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Chemical Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Delivery Options

Campus

Fall 2027 Deadline

Priority: November 1
Regular: January 15
Late: April 1

Apply Now Contact Admissions Team

Department

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Why Chemical Engineering?

Most of the world’s products and systems (energy, water, food, health) rely on insights from chemical engineers. As the world seeks better ways to move forward, chemical engineers will play a pivotal role in designing and refining greener mining and manufacturing processes, renewable fuels, safer food and water supplies, breakthrough pharmaceuticals and medical devices and biodegradable materials.

Program Overview

As a chemical engineering major at Mines, you will benefit from an ABET-accredited curriculum that builds upon the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. You will gain rigorous instruction in fluid mechanics, heat and mass transport, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and chemical process dynamics and control — the heart of the chemical engineering curriculum at Mines.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Mines focuses on the production and processing of materials, both in laboratory settings and large-scale industrial facilities. You will position yourself for change through the intensive integration of computer-aided simulation and process modeling, gaining hands-on experience, including a foundational, six-week intensive unit operations laboratory sequence offered in the summer between your first and second years.

Your chemical engineering degree from Mines sets you up for employment in diverse fields, including advanced materials synthesis and processing, product and process research and development, food and pharmaceutical processing and synthesis, biochemical and biomedical materials and products, microelectronics manufacturing, petroleum and petrochemical processing and process and product design.

Program Focus

In a world facing urgent challenges in energy, sustainability, and health, the demand for innovative chemical engineers has never been higher. As global industries shift toward green energy and advanced materials, professionals must navigate complex systems to create efficient, large-scale solutions. A Mines degree places you at the center of this transformation, preparing you to lead in a rapidly evolving landscape where technical precision meets environmental responsibility.

At Mines, you will master the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and kinetics to design and optimize chemical processes. Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on laboratory experience and computational modeling, teaching you to scale bench-top reactions into safe, industrial operations. You will graduate with the ability to engineer high-performance materials and sustainable fuels, equipped with the problem-solving skills to tackle the world’s most pressing technical issues.

Program Design/Options

Mines offers three specialty tracks within its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program, allowing you to gain experience and deepen expertise in energy, healthcare, manufacturing, consulting and research. Elective options support optional specialty tracks in process engineering, biological engineering and honors research.

Process Engineering Track

Gain practical engineering skills related to industrial-scale process design, mainly chemical and fuels production.
Prepare for roles in alternative energy, consulting, project management and large-scale manufacturing.
Learn the design, operation and optimization of complex chemical processes in industries like petrochemicals, energy and specialty chemicals.

Biological Engineering Track

Combine engineering fundamentals with coursework in biochemistry, bioprocess engineering and a selection of biotechnology electives.
Drive innovations in pharmaceuticals, food supplements, preservatives, bio-nanotechnology and biomass-based energy.
Gain internships and research experience in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals and related fields.

Honors Research Track

Set yourself on course for graduate school or a research career in national labs, academia or industry.
Embrace a more research-intensive curriculum, including courses on transport phenomena and honors undergraduate research projects.
Work closely with faculty and build a portfolio of hands-on research experience, tackling cutting-edge chemical and biochemical engineering.

Program Opportunities

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Experiential Learning

Years after graduation, chemical engineering majors from Mines remember one thing above all others — the intensive six-week summer Field Session, also known as the Unit Operations Laboratory sequence. You’ll spend your weeks in teams learning to design and conduct and present experiments across fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, property measurements, reaction kinetics and bioengineering-related unit operations. Mines faculty provide real-time feedback and the pace of the Field Session mirrors the professional environment you will encounter post-graduation. Regular meetings and Friday lunches keep everyone engaged, as you become comfortable and skilled working in specialized labs equipped for research into polymer properties, reaction kinetics and transport phenomena.

Female Mines students performing research and test results in a lab.

Research Opportunities

Mines offers the First-Year Innovation and Research Scholar Training (FIRST) program, a selective fellowship for highly motivated first-year students to participate in research focused on innovation over the course of an academic year. FIRST students are introduced to academic research, connected with a faculty or graduate student mentor and take part in hands-on work in research labs on campus. At the conclusion of the paid fellowship, FIRST students present their work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, held twice a year.

A mines professor showing a student the gauges and measurements on water filters.

Industry Opportunities

Industry recruiters praise Mines students for their strong problem-solving skills and team-oriented approach. A Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Mines prepares you for employment across various industries, including energy, chemical and petroleum companies, as well as emerging roles in the biotech, manufacturing and environmental sectors.

