Chemical Engineering
Research in cutting-edge industries, including nanotechnology and biotechnology, and in traditional areas of inquiry depend on chemical engineers to decipher molecular information in order to develop new products and processes. Our graduates work in a broad range of fields and create innovative solutions to important industrial and societal problems. They develop clean and sustainable energy systems, make advances in the life sciences, design and produce pharmaceuticals, and discover and create new materials.
The first chemical engineering curriculum at MIT was offered in 1888 and helped to establish chemical engineering as a discipline. Since then, members of the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering have developed the tools and guidelines to define and advance the field. The department has led the nation in awarding graduate degrees, and its nearly 6,500 living alumni have distinguished themselves as leaders in industry, government, and academia. We maintain strong ties with other departments within MIT and institutions and industries worldwide.
Undergraduate Education
The undergraduate curriculum in chemical engineering provides sound preparation for jobs in industry and government, graduate work in chemical engineering, and careers in medicine, health science, and technology. It includes basic studies in physics, biology, and mathematics, advanced subjects in chemistry and biology, and a strong core of chemical engineering. Students build a foundation in chemical engineering and focus on subjects that strengthen their preparation for advanced work, including courses in the humanities and social sciences.
MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering offers three undergraduate degree programs:
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Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
This degree is for students seeking a broad education in the application of chemical engineering to a variety of areas including energy, the environment, nanotechnology, polymers and colloids, surface science, catalysis and reaction engineering, systems and process design, and biotechnology. Students take core chemical engineering courses with a chemistry emphasis and courses in any of the above application areas.
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Bachelor of Science in Chemical-Biological Engineering
This degree is for students who are interested in the application of chemical engineering to the biochemical and biomedical technologies. Students take courses in chemical engineering and additional subjects in biological sciences and applied biology. This degree is excellent preparation for students considering the biomedical engineering minor or medical school.
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Bachelor of Science
This degree is designed for students who want broad exposure to chemical engineering while specializing in another field such as biology, biomedical engineering, economics, or management.
