Chemical Engineering
B.S. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the Chemical Engineering program will (1) demonstrate achievement by applying a broad knowledge of chemical engineering; (2) apply critical reasoning and quantitative skills to identify and solve problems in chemical engineering; (3) implement skills for effective communication and teamwork; (4) demonstrate the potential to effectively lead chemical engineering projects in industry, government, or academia; and (5) exhibit a commitment to lifelong learning.
(Program educational objectives are those aspects of engineering that help shape the curriculum; achievement of these objectives is a shared responsibility between the student and UCI.)
Admission
High School Students: See School Admissions information.
Transfer Students: Preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall, and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: two years of approved calculus, one year of calculus-based physics with laboratories (mechanics, electricity and magnetism), completion of lower-division writing, one year of general chemistry (with laboratory), one year of organic chemistry (with laboratory), and one course in introductory programming. For course equivalency specific to each college, visit http://assist.org.
Students are encouraged to complete as many of the lower-division degree requirements as possible prior to transfer. Students who enroll at UCI in need of completing lower-division coursework may find that it will take longer than two years to complete their degrees. For further information, contact The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at 949-824-4334.
Requirements
All students are required to meet the University Requirements.
All students are required to meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Basic Science Courses: | ||
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry | |
| orENGR 1A | General Chemistry for Engineers | |
| CHEM 1B & CHEM 1C & CHEM 1LC & CHEM 1LD | General Chemistryand General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratoryand General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CHEM 51A & CHEM 51B & CHEM 51C & CHEM 51LB & CHEM 51LC | Organic Chemistryand Organic Chemistryand Organic Chemistryand Organic Chemistry Laboratoryand Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CBE 105 | Engineering Physical Chemistry | |
| MATH 2A & MATH 2B | Single-Variable Calculus Iand Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| MATH 2D | Multivariable Calculus I | |
| MATH 2E | Multivariable Calculus II | |
| MATH 3A | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 3D | Elementary Differential Equations | |
| PHYSICS 7C & PHYSICS 7LC | Classical Physicsand Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| PHYSICS 7D & PHYSICS 7LD | Classical Physicsand Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| Engineering Topics Courses: | ||
| CBE 1 | Introduction to Chemical Engineering | |
| CBE 40A & CBE 40B & CBE 40C | Chemical Processes and Material Balancesand Process Thermodynamicsand Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | |
| CBE 100 | Introduction to Numerical Methods in Engineering | |
| CBE 110 | Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Design | |
| CBE 120A & CBE 120B & CBE 120C | Momentum Transferand Heat Transferand Mass Transfer | |
| CBE 130 | Separation Processes | |
| CBE 140A & CBE 140B | Chemical Engineering Laboratory Iand Chemical Engineering Laboratory II | |
| CBE 145 | Chemical Process Control | |
| CBE 150A & CBE 150B | Chemical Engineering Design Iand Chemical Engineering Design II | |
| CBE 160 | Engineering Biology | |
| ENGR 54 | Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | |
| ENGRMAE 10 | Introduction to Engineering Computations | |
| Students select, with the approval of a faculty advisor, any additional engineering topics courses needed to satisfy school and department requirements. | ||
| Technical Elective Courses: | ||
| Students select, with the approval of a faculty advisor, a minimum of 16 units of technical electives. Students may select an area of specialization and complete the associated requirements, as shown below. | ||
