHE 3000 Honors Seminar 1 (1)
- CHE 3950 Honors Research I 3 (9)
- CHE 4950 Honors Research II 3 (9)
- CHE 4970 Honors Thesis 1 (1)
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Applying to the B.S. or B.S./M.S. Program
Undergraduate Degree
Applicants will apply to Clemson as a first-year student if they are a student without college credit or if they earned college credit prior to high school graduation (dual credit, AP/IB credit).
After completing the core courses and requirements of the General Engineering program, students can initiate a Change of Academic Program request through iROAR. The minimum cumulative grade-point average is 2.00 to enter ChBE.
Combined B.S/M.S. Degree
Application for this combined degree program should occur by the end of the junior year, but no later than one semester before the expected B.S. graduation. Application details are available in the Academic Regulations section of the Graduate School Announcements.
How to Apply
Clemson University offers a Coalition Application, Clemson Application, and the Common Application. To learn more about the application process, deadlines, requirements and what to expect after applying, please visit our application guide.
The GS6-Bachelor-to-Graduate Plan form will serve as your application to the chemical engineering graduate program – no additional application is required. However, while the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not mandatory, some fellowship applications may require GRE scores.
