Undergraduate Studies

The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers students many course options to meet their interests and academic needs. For more information about available courses in the School please visit the websites of the courses listed below or the Courses of Study website. You may also wish to explore the courses available across the University.

Please note, course numbers prior to Fall 2008 are listed in parentheses [e.g. CHEME 3010(301)].

ENGRI/CHEME 1120(112) - Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Limited to freshmen. T. M. Duncan.
Design and analysis of processes involving chemical change. Students learn strategies for design, such as creative thinking, conceptual blockbusting, and (re)definition of the design goal, in the context of contemporary chemical and biomolecular engineering. Includes methods for analyzing designs, such as mathematical modeling, empirical analysis by graphics, and dynamic scaling through dimensional analysis, to assess product quality, economics, safety, and environmental issues.

ENGRD 2190(219) - Mass and Energy Balances (also CHEME 9190[219])
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Corequisite: physical chemistry or permission of instructor. S. Daniel.
Engineering problems involving material and energy balances. Batch and continuous reactive systems in the steady and unsteady states. Introduction to phase equilibria for multicomponent systems.

CHEME 3130(313) - Thermodynamics
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: physical chemistry II. T. Hanrath.
A study of the first and second laws and their consequences for chemical systems. Thermodynamic properties of pure fluids, solids, and mixtures; phase and chemical reaction equilibrium; heat effects in batch and flow processes; and power cycles and refrigeration.

CHEME 3240(324) - Heat and Mass Transfer
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3230. A.D. Stroock.
Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer. Macroscopic and microscopic balances. Applications to problems involving conduction, convection, and diffusion.

CHEME 4010(401) - Molecular Principles of Biomedical Engineering (also BME 3010[301])
Spring. 3 credits. D.A. Putnam.
For description, see BME 3020.

CHEME 4130 - Introduction to Nuclear Science and Engineering (also TAM 4130, AEP 4130, ECE 4130, NSE 4130 and MAE 4130)
Fall. 3 credits. B. Cady.
For description, see TAM 4130.

ChHEME 4320(432) - Chemical Engineering Laboratory
Fall. 4 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3230, 3240, 3320, and 3900. A. M. Center and staff.
Laboratory experiments in fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, separations, other operations. Correlation and interpretation of data. Technical report writing.

CHEME 4720(472) - Feedback Control Systems (also ECE 4720[472], MAE 4780[478])
Fall. 4 credits. Prerequisites: CHEME 3720, ECE 2200, MAE 3260 or permission of instructor.
For description, see MAE 4780.

CHEME 4840(484) - Microchemical and Microfluidic Systems
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3900 or permission of instructor. J.R. Engstrom
Principles of chemical kinetics, thermodyna-mics, and transport phenomena applied to microchemical and microfluidic systems. Applications in distributed chemical production, portable power, micromixing, separations, and chemical and biological sensing and analysis. Fabrication approaches (contrasted with microelectronics), transport phenomena at small dimensions, modeling challenges, system integration, case studies.

CHEME 4900(490) - Undergraduate Projects in Chemical Engineering
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Research or studies on special problems in chemical engineering.

CHEME 4990(499) - Senior Seminar
Fall, Spring. 1 credit. Prerequisite: CHEME seniors. Staff.
Students attend seminars of their selection and write one-page summaries. Eligible seminars include all listings at “Colloquia and Seminars in Physics and Related Fields” which includes the weekly seminars in, for example, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, History and Ethics of Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering.

CHEME 5200(520) - An Overview of Chemical Processing
Spring, first third of semester. Limited to nonchemical engineers. 1 credit. T. M. Duncan.

CHEME 5204(524) - Turbomachinery Applications (module)
Fall, last third of semester. 1 credit. A.M. Center.
Introduction to pumps, compressors, steam turbines, and gas turbines. How they are specified and selected for services in the chemical industries.

CHEME 5206(526) - Hydrocarbon  Resource Exploration and Development (module)
Fall. second third of semester. 1 credit. A.M. Center
An examination of hydrocarbon resource formation, geology, exploration, drilling, development and initial processing prior to shipment.

CHEME 5207(527) - Introduction to Petroleum Refining (module)
Fall, second third of semester. 1 credit. A.M. Center.
Covers the petroleum refining industry including crude oil evaluation, fuel quality, refining processes, refinery configurations, and refinery economics.

