Professor Christos Georgakis, Chair; Modeling, optimization and
process control, batch processing, Pharmaceutical Processing, Systems Biology
Professor Linda Abriola, Groundwater hydrology, contaminant fate and
transport
Professor Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Environmental catalysis,
clean energy technologies, nanostructured oxides
Professor David L. Kaplan, Biotechnology, biomaterials, tissue
engineering
Professor Nak-Ho Sung, Polymers and composites, interface science,
polymer diffusion, surface modification
Professor Kenneth A. Van Wormer, Jr., Optimization, nucleation,
reaction kinetics, VLSI fabrication
Associate Professor Jerry H. Meldon, Mass transfer, membrane
processes, reaction-separation coupling
Associate Professor Daniel F. Ryder, Polymer and ceramic materials
processing, inorganic/organic nanocomposite materials
Assistant Professor Kyongbum Lee, Metabolic engineering, tissue
engineering, systems biology
Assistant Professor Blaine Pfeifer, Biotechnology, cellular
engineering, natural product biosynthesis and development
Research Professor Howard Saltsburg, Catalysis, materials science
Research Associate Professor Aurelie Edwards, Physiological
modeling
Adjunct Professor Walter Juda, Electrochemistry and chemical reaction
engineering
Adjunct Associate Professor Brian Kelley, Novel methods for protein
purification, large-scale purifications, high-density bacterial fermentation
Chemical engineering builds on several sciences, especially Chemistry but also Mathematics, Physics and now Biology, to design processes and products useful to society. Chemical engineers tend to be the broadest of all engineers and thus are employed in a wide range of industries.. Besides being well-trained in sciences they appreciate the central role of economics as they are often concerned with the production of products that will be sold and bought at an affordable price. Their professional skills are required wherever engineering and chemistry or biology intersect. This occurs not only in the chemical industry but also in the biological, environmental, health, legal, and medical fields. Chemical engineers are researchers, designers, producers, and managers. Petroleum, paints, plastics, paper, detergents, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, microchips, drugs, processed foods, fertilizers, conventional and nuclear fuels, insecticides, rocket propellants, synthetic fibers, and rubber are among the many products they help create.
The student who majors in chemical engineering has considerable flexibility in choosing a program and is assisted in doing so by a departmental adviser. A student may choose a curriculum leading to the professional degree of Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering or a curriculum leading to the more general Bachelor of Science in engineering. The professional degree curriculum is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and prepares its recipients for professional practice or graduate study. Most of the recipients of this degree follow various engineering careers. The degree is not restrictive, however, and many students use the professional degree curriculum as preparation for further study in medicine, law, business, or science.
The general engineering degree curriculum is similar to that of a science major in the College of Liberal Arts. It allows more electives than the professional degree curriculum, as well as more courses in the humanities and social sciences. The curriculum is for students who want an understanding of engineering fundamentals, but who will make their careers in related fields such as medicine, business, and law. The degree has not been submitted to ABET for accreditation.
Undergraduates are encouraged to participate in the department's research
programs and independent study for degree credit.
Undergraduate Program
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
The mission of the BSChE degree program offered by the Chemical and Biological
Engineering Department is to provide its undergraduate students:
a) A strong foundation in the pure sciences including biology, chemistry,
mathematics and physics.
b) A solid understanding of the fundamental chemical engineering sciences,
coupled with quantitative skills, so as to provide a basis for a successful
professional career within the technology fields.
c) Training of communication skills consistent with the requirements of both the
technical professions and the broader community in which they live.
d) A capacity and desire for the pursuit of life-long learning.
The faculty is committed to accomplishing this mission through the integration
of teaching and research.
The goals of the BSChE program are to:
a) Provide students a sound technical foundation in both the traditional and
emerging areas of chemical engineering. In particular, the Tufts BSChE program
emphasizes the incorporation of the biological sciences into the technical
foundation throughout the curricula.
b) Provide quality instruction emphasizing the logical identification and
solution of problems; the solution of complex quantitative problems using
computational methods; and the application of engineering analysis to the
chemical and biological sciences.
c) Offer a high-quality instruction that encompasses not only the technical
content but also makes students aware of the societal implications of
technology.
d) Provide students the opportunity to formulate, analyze, and solve engineering
problems within a team structure; and to communicate their findings in both
written and oral forms.
e) Encourage and provide opportunities to sample specialized areas through
elective courses, minor programs, industrial internships, and independent
research; and as such, to foster an appreciation for life-long education.
