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  • Chemical Engineering

    Although chemical engineering has existed for only 100 years, its name is no longer completely descriptive of this dynamic profession. The work of the chemical engineer is not restricted to the chemical industry, chemical changes or chemistry. Instead, modern chemical engineers are concerned with all the physical, chemical and biological changes of matter that can produce an economic product or result that is useful to mankind.

    About this Major

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.


    Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan

    Overview

    The education of the chemical engineer is based on the fundamental sciences of physics, chemistry and biology, on mathematical and computer techniques, and on basic engineering principles. This background makes the chemical engineer extremely versatile and capable of working in a variety of industries: chemical, biochemical, petroleum, materials, microelectronics, environmental, food processing, consumer products, consulting and project management. It is also good preparation for law and medical schools.

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    Department Requirements

    Successful applicants must have earned a minimum 2.5 grade point average in the better of two attempts of the eight preprofessional courses and have earned a minimum grade point average in the better of two attempts of 2.5 in the preprofessional calculus course sequence.

    For the purposes of determining admission to or retention in the department, grade point averages will be based on no more than two attempts for each course. Students must maintain satisfactory progress (minimum GPA of 2.0) in chemical engineering courses and in their overall record.

    To proceed to succeeding courses, minimum grades of C are required in ECH 3023, ECH 3101, ECH 3203, ECH 3223, ECH 3264 and COT 3502 within two enrollments (including drops and/or withdrawals) for each course.

    Any course taken to satisfy a degree requirement (general education, required course or technical elective) with the exception of ECH4912, ECH 4948, and ECH 4949, cannot be taken S-U.

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    Educational Objectives

    Within a few years of obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida, the recent graduate will achieve one or more of the following:

    • Graduates will demonstrate professional engineering competence via promotions and/or positions of increasing responsibility.
    • Graduates will be successful in pursuing advanced degrees in chemical engineering or in other disciplines.
    • Graduates will be able to work in diverse professional environments as demonstrated in their pursuit of continuing education, professional certification/registration and/or career path into business, government, education, etc.

    The chemical industry alone provides an opportunity for the chemical engineer to participate in the research, development, design or operation of plants for the production of new synthetic fibers, plastics, chemical fertilizers, vitamins, antibiotics, rocket fuels, nuclear fuels, paper pulp, photographic products, paints, fuel cells, semiconductors and the thousands of chemicals that are used as intermediates in the manufacture of these products.

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    Goal

    To prepare students for lifelong careers in chemical engineering.

    Mission

    To offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs in chemical engineering and to conduct research that helps educate graduate students and serves the needs of Florida and the nation.

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    Critical Tracking

    Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
    • Complete 1 of 8 critical-tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts: CHM 2045 or CHM 2095, CHM 2046 or CHM 2096, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048, PHY 2049
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 2

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course with a minimum grade of C within two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 3

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.0 UF GPA required

    Semester 5

    • Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C in each course within two attempts and a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts.
    • 2.5 GPA in MAC 2311, MAC 2312 and MAC 2313 sequence based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses based on the best of two attempts
    • 2.0 UF GPA required
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    Model Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

    This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

    Semester 1 Credits
    ABE 2062 Biology for Engineers or
    BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1
    3
    CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 or
    CHM 2095 Chemistry for Engineers 1
    State Core GE-P
    3
    CHM 2045L General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
    GE-P
    1
    IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
    GE-H
    3​
    MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
    State Core GE-M
    4
    Total 14
    Semester 2 Credits
    CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 or
    CHM 2096 Chemistry for Engineers 2
    State Core GE-B/P
    3
    CHM 2046L General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
    GE-P
    1
    ​ENC 1101 Expository and Argumentative Writing
    State Core GE-C
    3​​
    MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
    GE-M
    4
    PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1
    GE-P
    3
    PHY 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 Laboratory
    GE-P
    1
    Total 15
    Semester 3 Credits
    ECH 3023 Material and Energy Balances
    Minimum grade of C required
    4
    MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 4
    MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations 3
    PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2
    GE-P
    ​3
    PHY 2049L Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2
    GE-P
    1
    Total 15
    Semester 4 Credits
    CHM 4411 Physical Chemistry 4
    COT 3502 Computer Model Formulation
    Minimum grade of C required
    4
    ECH 3264 Elementary Transport Phenomena
    Minimum grade of C required
    3
    ECH 4934 Professional Seminar 1
    STA 3032 Engineering Statistics 3
    Total 15
    Semester 5 Credits
    CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 3
    ENC 3246 Professional Communication for Engineers
    GE-C
    3
    Humanities
    State Core GE-H
    3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences
    State Core GE-S
    3
    Total 12
    Semester 6 Credits
    CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 2 3
    CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory ​2
    ECH 3101 Process Thermodynamics
    Minimum grade of C required
    3
    ECH 3203 Fluid and Solids Operations
    Minimum grade of C required
    3
    ECH 3223 Energy Transfer Operations
    Minimum grade of C required
    3
    Total 14
    Semester 7 Credits
    CGN 3710 Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering or
    EEL 3003 Elements of Electrical Engineering
    3
    ECH 4123 Phase and Chemical Equilibria 3
    ECH 4224L Fluid and Energy Transfer Operations Laboratory ♦♦ 2
    ECH 4403 Separation and Mass Transfer Operations 3
    ECH 4714L Safety and Experimental Evaluation 2
    Social and Behavioral Sciences
    GE-S
    3
    Total 16
    Semester 8 Credits
    ECH 4404L Separation and Mass Transfer Operations Laboratory 2
    ECH 4504 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design 4
    ECH 4604 Process Economics and Optimization 3
    ECH 4824 Materials of Chemical Engineering 2
    Technical electives 6
    Total 17
    Semester 9 Credits
    CHM 3120 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry 3
    ECH 4323 Process Control Theory 3
    ECH 4323L Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1
    ECH 4644 Process Design ♦♦♦ 3
    Chemical engineering technical elective 3
    Technical elective 3
    Total 16

    Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements. This is often done concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).

    ♦♦ Register for ECH 4224L Fluid and Energy Transfer Operations Laboratory immediately following completion of ECH 3101, ECH 3203 and ECH 3223.

    ♦♦♦ The Integrated Product and Process Design program (ECH 4912 and ECH 4913) requires six credits of coursework and is offered as a sequence of two three-credit courses during fall and spring of the senior year. These two courses are pre-approved substitutes for three credits of technical electives and for ECH 4644 Process Design.

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    Technical Electives

    Technical electives are defined as department-approved, upper-division courses with significant technical science, engineering, and/or math content. Provision is made to receive up to three credits of approved co-op, internship and/or research experience. Military courses cannot be used for technical electives.

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    Related Chemical Engineering Programs

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majors: chemical-engineering