Chemical and Biological Engineering

Program Description

The Chemical and Biological Engineering Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, with optional Biological Engineering, Process Engineering, or Honors Research tracks.  

Generally, the fields of chemical and biological engineering are extremely broad and encompass all technologies and industries where chemical processing is utilized in any form. Students with baccalaureate (BS) Chemical Engineering degrees from Mines can find employment in many diverse fields, including advanced materials synthesis and processing, product and process research and development, food and pharmaceutical processing and synthesis, biochemical and biomedical materials and products, microelectronics manufacturing, petroleum and petrochemical processing, and process and product design. Students in the Biological Engineering, Process Engineering, or Honors Research track take 12 credits of technical and chemical engineering electives designed to provide additional focus in these areas.  The Biological and Process Engineering tracks are open to all students. The Honors Research track requires students to apply and be accepted. Alternatively, students can earn their degree without being in a track, customizing their electives without any restrictions.   

The practice of chemical engineering draws from the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Accordingly, undergraduate students must initially complete a program of study that stresses these basic fields of science. Chemical engineering coursework blends these four disciplines into a series of engineering fundamentals relating to how materials are produced and processed both in the laboratory and in large industrial-scale facilities. Courses such as fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and chemical process control are at the heart of the chemical engineering curriculum at Mines. In addition, it is becoming increasingly important for engineers to understand how biological and microscopic, molecular-level properties can influence the macroscopic behavior of materials, biological, and chemical systems. This somewhat unique focus is first introduced at Mines through the physical and organic chemistry sequences, and the theme is continued and developed within the chemical engineering curriculum via material and projects introduced in advanced courses. Our undergraduate program at Mines is exemplified by intensive integration of computer-aided simulation and computer-aided process modeling in the curriculum and by our unique approach to teaching of the unit operations laboratory sequence. The unit operations lab course is offered only in the summer as a six-week intensive session. Here, the fundamentals of heat, mass, and momentum transfer and applied thermodynamics are reviewed in a practical, applications-oriented setting. The important skills of teamwork, critical thinking, time management, and oral and written technical communications skills are also stressed in this course.

Facilities for the study of chemical and biological engineering at the Colorado School of Mines are among the best in the nation. Specialized undergraduate laboratory facilities exist for studying polymer properties, measuring reaction kinetics, characterizing transport phenomena, and for studying several typical chemical unit operations. Our undergraduate research program is open to highly qualified students and provides our undergraduates with the opportunity to carry out independent research or to join a graduate research team. This program has been highly successful and our undergraduate chemical engineering students have won several national competitions and awards based on research conducted while pursuing their baccalaureate degrees. We also have a cooperative (co-op) education program in which students can earn course credit while gaining work experience in industry.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Please visit our webpage for contact points and more information on the degree program, including details on how to apply for the Honors Research track at https://chemeng.mines.edu/.

PRIMARY CONTACT

Professor Rachel Morrish, Associate Department Head

rmorrish@mines.edu 

Professors

Sumit Agarwal

Timothy A. Barbari

Anuj Chauhan

Andrew M. Herring

Carolyn A. Koh, William K. Coors Distinguished Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering

David W. M. Marr, Gaylord & Phyllis Weaver Distinguished Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Amadeu Sum

Colin A. Wolden

David Wu

Associate Professors

Nanette R. Boyle, Interim Department Head

Kevin J. Cash

Diego A. Gómez-Gualdrón

Melissa D. Krebs

Joseph R. Samaniuk

Ning Wu

Assistant Professors

Matthew Crane

Nikki Farnsworth

Ramya Kumar

Stephanie Kwon

Alexander Pak

Joseph R. Samaniuk

Teaching Professors

Jason C. Ganley

Tracy Q. Gardner

Rachel M. Morrish, Associate Department Head

Justin Shaffer, Fryrear Chair

Teaching Associate Professors

Michael D.M. Barankin

Cynthia L. Norrgran

C. Joshua Ramey

Teaching Assistant Professor

Suzannah Beeler

Professor of Practice

John L. Jechura

Professors Emeriti

Robert M. Baldwin

Annette L. Bunge

Anthony M. Dean

James F. Ely, University Professor Emeritus

J. Thomas McKinnon

Ronald L. Miller

E. Dendy Sloan, Jr., University Professor Emeritus

Charles Vestal

J. Douglas Way

Victor F. Yesavage

Program Educational Objectives (Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering)

In addition to contributing toward achieving the educational objectives described in the CSM Graduate Profile and the ABET accreditation criteria, the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at CSM has established three program educational objectives for all of its graduates. Our graduates within three to five years of completing their degree will:

• Be in graduate school or in the workforce utilizing their education in chemical engineering fundamentals
• Be applying their knowledge of and skills in engineering fundamentals in conventional areas of chemical engineering and in contemporary and growing fields
• Have demonstrated both their commitment to continuing to develop personally and professionally and an appreciation for the ethical and social responsibilities associated with being an engineer and a world citizen

Student Learning Outcomes

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Combined Baccalaureate/Masters Degree Program

The Chemical and Biological Engineering Department offers the opportunity to begin work on a Master of Science (with or without thesis) degree while completing the requirements of the BS degree. These combined BS/MS degrees are designed to allow undergraduates engaged in research, or simply interested in furthering their studies beyond a BS degree, to apply their experience and interest to an advanced degree.