A suggested program of required courses and free electives for the Bachelor of
Science degree in chemical engineering (accredited program) follows.
First-Year Program
The program is similar for all engineering students with the additional
requirement that two courses in introductory chemistry and also Physics 11 be
completed.
FALL TERM
Engineering 1: Introduction to Computers in Engineering (0.5 cr)
Engineering - Introductory elective (0.5 cr)
Mathematics 11: Calculus 1 (1cr)
Chemistry 1 or 11 with laboratory: Chemical Foundations (1cr)
English 1: Expository Writing (1cr)
SPRING TERM
Engineering 2: Engineering Graphics (0.5 cr)
Engineering - Introductory elective (0.5 cr)
Mathematics 12: Calculus II (1cr)
Chemistry 2 or 12 with laboratory: Chemical Principles (1cr)
Physics 11 with laboratory: General Physics I (1cr)
Humanities or social sciences elective (1.0 cr)
Sophomore Year
FALL TERM
Chemistry 33: Beginning Physical Chemistry Laboratory (0.5 cr)
Mathematics 13: Calculus III (1cr)
Engineering Science 10: Structure and Strength of Materials (1.0 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 10: Chemical
and Biological Thermodynamics and Process Calculations I (1.0 cr)
Biology 13: Cells and Organisms or Engineering Science 11: Introduction to
Biology (1.0 cr)
SPRING TERM
Chemical and Biological Engineering 11: Chemical
and Biological Thermodynamics and Process Calculations II (1.0 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 39: Applied Mathematics and Software
in Chemical and Biological Engineering (1.0 cr)
Mathematics 38: Differential Equations (1.0 cr)
Chemistry 32: Physical Chemistry II (1.0 cr)
Humanities or social sciences elective (1.0
cr)
Junior Year
FALL TERM
Chemical and Biological Engineering 21: Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer (1.0 cr)
Chemistry 50: Survey of Organic Chemistry or Chemistry 51: Organic Chemistry I
(1.0 cr)
Chemistry 53: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (0.5 cr)
Engineering Science 3: Introduction to Electrical Engineering (1.0 cr)
Humanities or social sciences elective (1.0 cr)
Free Elective (0.5 cr)
SPRING TERM
Biology 152: Biochemistry and Cellular Metabolism (1.0 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 22: Mass Transfer (1.0 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 102: Reactor Design (1.0 cr)
Advanced chemistry elective (1.0 cr)
Undergraduate Research or ChBE elective (0.5 or 1.0 cr)
Senior Year
FALL TERM
Chemical and Biological Engineering 45: Chemical and Biological Separations
Chemical and Biological Engineering 51: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Laboratory (0.5 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 109: Process Dynamics and Control (1.0 cr)
Undergraduate Research or Chemical and Biological engineering elective (0.5 or
1.0 cr)
Advanced humanities or social sciences elective (1.0 cr)
Free Elective (0.5 cr)
SPRING TERM
Chemical and Biological Engineering 52: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Projects Laboratory (1.0 cr)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 60 (Chemical Process Design) (1.0 cr)
Undergraduate Research or Chemical and biological engineering elective (1.0 cr)
Advanced chemistry elective (1.0 cr)
Advanced Humanities or Social Sciences elective (1.0 cr)
Approved Advanced Chemistry Elective Courses
Two advanced chemistry electives are required and are to be chosen from the
following list (exceptions must be approved by the department).
Biology 153 Topics in Biochemistry
Chemical and Biological Engineering 121 Principles of Polymerization
Chemical and Biological Engineering 122 Physical Chemistry of Polymers
Chemical and Biological Engineering 140 Surface and Colloid Chemistry
Chemistry 42 Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 52 Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 55 Advanced Synthesis Laboratory
Chemistry 61 Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 132 Chemical Kinetics
Chemistry 133 Quantum Mechanics
Chemistry 135 Biophysical Chemistry
Chemistry 136 Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure
Chemistry 141 Instrumental Analysis
Chemistry 150 Intermediate Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 151 Physical Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 152 Advanced Organic Synthesis
Chemistry 161 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 162 Chemistry of Transition Metals
Chemistry 163 Diffraction Methods of Structure Determination
One advanced chemistry elective may be substituted by an advanced natural
science elective from the following list.
