The Essentials of a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Program
Did you know that on a typical day in the United States there are about 9 million barrels of petrol, 4 million barrels of diesel, 63,000 tons of fertilizer, 350,000 tons of paper and 74,000 tons of plastics are being used? And our Chemical Engineers play a very important role in completion of these highly in demand industrial products. They are the individuals who work behind successful industries and manufacturing companies.
A Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree is more than just a field of engineering study. This engineering degree provides a huge range of possibilities and it is among the most satisfying and lucrative careers in engineering. Chemical Engineers combine the study of chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, mechanical and electrical engineering to come up with breakthroughs in chemical product production and equipment. They use the principles of physics, chemistry and engineering technologies to fabricate goods like synthetic rubber, plastic, petrol, detergents, paper, cement etc. While for large-scale manufacturing, chemical engineers also design the manufacturing equipment and analyze the approach before implementing the process.
Education, Training and Licensing
The undergraduate curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree is a four-year accredited program in engineering which requires completion of 195 units. Aside from studying a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, another option is to complete a four year engineering training program. Those who undergone training can get jobs much like those candidates that carry a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Around 1,830 faculty and university programs across America hold the certification of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET/EAC).
Once you completed the bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering you can take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) assessment as the initial step in becoming a professional engineer (PE). For students who completed the degree under accredited programs, they can take the PE exam after FE examination and two years of work experience. However, for students of non-accredited programs, they are required to finish the four years of relevant work experience and FE exam before they can take the PE examination.
Important Qualities of a Chemical Engineer
- Analytical Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Deductive-reasoning Skills
- Math Skills
- Problem solving Skills
- Problem Sensitivity
- Team Player
Work Environment and Compensation
For graduates of Chemical Engineering, there are several areas of specializations to choose from including careers in nanotechnology, environmental technology, microelectronic device manufacture, substances and polymer processing, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, bio-medical engineering, power and thermal systems, management and system engineering, etc.
Most chemical engineers work in offices and laboratories. They generally work 40 hours per week visiting and monitoring refineries, industrial plants, and other locations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly wages of chemical engineers in May 2010 was $90,300. Starting wages of chemical engineers could be the greatest when compared with other graduate level careers.
Around 33,000 jobs for chemical engineers are anticipated from the year 2016. Based on the study of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment opportunity for chemical engineering graduates is expected to increase by six percent from 2010 to 2020. If compared to other profession, it is slower than the average. However, there is still a number of employment possibilities in other emerging fields of chemical engineering such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and other alternative energy resources.
The role of chemical engineers in industrialization is a serious matter and their contributions to manufacturing industries are incredible. They must understand the diverse aspects of manufacturing, its entire process, and the safety of both workers and consumers in order to succeed in their field.
