The Chemical Engineering degree at Columbia is a passport to many challenging careers. The undergraduate experience includes course work, independent research experience and a host of departmental activities.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University is to provide an outstanding academic and research experience to students to prepare them to meet the needs and challenges of the 21st century.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Chemical Engineering Program achieve success in one or more of the following within a few years of graduation:

  1. Careers in industries that require technical expertise in chemical engineering.
  2. Leadership positions in industries that require technical expertise in chemical engineering.
  3. Graduate-level studies in chemical engineering and related technical or scientific fields (e.g. biomedical or environmental engineering, materials science).
  4. Careers outside of engineering that take advantage of an engineering education, such as business, management, finance, law, medicine, or education.
  5. A commitment to life-long learning and service within their chosen profession.

Important Links

  • Bulletin (Click Here)
  • Chemical Engineering Study Plan (Click Here)
  • Chemical Engineering Registration Form (Click Here)
  • Chemical Engineering Technical Electives (Click Here)
  • Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Concentrations (Click Here
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Click Here)
  • Prof. McNeill's presentation on upcoming UG curricular changes (10/14/21) (Click Here)

Student Outcomes

Upon graduation, we expect our students to have:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment and Graduation Statistics

As of Spring:

 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Sophomore

34

38

28

32

36

32

27

26

24

Junior

36

36

45

34

49

62

44

38

44

Senior

29

36

37

44

30

50

59

45

42

Graduated

29

35

37

44

30

45

55

38

40

Percent Graduated

100%

97%

100%

100%

100%

90%

93%

84%

95%

 

ABET Accreditation

Columbia’s program in Chemical Engineering leading to the B.S. degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org