Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that combines principles of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics to design and optimize processes that transform raw materials into valuable products. It focuses on developing safe, efficient, and sustainable methods for producing fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and advanced materials.

Chemical engineers work on scaling laboratory discoveries into large-scale production, designing equipment and processes for chemical reactions, separations, and material handling. The field also emphasizes sustainability, including renewable energy, waste reduction, and environmental protection. With its blend of science and engineering, chemical engineering plays a central role in industries ranging from energy and healthcare to manufacturing and consumer goods.

Highlights of chemical engineering at Butler include:

• Small classes and faculty mentorship
• Digital technology and AI integration
• 25+ year history of Engineering at Butler through EDDP
• Industry internships in a major metropolitan location
• Undergraduate research
• Community-engaged learning
• Hands-on lab experiences
• Design throughout the curriculum, including a year-long senior design sequence

Program Educational Objectives for Chemical Engineering

Within 3–5 years of graduation, our alumni will:

• PEO 1. Apply chemical engineering principles, technical skills, and a liberal arts foundation to solve complex problems, contribute to innovation, and advance technologies in diverse professional settings including industry, government, and academia.
• PEO 2. Continuously pursue personal and professional development through advanced education, certifications, or self-directed learning in chemical engineering or related fields, staying abreast of evolving technologies and global engineering challenges.
• PEO 3. Demonstrate leadership, ethical decision-making, and social responsibility in their professional roles in chemical engineering or related fields, contributing to sustainable solutions that benefit communities and address global needs.

Student Learning Outcomes for Chemical Engineering

Student outcomes for the chemical engineering program are:

• 1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex chemical engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• 2) an ability to apply chemical 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 chemical 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, and
• 7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree curriculum provides a strong background in core engineering and science courses with an emphasis on:

• Thermodynamics
• Transport phenomena, including fluid, heat, and mass transfer
• Separations
• Reactions
• Process design and development

The chemical engineering program requires 127 semester credit hours for graduation. Topics cover 39 credits of general math/science, 12 credits of core engineering coursework, and an additional 49 hours of major specific requirements.

To graduate, students must complete all required engineering courses with a GPA of 2.0 or better, demonstrating mastery of key competencies aligned with the program’s outcomes.

Sample Four-Year Plan