Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Program Offerings

Visit our interactive program finder to learn more about our undergraduate program offerings.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (B.S.)

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (COMBINED B.S./M.S. OR M.ENG.)

Earn Your Ch.E. Degree Online

The Chemical Engineering Department has offered online education for over a decade. Our online program is tailored to students who are working full time and live outside the Grand Forks, North Dakota area.

The online delivery method is different, but the curriculum is the same.

• Classes offered in this program are recorded digitally and can be accessed by the online students via the Internet within two hours after the lecture was presented.
• Online students are responsible for the same homework, project and other assignments.
• Proctored tests are administered at the student’s location.
• Students typically correspond with faculty members and other students online or by telephone, mail or email.
• Our laboratory sequence is delivered through three two-week intensive on-campus sessions.

This program is fully accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Since this program is the same program that is offered to our on-campus students, all of the information on the “Transfer Student” and “Undergraduate” pages is relevant to our distance students. Feel free to visit these sections to obtain more details regarding our academic program.

Preparation for a Variety of Careers

The department's primary objective is the education of undergraduate students so that they are prepared to take responsible entry-level positions in a wide range of industries. These include not only traditional chemical and petroleum processing but also biotechnology, consumer products, electronic materials, energy, food, polymers, pulp & paper, and the environment. Our graduates may be engaged in research, teaching, development, manufacturing, technical support, marketing, sales or project engineering and frequently enter engineering management later in their careers. In addition, the prescribed curriculum provides a sound, technically based general education for those graduates who wish to pursue other professions such as medicine, law, and business.

Easy Entry into the Program 

Students are considered a part of our program from the time they join UND with a declared major in Chemical Engineering. There are no special admission requirements beyond those of the University. We assign a personal faculty advisor to all declared majors to help them set up their academic schedule. We continue to work with the students on a personal basis throughout their stay at UND, helping guide them through our program and the transition to their first job or graduate school.

Strong Fundamentals Tailored to Individual Interests

The core of the program is a strong technical curriculum, whereby the fundamentals of the physical sciences, mathematics, and chemical engineering are learned. This core is complemented by general courses in other engineering disciplines to provide greater exposure to the engineering profession and to help prepare the students for professional registration. Four of the engineering courses are electives, which gives each student the opportunity to tailor the program to his/her individual interests such as environmental concerns, materials, bio-processes, etc. Other prescribed courses include topics such as economics, statistics and ethics.

The program also gives students a chance to become proficient in skills such as computer use, oral and written communication, and team work. The undergraduate program culminates in a senior capstone design course in which the students bring together all they have learned as they work in teams on a process design and evaluation project.

Hands-On Experience

Practical, hands-on experience is gained in laboratories distributed throughout the undergraduate program. Lab experiments form a significant part of each student's learning beginning immediately in first year chemistry and continuing through the curriculum. In addition to university experiences, which include opportunities to conduct research, students are encouraged to spend time working in the engineering profession via summer internships or cooperative education.

Well-Rounded Education

Besides the technical education embodied in the program, there is a strong general education component, which is also required. It is included to round out the individual's university experience, and help prepare them for a full life, not just a career. There are also many extracurricular activities available (including professional societies, honor societies, sports and clubs) to enhance the enjoyment of the time spent at UND and to develop important friendships and leadership and team building skills.

Student Focused

One of the main characteristics of this department, which distinguishes it from most other chemical engineering programs around the country, is the commitment to building a strong rapport between the students and faculty. We are able to maintain close interaction because of the relatively small class sizes (typically 25-30 students), and because all faculty members are committed to helping all students do their best and succeed. The interaction between faculty and students occurs formally in the classrooms and through the advising process, but it also frequently arises informally because all faculty maintain an open door policy. It all adds up to an environment that fosters mutual respect and maximizes learning. Our alumni report that the education they received at UND enables them to compete effectively with graduates from any other institution.

Opportunities for Accelerated Graduate Studies

To allow qualified students to complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees in one year beyond that required to receive the baccalaureate degree alone, the department offers combined bachelor and masters degrees.

Team Work

Student interaction is another asset of the UND chemical engineering program. There is a lot of group work and the study lounge and computer lab in Harrington Hall provide a great place for students to socialize and study. The computer lab contains computers and printers that are always available for student use. Ping-pong and foosball tables in the study lounge provide for welcome breaks from studying. The atmosphere in the study lounge provides an excellent space for learning and peer interaction and collaboration.