Biology 41 General Genetics
Biology 46 Cell Biology
Biology 104 Immunology
Biology 105 Molecular Biology
Biology 106 Microbiology
Biology 134 Neurobiology
Physics beyond Physics 12
Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees Program
This program is conducted jointly by the Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Exceptional students
may combine undergraduate and graduate courses and are simultaneously enrolled
in bachelor's and master's degree programs. Both degrees are awarded only on
completion of the entire program; a student may not receive one degree earlier,
even if the requirements for that degree have been met. Combined-degrees
students must pay four years of undergraduate tuition and the entire tuition for
the master's degree.
The combined-degrees program is one way of recognizing the fact that an increasing number of undergraduates are entering college with exceptional preparation in certain areas and that many are capable of doing graduate work in their upper-class years.
Students seeking admission to the program should consult their undergraduate advisor and their prospective graduate advisers before applying to the graduate school. Combined-degrees students are expected to fulfill all the requirements of the undergraduate and graduate programs. No courses offered in fulfillment of one set of requirements may be used for the other.
Admission to the program occurs during the junior year. Only in exceptional
cases will an application be accepted after the junior year. Therefore, students
interested in the program should contact their advisers early in their academic
career to facilitate program planning. A student may elect to withdraw from the
program at any time by filing the appropriate petition.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
This general engineering degree program combines liberal arts with basic
engineering education in a four-year non-accredited program. It is for the
individual who may not wish to function as a professional engineer, but who
wants a basic science and technology background as preparation for a career in a
related field such as medicine, law, or business.
Flexibility is built into the program so that students can pursue their own interests to a greater extent than is possible in the accredited engineering programs. The thirty-eight courses required for the completion of the program fall into the four categories listed below.
Foundation requirements - ten course credits: Mathematics 11, 12, 13, and 38;
Physics 1 or 11; Chemistry 1, 2, 32, 33, 50 (or 51), and 53.
Engineering science - eleven courses: four courses in engineering science and
seven electives in science, mathematics, or engineering.
Chemical and biological engineering - six courses, including Chemical
Engineering 10 and 11.
Free electives - eleven courses, including at least six in the humanities and
social sciences.
Pre-medical, Pre-dental, and Pre-veterinary Preparation via the Chemical
Engineering Curriculum
Students interested in entering medical, dental, or veterinary school
after graduation can satisfy professional school entrance requirements while
working toward a bachelor's degree in the Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering.
Modern medical practice and research is increasingly dependent on engineering methods and devices. Automatic instruments now monitor and assist body function. New synthetic materials repair and even replace body tissue. Mathematical equations that describe the flow of fluids in pipes apply to the flow of blood in veins. The kidney, lung, and heart functions have analogies in chemical engineering process equipment.
Computers are used in diagnosis and research. Given these important areas in medicine, there is a need for students to combine undergraduate engineering with graduate medical training.
Two kinds of preparatory programs are suggested by the department. The first is the professional degree program in chemical engineering; a student choosing this program must complete all the requirements for the accredited bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. Courses required for entrance into medical, dental, or veterinary school are met through selection of electives, summer school, or an increase in course load.
The second program has greater flexibility and leads to the non-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, described above. This program gives students a foundation in engineering fundamentals and the possibility of satisfying professional school entrance requirements and pursuing individual interests in other fields through selection of electives.
Undergraduate Minor Programs
In addition to completing the courses for the concentration requirement, an
undergraduate may elect to enroll in a minor program in a different, although
possibly related field. All courses used in fulfillment of the minor program
must be taken for a grade. No more than two courses used to fulfill a foundation
or concentration requirement may be counted toward fulfillment of the minor.
Students may not complete both a minor and a concentration in the same
discipline.
Biotechnology Engineering Minor
Five courses are required to obtain this minor. Biology 152 or Chemistry
156; two courses from the following: Chemical and Biological Engineering 62,
161, or 166; one course from the following: Biology 50, Chemical and Biological
Engineering 163 or 168; and an elective chosen from an approved list. No more
than two courses used to fulfill a foundation, distribution, or concentration
required may be counted toward the minor.
Chemical Engineering Minor
Five courses are required: Chemical and Biological Engineering 10, 11,
39, 102; and a chemical engineering elective approved by the minor committee.
All courses must be taken for a grade. No more than two courses used to fulfill
a foundation, distribution, or concentration requirement may be counted toward
the minor.
Second Major in Biotechnology
This program is offered as a major only in conjunction with enrollment in a
regular undergraduate major, ordinarily excluding interdisciplinary programs.
