Prospective Students
Have a Career in a Versatile and Rewarding Field
The Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering prepares you for a rich career that involves the transformation of chemical and physical materials into useful products that we use in our everyday lives. Examples include:
- Medications and pharmaceuticals
- Food products and better methods to preserve food quality
- Cosmetics and toiletries
- Plastics and polymers like bottles and automotive parts
- Fuels, like natural gas and renewable energy sources
- And much more in this broad and robust field
Through our bachelor of science in chemical engineering (BSChE) program, you'll graduate with the ability to design and develop new products and improve existing ones. With a strong understanding of chemical and physical materials, you'll help transform the world to be cleaner and more efficient.
Plus, you'll join a high-demand field. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy and materials science are always in search of capable chemical engineers. And you'll be more than capable after graduating from our program–you'll learn foundational chemical and engineering theories and principles that you'll put into practice in our hands-on labs.
100% Student Participation in Research and Projects
Put theory into practice! Every undergraduate student participates in research and and design projects.
Faculty with Research and Hands-on Experience
Learn from a diverse faculty body that comes from both industry and research backgrounds.
Strong Starting Salary
Entry-level chemical engineers make an average annual salary of nearly $69,0001. Over the course of their careers, that average nearly doubles to $121,0002.
Pictured: Patti Wagner ('84, chemical engineering), former group president of Sempra Energy. Prior to this, Wagner served as chairman and CEO of Southern California Gas Co.
1Figures from payscale.com 2022 data
2Figures from the US Department of Labor 2021 data