CHEME 5208(528) - Renewable Resources from Agriculture-Sugarcane as a Feedstock (module)
Fall, last third of semester. 1 credit. A.M. Center
Maximizing the value of a renewable resource by control inputs and final product use.

CHEME 5430(543) Biomolecular Engineering of Bioprocesses
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3900 or permission of instructor. No prior background in biological sciences required. M.P. DeLisa.
Discusses principles involved in using biomolecules (e.g. antibodies, enzymes, DNA) and living organisms (e.g. bacteria, yeast, tissue cultures) for engineering biological processes. Primary emphasis is on development and production of pharmaceuticals, but biological waste treatment and medical systems are also considered.

CHEME 5650(565) - Design Project
Fall, spring. 3 or 6 credits. Requirement for Chemical Engineering M.Eng. students.
Design study and economic evaluation of a chemical processing facility, alternative methods of manufacture, raw-material preparation, food processing, waste disposal, or some other aspect of chemical processing.

CHEME 5720(572) - Managing New Business Development
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisites: graduate standing or permission of instructor. A.M. Center.
Case study approach introducing the typical fundamental factors driving a business venture, examines how to develop implementation strategies for the venture, and teaches the project management skills necessary to successfully implement the venture.

CHEME 5870(587) - Energy Seminar I (MAE 5450, ECE 5870)
Fall. 1 credit. D. Hammer and A.J. Hunter.
For description, see ECE 5870.

CHEME 5880 - Energy Seminar II (also MAE 5460, ECE 5880)
Fall. 1 credit. D. Hammer and A.J. Hunter.
For description, see ECE 5880.

CHEME 5999(590) - Special Projects in Chemical Engineering
Fall, spring. Variable credit. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Nonthesis research or studies on special problems in chemical engineering.

CHEME 6240 - Physics of Micro- and Nanoscale Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisites: undergraduate fluid or continuum mechanics (e.g. MAE 3230, CHEME 3230, AEP 4340) or permission of instructor. B.L. Kirby .
For description, see MAE 5240.

CHEME 6310(631) - Engineering Principles of Drug Delivery (also BME 6310[631])
Fall. 3 credits. C. Cohen.
For description, see BME 6310.

CHEME 6400(640) - Polymeric Materials
Fall. 3 credits. C. Cohen.
Covers chemistry and physics of the formation and characterization of polymers; principles of fabrication.

CHEME 6440(644) - Aerosols and Colloids
Fall. 3 credits. D. Koch.
Dynamics of micro- and nano-particles, which contain many molecules but are small enough that molecular effects are important. Topics include the formation and growth of particles; their transport, rheological, and phase behaviors; and their role in technologies including paints, foods, health-care products, drug delivery, composite materials, and air pollution control.

CHEME 6640(664) - Energy Economics
Fall. 3 credits. A.J. Hunter.
Supply and demand for energy by sectors and regions. Operating systems and costs. Economics drivers used in simulating energy systems and consumption factors. Supply/demand projections. Interplay between energy, environment, politics, economics, and sustainability.

CHEME 7110(711) - Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEM 3890-3900 and CHEME 3130 or equivalent. F.A. Escobedo.
Molecular thermodynamics of gases, lattices, and liquids, including special applications to problems in chemical engineering.

CHEME 7310(731) - Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisites: CHEME 3230-3240 or equivalent. Y.L. Joo.
Topics include derivation of conservation equations; conductive heat transfer; low Reynolds number fluid dynamics; lubrication theory; inviscid fluid dynamics; boundary layer theory; forced convection; and introduction to non-Newtonian fluid mechanics (polymeric liquids and suspensions), microfluidics, stability analysis, and turbulent flow.

CHEME 7410(741) - Selected Topics in Biochemical Engineering
Fall, spring. 1 credit; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. D.A. Putnam and M.P. DeLisa.
Discussion of current topics and research in biochemical engineering for graduate students.

CHEME 7450(745) - Physical Polymer Science I
Fall. 3 credits. Corequisite: CHEME 7110 or equivalent. Offered alternate years; next offered 2008-2009. L.A. Archer.
Thermodynamic properties of solutions from both classical and scaling approaches. Characterization techniques of dilute solutions. Rubber elasticity; mechanical and thermodynamic properties of gels; polymer melts.

