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CHE Department History
Early Curriculum Cntd.
Looking now at the 1996-97 catalog, the curriculum and the courses as they
have become can be noted (click here).
It is evident that chemical engineering has expanded and matured since its
beginning and is entirely different from CHE as it appeared in the 1916 catalog.
A comparison of the catalog description of chemical engineering in 1924 with
that in 1996 reveals that they sound like two separate courses of study:
(1924) The courses in Chemical Engineering are designed to familiarize
the student with the efficient construction and economic operation of chemical
plants. The problems involved in the commercial manufacture of organic and
inorganic chemicals, and the methods employed to solve these problems, are
considered in detail. Students who complete these courses will be prepared to
plan or direct the manufacture of the more important chemical products.
(1996) Although chemical engineering has existed as a field of
engineering for only about 90 years, its name is no longer completely
descriptive of this dynamic profession. The work of the chemical engineer is
neither restricted to the chemical industry nor limited to chemical changes or
chemistry. Instead, modern chemical engineers are concerned with all the
physical and chemical changes of matter to produce economically a product or
result that is useful to mankind.
More than most fields, today's chemical engineer's education is based on the
fundamental sciences of physics and chemistry, on mathematical and computer
techniques, and on basic engineering principles. Such a broad background has
made the chemical engineer extremely versatile and capable of working in a wide
variety of industries: chemical, petroleum, aerospace, nuclear, materials,
microelectronics, sanitation, food processing and computer technology. It also
is a good preparation for law and medical schools.
The chemical industry alone provides opportunities for the chemical engineer to
participate in research, development, design or operation of plants for the
production of new synthetic fibers, plastics, chemical fertilizers, vitamins,
antibiotics, rocket fuels, nuclear fuels, paper pulp, photographic products,
paints, fuel cells, transistors and the thousands of chemicals that are used as
intermediates in the manufacture of the above products.
In practice, the activities of the chemical engineer are sufficiently
diversified to attract a wide range of talents and abilities. The chemical
engineers working in process design determine the sequence of steps to be
followed in producing a useful product and calculate the sizes of the equipment
required and the total cost; those working in development research do
small-scale studies on new processes or products; those working in production
improve and coordinate the operation of plants and equipment. Others do
fundamental research on the laws of science and their application. Many chemical
engineers work in technical sales, cost estimation, patent law and plant
supervision. A chemical engineering background is often the best route to
top-level management positions. It is not surprising that new chemical
engineering graduates command the highest starting salaries of any degree at the
bachelor's level.
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