Chemical Engineering, B.S.E.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
Admission requirements and processes for freshman, transfer students, and former students seeking readmission are managed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale to enter the College of Engineering and Computing. In addition, transfer applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
Current University of South Carolina students who wish to enter the College of Engineering and Computing, and former students seeking readmission, must have an institutional GPA of 2.50 or better on at least 15 hours earned at USC. In addition, such applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
Degree Requirements (131-142 hours)
See College of Engineering and Computing for progression requirements and special academic opportunities.
Program of Study
Requirements | Credit Hours |
---|---|
1. Carolina Core | 34-43 |
2. College Requirements | 0 |
3. Program Requirements | 64-66 |
4. Major Requirements | 33 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (34-43 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
Score two or better on foreign language placement test; or complete the 109 and 110 courses in FREN, GERM, LATN or SPAN; or complete the 121 course in another foreign language.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
- any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)
- PHIL 325 (CMS/VSR overlay)
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- PHIL 325 (CMS/VSR overlay)
- 1
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours for this program must add up to a minimum of 34 hours.
2. College Requirements (0 hours)
No college-required courses for this program.
3. Program Requirements (64-66 hours)
Supporting Courses (64-66 hours)
Foundational Courses (20 hours)
Complete all of the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
CHEM 112L | General Chemistry II Lab (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 1 |
CHEM 333 | Organic Chemistry I (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
CHEM 334 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
MATH 241 | Vector Calculus | 3 |
MATH 242 | Elementary Differential Equations (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
PHYS 212 | Essentials of Physics II | 3 |
PHYS 212L | Essentials of Physics II Lab | 1 |
Total Credit Hours | 20 |
Chemistry Electives (3 hours)
A list of acceptable Chemistry Elective courses is maintained in the department office and on its website. These include the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHEM 321 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
or CHEM 322 | Analytical Chemistry | |
CHEM 511 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 533 | Comprehensive Organic Chemistry III | 3 |
CHEM 541 | Physical Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 542 | Physical Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 545 | Physical Biochemistry | 3 |
CHEM 550 | Biochemistry | 3 |
CHEM 555 | Biochemistry/Molecular Biology I | 3 |
CHEM 556 | Biochemistry/Molecular Biology II | 3 |
CHEM 621 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
CHEM 622 | Forensic Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
CHEM 623 | Introductory Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 624 | Aquatic Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 633 | Introduction to Polymer Synthesis | 3 |
CHEM 643 | Computational Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 644 | Materials Chemistry | 3 |
CHEM 655 | Metabolic Biochemistry of Human Disease | 3 |
Chemistry Laboratory Electives (2 hours)
A list of acceptable Chemical Laboratory Elective courses is maintained in the department office and on its website. These include the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHEM 321L | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
or CHEM 322L | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | |
CHEM 331L | Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1-2 |
or CHEM 333L | Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | |
CHEM 332L | Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1-2 |
or CHEM 334L | Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | |
CHEM 541L | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
CHEM 542L | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
CHEM 550L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 621L | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 1 |
Computer Programming Elective (3-4 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Scientific Applications Programming | ||
Algorithmic Design I | ||
Total Credit Hours | 3-4 |
Lower Division Engineering (14-15 hours)