CHEME 7510(751) - Mathematical Methods of Chemical Engineering Analysis
Fall. 4 credits. Staff.
Application of advanced mathematical techniques to chemical engineering analysis. Mathematical modeling, scaling, regular and singular perturbations, multiple scales, asymptotic analysis, linear and nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations, statistics, data analysis, and curve fitting.

CHEME 7530(753) - Anaylsis of Nonlinear Systems: Stability, Bifurcation, and Continuation
Fall. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 7510 or equivalent. Offered alternate years; next offered 2008-2009. P.H. Steen.
Topics include elements of stability and bifurcation theory; branch-following techniques; stability of discrete and continuous systems; and application to elasticity, reaction-diffusion, and hydrodynamic systems using software for continuation problems.

CHEME 7900(790) - Seminar
Fall, Spring. 1 credit each semester. Requirement for all graduate students in field of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
General chemical engineering seminar.

CHEME 7920(792) - Principles and Practices of Graduate Research
Fall. 1 credit. M.P. DeLisa and A.D. Stroock.
A colloquium/discussion group series for first-year graduate students. Topics include the culture and responsibilities of graduate research and the professional community; the mechanics of conducting research (experimental design, data analysis, serendipity in research, avoiding self-deception), documenting research (lab notebooks, computer files) and reporting research (writing a technical paper and oral presentations).

CHEME 8999(890) - Thesis Research
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Thesis research for the M.S. degree in chemical engineering.

CHEME 9999(990) - Thesis Research
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Thesis research for the Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering.

CHEME 3230(323) - Fluid Mechanics
Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 2190 and engineering mathematics sequence. L.A. Archer.
Fundamentals of fluid mechanics. Macroscopic and microscopic balances. Applications to problems involving viscous flow.

ChemE 3320(332) - Analysis of Separation Processes
Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3130 and 3240. A.B. Anton.
Covers the analysis of separation processes involving phase equilibria and mass transfer. Topics include phase equilibria; equilibrium-based separations; rate-based separation processes (membrane separations, sorption operations); introduction to bioseparations and process simulators; choosing a separation option; and the design and synthesis of separation processes.

ChemE 3720(372) - Introduction to Process Dynamics and Control
Spring. 2 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3130 and 3230. Staff.
Modeling and analysis of the dynamics of chemical processes, Laplace transforms, block diagrams, feedback control systems, and stability analysis.

ChemE 3900(390) - Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Design
Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3130 and 3230. J. R. Engstrom.
A study of chemical reaction kinetics and principles of reactor design for chemical processes.

CHEME 4020(402) - Cellular Principles of Biomedical Engineering
Spring. 3 credits. D.A. Putnam.
For description, see BME 3020.

ChemE 4620(462) - Chemical Process Design
Spring. 4 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 4320. A. M. Center and staff.
Students prepare a full-scale feasibility study of a chemical process including product supply and demand forecasts, process design including reaction system design, separations scheme development, heat integration via application of pinch technology, and economic analysis of the process. Students develop presentation and teamwork skills through weekly presentations.

ChemE 4700(470) - Process Control Strategies
Spring. 3 credits. Al Center.
Introduction to how control concepts are represented, control valve sizing and selection, process control strategies, dynamic response of process systems as it relates to control loop tuning, statistical process control, advanced process control methods both for chemical and biological processes and programmable logic controllers and distributed control systems.

CHEME 4800(480) - Chemical Processing of Electronic Materials
Spring. 3 credits. A.B. Anton.
Introduction to chemical processing of semiconductor materials for the manufacture of microelectronic devices, with specific emphasis on thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and kinetics. Topics include semiconductor properties and behavior, microelectronic device operation, thermochemistry of deposition and etching reactions, vacuum transport, plasmas, PVD, oxidation, diffusion, CVD, and statistical process control.

CHEME 4810(481) - Biomedical Engineering (also BME 4810[481])
Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3240 or equivalent or permission of instructor. W. L. Olbricht.
Special topics in biomedical engineering, including cell separations, blood flow, design of artificial devices, biomaterials, image analysis, biological transport phenomena, pharmacokinetics and drug delivery, biomedical transducers (ECG and pace makers), and analysis of physiological processes such as adhesion, mobility, secretion, and growth.

