Bowman, Kolodka, Mann (Chair), Muggli, Tande and Seames

The department’s primary objective is the education of undergraduate students so that, upon graduation, they are prepared to take responsible entry-level positions in a wide range of industries. These include not only traditional chemical and petroleum processing, but also such industries as biotechnology, consumer products, electronic materials, energy, food, polymers, pulp and paper, and environmental protection. They may be engaged in research, teaching, development, manufacturing, technical support, marketing, sales or project engineering, and frequently enter engineering management later in their careers. In addition, the prescribed curriculum provides a sound, technically based general education for those graduates who wish to pursue other professions such as medicine, law and business. Research and professional activities by members of the faculty, conducted in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students, provide training for our students on how to succeed as a researcher.

To help meet our primary objective, the department has established the following as its education objectives:

• Graduates have the knowledge and skills required to analyze and solve problems related to the field of chemical engineering and communicate these results in verbal and written form to a diverse audience.
• Graduates are prepared to take entry-level positions in the chemical process and broadly related industries and demonstrate responsibility, ownership, and accountability for their work.
• Graduates have a thorough grounding in fundamentals, allowing them to obtain advanced degrees in chemical engineering or to pursue other professional interests such as medicine or law.
• Graduates are qualified to practice the profession of chemical engineering in a broad spectrum of industries.
• Graduates understand the role of chemical engineering as a profession and their role in addressing societal issues.

The core of the program is a strong technical curriculum, whereby the fundamentals of the physical sciences, mathematics, and chemical engineering are learned. This core is complemented by general courses in other engineering disciplines to provide greater exposure to the engineering profession and to help prepare the students for professional registration. Four of the engineering courses and two chemistry courses are electives, which gives each student the opportunity to tailor the program to his/her individual interests such as environmental concerns, materials, bio-processes, etc. Other prescribed courses include topics such as economics and statistics. The program also gives students a chance to become proficient in skills such as computer use, oral and written communication, and team work. The undergraduate program culminates in a senior capstone design course in which the students bring together all they have learned as they work in teams on a process design and evaluation project. UND’s program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Practical, hands-on experience is gained in laboratories distributed throughout the undergraduate program. Lab experiments form a significant part of each student’s learning beginning immediately in first year chemistry and continuing through the curriculum. In addition to university experiences, which include opportunities to conduct research, students are encouraged to spend time working in the engineering profession via summer internships or cooperative education.

Besides the technical education embodied in the program, there is a strong required general education component including a cultural elective. This is included to round out the individual’s university experience and help prepare for a full life, not just a career. There are also many extracurricular activities available (including professional societies, honor societies, sports and clubs) to enhance the enjoyment of the time spent at UND and to develop important friendships and leadership and team building skills.

One of the main characteristics of this department, which distinguishes it from most other chemical engineering programs around the country, is the commitment to building a strong rapport between the students and faculty. We are able to maintain close interaction because of the relatively small class sizes (typically 20-25 students), and because all faculty members are committed to helping all students do their best and succeed. The interaction between faculty and students occurs formally in the classrooms and through the advising process, but it also frequently arises informally because all faculty maintain an open door policy. It all adds up to an environment that fosters mutual respect and maximizes learning. Our alumni report that the education they received at UND enables them to compete effectively with graduates from any other institution.

To allow qualified students to complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees in one year beyond that required to receive the baccalaureate degree alone, the department offers combined Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSChE)/Master of Science (with a major in chemical engineering) and BSCHE/Master of Engineering degrees. See Combined Degree Program under the School of Engineering and Mines section for additional details. For even more complete information, see Graduate School section.

Courses

102. Introduction to Chemical Engineering. 2 credits. An introduction to the chemical engineering profession. Also includes introduction to dimension analysis, material balances, unit operations, safety and engineering economics. S

201. Stoichiometry. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Chem 122 or 222. Introductory principles of stoichiometry with emphasis directed to material and energy balances involved in chemical processes. F

206. Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 201. Application of the principles of momentum and heat transfer from a unit operations perspective. S

232. Chemical Engineering Laboratory I. 2 credits. Prerequisite: ChE 201 or concurrent enrollment. The use and application of apparatus to measure the physical and chemical properties involved in chemical process material and energy balances. S

301. Introduction to Transport Phenomena. 4 credits. Prerequisite: Math 266 or concurrent enrollment, ChE 201 and Physics 252. An analytical study of the transport of momentum, energy and mass; derivation and utilization of the differential equations of change. F

303. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. 4 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 201* and Chem 465. Thermodynamics applied to chemical engineering with emphasis on computational work, including thermodynamic laws, chemical equilibria and pressure-volume-temperature relationships. F

305. Separations. 3 credits. Prerequisite: ChE 201* and prerequisite or corequisite ChE 206. Theory and application of rate-based and equilibrium-staged separations. S

331. Chemical Engineering Laboratory II. 2 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 201 and ChE 206. Experiments illustrating physico-chemical principles and the application of fluid flow and heat transfer theory. F

332. Chemical Engineering Laboratory III. 2 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 331 and ChE 333 or concurrent enrollment in Chem 465. Experiments reinforcing physico-chemical principles, unit operations, and separations. Pre-design labs are also introduced. S

333. Basic Experimental Strategies. 1 credit. Corequisite: ChE 331. Basic experimental strategies for the empirical study of relationships between variables. Analysis of resulting data to find significance of effects. F

340. The Role of Engineers and Applied Scientists in a Global Society. 3 credits. This course analyzes the important impact of engineering and applied science on society. It emphasizes the need for technical professionals to develop personal integrity and moral character in order to benefit society. Students will develop an appreciation for the global context of their decisions, the ability to make sound ethical decisions, and communicate their ideas effectively. S

397. Cooperative Education. 1-8 credits repeatable to 24. Prerequisite: Admission to the chemical engineering degree program. A practical work experience with an employer closely associated with the student’s academic area. Arranged by mutual agreement among student, department and employer. S/U grading only. F,S,SS

404. Air Emissions: Regulation and Control. 3 credits. This course is designed to enable engineers to understand natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollution, their impact on health and the environment, and learn ways to minimize air emissions by application of control practices. F

408. Process Dynamics and Control. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Math 266, ChE 206, and ChE 305. Dynamics and control of chemical processes and of systems. F

411. Chemical Engineering Plant Design I. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 206, 303 and 305 and completed or concurrently enrolled in ChE 421 and Engr 460. Introduction to how projects are executed in the process industries, including an understanding of what constitutes preliminary process design, preliminary cost/economic assessment, and the typical drawings and other deliverables produced during the scoping phase of process plant design. There is a particular emphasis on safety considerations in design. F

412. Chemical Engineering Plant Design II. 5 credits. Prerequisite: ChE 411. Proficiency is gained in the development of the preliminary design for a major chemical process. In addition, this course provides an introduction to the second stage of process design–the conceptual design process including an introduction to Piping and Instrument–level design development, process control design and facility layout. S

421. Chemical Engineering Reactor Design. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 201, ChE 206, Chem 465 and Math 266. Theory of chemical reaction rates. Design of batch, tubular, CSTR and catalytic chemical reactors. F

431. Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ChE 206 and 305. Laboratory study of the unit operations of Chemical Engineering.

435. Materials and Corrosion. 3 credits. Provides an introduction to the fundamental properties of metals and polymers, reviews the forms of metal corrosion and of polymer degradations. F
489. Senior Honors Thesis. 1-8 credits, repeatable to 9. Supervised independent study culminating in a thesis. F,S,SS

493A. Special Topics. (regular grading).  

493B. Special Topics. (S-U grading). 1-3 credits. Repeatable to 9 credits. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Special topics dictated by student request and current faculty interest. The particular course may be initiated by the students by contacting members of the faculty. On demand.

*Completed with a C or better. See degree program for admission requirements.