Complete all of the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECHE 101 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering | 2-3 |
or ENCP 101 | Introduction to Engineering | |
ECHE 300 | Chemical Process Principles (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
ECHE 310 | Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
or ENCP 290 | Thermodynamic Fundamentals | |
ECHE 311 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
ECHE 320 | Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
or ENCP 360 | Fluid Mechanics | |
Total Credit Hours | 14-15 |
Professional Development Elective (1 hour)
A list of acceptable Professional Development Elective courses is maintained in the department office and on its website. The list includes the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECHE 202 | Exploring the Chemical Engineering Workplace | 1 |
ECHE 203 | Research in Chemical Engineering | 1 |
Engineering Electives (6 hours)
Students must take 6 credit hours of engineering electives. Undergraduate courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are listed below. In addition, ECHE courses numbered 700 and above may be used to satisfy this requirement, provided the student is admitted to an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Graduate Program.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENCP 200 | Statics | 3 |
or ECIV 200 | Statics | |
or EMCH 200 | Statics | |
ENCP 201 | Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods | 3 |
or EMCH 201 | Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods | |
ENCP 210 | Dynamics | 3 |
or ECIV 210 | Dynamics | |
or EMCH 310 | Dynamics | |
ENCP 260 | Introduction to the Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
or ECIV 220 | Mechanics of Solids | |
or EMCH 260 | Solid Mechanics | |
ENCP 330 | Introduction to Vibrations | 3 |
or EMCH 330 | Mechanical Vibrations | |
ENCP 440 | Sustainable Development in Engineering | 3 |
ENCP 460 | Special Topics in Engineering and Computing | 1-6 |
ENCP 481 | Project Management | 1 |
ENCP 499 | Interdisciplinary Technical Elective | 1-3 |
ENCP 540 | Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing | 3 |
BMEN 212 | Fundamentals of Biomedical Systems | 3 |
BMEN 240 | Cellular and Molecular Biology with Engineering Applications | 4 |
BMEN 263 | Introduction to Biomechanics | 3 |
BMEN 271 | Introduction to Biomaterials | 3 |
BMEN 290 | Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems | 3 |
BMEN 300 and above, except BMEN 301 and BMEN 303 | ||
CSCE 211 | Digital Logic Design | 3 |
CSCE 212 | Introduction to Computer Architecture | 3 |
CSCE 240 | Advanced Programming Techniques | 3 |
CSCE 274 | Robotic Applications and Design | 3 |
CSCE 313 | Embedded Systems | 3 |
CSCE 317 | Computer Systems Engineering | 3 |
CSCE 520 | Database System Design | 3 |
CSCE 567 | Visualization Tools | 3 |
CSCE 582 | Bayesian Networks and Decision Graphs | 3 |
CSCE 587 | Big Data Analytics | 3 |
ECHE 202 | Exploring the Chemical Engineering Workplace | 1 |
or ECHE 203 | Research in Chemical Engineering | |
ECHE 372 | Introduction to Materials | 3 |
ECHE 389 | Special Topics in Chemical Engineering | 3 |
ECHE 497 | Thesis Preparation | 1-3 |
ECHE 499 | Special Problems | 1-3 |
ECHE 520 | Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
ECHE 521 | Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineering Applications | 3 |
ECHE 571 | Corrosion Engineering | 3 |
ECHE 572 | Polymer Processing | 3 |
ECHE 573 | Next Energy | 3 |
ECHE 574 | Combustion | 3 |
ECHE 575 | Engineering of Soft Materials | 3 |
ECHE 589 | Special Advanced Topics in Chemical Engineering | 3 |
ELCT 220 | Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors | 3 |
ELCT 221 | Circuits | 3 |
ELCT 222 | Signals and Systems | 3 |
ELCT 300 and above | ||
ECIV 300 and above, except ECIV 360 1 | ||
EMCH 300 and above, except EMCH 354 and EMCH 360 2 |
Technical Electives (12 hours)
A list of acceptable Technical Elective courses is maintained in the department office and on its website. The list includes the following:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
All Engineering Electives | ||
Chemistry Electives | ||
Chemistry Lab Electives | ||
ENCP 102 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Design | 3 |
or EMCH 111 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Design | |
MATH 300 | Transition to Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
MATH 374 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
MATH 500 and above | ||
STAT 500 and above, except STAT 541 and STAT 591 | ||
BIOL 101 | Biological Principles I | 3 |
BIOL 101L | Biological Principles I Laboratory | 1 |
BIOL 102 | Biological Principles II | 3 |
BIOL 102L | Biological Principles II Laboratory | 1 |
BIOL 120 | Human Biology | 3 |
BIOL 120L | Laboratory in Human Biology | 1 |
