Chemical Engineering Syllabus

There are endless inspiring stories and facts about how chemical engineers have shaped our world over the years. From George E Davis, known to be the ‘founding father’ of Chemical Engineering; Arthur D Little, who developed the concept of unit operations which is used in physical or chemical change; Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau’s first commercial penicillin plant to the discovery of polythene by Dermot Manning. Chemical Engineering has been an important discipline of study to develop faster computer chips, innovations in recycling, treating diseases, generating energy or even cleaning water. So, here is this article on the various topics covered in the Chemical Engineering syllabus so that you can build an exciting career in Chemical Engineering.

Also Read: Top Chemical Engineering Colleges

What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical Engineering is a multidisciplinary branch of Engineering that deals with the combination of Natural and Experimental Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) with Life Sciences (Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry) and Mathematics and Economics. Chemical engineers are involved in the process of designing, developing, producing, transforming, transporting, operating, and managing industrial processes that turn raw materials into valuable products.

 

Chemical Engineering as a Course

A degree in Chemical Engineering requires a strong background in Chemistry and Mathematics, while core knowledge of other subjects in Science like Physics, Biology, or Computer Science is beneficial. In order to prove your interest in pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree, you should have an understanding of the nature of Chemical Engineering and its various real-world applications.

Also Read: Biochemical Engineering

List of Various Chemical Engineering Courses

There are several courses that you can opt for in order to transcend your career in Chemical Engineering. Some of the major degrees offering a specialization in Chemical Engineering are:

• Bachelor of Engineering (B Eng)
• Bachelor of Technology (B Tech)
• Bachelor of Science (BS or BSc)
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Technology (M Tech)
• Master of Science (MS or MSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Chemical Engineering syllabus for UG, PG, or a PhD is different along with its varied duration.

Other than this, mentioned below are the various diploma courses in Chemical Engineering which last for 2-3 years:

• Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology
• Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology
• Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology (Environmental)
• Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology (Lab and Process Control CHLP)
• Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering Technologist (CHE3)

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Eligibility Criteria

For Chemical Engineering courses, the eligibility requirements mainly differ as per the programs you are pursuing as well as the university. Here are the key prerequisites you need to keep in mind before opting for these courses:

• For undergraduate diploma and degree level courses in Chemical Engineering, students are required to have completed their senior secondary education, i.e. 12th with Physics and Chemistry as the core subjects.
• For postgraduate level Chemical Engineering courses, you must have completed your bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Engineering or BTech/BSc in Chemical Engineering or any equivalent course.
• To study these programs abroad, you will be required to submit language proficiency scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. as well as a lucrative SOP and LORs are also recommended.

Duration of the Course

An undergraduate program can last from 3-4 years while the master’s degree program is generally for 1-2 years and a PhD for 3-5 years. The duration of the course varies based on the country and the university in which you study.

Also Read: Engineering Chemistry

Chemical Engineering Subjects

In the course curricula for Chemical Engineering courses at diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral, there are certain core and elective subjects that are covered to provide students with the basics and advanced-level understanding of this specialization. Before moving on to the Chemical Engineering syllabus, take a look at the following table listing down the core subjects and electives studied under this discipline:

Core Subjects	Electives
-Thermodynamics –Biochemical Engineering -High Polymer Engineering -Biochemical Engineering –Environmental Engineering –Safety Engineering -Fluid Mechanics -Process Instrumentation -Material Science and Engineering	–Food Technology -Ceramic Technology -Computational Fluid Dynamics -Water Treatment Technology -Surface Coating -Bio-nanotechnology -Rubber Technology -Industrial Pollution Control

Chemical Engineering Syllabus

The Chemical Engineering Syllabus covers some of the specialized disciplines of Science and Mathematics in order to develop a greater depth of Chemical Engineering skills, and knowledge in the field and complete a wider range of project work. Chemical Engineering courses are delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, extensive practical lab work, project work (for individuals and groups), and computer practice sessions.

Some of universities and colleges offer online teaching and part-time courses for international students. The degree is provided on completion of a substantial research and development project or presentation. Here is a list of the syllabus for Chemical Engineering and subjects covered under undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs respectively:

 

B Eng/B Tech or BS/BSc in Chemical Engineering Syllabus

Students who have completed 12th with Science stream possess the skills and capabilities like good problem solving and have the ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate data and develop ideas. This opens up their scope in Chemical Engineering. The subjects offered in BSc/BEng or BTech Chemical Engineering are:

Mathematics	Computer Programming	Engineering Mechanics
Biochemical Engineering and Bioinformatics	Organic Chemistry	Chemistry
Metallurgy and Corrosion Engineering	Physics	Fluid Mechanics
Nanotechnology	Electrical and Electronics Engineering	Paper Engineering
Thermodynamics	Plastic Engineering	Polymers
Textile Engineering	Biotechnology	Process Calculations
Fluid Flow Operations	Engineering Chemistry and Chemical Technology	Energy Engineering
Chemical process Industries	Heat Transfer	Applied Mathematics
Water Technology	Mass Transfer	Mechanics of Solids
Environmental Science and Engineering	Heat Transfer Operations	Business Communications & Ethics
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics	Process Equipment Design	Process Dynamics and Control
Oil Exploration and Refinery	Chemical Process Calculations	Chemical Process Industries
Technical Analysis Laboratory	Process Engineering	Pharmaceutical Engineering
Physical Chemistry Lab	Mechanical Operations	Fluid Mechanics Lab
Basic Electrical and Electronics Lab	Organic Chemistry Lab	Physics and Chemistry Lab