Students enrolled in Mines’ combined undergraduate/graduate program may double count up to six credits of graduate coursework to fulfill requirements of both their undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These courses must have been passed with “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, and Program requirements for graduate credit.

Students are advised to consult with their undergraduate and graduate advisors for appropriate courses to double count upon admission to the combined program.

The requirements for the (non-thesis) MS degree consist of the four core graduate courses:

It is expected that a student would be able to complete both degrees in four and a half to five years. To take advantage of the combined program, students are encouraged to engage in research and take some graduate coursework during their senior year. The application process and requirements are identical to our normal MS degree programs. Applications may be completed online and require three letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. For students who intend to begin the BS/MS program in fall, applications are due by July 1. The deadline is November 1 for students intending to enroll in the spring semester. Students must have a GPA greater than 3.0 to be considered for the program. Interested students are encouraged to get more information from their advisor and/or the current faculty member in charge of Graduate Affairs.

Curriculum

The Chemical Engineering curriculum is structured according to the goals outlined above. Accordingly, the programs of study are organized to include three semesters of science and general engineering fundamentals followed by five semesters of chemical engineering fundamentals and applications.

A. Chemical Engineering Fundamentals

The following courses represent the basic knowledge component of the Chemical Engineering curriculum at Mines.

B. Chemical Engineering Applications

The following courses are applications-oriented courses that build on the student’s basic knowledge of science and engineering fundamentals:

C. Electives for Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering majors have elective credit requirements that may be fulfilled with several different courses. Technical Electives I and II are any upper division (300-level or higher) in any engineering or science designation. Humanities and Economics courses do not fulfill this requirement. CBEN electives are courses offered by the CBE department with engineering content, one of the two required classes must be at the 400-level. Lastly, one CBEN/CHGN elective is required at the 300-level or higher. Some or all of these electives may be grouped together to earn a specialty track in chemical engineering as described below.

D. Specialty Tracks in Chemical Engineering

NOTE: Below is a suggested curriculum path. Electives may be taken any time they fit into your schedule, but note that not all courses are offered all semesters. Please refer to https://chemeng.mines.edu/undergraduate-program/ for the most updated flowsheet.

Degree Requirements (Chemical Engineering)

TECH Electives

Technical Electives are any upper division (300-level or higher) in any engineering or science designation. Humanities and Economics courses do not fulfill this requirement.

CBEN Electives

6 hours are required with 3 hours being at the 400-level.

Degree Requirements (Biological Engineering Track) 

*

The CHGN/CBEN elective course may be any CBEN or CHGN course at the 300-or higher level.

Tech Electives

Technical Electives are any upper division (300-level or higher) in any engineering or science designation. Humanities and Economics courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Biological Tech Electives 

Six elective credits are required.

400-Level CBEN Electives

Degree Requirements (Process Engineering Track) 

*

The CHGN/CBEN elective course may be any CBEN or CHGN course at the 300-level or higher.

Tech Electives

Technical Electives are any upper division (300-level or higher) in any engineering or science designation. Humanities and Economics courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Process Electives 

Students are required to take 9 hours of the follow courses. At least 3 hours must be a 400-level CBEN course.

Degree Requirements (Chemical Engineering Honors Research Track)

Registration into the Honors Research track will be by application only. Applications will be due in the spring semester. The track is designed to fit sophomore-level applicants, though it can also be completed by junior-level students, especially if some research work has already been completed. In addition to the 12 hours of coursework, the following three requirements must be met to earn the Honors Research track. Please see the CBE webpage for additional details.

1) Public dissemination of research work

2) Submission and acceptance of a written undergraduate thesis

3) Complete CBE degree with overall GPA greater than or equal to 3.5

Tech Electives

Technical Electives are any upper division (300-level or higher) in any engineering or science designation. Humanities and Economics courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Major GPA

During the 2016-2017 academic year, the Undergraduate Council considered the policy concerning required major GPAs and which courses are included in each degree’s GPA. While the GPA policy has not been officially updated, in order to provide transparency, council members agreed that publishing the courses included in each degree’s GPA is beneficial to students. 

The following list details the courses that are included in the GPA for this degree:

• CBEN100 through CBEN599, inclusive

The Mines guidelines for Minor/ASI can be found in the Undergraduate Information section of the Mines Catalog.

Biomedical Engineering Minor

To obtain a Biomedical Engineering (BME) minor, students must take at least 18 credits related to Biomedical Engineering.  Two courses (8 credits) of biology are required.  Two restricted requirements include Intro to Biomedical Engineering (required) and at least 3 credits of engineering electives related to BME.  Two more courses (or at least 4 credits) may be chosen from the engineering and/or additional electives.  The lists of electives will be modified as new related courses that fall into these categories become available.

REQUIRED courses (11 credits):

Plus at least 3 credits of engineering electives:

Plus at least 4 more credits from the list above and/or the list below:

Additional elective courses related to BME:

 *As the content of these courses varies, the course must be noted as relevant to the BME minor to count toward the minor, and noted as having sufficient engineering content to count as an engineering elective course as the engineering electives.

Courses