BIOL 200 and above | 3 | |
ENVR 231 | Introduction to Sustainability Management and Leadership | 3-4 |
ENVR 321 | Environmental Pollution and Health | 3 |
ENVR 331 | Integrating Sustainability | 3 |
GEOL 300 and above | ||
MSCI 300 and above | ||
PHYS 300 and above | ||
CSCE 145 | Algorithmic Design I | 4 |
CSCE 146 | Algorithmic Design II | 4 |
CSCE 210 | Computer Hardware Foundations | 3 |
CSCE 215 | UNIX/Linux Fundamentals | 1 |
CSCE 350 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
ENCP 530 | Cases in Technology Feasibility Analysis | 3 |
ENCP 533 | Legal Aspects of Engineering & Innovation | 3 |
ENCP 535 | Developing and Launching New Ventures in Science and Technology | 3 |
ENCP 536 | Innovation and New Venture Analysis | 3 |
ACCT 222 | Survey of Accounting | 3 |
FINA 333 | Finance and Markets | 3 |
MGMT 371 | Principles of Management | 3 |
MGSC 290 | Computer Information Systems in Business | 3 |
MKTG 350 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Career Elective (3 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
All approved Carolina Core Courses for AIU, CMS, GFL, GHS, GSS, and VSR | ||
All Engineering Electives | ||
All Chemistry Electives | ||
All Chemistry Lab Electives | ||
All Technical Electives | ||
AERO 401 | National Security/Leadership Responsibilities/Commissioning Preparation (POC cadets only) | 3 |
AERO 402 | National Security / Leadership Responsibilities / Commissioning Preparation II (POC cadets only) | 3 |
AFAM 201 | Introduction to African American Studies: Social and Historical Foundations | 3 |
AFAM 202 | Introduction to African-American Studies | 3 |
AFAM 335 | The American Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
ANTH 101 | Primates, People, and Prehistory | 3 |
ANTH 102 | Understanding Other Cultures | 3 |
ANTH 219 | Great Discoveries in Archaeology | 3 |
ANTH 300 and above except ANTH 399, ANTH 501 | ||
ARTE 101 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
ARTH 105 | History of Western Art I | 3 |
ARTH 106 | History of Western Art II | 3 |
ARTH 300 and above except ARTH 399, ARTH 498, ARTH 499, ARTH 599 | ||
ARMY 406 | American Military Experience (Army cadets only) | 3 |
CPLT any course; courses CPLT 270 and above count as 300-level | ||
DANC 101 | Dance Appreciation | 3 |
ECON 221 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
ECON 222 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
ECON 224 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
ECON 300 and above except ECON 399, ECON 421, ECON 499, ECON 524, ECON 595 | ||
ENGL any course above 102, except 460 through 467 | ||
Foreign languages 121 Elementary | ||
Foreign languages 300 and above except intensive reading courses or courses about teaching | ||
GEOG 103 | Foundations of Geography | 3 |
GEOG 121 | Geographies of Global Change | 3 |
GEOG 300 and above except GEOG 399, GEOG 595 | ||
HIST any course | ||
LASP 301 | Interdisciplinary Study of Latin America | 3 |
LASP 311 | Latin American Cultures | 3 |
LASP 315 | South American Indian Cultures | 3 |
LASP 322 | Mesoamerican Prehistory | 3 |
LASP 331 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
LASP 351 | Politics and Governments of Latin America | 3 |
LASP 398 | Special Topics in Latin American Studies | 3 |
LASP 425 | Prehistoric Archaeology of South America | 3 |
LASP 451 | International Relations of Latin America | 3 |
LING 300 | Introduction to Language Sciences | 3 |
LING 340 | Language, Culture, and Society | 3 |
LING 405 | Topics in Linguistics | 3 |
LING 540 | Topics in Language and Culture | 3 |
LING 541 | Language and Gender | 3 |
LING 542 | Research in Language Conflict and Language Rights | 3 |
LING 543 | Discourse, Gender, and Politics of Emotion | 3 |
LING 545 | Anthropological Approaches to Narrative and Performance | 3 |
LING 567 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
LING 600 | Survey of Linguistics | 3 |
MUSC 110 | Introduction to Music | 3 |
MUSC 140 | Jazz and American Popular Music | 3 |
MUSC 145 | Introduction to Music Literature | 3 |
MUSC any music history course at or above 300-level | ||
NAVY 303 | Evolution of the Art of War (Midshipmen only) | 3 |
PHIL 102 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 300 and above | ||
PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 103 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 |
PSYC 300 and above except PSYC 570 to PSYC 599 | ||
POLI any course except POLI 379, POLI 399 | ||
RELG any course | ||
SOCY 101 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
SOCY 300 and above except 399 | ||
THEA 200 | Understanding and Appreciation of Theatre | 3 |
THEA 561 | History of the Theatre I | 3 |
THEA 562 | History of the Theatre II | 3 |
UNIV 101 | The Student in the University | 3 |
