Apr 01, 2025  
2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemical Engineering, B.S.

(120 units)

Program Educational Objectives

The Chemical Engineering bachelor degree program's educational objective statement is directed towards the career accomplishments and expectations of the alumni. The objectives of the program are that recent alumni become successful in their professional careers, and that they continue on a path of professional development.

Chemical Engineering alumni:
  • Are on track for a fulfilling and successful professional career.
  • Are contributors and leaders in providing solutions to important societal challenges as responsible and ethical professionals.
  • Have taken ownership of their own personal growth and further professional development.

The faculty members of the Department of Chemical Engineering strive to continuously improve the program and the curriculum as well as laboratory facilities to ensure the professional career success of our recent graduates. The goal is to prepare students for a wide range of career routes that use chemical engineering principles with a solid foundation in engineering, math, science, and societal awareness. The scope of this program is broadened by courses from general education as well as specialized technical elective courses in chemical engineering and other engineering disciplines. Students develop teamwork skills and gain interdisciplinary experience particularly in laboratory courses, lecture courses with laboratory components, and the capstone design class that require team projects. This program provides ample opportunities for students to develop communication skills such as oral and poster presentations as well as written technical reports. Students are encouraged to participate in life-long learning activities such as professional meetings on or off campus and field trips. The goal is to have a comprehensive, student-centered program that can allow us to meet the educational objectives.

Major Declaration

Freshmen admission to engineering majors is to a ‘pre-major’ status (i.e., Pre-Chemical Engineering). Continuation in the major will be subject to meeting specific lower division course and GPA requirements at CSULB that indicate the student’s ability to succeed and complete the major. Transfer applicants and CSULB students seeking admission into Chemical Engineering must also meet similar major specific requirements. To become fully admitted into the Chemical Engineering major, all prospective students (i.e., pre-majors, undeclared, major changes) must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and complete the following lower-division courses with a minimum grade of “C” prior to earning 60 units:

Core Lower-Division Major Requirements:

General Education Foundations Courses:

  • Written and Oral Communication

Degree Progress

First-Time Engineering freshmen pre-major and transfer students must complete the Engineering Degree Progress Requirements within their first academic year. At the end of the second full semester, typically Spring, students who have not met the requirements must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor from the Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) to determine if the student’s performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete. Such students must submit a Degree Progress Extension Petition with the College of Engineering Dean’s Office.

First-time Freshmen:

A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in the following course within one calendar year.

Transfer Students:

A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in the following course within one calendar year.

All Engineering Majors

All Engineering majors are expected to make satisfactory degree progress by completing attempted units, limiting repeats/withdrawals, satisfying critical benchmark courses in a timely manner, and maintaining minimum 2.0 Overall and Major GPAs.  Degree progress is monitored for all undergraduate students each semester. Petitions to attempt a course for the third time are only considered in extenuating circumstances. Students who are not making satisfactory degree progress as described above will have a hold on their registration and will be required to meet with their advisor to develop an academic plan.  Failure to satisfy the academic progress requirements will result in the student being disqualified from the major.

Requirements

A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all courses required for the major. A minimum of 120 units is required.

Lower Division:

Take all the following courses:

Take one of the following choices:

or both of the following:

Upper Division:

Take all the following courses:

Take six units from the following courses:

Note:

All students are encouraged to attempt FE Exam. Those who pass the FE Exam before graduation can waive 3 units of elective course.