The biotechnology program has been designed with two tracks: a science track for
undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts, and an
engineering track for undergraduate students enrolled in the School of
Engineering.
Core Curriculum
Biology 1/Engineering Science 11 Introduction to Biology
or Biology 13 Cells and Organisms
Biology 41 Genetics
Chemical and Biological Engineering/Biology 62 Introduction to
Biotechnology
One laboratory course from:
Biology 50 Experiments in Biology II
Chemical and Biological Engineering 163 Recombinant DNA Techniques
Chemical and Biological Engineering 168 Biotechnology Processing Projects
Laboratory
Track curricula
SCIENCE TRACK
Two core courses:
Biology 105 Molecular Biology
Biology 152 Biochemistry and Cellular Metabolism
or Chemistry 156 Biochemistry
Four electives from an approved list provided by the department. Up to two credits of research may be counted toward electives.
ENGINEERING TRACK
Two core courses:
Chemical and Biological Engineering 161 Biochemical Separations
Chemical and Biological Engineering 166 Principles of Cell and Microbe
Cultivation
Four electives from an approved list provided by the department. One credit of research may be counted toward electives.
Graduate Program
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering offers instruction leading
to the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of
Philosophy. General GRE test scores are required of applicants to all graduate
degree programs.
Master of Science or Master of Engineering with Major in Chemical
Engineering
Candidates for the master's degree programs in chemical engineering
usually hold a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering or in
chemistry, with a suitable background in engineering subjects. A strong
background in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics is essential.
Students with degrees in physical science or other engineering disciplines may
become candidates upon satisfactory completion of certain upper-level
undergraduate courses. A highly recommended alternative to formal enrollment in
academic-year, undergraduate chemical engineering courses is the intensive
two-course summer sequence of Chemical and Biological Engineering 1 and 2.
Successful completion of these courses qualifies a student to apply to the
master's degree programs.
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree program must take seven courses for letter grades. No more than one of these seven may be guided individual study. Generally, at least five credits are from a list of chemical engineering courses; the remaining courses may be in allied fields. A thesis (three credits) is also required along with an oral examination covering the field of the student's thesis. Only students in the Master of Science degree program may apply for financial assistance.
Students enrolled in the Master of Engineering degree program must take ten courses for letter grades. Generally, at least eight credits are from a list of chemical engineering courses; the remaining courses may be in allied fields.
Master of Science or Master of Engineering with Major in
Biotechnology Engineering
Candidates for the master's degree programs in biotechnology engineering
usually hold a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering with a
suitable background in biological sciences. A strong background in mathematics,
chemistry, and physics is essential. Students with degrees in physical science
or other engineering disciplines who have no background in biology may become
candidates upon satisfactory completion of certain undergraduate courses. For
students without undergraduate chemical engineering degrees, a highly
recommended alternative to formal enrollment in academic-year undergraduate
chemical engineering courses, is the intensive two-course summer sequence of
Chemical and Biological Engineering 1 and 2. Successful completion of these
courses qualifies a student to apply for the master's program.
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree program must take seven courses for letter grades. No more than one of these seven may be guided individual study. Generally, at least four credits are from a list of Chemical and Biological Engineering courses and three are graduate biology/chemistry courses selected from a list. A thesis (three credits) is also required for the degree. Only students in the Master of Science degree program may apply for financial assistance.
Students enrolled in the Master of Engineering degree program must take ten
courses for letter grades. Generally, at least six credits are from a list of
Chemical and Biological Engineering courses and four are graduate
biology/chemistry courses selected from a list. No more than one of the ten
courses may be guided individual study.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctoral degrees are offered in Chemical Engineering and in
Biotechnology Engineering. Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree,
except when otherwise recommended by the department, will have completed the
seven courses required for the Master of Science degree. A qualifying
examination must be satisfactorily completed. This examination is usually taken
after one full year of residence.
In addition to satisfying the university requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, a candidate must satisfactorily complete a program of courses (established by the candidate's committee) and write a doctoral dissertation. The doctoral dissertation is considered the candidate's major task. It must represent a significant contribution to the field and contain material worthy of publication in a recognized professional journal.
For more detailed information, please visit the website http://ase.tufts.edu/chemical.
To view Course Descriptions, please go to: http://webcenter.studentservices.tufts.edu/courses/main.asp.