CHEME 4900(490) - Undergraduate Projects in Chemical Engineering
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Research or studies on special problems in chemical engineering.

CHEME 4990(499) - Senior Seminar
Fall, spring. 1 credit. Prerequisite: CHEME seniors. Staff.
Students attend seminars of their selection and write one-page summaries. Eligible seminars include all listings at “Colloquia and Seminars in Physics and Related Fields” which includes the weekly seminars in, for example, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, History and Ethics of Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering.

CHEME 5200(520) - An Overview of Chemical Processing
Spring, first third of semester. Limited to nonchemical engineers. 1 credit. T. M. Duncan.
Introduction to chemical engineering design and anaylsis-mathermatical modeling, graphical methods, and dynamic scaling.

CHEME 5202(522) - Introduction to Electronic Materials Processing (module)
Spring, first third of semester. 1 credit. A.B. Anton
Meets concurrently with CHEME 4800.

CHEME 5203(523) - Introduction to Polymer Processing (module)
Spring, second third of semester. 1 credit. L.A. Archer.
Overview and simple quantitative analyses of several plastic processes with an emphasis on the role of rheology in polymer processing.

CHEME 5205(525) - Chemical Engineering Tools and Equipment (module)
Spring, first third of semester. 1 credit. A.M. Center.
Introduces the hardware used in chemical engineering processes and a discussion of how these mechanical devices are configured to meet their process objectives. Also includes an introduction to the evaluation techniques and trouble-shooting methods frequently used by chemical engineers.

CHEME 5640(564) - Design of Chemical Reactors
Spring, 3 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3900 or equivalent. D.L. Koch.
Design, scale-up, and optimization of chemical reactors with allowance for heat and mass trasnfer and non-deal flow patterns. Homework problems feature anaylsis of published data for gas-solid, gas-liquid, and three-phase reaction systems.

CHEME 5650(565) - Design Project
Fall, Spring. 3 or 6 credits. Requirement for Chemical Engineering M.Eng. students.
Design study and economic evaluation of a chemical processing facility, alternative methods of manufacture, raw-material preparation, food processing, waste disposal, or some other aspect of chemical processing.

CHEME 5999(590) - Special Projects in Chemical Engineering
Fall, Spring. Variable credit. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Nonthesis research or studies on special problems in chemical engineering.

CHEME 6610(661) - Air Pollution Control
Spring. 3 credits. P.H. Steen.
Covers origins of air pollutants, U.S. emissions standards, dispersion equations; design of equipment for removal of particulate and gaseous pollutants formed in combustion and chemical processing.

CHEME 6650(665) - Energy Engineering
Spring. 3 credits. A.J. Hunter.
Applying thermodynamic concepts to large energy systems. Future energy scenarios. Project teams tasked with simulating complex energy systems and cost-benefit analysis.

CHEME 7130(713) - Chemical Kinetics and Transport
Spring. 5 credits. Prerequisite: CHEME 3900 or equivalent. C. Cohen and A.D. Stroock.
Topics include microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints; connections between phenomenological chemical kinetics and molecular reaction dynamics; reaction cross sections, potential energy surfaces, and dynamics of biomolecular collisions; molecular beam scattering; transition state theory. Unimolecular reaction dynamics; complex chemically reacting systems: reactor stability, multiple steady states, oscillations, and bifurcation; reactions in heterogeneous media; and free-radical mechanisms in combustion and pyrolysis.

CHEME 7410(741) - Selected Topics in Biochemical Engineering
Fall, Spring. 1 credit; may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. D.A. Putnam and M.P. DeLisa.
Discussion of current topics and research in biochemical engineering for graduate students.

CHEME 7900(790) - Seminar
Fall, Spring. 1 credit each semester. Requirement for all graduate students in field of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
General chemical engineering semianr.

CHEME 8999(890) - Thesis Research
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Thesis research for the M.S. degree in chemical engineering.

CHEME 9999(990) - Thesis Research
Fall, Spring. Variable credit.
Thesis research for the Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering.