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Chemical Engineering (BS): Biomolecular Concentration

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The Biomolecular Concentration emphasizes hands-on laboratory molecular biology skills that are highly relevant to pharmaceutical, medical, engineering, and agricultural fields. Students completing this concentration also fulfill the requirements for a Minor in Biotechnology.

Plan Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
°ä±áÌý101
Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1
or General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences
3
°ä±áÌý102
General Chemistry Laboratory 1
or General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences
1
·¡Ìý101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 1
·¡Ìý115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I 1 4
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 2 4
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
CHÌý201
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 2
or General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences
3
CHÌý202
Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 2
or General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences
1
MAÌý241 Calculus II 1 4
PYÌý205
&ÌýPYÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
Select one of the following Economics Courses: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics Ìý
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics Ìý
Principles of Microeconomics Ìý
Fundamentals of Economics Ìý
EÌý102 Engineering in the 21st Century 2
ÌýHours17
Second Year
Fall Semester
CHÌý221
Organic Chemistry I 2
or Organic Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences
3
CHÌý222
Organic Chemistry I Lab 2
or Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences
1
CHEÌý205 Chemical Process Principles 2 4
MAÌý242 Calculus III 2 4
PYÌý208
&ÌýPYÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
CHÌý223
Organic Chemistry II
or Organic Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences
3
CHÌý224
Organic Chemistry II Lab
or Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences
1
CHEÌý225 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis 2 3
MAÌý341 Applied Differential Equations I 2 3
BIOÌý183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
ÌýHours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
BCHÌý451 Principles of Biochemistry 4
CHEÌý311 Transport Processes I 2 3
CHEÌý315 Chemical Process Thermodynamics 2 3
BITÌý410 Manipulation of Recombinant DNA 4
CHEÌý395 Professional Development Seminar 1
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
BIT Laboratory Modules 4
CHEÌý312 Transport Processes II 3
CHEÌý316 Thermodynamics of Chemical and Phase Equilibria 3
CHEÌý330 Chemical Engineering Lab I 4
ÌýHours14
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CHEÌý446 Design and Analysis of Chemical Reactors 3
CHEÌý450 Chemical Engineering Design I 3
Biotech Minor Group E Elective 3
CHEÌý497 Chemical Engineering Projects I 3
ÌýHours12
Spring Semester
CHEÌý435 Process Systems Analysis and Control 3
CHEÌý448 Bioreactor Design 2
CHEÌý451 Chemical Engineering Design II 3
CHEÌý452 Biomolecular Engineering 2
Technical Elective 2
ÌýHours12
ÌýTotal Hours114
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours14

BIT Lab Modules

BEC 463/563/CHEÌý463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BIT 462/562Gene Expression Analysis: Microarrays2
BIT 464/564Protein Purification2
BIT 465/565Real-time PCR Techniques2
BIT 466/566/POÌý466/566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BIT 467/567PCR and DNA Fingerprinting2
BIT 468/568Genome Mapping2
BIT 471/571RNA Interference and Model Organisms2
BIT 473/573Protein Interactions2
BIT 474/574Plant Genetic Engineering2
BITÌý476Applied Bioinformatics
BIT 477/577Metagenomics2
BIT 478/578Mapping the Brain2
BIT 479/579High-Throughput Discovery2
BIT 480/580Yeast Metabolic Engineering2
BIT/PB 481Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation2
BITÌý492External Learning Experience
BITÌý493Special Problems in Biotechnology
BITÌý495Special Topics in Biotechnology
BIT/BIO/CH 572Proteomics3

Biotech Minor Group E Electives

IDSÌý201Environmental Ethics3
IDSÌý303Humans and the Environment3
NRÌý303Humans and the Environment3
PHIÌý325Bio-Medical Ethics3
STSÌý302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
STSÌý304Ethical Dimensions of Progress3
STSÌý325Bio-Medical Ethics3

Technical Electives

BBS 426/526/BECÌý426/526Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory2
BECÌý330Principles and Applications of Bioseparations2
BEC 462/562Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology3
BEC 463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BEC 480/580cGMP Fermentation Operations2
BEC 485/585cGMP Downstream Operations2
BEC/CHE 488Animal Cell Culture Engineering2
BIT 463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
BIT 464/564Protein Purification2
BME 466/566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
CEÌý373Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering3
CHE 462/562Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology3
CHE 463/563Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms2
ECEÌý331Principles of Electrical Engineering3
FS 426/526Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory2
MSEÌý201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
NEÌý419Introduction to Nuclear Energy3
PSEÌý425Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 466/566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
°ä±áÌý101
&Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
·¡Ìý101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1 1
·¡Ìý115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
CHÌý201
&ÌýCHÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
MAÌý241 Calculus II 1 4
PYÌý205
&ÌýPYÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
EÌý102 Engineering in the 21st Century 2
ÌýHours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
CHÌý221
&ÌýCHÌý222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CHEÌý205 Chemical Process Principles 2 4
MAÌý242 Calculus III 2 4
PYÌý208
&ÌýPYÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
CHÌý223
&ÌýCHÌý224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEÌý225 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis 2 3
MAÌý341 Applied Differential Equations I 2 3
BIOÌý183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
BCHÌý451 Principles of Biochemistry 4
CHEÌý311 Transport Processes I 2 3
CHEÌý315 Chemical Process Thermodynamics 2 3
CHEÌý395 Professional Development Seminar 1
CHEÌý497 Chemical Engineering Projects I 3
BITÌý410 Manipulation of Recombinant DNA 4
ÌýHours18
Spring Semester
BIT Lab Modules 4
CHEÌý312 Transport Processes II 3
CHEÌý316 Thermodynamics of Chemical and Phase Equilibria 3
CHEÌý330 Chemical Engineering Lab I 4
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours17
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CHEÌý446 Design and Analysis of Chemical Reactors 3
CHEÌý450 Chemical Engineering Design I 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
Biotech Minor Group E Elective 3
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
CHEÌý435 Process Systems Analysis and Control 3
CHEÌý451 Chemical Engineering Design II 3
CHEÌý452 Biomolecular Engineering 2
CHEÌý448 Bioreactor Design 2
Technical Elective 2
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours15
ÌýTotal Hours128

Career Opportunities

Careers in chemical engineering are sometimes exciting, always demanding, and ultimately provide a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Graduates find employment in sub-disciplines such as production, technical service, sales, management and administration; research and development; and consulting and teaching. Students desiring careers in teaching, research, or consulting are encouraged to continue their education and pursue a graduate degree (consult the Graduate Catalog). The undergraduate curriculum also provides strong preparation for graduate study in a wide range of professional specialties, and chemical engineering graduates often pursue careers in the medical sciences, business management, and law.