Undergraduate Studies

Program Educational Objectives and Outcomes

The School of Chemical Engineering is part of the mission of Cornell University:

In keeping with the founding vision of Ezra Cornell, our community fosters personal discovery and growth, nurtures scholarship and creativity across a broad range of common knowledge, and engages men and women from every segment of society in this quest. We pursue understanding beyond the limitations of existing knowledge, ideology, and disciplinary structure. We affirm the value to individuals and society of the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit.

Our faculty, students, alumni, and staff strive toward these objectives in a context of freedom with responsibility. We foster initiative, integrity, and excellence, in an environment of collegiality, civility and responsible stewardship. As the land grant university of the State of New York, we apply the results of our endeavors in service to our alumni, the community, the state, the nation and the world.

Our Program Educational Objectives are consistent with the goals of Cornell University and its Engineering College and are designed to meet the needs of our constituents: our graduates, the employers of our graduates, the graduate study programs that our graduates enter, and society in general.

Objective 1

To teach our students to analyze and design chemical processes that span molecular to macroscopic scales. To this end, our students will demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Knowledge of fundamentals in chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
2. Ability to write computing algorithms and apply software packages.
3. Ability to develop engineering models by integrating fundamentals of science with mathematics and programming.
4. Ability to define engineering problems, explore solutions, and critically analyze to achieve a practical solution.
5. Command of chemical engineering fundamentals including mass and energy balances, chemical thermodynamics, mass and energy transport, and chemical kinetics.
6. Understanding of chemical engineering unit operations including separation processes, heat exchangers, chemical reactors.
7. Ability and conduct laboratory experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
8. Knowledge in a specialized technical elective area, such as biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, process control, polymer processing, semiconductor processing, or air pollution control.
9. Ability to integrate unit operations into a functional chemical process, with regard to process control, economic efficiency, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Objective 2

To teach our students interpersonal skills necessary in a professional environment. To this end, our students will demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Ability accomplish engineering goals through teamwork.
2. Ability to lead a team, allocate tasks, and assemble results.
3. Ability to communicate effectively by written, graphical, and spoken means.

Objective 3

To provide a liberal education in humanities and history. To this end, our students will demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Understanding and appreciation of cultural aspects of society.
2. Ability to assess the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
3. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility of engineering practice.
4. Knowledge of contemporary issues.

Objective 4

To create scholars and professionals. To this end, our students will demonstrate the following outcomes:

1. Commitment to excellence and integrity.
2. Confidence in self-instruction as a preparation for life-long learning.
3. Sense of duty to their professional community.