Chemical Engineering | Courses, skills, jobs, and more!

Chemical engineering is a very new field that has been studied for only around 125 years. It is responsible for a vast number of items and operations that are today regarded as essential. Largely, it is a set of methods and ideas used to convert raw materials and chemicals into usable goods such as clothing, beverages, paint, and fuel.

The field makes efficient use of chemistry, biology, and economics to design, manufacture, transport, and transform products, energy, and materials. It also has a broad and ever-expanding scope, and engineers that specialize in this area are always in demand. 

If you aspire to become a chemical engineer, keep reading to know what the field entails and how you can build a lucrative career!

What do chemical engineers do? 

Chemical engineers develop, design, or improve current processes to make usable items. They are also in charge of environmental preservation, resource management, and human health and safety. Chemical engineers work on plant design, operation, and modeling, among other things. Moreover, the courses in this field encompass areas such as control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, and others. 

Chemical engineering courses 

Candidates can choose from a variety of diploma, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and doctoral degree programs in chemical engineering. Following are the different courses available –

• Diploma Courses: After graduating from Class 10, applicants can enroll in a three-year full-time program. After earning a minimum of 50% on the diploma, you can apply for admission to the second year of a UG engineering degree program. 
• UG Course (Bachelors of Technology): The emphasis of a bachelor’s degree program is on conceptual learning, theory, and applications. Students who pursue a BE/BTech in Chemical Engineering will receive significant technical instruction that is required for industrial work. The duration of this program is 4 years. 
• PG Course (Masters of Technology): A postgraduate program in Chemical Engineering will enable the student to specialize in their area of interest while also gaining industrial knowledge. The duration of this program is 2 years.
• Doctoral Course (Ph.D.): Candidates who have finished their post-graduation in the subject with a minimum of 50% marks throughout the course duration are eligible to apply for Ph.D. programs.

Eligibility criteria

Different institutions have specific selection procedures and admission criteria. Take a look at the following eligibility requirements –  

Diploma programs

To pursue a diploma in this field, a candidate must have a Class 10 or equivalent examination with Mathematics and Science as essential subjects. 

Undergraduate programs

• Students must have a 50 percent aggregate score on Class 12 or equivalent assessments to be eligible (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
• Candidates must pass the entrance exam for the university or institution. 

Postgraduate programs 

• A competitive GRE score or other exams as accepted by the institute/university is essential.
• A Bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline. 
• Students must have a minimum of 60% in their undergraduate degree to be considered. 

Syllabus for chemical engineering

Chemical Engineering courses at the undergraduate level offer intensive training in engineering, mathematics, and basic chemical principles. The curriculum for BE/BTech courses in chemical engineering is organized into eight semesters over four years.

Following is a table of the subjects taught throughout the duration of the course –

Semester-I	Semester-II
Technical English	Engineering Materials
Mathematics – I	Chemical Process Calculations
Physics	Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Chemistry	Physics – 2
Semester-III	Semester-IV
Energy Balance and Thermodynamics	Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics	Mathematics – 4
Mechanical Operations	Heat Transfer
Instrumental Methods of Analysis	Chemical Technology
Mathematics – 3	Membrane Separation Technology
Semester-V	Semester-VI
Chemical Reaction Engineering I  Optimization Techniques Diffusional Mass Transfer Operations	Chemical Reaction Engineering II  Process Dynamics and Control Materials Technology
Statics and Strength of Materials	Equilibrium Staged Operations
Semester-VII	Semester-VIII
Process Equipment Design and Drawing	Elective – I
Elective	Final Project
Modeling, Computer simulation & Optimization	Elective – II
Polymer Technology	Comprehensive Viva Voce

Skills you need

The basic skill sets for being a good chemical engineer include technical capabilities, project management, critical thinking, and communication skills. However, if candidates wish to stand out from the throng, they should have the following attributes in addition to academic excellence –

• Innovative thinking 
• Active learning 
• Critical thinking 
• Interpersonal skills 
• Problem-solving skills 
• Organizational skills 
• Operational skills 
• Technical knowledge 
• Data collection and analysis 

Top chemical engineering colleges in the world

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Stanford University
3. National University of Singapore (NUS) 
4. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
5. University of Cambridge 
6. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
7. ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
8. University of Oxford
9. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
10. Imperial College London

Chemical Engineering | Job profiles with salaries 

Now that we know what Chemical Engineering entails, it’s time to look at some job profiles with average salaries in this field. So, here’s a list we curated for you- 

Jobs	Average salary (Per annum)
Quality Manager	$83111
Materials Engineer	$76,067
Biomedical Engineer	$76,092
Product Development Scientist	$79,115
Environmental Engineer	$76,949

Key takeaways

• Chemical engineers develop products that make people’s life easier and more enjoyable. These include designing pharmaceuticals, fuels, polymers, and automobiles, among other things. 
• Their job requires a broad understanding of a wide range of topics.
• To address challenges, you will be taught to think logically, creatively, and innovatively, as well as to communicate and collaborate effectively with others. 
• Chemical engineers can expect high income when they first enter the workforce because of their ability to create commercial products, such as by reducing prices and the time it takes to complete procedures. 

We hope you found this blog informative and made some notes! If you have any questions/suggestions, drop a comment or reach out to us.

Liked this blog? Read Top 10 Engineering colleges in the world | Acceptance rates, fees & more!

FAQs 

Q1. Who is the father of Chemical Engineering? 

Answer – George Edward Davis is the founding father of Chemical Engineering. 

Q2. What are some of the most common industries where chemical engineers are employed?

Answer – Chemical Engineers work in a variety of industries, including fertilizer companies, coal companies, oil and gas exploration companies, and so on. 

Q3. What is the starting salary of a Chemical Engineer? 

Answer – Chemical engineers starting out in their career get paid nearly $71,000 per annum.

Q4. Does chemical engineering require Math?

Answer- You need advanced Math to enter this field. Chemical Engineers use math in designing various processes or solving chemical problems. Mathematics is also involved in various studies they conduct in thermodynamics, process dynamics, chemical reaction processes, etc.

Q5. How many subjects are there in Chemical Engineering?

Answer- Some of the subjects that students study in Chemical Engineering include-

• Thermodynamics
• Biochemical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Safety Engineering
• Food Technology 

Q6. Which country is best for Chemical Engineering?

Answer- Some of the best countries to study Chemical Engineering are-

• USA
• Germany
• Switzerland
• UK
• Singapore