Chemical Engineering, BSChE
Chemical engineers work to transform raw materials into products for the benefit and use of mankind. They may work in a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy and fuels, biotechnology, consumer products and foods and beverages.
Program Intro
CBU's undergraduate degree in chemical engineering will prepare students to use their background in mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals in a variety of applications. Chemical engineers are highly sought after for their ability to problem solve, analyze and optimize complex systems, work over a wide range of scales and design and improve processes and products in a safe and sustainable way.
Why Study Chemical Engineering at CBU?
Research and study alongside professional engineers
CBU’s chemical engineering program is one of the only among faith-based schools. We emphasize hands-on experiences while integrating the Christian faith throughout the curriculum. Students research alongside faculty in our high-quality laboratories and some have presented their findings at the AIChE annual meeting.
Become career ready
Students are required to have internships and to complete a cross-cultural experience to sufficiently prepare them for their careers. We use curriculum partners to ensure that we meet the needs of industry. In class, students learn critical communication and teamwork skills that are vital for their future. Alumni have gone on to work at Genentech, Micron, Niagara Bottling and Alaska Omega Nutrition, among others.
Innovate and compete
CBU students participate in AIChE’s annual Chem-E-Car competition, where teams create and build a shoebox-sized vehicle that runs using one or more chemical reactions. In 2016, our team placed third in regionals and competed at nationals where it won the Golden Tire Award for the most unique design.
Have a cross-cultural experience
All engineering students are required to have a cross-cultural experience. This can be achieved several ways including participating in an International or Engineering Service Project (ISP or ESP), choosing a senior capstone project with cross-cultural emphasis, taking an approved intercultural studies course, or going on an approved study abroad.
Complete in 3 years
CBU offers an engineering accelerated program that will allow you to earn your Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in as little as 3 years.
What You'll Learn
CBU chemical engineering graduates are expected to acquire:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- 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
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- 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
- 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
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- An ability to articulate a Christian worldview on personal, professional, technical, and societal issues
- An ability to develop attributes of leadership in an innovation-driven environment.
Program Details
EGR 324: Engineering Economics
Economic concepts of supply, demand, and production; return on investment; and more.
EGR 372: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
The fundamentals and applications of thermodynamic properties and processes.
EGR 473: Chemical Reaction Engineering
The course covers reaction kinetics, differential and integral data analysis, systems with multiple reactions, and more.
The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at California Baptist University is proud to offer an accelerated program that will allow you to earn your Bachelor of Science degree in as little as 3 years!
Who should look into the 3-year chemical engineering program?
- High school seniors accepted to CBU engineering who have taken AP Calculus AB exam with a score of 4 or above (or AP Calculus BC with a score of 3 or above) and two other AP subjects valid for degree requirements in the College of Engineering at CBU.
- STEM-minded, highly-motived, and hard-working high school sophomore and junior students who are planning to pursue an engineering degree.
What are the advantages of the 3-year chemical engineering program?
- Saving tens of thousands of dollars on tuition and other expenses.
- Giving yourself a jump-start on your professional career.
- Allowing you to advance earlier into a post-graduate degree.
- Increasing your lifetime income by starting to work one year earlier.
How does it work?
- Inform your CBU admission counselor that you would like to pursue a 3-year BS degree in chemical engineering.
- Send your AP or CLEP scores to CBU.
- Develop an academic plan to be reviewed and approved by your department chair before your first week of class at CBU.
- Work with your faculty academic advisor who will monitor your progress and help you resolve schedule conflicts throughout the next three years.
- Expect to take a full load of 17-18 units of courses each semester.
- You will possibly need to take courses during the summer after your first and/or third year(s).
- A required 200-hour internship will mostly likely take place during the summer after your 2nd year. Therefore students on the 3-year plan might not be able to use that summer to take courses.
CBU's bachelor degree program in chemical engineering, BSChE has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
Mark Anklam, Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering
Associate Dean, Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering
Office Phone: 951-552-8731
E-mail: manklam@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: College of Engineering Building, TEGR 356 B
Mario Oyanader, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Office Phone: 951-552-8493
E-mail: moyanader@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: College of Engineering Building, TEGR 349
Xueyan Zhao, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisor of AIChE Student Chapter
Office Phone: 951-552-8855
E-mail: xzhao@calbaptist.edu
Office Location: College of Engineering Building, TEGR 351
With my chemical engineering degree, I hope to get a job in the materials and process engineering field. I had the opportunity to intern at an aerospace company over the summer and work in their materials and processes department, and I loved being able to study different chemical processes and how they affected small delicate aerospace parts.
Chloe Winter '20
As chemical engineers, we are called to design, optimize, and distribute scarce resources with efficiency and responsibility. My hope is to use my degree to enhance the quality of life of many people by aiding in the management, recycling, purification, and redistribution of the most precious resource: fresh water. More than professors, they have become mentors and friends who really care about my personal success.
Genaro Gonzalez '19
My dream is to become a surgeon. A degree in chemical engineering has provided me with the ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. Chemical engineering has given me an understanding of how the world behaves physically, and will allow me to utilize this understanding to help heal others. The professors at CBU exhibit a massive amount of passion for what they do and they truly care for their students.
Joshua Ashworth '18
Student Opportunities: SAE Club
Students in CBU's SAE Car Club compete annually in competitions, gaining experience with SAE car design, a prerequisite for employment with SpaceX, and other engineering companies. In June 2021, at the Las Vegas competition, the Lancers placed fourth overall, ahead of all other California schools.
Learn in a State-of-the-Art Engineering Building
The Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building at California Baptist University features numerous collaborative workspaces for students in addition to state-of-the-art classrooms and labs.
Career Possibilities
Chemical engineering majors can apply their field of study to a variety of careers in the engineering industry. Some careers listed below may require further education.
- Quality Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Support Specialist
- Aerospace Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
Related Programs
Next Steps
Join our community. At CBU, you’ll be challenged to become an individual whose skills, integrity, and sense of purpose glorify God and distinguish you in the world.