WGST 112 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies | 3 |
WGST 113 | Women's Health | 3 |
WGST 207 | Gender and Culture | 3 |
WGST 300 | Sex and Gender | 3 |
WGST 301 | Psychology of Marriage | 3 |
WGST 304 | Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 |
WGST 305 | Sociology of Families | 3 |
WGST 307 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
WGST 308 | African-American Feminist Theory | 3 |
WGST 310 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
WGST 351 | The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective | 3 |
WGST 352 | Gender and Politics | 3 |
WGST 430 | Topics in Women's Studies | 1-3 |
WGST 454 | Women and the Law | 3 |
WGST 554 | Women, Gender, and Crime | 3 |
WGST 555 | Language and Gender | 3 |
4. Major Requirements (33 hours)
Major Courses (33 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECHE 321 | Heat-Flow Analysis | 3 |
ECHE 322 | Mass Transfer | 3 |
ECHE 430 | Chemical Engineering Kinetics | 3 |
ECHE 440 | Separation Process Design | 3 |
ECHE 456 | Computational Methods for Engineering Applications | 3 |
ECHE 460 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory I | 3 |
ECHE 461 | Chemical Engineering Laboratory II | 3 |
ECHE 465 | Chemical-Process Analysis and Design I | 3 |
ECHE 466 | Chemical-Process Analysis and Design II | 3 |
ECHE 550 | Chemical-Process Dynamics and Control | 3 |
ECHE 567 | Process Safety, Health and Loss Prevention | 3 |
Total Credit Hours | 33 |
Concentrations (15 hours) optional
Students may pursue any of the following concentrations by choosing specified engineering, technical, and chemistry elective courses to fulfill degree requirements:
- Concentration in Biomolecular Engineering
- Concentration in Energy
- Concentration in Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Concentration in Materials
- Concentration in Environmental Engineering
- Concentration in Numerical Methods and Computing
To fulfill the requirements for any concentration, a student must complete five courses (15 credit hours) in one area. Consult the department website or advising handbook for the most up to date list of approved concentration courses. Although these courses are designated as electives in the B.S.E. curriculum in chemical engineering, certain courses in the lists are designated as “required” with respect to fulfilling concentration requirements. Also note that the lists may not include all of the prerequisites for some of the listed courses.
Concentration in Biomolecular Engineering (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIOL 302 | Cell and Molecular Biology 1 | 3 |
or BMEN 240 | Cellular and Molecular Biology with Engineering Applications | |
CHEM 550 | Biochemistry | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Biomaterials | ||
Kinetics in Biomolecular Systems | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
Fundamental Genetics | ||
Advanced Human Physiology | ||
Developmental Biology | ||
Histology | ||
Human Molecular Genetics | ||
Introduction to Biomaterials | ||
Biomonitoring and Electrophysiology | ||
Infectious Disease & Immunology for Biomedical Engineers | ||
Human Anatomy and Physiology for Biomedical Engineers | ||
Medical Microbiology for Biomedical Engineers | ||
Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering for Undergraduates | ||
Kinetics in Biomolecular Systems | ||
Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering | ||
Independent Research | ||
Delivery of Bioactive Agents | ||
Immunoengineering | ||
Cardiovascular System: From Development to Disease | ||
Advanced Biomechanics | ||
Tissue Engineering | ||
Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering 1 | ||
Engineering of Soft Materials | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
- 1
BIOL 101 and BIOL 102 are prerequisites for BIOL 302. Multiple distinct 389/589 courses may be counted.
Concentration in Energy (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECHE 573 | Next Energy | 3 |
Select four of the following: | 12 | |
Introduction to Materials | ||
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated energy electives) 1 | ||
Special Problems (approved energy-related research project, up to 3 credit hours) | ||
Corrosion Engineering | ||
Combustion | ||
Introduction to Microelectronics | ||
Photovoltaic Materials and Devices | ||
Semiconductor Devices for Power, Communications and Lighting | ||
Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | ||
Nuclear Fuel Cycles | ||
Fundamentals and Applications of Fuel Cells | ||
Special Advanced Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated energy electives) 1 | ||
Introduction to Combustion | ||
Solar Heating | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
- 1
Multiple distinct 389/589 courses may be counted.
