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Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Accreditation

Accreditation is a peer-review process that promotes the quality of postsecondary educational programs, but is not a ranking system. ABET, Inc., is responsible for the accreditation of programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. ABET accreditation is assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students. For example, an ABET accredited program in chemical engineering must meet the specialized quality standards set by the chemical engineering profession. The NC State Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

ABET Accreditation is important since it:

  • helps students and their parents choose quality college programs.
  • enables employers to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared.
  • is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants.
  • gives colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of their programs.

Our Vision, Mission Statement, Program Educational Objectives (PEOs), and Student Outcomes provide guiding principles which are important for our Department’s accreditation. The Mission Statement summarizes our aims and values, Student Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do at the time of graduation, and Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments the program is preparing our graduates to attain.

The Chemical Engineering program at NC State has been continuously accredited by ABET, Inc. and its predecessors since 1948.

Vision and Mission

Vision: Be a global leader in chemical and biomolecular engineering education and research with a continuing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Mission: Educate and prepare chemical engineering graduates to enter careers in industry, university teaching and research, or utilize their intellectual skills in an increasingly diverse set of other contributions to the global society.

The chemical engineering class of 2022.

The chemical engineering profession begins with a common background in transport phenomena, chemical kinetics and reactor design, mass and energy balances, mathematical skills, thermodynamics, process equipment laboratory skills, process control, and design of manufacturing facilities. These skills lead students to major contributions in traditional industries such as petroleum and energy, chemicals, plastics and fibers, food and consumer products, pulp and paper, electronics, and pharmaceutical industries, but increasingly into finance, medicine, and management fields. The broadening of industrial and governmental organizations with interest in our graduates provides security for our students in an increasingly challenging and competitive economic environment. However, the strength of our profession continues to rely on the core knowledge base we impart to them and our ability to instill skills to creatively and effectively utilize that knowledge base.

Program Educational Objectives

Given the foundation of knowledge, skills and experiences and the discipline of hard work and critical thinking provided by our curriculum, our graduates are expected to achieve one or more of the following within five years of graduation from our program:

  1. Excel and advance professionally in engineering practices and/or entrepreneurship in a field of their choosing, including advanced materials, agricultural, automation, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, chemical, consumer products, energy, environmental, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and semiconductors.
  2. Excel in an advanced degree program enabling a career in academia, law, medicine, business, or research and development.
  3. Exhibit an appreciation of the impact of engineering development in society, particularly in the context of environmental protection, sustainability, safety, and financial accountability.
  4. Exhibit professionalism, lifelong learning, ethical responsibility, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Student Outcomes

By graduation, our students are able to:

  1. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. Apply both analysis and synthesis in the engineering design process, resulting in designs that meet desired needs.
  3. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  4. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  5. 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.
  6. Recognize the ongoing need for additional knowledge and locate, evaluate, integrate, and apply this knowledge appropriately.
  7. Function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.

Undergraduate Enrollment and Degrees Awarded

Enrollment and degrees awarded data for the Chemical Engineering Program are available on the College of Engineering website.