Chemical engineering is an engineering discipline that focuses on designing, developing, and operating chemical processes and equipment.
It incorporates principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to solve problems that are related to the production or use of chemicals.
Unlike other branches of engineering, such as mechanical or electronic engineering, chemical engineering specifically deals with transforming raw materials into finished products through chemical reactions.
Therefore, students wishing to pursue a chemical engineering program must thoroughly understand chemical processes and how they can be optimized to achieve outcomes.
If you're interested in pursuing chemical engineering, let's explore more about this program.
Basic Subjects You Need For Chemical Engineering
As mentioned in the earlier section, chemical engineering combines chemistry, physics, and mathematics to develop chemical processes.
Therefore, you must have a solid foundation in Mathematics and Science subjects.
Mathematics is essential because you will apply it to solve and analyze data while doing chemical work. Besides, you can also learn mathematical subjects, such as Statistics, Further Mathematics, and others.
Other than mathematical subjects, it would be helpful when you have a good understanding of science subjects like chemistry and physics.
These subjects will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in a chemical engineering course.
Requirements To Take This Course?
Many universities accept students who have experience in computer science, science streams, or engineering courses.
However, if you lack the necessary prerequisites, you can still apply for a foundation program to learn the required subjects before enrolling.
Alternatively, a diploma in a related field can also help prepare you for a degree program.
It is crucial to ensure that your grades in mathematics and science are good and that you have not failed any of the subjects.
What Skills Do You Need For This Course?
1. Science and mathematical skills
Both science and mathematical skills are very important for chemical engineering courses. Throughout the program, you must observe, experiment, and measure during your task.
On the other hand, you must apply mathematical methods and formulas to do calculations. As you are about to pursue chemical engineering, you will be learning thermodynamics, which requires you to use mathematical skills.
2. Analytical and problem-solving skills
This course allows you to do experimentation. During the experimentation process, you must analyze data and identify problems. This is when analyzing is vital.
Acquiring analytical skills helps you identify the errors and loopholes you committed during experimentation. You will also use the data to analyze findings, like graphing them.
3. Be precise
Conducting experiments may sound cool and fun, isn't it? But that's not it.
Experimentations require precision. It is important to measure the quantities of chemical solutions involved accurately.
Chemical engineering involves working with potentially dangerous solutions. Hence, you must be precise with the amount of solutions used to achieve the right result.
4. Computer/ software skills
You must equip yourself with technology and software skills throughout this course. Having computer skills can be useful since you deal with a large amount of data due to your experimentation.
By having the required skills, you can make calculations and data collection work more efficiently.
5. Always on the lookout
When you pursue this course, you must be adaptable and flexible in your surroundings.
With modern technologies, industries such as cosmetics and healthcare are now able to produce more chemical-processed products. As a chemical engineering student, you must be on the lookout to equip yourself with updated knowledge.
The Difference Between Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
If you are wondering about the differences between chemistry and chemical engineering, you may find the answer here.
Chemistry focuses on the properties, composition, and reaction of matter. Therefore, most bachelor-degree chemists take subjects generally, such as chemistry, physics, calculus, and computer science.
Chemist graduates typically work in labs, where they can perform analysis and contribute to research and development projects. Master's degree chemists not only perform the same work as bachelor's, but they also supervise research projects.
On the other hand, chemical engineering applies the principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to process chemical solutions. In addition to taking most of the same courses as chemists, chemical engineering students also study fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and others.
They work in various industries, such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Plus, they must take a test before becoming a licensed professional chemical engineer.
Job Prospects
The chemical engineering major is becoming increasingly popular because of the variety of career paths available to graduates.
After obtaining a bachelor's degree, a chemical engineering student can pursue many opportunities, including:
- To complete his career in scientific research by specializing in chemical engineering.
- An engineer or consultant in factories and sites.
- A chemical engineer.
- A biochemical engineer.
- Work in oil companies.
- Work in chemical factories and pharmaceutical factories.
- Working in petroleum companies and petrochemical industries.
- Working in quality analysis laboratories.