BTech/B.E/BSc Chemical Engineering Syllabus Semester-Wise

Below given are the year-wise theory and lab for the BTech Chemical Engineering syllabus. These are mostly taught in various universities offering the course in Chemical Engineering. Let’s take a look:

Semester 1 

Theory 

• Mathematics I
• Physics 
• Chemistry 
• Basic Civil & Mechanical Engineering 
• Engineering Mechanics
• Communicative English 

Practicals

• Physics Lab
• Chemistry Lab
• Workshop Practice

Semester 2

Theory 

• Mathematics II
• Material Science
• Environmental Science
• Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering 
• Engineering Thermodynamics
• Computer Programming 

Practicals

• Computer Programming  Lab
• Engineering Graphics
• Basic Electrical and Electronics Lab

Semester 3

Theory 

• Mathematics III
• Physical Chemistry
• Strengths of Materials
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering 
• Process Calculations
• Momentum Transfer

Practicals 

• Physical Chemistry Lab
• Strengths of Materials Lab
• Electrical and Electronics Engg. Lab

Semester 4

Theory 

• Mathematics IV
• Organic Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Mass Transfer
• Mechanical Operations

Practicals 

• Organic Chemistry Lab
• Momentum Transfer Lab
• Chemical Engineering Drawing

Semester 5

Theory 

• Process Instrumentation
• Mass Transfer II
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Energy Technology and Management
• Chemical Process Industries
• Chemical Engineering Practice

Practicals 

• Mass Transfer Lab I
• Heat Transfer Lab
• Chemical Operations Lab
• General Proficiency I

Semester 6

Theory 

• Numerical Methods and Special Functions
• Mass Transfer III
• Chemical Reaction Engineering II
• Process Design of Chemical Equipment
• Elective I
• Elective II

Practicals 

• Mass Transfer Lab II
• Chemical Reaction Engineering Lab
• Technical Analysis Lab
• General Proficiency II

Semester 7

Theory 

• Process Dynamics & Control
• Mechanical Design of Chemical Equipment
• Industrial Management
• Elective III
• Elective IV

Practicals 

• Computer-Aided Design Lab
• Project Work (Phase I)
• Seminar
• Industrial Visit/Training

Semester 8

Theory 

• Transport Phenomenon
• Process Engineering Economics
• Pollution Control in Process Industries
• Elective V
• Elective VI

Practicals 

• Process Dynamics and Control Lab
• Project Work (Phase II)
• Comprehensive Viva Voice
• Professional Ethical Practice

BTech Chemical Engineering Electives

Electives I & II ( Semester 6)

• Nanotechnology
• Drugs and Pharmaceutical Technology
• Petroleum Refinery Engg.
• Nuclear Engineering
• Bio-Chemical Engg. 

Electives III & IV (Semester 7)

• Polymer Science & Technology
• Petrochemical Technology
• Industrial Biotechnology 
• Risk and Safety Management in Process Industries 
• Electrochemical Engineering

Electives V & VI (Semester 8) 

• New Separation Techniques
• Process Flow Sheeting, Design & Synthesis
• Process Modeling and Simulation
• Optimization of Chemical Process
• Environmental Impact Assessment and Clean Technology

MEng/MTech or MS/MSc in Chemical Engineering

Many students choose to pursue a Master’s in Chemical Engineering after their graduation degree. The Master’s of Chemical Engineering syllabus offers the following subjects:

• Process Optimization
• Advanced Process Control
• Process Modelling and Simulation
• Project Management
• Research Methodology
• Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering
• Advanced Fluid Transfer
• Advanced Separation Processes
• Advanced Reaction Engineering
• Advanced Transport Phenomena
• Distillation
• Safety and Hazards
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• Advanced Thermodynamics
• Composite Materials
• Project Work
• Thesis

Also Read: Chemical Engineering Jobs

PhD Syllabus

Graduates pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering are able to apply principles of Chemical Engineering as well as advanced analytical and experimental techniques to the solution of large-scale research problems. The subjects covered in the Chemical Engineering syllabus for a PhD degree are:

• Biological Systems Engineering
• Material Engineering
• Energy & Environment
• Reactor Engineering
• Process Systems Engineering
• Transport Phenomena and Complex Fluids

Top Chemical Engineering Colleges in India

From IITs to other prominent universities, India has some of the finest colleges for pursuing Chemical Engineering at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Here are the top colleges for chemical engineering in India:

• Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
• Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
• Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore
• Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu
• RV College of Engineering, Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
• Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
• Delhi Technological University, New Delhi

 

Are you planning to study abroad? One of the perks of studying a course from a foreign university is that it gives you global exposure and industry experience and you can learn from the multicultural environment. Here are the top chemical engineering colleges abroad:

• University of California, Berkeley (UCB), USA
• University of Cambridge, UK
• Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
• University of Oxford, UK.
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA
• Imperial College London, UK.
• Stanford University, USA
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
• Harvard University, USA

Chemical Engineering Syllabus Books

Referring to the right books can help you score better. There are a huge amount of books available online and students are often confused and end up selecting the wrong ones. Here is the list of top books for the Chemical Engineering Syllabus:

Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by Julian Smith and Peter Harriott
Dryden’s Outlines Of Chemical Technology by Rao and M Gopala
Introduction to Chemical Engineering by Pushpavanam S
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by Y.V.C. Rao
Chemical Reaction Engineering, 3ed (WSE) by Octave Levenspiel

 

FAQs

The Chemical Engineering syllabus involves the study of designing, manufacturing and operating machinery and plant to achieve large-scale industrial chemical, biological and related processes. Moreover, professionals in this field are working to translate chemical information to formulate designs of valuable products. This makes Chemical Engineering one of the most popular and lucrative career options for students who are discovering something new about the nature of the world.

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