Salaries and Career Outlook

$75,000 Median starting salary for recent program

#1 Mines ranks #1 in the nation for return on investment (ROI)

#3 Mines ranks #3 among Colorado universities for ROI

96% Graduates with positive career outcomes

5 key industries biotechnology, chemicals, energy, pharmaceutical and semiconductors

Program Curriculum

View Academic Catalog

Faculty Expertise

Meet three faculty leaders with research expertise and industry experience in renewable and unconventional energy systems, advanced materials design and synthesis, bioengineering and biotechnology, computational modeling and multiscale simulation and chemical processes and separations prepare students to solve complex chemical engineering challenges with practical solutions.

Sumit Agarwal

Professor

Nanette Boyle

Associate Professor-DH

Stephanie Kwon

Assistant Professor

World-Class Labs, Centers and Facilities

As a Mines chemical engineering undergraduate, you will benefit from several key interconnected innovation, lab and computing facilities that support experiential learning and research and feed your growth as an industry-ready professional.

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The Center for Hydrate Research

The largest research center in the world dealing with hydrates, The Center for Hydrate Research addresses fundamental science and practical challenges involving clathrate hydrates and other solids in energy production, transportation and storage

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Krebs Research Group

Associate Professor Melissa Krebs develops biopolymer systems that allow the study of cells’ interactions with their microenvironment and that can be used for both tissue regeneration and therapeutics, with the end goal of improving patient therapies that are available in the clinic.

A microscope sitting on top of a table in a room.

Colorado Institute for Energy, Materials and Computational Science

CIEMACS focuses on problems at the nexus of energy, materials and scientific computing. Its shared facilities include an atomic force microscope and tools to measure and characterize thermal stability and viscoelastic properties of various materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering?

A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering prepares you to design, analyze and optimize chemical and physical processes that transform raw materials into valuable products. At Mines, chemical engineering is taught as an applied quantitative discipline grounded in transport phenomena thermodynamics kinetics and systems modeling. Students integrate theory, experimentation and computation to solve real-world challenges. Graduates are prepared to translate scientific principles into scalable processes across energy manufacturing materials pharmaceuticals and emerging technology sectors.

What advances are shaping the field of chemical engineering?

Chemical engineering is evolving rapidly as new technologies reshape how processes are designed, optimized and controlled. Key advances include:

Data-driven and AI-enabled process modeling and optimization
Advanced reaction engineering and catalysis for energy and chemical conversion
Process intensification and sustainable manufacturing approaches Integration of molecular simulation with process-scale models
Decarbonization technologies including carbon capture utilization and storage
Electrochemical and materials-based process systems

What career options will I have with a degree in chemical engineering?

Graduates pursue technical and leadership roles focused on process development optimization and system performance including: Chemical or process engineer

Process development or manufacturing engineer
Research and development scientist
Systems or modeling engineer
Quality safety or reliability engineer
Data or computational engineer in process-driven industries

These roles emphasize designing efficient scalable and sustainable chemical systems.

What industries hire chemical engineering graduates?

Chemical engineering graduates are employed across industries that rely on large-scale processes and advanced technologies including:

Energy and fuels
Chemicals and materials manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
Food consumer and specialty products
Semiconductors and advanced electronics
Environmental and sustainability-focused industries

Mines’ strong engineering and applied science focus enables graduates to contribute immediately in complex industrial environments.

What are the current research and applied directions in chemical engineering?

Today’s chemical engineering research focuses on addressing global challenges through integrated experimental computational and systems-based approaches. Key areas include:

Energy conversion storage and decarbonization technologies
Catalysis reaction engineering and separations
Process systems engineering optimization and control
Advanced materials and chemical manufacturing
Multiscale modeling from molecular to process level
Sustainable and resilient industrial systems

At Mines these efforts align closely with national priorities in energy transition advanced manufacturing supply chain resilience and next-generation engineering technologies.

Featured Alumni

Meet Sabrina Wood ’25, Chemical Engineering

I chose to come to Mines because of the difficulty and rigor of the school coupled with the small community feel of the campus. There are not many high level engineering schools that focus only on STEM majors and prioritize a low student to faculty ratio. This allowed me to create deep connections with both my classmates and professors while at Mines. The community that Mines creates made me feel accepted and supported throughout my undergraduate degree. Mines operates as a whole instead of a battlefield, providing support when necessary and challenges always.

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Chemical Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Delivery Options

Fall 2027 Deadline

Department