| (The nominal Chemical Engineering program will require 193 units of courses to satisfy all university and major requirements. Students typically need at least 14 units of engineering topics from technical electives to meet school requirements. Because each student comes to UCI with a different level of preparation, the actual number of units will vary.) | ||
| Engineering Professional Topics Course: | ||
| ENGR 190W | Communications in the Professional World | |
| Specialization in Biomolecular Engineering: | ||
| Requires a minimum of 11 units including at least one course from the following: | ||
| CBE 161 | Introduction to Biochemical Engineering | |
| CBE 163 | Kinetics of Biochemical Networks | |
| and a minimum of 8 units from the following: | ||
| BIO SCI 98 | Biochemistry | |
| BIO SCI 99 | Molecular Biology | |
| BME 50A | Cell and Molecular Engineering | |
| BME 50B | Cell and Molecular Engineering | |
| BME 114 | Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology | |
| BME 121 | Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems | |
| BME 132 | Introduction to Computational Biology | |
| BME 160 | Tissue Engineering | |
| CBE 199 | Individual Study (up to 4 units) | |
| Specialization in Energy and Sustainability: | ||
| Requires a minimum of 11 units including at least one course from the following: | ||
| CBE 172 | Applied Spectroscopy | |
| CBE 175 | Electrochemical Engineering | |
| CBE 176 | Nuclear and Radiochemistry | |
| CBE 199 | Individual Study (up to 4 units) | |
| MSE 141 | Nano-Scale Materials and Applications | |
| and select the remaining units from the following: | ||
| ENGRCEE 160 | Environmental Processes | |
| ENGRCEE 162 | Introduction to Environmental Chemistry | |
| ENGRCEE 163 | Wastewater Treatment Process Design | |
| ENGRCEE 164 | Carbon and Energy Footprint Analysis | |
| ENGRCEE 165 | Unit Operations II in Environmental Engineering | |
| ENGRMAE 110 | Combustion and Fuel Cell Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 114 | Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Technology | |
| ENGRMAE 117 | Solar and Renewable Energy Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 164 | Air Pollution and Control | |
| MSE 158 | Ceramic Materials for Sustainable Energy | |
| MSE 171 | Green Engineering: Theory and Practice | |
| Specialization in Macromolecular Engineering: | ||
| Requires a minimum of 12 units from: | ||
| CBE 181 | Polymer Science and Engineering | |
| CBE 183 | Surface and Adhesion Science | |
| CBE 199 | Individual Study (up to 4 units) | |
| MSE 69 | Electronic and Optical Properties in Materials | |
| MSE 141 | Nano-Scale Materials and Applications | |
| MSE 155 | Mechanical Behavior and Design Principles | |
| MSE 158 | Ceramic Materials for Sustainable Energy | |
| MSE 164 | X-ray Diffraction, Electron Microscopy, and Microanalysis | |
| MSE 174 | Composite Materials Design | |
| ENGRMAE 155 | Composite Materials and Structures | |
Sample Program
The sample program of study chart shown is typical for the major in Chemical Engineering. Students should keep in mind that this program is based upon a sequence of prerequisites, beginning with adequate preparation in high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Students who are not adequately prepared, or who wish to make changes in the sequence for other reasons, must have their program approved by their faculty advisor. Chemical Engineering majors are encouraged to consult with academic counselors as needed, and students who are academically at risk are mandated to see a counselor as frequently as deemed necessary by the advising staff.
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2A | MATH 2B | MATH 2D |
| ENGRMAE 10 | PHYSICS 7C | PHYSICS 7D |
| CHEM 1A or ENGR 1A | PHYSICS 7LC | PHYSICS 7LD |
| CBE 1 | CHEM 1B | CHEM 1C |
| General Education | General Education | CHEM 1LC |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A | MATH 3D | MATH 2E |
| CHEM 51A | CHEM 51B | CHEM 51C |
| CHEM 1LD | CHEM 51LB | CHEM 51LC |
| CBE 40A | CBE 40B | CBE 40C |
| General Education | ENGR 54 |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| CBE 100 | CBE 105 | CBE 120C |
| CBE 120A | CBE 110 | CBE 130 |
| CBE 160 | CBE 120B | Technical Elective |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| CBE 140A | CBE 140B | CBE 150B |
| CBE 145 | CBE 150A | Technical Elective |
| ENGR 190W | Technical Elective | General Education |
| Technical Elective | General Education | General Education |