What is chemical engineering?

Chemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that uses the principles of mathematics and chemistry to design and operate chemical processes that convert raw materials into useful products. The training of chemical engineers enables them to work in a wide variety of areas. The production of food, energy and fuels, commodity and specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and semi-conductors are a few examples of industries where chemical engineers work. Chemical engineers are also involved in the development of new materials or products. 

What skills are needed to be successful in chemical engineering?

• Strong in math and science, and the ability to apply these skills to solve engineering problems.
• Creativity to help come up with new solutions to improve or create new chemical processes or materials.
• Written and oral communication skills as chemical engineers often work as a member of an interdisciplinary team and have to communicate their work to stakeholders.

What is the difference between chemical engineering and other fields of engineering?

The chemical engineering degree is unique with its focus on chemistry and chemical reactions. It is the only engineering major where students develop skills in reaction kinetics and reactor design. Chemical engineers design complete chemical processes to produce products from raw materials.

What is the difference between a chemical engineering and a chemistry degree?

Chemistry is focused on understanding the properties of materials without necessarily being concerned about how these newly discovered materials could be mass produced. Compared to chemical engineering, the coursework is less math intensive, but provides greater depth in physical and inorganic chemistry. Student also gain experience with a variety of analytical techniques.

Chemical engineering is focused on the production of materials on the large scale, therefore, the coursework is very math intensive, since chemical engineers need to understand the principles of material and energy balances, thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat transfer, reactor design, separations, process control and process design.

View a comparison of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering bachelor of science degree coursework required for the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering bachelor of science degrees here at WSU.

Where do they work?

WSU Chemical Engineers work across the world in a wide variety of areas. 

Chemical engineers are employed in a wide variety of industries and roles, working mostly in offices and labs. Chemical engineers frequently serve in management roles.

Our alumni are employed at great companies like: EcoLab, Dow Chemical, BASF, Henkel, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, Marathon, Hexion, Ford, GM, Dr. Pepper, Proctor and Gamble, Coca Cola, and more.

Career outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the  chemical engineering field  is projected to grow 14% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the national average. Additionally, the 2023 AIChE Salary Survey shows the median salary for chemical engineers is $150,000. The same salary survey found new graduates median starting salary to be $74,500.