Concentration in Interdisciplinary Engineering (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select five courses from the following: | 15 | |
Statics | ||
or ECIV 200 | Statics | |
or ENCP 200 | Statics | |
Solid Mechanics | ||
Dynamics | ||
Numerical Linear Algebra | ||
Statistics for Engineers | ||
Scientific Applications Programming | ||
or ECHE 456 | Computational Methods for Engineering Applications | |
Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors | ||
or ELCT 221 | Circuits | |
Introduction to Materials | ||
or EMCH 371 | Materials | |
Instrumental Analysis | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Concentration in Materials (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECHE 372 | Introduction to Materials | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated materials courses) | ||
Corrosion Engineering | ||
Polymer Processing | ||
Special Advanced Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated materials courses) | ||
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Inorganic Chemistry | ||
Introduction to Polymer Synthesis | ||
Materials Chemistry | ||
Introduction to Microelectronics | ||
Semiconductor Devices for Power, Communications and Lighting | ||
Introduction to Nuclear Materials | ||
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated materials electives) 1 | ||
Special Problems (Approved materials-related research project, up to 3 credit hours) | ||
Corrosion Engineering | ||
Polymer Processing | ||
Special Advanced Topics in Chemical Engineering (designated materials electives) 1 | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
- 1
Multiple distinct 389/589 courses may be counted.
Concentration in Environmental Engineering (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECIV 350 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
ECIV 362 | Introduction to Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
ECIV 558 | Environmental Engineering Process Modeling | 3 |
CHEM 623 | Introductory Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
or CHEM 624 | Aquatic Chemistry | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Sustainability Management and Leadership | ||
Environmental Pollution and Health | ||
Environmental Ethics | ||
Integrating Sustainability | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Concentration in Numerical Methods and Computing (15 hours)
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods | ||
Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods | ||
Select four of the following: | 12 | |
Algorithmic Design I | ||
Algorithmic Design II | ||
Discrete Structures | ||
or MATH 574 | Discrete Mathematics I | |
MATH (500-level or higher) | ||
Numerical Modeling for Earth Science Applications | ||
Engineering Analysis I | ||
Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineering Applications | ||
Special Advanced Topics in Chemical Engineering (depending on topic coverage, multiple versions possible) | ||
Total Credit Hours | 15 |
B.S.E. with Distinction
The B.S.E. with Distinction is available to students majoring in chemical engineering who wish to participate in significant research and/or design activities in chemical engineering with a faculty mentor.
A minimum GPA of 3.50 in major courses, 3.50 in all engineering courses, and 3.50 overall is required at the time the student applies to enter the departmental undergraduate research track.
The student should apply to enter the departmental undergraduate research track and choose the members of the thesis committee as early as possible but in all cases at least one year before submitting and defending the thesis. The thesis committee will consist of a thesis advisor, who must be a tenure-track faculty member in chemical engineering, and two other tenure-track or research faculty members in chemical engineering or in any other department.
By the end of the semester in which the student is admitted into the research track, a short description of the research must be agreed upon by the thesis committee and the student, and filed in the college office. Projects involving research and/or design are acceptable. The design projects or research projects for ECHE 465, ECHE 466, ECHE 567, or other courses are not acceptable as the thesis. The student must also choose three credit hours of engineering or technical elective courses related to the thesis topic. The course(s) must be approved by the thesis committee and completed by the student at least one semester before the thesis is submitted and defended.
Before submitting and defending the thesis, the student must have completed three credit hours of ECHE 499 under the thesis advisor, preferably one credit hour per semester. During the semester in which the thesis is submitted and defended the student must also complete three credit hours of ECHE 497, one credit hour under each of the three members of the thesis committee. At least two months before submitting and defending the thesis, the student must present a progress report to the thesis committee orally and in writing.
By the end of his/her last semester, the student must have presented the research at a national meeting of a professional society (such as AIChE, ACS, ECS, etc.), at Discovery Day at USC, or at a comparable venue. The student must also submit a written thesis describing the research and defend it orally before the thesis committee. The defense must be announced at least one week in advance and be open to the general public.
Students who successfully fulfill all of these requirements with a GPA of at least 3.50 in the three hours of ECHE 497, 3.50 in all major courses, 3.50 in all engineering courses, and 3.50 overall, will be awarded their degree with “Distinction in Chemical Engineering” upon graduation.
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.