Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Chemical Engineering

Ever wonder how gasoline is made from oil or paper from trees or about the manufacture of pharmaceuticals or toothpaste? Are you concerned that we must do a better job of reducing chemical byproducts and improving waste treatment? Are you excited about applications of nanotechnology or bioengineering? Do physics experiments excite you? Are you good in math and like chemistry? Then maybe chemical engineering is for you.

Chemical engineers are involved in almost every industrial process in our society. The chemical engineer discovers, designs, builds, and operates industrial processes that involve changes in the chemical composition, physical nature, or energy content of materials. Chemical engineers play a lead role in waste minimization through process improvement and treatment plant design and operation. Gasoline from oil, cereal from grain, paper from trees and pharmaceuticals by chemical synthesis—all utilize chemical engineers. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anything you are using, at any time of day, that was not produced using the skills of a chemical engineer.

Many scholarship programs are available to chemical engineering students. Many of these scholarship opportunities are based on national competition, such as those sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers or the Society of Women Engineers. Others have local sponsors, such as those through Kalamazoo's Monroe-Brown Foundation or our department's own Paper Technology Foundation.

Pre-Professional Pathways

Pre-professional is a category for College of Arts and Sciences students at Western Michigan University who intend to enter a professional school after graduating with their bachelor's degrees. If you plan to enter a health profession or attend law school, WMU's pre-professional pathways offer the guidance, support, academic preparation and field experience you need to be successful. Please let your recruiter know if you are interested in one or multiple pathways. The options are: • Pre-chiropractic • Pre-dental • Pre-forensic science • Pre-law • Pre-medicine • Pre-naturopathic medicine • Pre-optometry • Pre-pharmacy • Pre-physical therapy • Pre-physician assistant • Pre-public health • Pre-veterinary • Pre-secondary education