Chemical Engineering (4 ½-year) Bachelor's Degree Overview
The accredited College of Engineering is a pillar of The University of Toledo. Bright, motivated students are attracted by UT’s engineering co-op program. We are one of only eight colleges in the U.S. that requires this practical work experience.
Chemical engineers are regarded as the most versatile of all engineers. They work in a broad range of industries from medicine to microelectronics. They combine math, chemistry, physics and biology with engineering to:
- Solve environmental problems.
- Create new sources of fuel.
- Develop solutions to water and food challenges.
- Advance health care initiatives.
Chemical engineering majors in the Department of Chemical Engineering are challenged to think creatively. They learn strong technical, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Chemical Engineering (4 ½-year) Bachelor's Degree Highlights
- Required co-op program. The University of Toledo is one of eight colleges in the country to require a co-op experience for all engineering students. UT chemical engineering undergrads alternate classwork with three semesters of paid employment.
Co-op jobs are available in Toledo, all over the U.S. and in 34 countries. Students are prepared for co-ops with a required professional development course. Many of UToledo’s engineering students receive job offers from their co-op placements.
- UToledo graduates get jobs. Chemical engineering graduates have a greater than 85% job placement rate. Starting salaries can be more than $65,000 a year. All students get free assistance from the Career Development Center in the College of Engineering.
- Freshman Interest Group. This program eases the transition from high school to college. You'll share the same schedule of classes with a small group of other engineering students. You’ll also get support from an upperclassman engineering mentor.
- Award-winning faculty. UToledo chemical engineering professors have extensive expertise in everything from biomass processing and fuels to polymer science and membrane separations. They lead UT efforts in alternative energy and materials research. Faculty members have earned distinction as teachers, advisers and researchers.
- Hands-on experience. As freshmen, chemical engineering students develop a product or process that addresses a need in society. They present ideas to potential investors. Senior engineering students work with clients to complete similar capstone design projects.
- State-of-the-art facilities. The chemical engineering degree program is housed in the Nitschke Engineering Complex located on UT’s Main Campus.
- Get lab experience in emerging areas of chemical engineering.
- Use a 3D printer to design, manufacture and test ideas.
- Work on electron microscopes at UToledo’s cutting-edge College of Engineering Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization and the Department of Chemistry Instrumentation Center.
- Accreditation. UT’s College of Engineering is accredited by ABET.
- Automatic chemistry minor. You also can minor in biology, mathematics, business administration, entrepreneurship, renewable energy or other related programs.
- The Center for Academic Services in Engineering. This unique service within the College of Engineering combines tutoring, a reserved reading room and a study center.
- Study abroad. Students have worked with non-profits to increase availability of clean water around the world.
- Active engineering student organizations. Develop leadership skills in student organizations such as:
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Engineers Without Borders
- Clean Water For The World
- Society of Women Engineers
- National Society of Black Engineers
Career Opportunities
UToledo graduates with a chemical engineering degree have a greater than 85% job placement rate.
Where do Chemical Engineers work?
| Production and utilization of energy | Consulting |
| Environmental protection | Metallurgical operations |
| Pulp and paper | Biotechnology |
| Advanced materials | Instrumentation development and marketing |
| Manufacture of chemicals | Manufacture of medical devices |
| Plastics manufacture | Government |
| Food processing | Patent law |
What type of work does a Chemical Engineer do?
A chemical engineer usually works with processes and physical aspects of materials rather than with the chemistry of materials (that’s a chemist’s job). Chemical engineers are involved in:
| Production formulation | Automatic control of processes |
| Scale-up of laboratory processes to industrial size | Computer simulation of plants for optimum operation |
| Economic analyses | Design of in-plant improvements for more economical operation |
| Pollution prevention and control | Management |
| Health and safety | Technical marketing |
Employers that hire UToledo Chemical Engineering Graduates
| Air Products | Lubrizol |
| Anheuser Busch | Marathon Petroleum |
| BP | NASA |
| Dow Chemical | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency |
| General Electric | Owens Corning |
| General Mills | Plastic Technologies |
| Honda | PPG Industries |
| Kimberly-Clark | Rockwell Automation |
| Lincoln Electric | Toledo Refining Co. |
Chemical Engineering (4 ½-year) Bachelor's Degree Plan of Study
UT’s chemical engineering curriculum emphasizes theoretical classroom work and experiential learning.
Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Sample Classes
- General Chemistry II
- Organic Chemistry I
- Process Heat Transfer
- Reactor Engineering and Design
- Chemical Engineering Laboratory I
- Chemical Process Simulation and Design
View Plan of Study
Internship Opportunities for Chemical Engineering (4 ½-year) Bachelor's Degree
All UToledo chemical engineering majors complete at least three semesters of co-op experiences. You will be assisted in finding co-op placements by the College of Engineering’s Career Development Center.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Four students from UT’s College of Engineering traveled with Professor Glenn Lipscomb to El Salvador in May of 2016 to install a water treatment unit they built earlier in the year. Learn more from the UT News article.
Chemical Engineering (4 ½-year) Bachelor's Degree
4 ½-year programProgram Availability
Program Quick Links
View Admission RequirementsDepartment of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering
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