Chemical Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The College of Chemistry offers a major in Chemical Engineering leading to the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, through the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The program equips the student for professional work in development, design, and operation of chemical processes and of process equipment. Students with high scholastic attainment are well prepared to enter graduate programs. The curriculum is accredited by ABET.

Admission to the Major

For information on admission to the major, please see the College of Chemistry Admissions tab in this Guide.

Minor Programs

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers undergraduate minors in Chemical Engineering and Responsible Process Implementation. For information regarding how to declare these minors, please contact the department. Please be sure to consult with your college or school for information on rules regarding overlap of courses between majors and minors.

Joint Major Programs with the College of Engineering

Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering: BS
Chemical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering: BS

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed in the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in all courses undertaken at UC Berkeley, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, UC Berkeley in Washington Program, and XB courses from University Extension.
  2. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken in the college is required in order to advance and continue in the upper division.
  3. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all upper division courses taken at the University is required to satisfy major requirements.
  4. Students in the College of Chemistry who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a chemical and biomolecular engineering or chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at UC Berkeley.

For information regarding grade requirements in specific courses, please see the notes sections below.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Please note, the Academic Guide is updated only once a year. For the most current information on requirements please a look at the College of Chemistry website.

Lower Division Requirements

CHEM 4AGeneral Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis5
CHEM 4BGeneral Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis5
CHEM 12AOrganic Chemistry5
ENGIN 7Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers4
or COMPSCI 61A The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
MATH 51/1ACalculus I (MATH 51 as of Fall 2025)4
MATH 52/1BCalculus II (MATH 52 as of Fall 2025)4
MATH 53Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 54Linear Algebra and Differential Equations4
PHYSICS 7APhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
PHYSICS 7BPhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
BIOLOGY 1AGeneral Biology Lecture3
or BIO ENG 11 Engineering Molecules 1
Students in the Biotechnology concentration are required to take BIO ENG 11 or MCELLBI 102 or CHEM 135 instead of BIOLOGY 1A (even with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Bio test). Please note that Biology 1A is a prerequisite for Chemistry 135 and Molecular and Cell Biology 102.

Notes

  1. Students should take CHEM 4A and CHEM 4B during their freshman year, and CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B during their sophomore year.
  2. A grade of C- or better is required in CHEM 4A before taking CHEM 4B, in CHEM 4B before taking more advanced courses, and in CHEM 12A before taking CHEM 12B.
  3. A grade of C- or better is required in CHEM 12A before taking BIOLOGY 1A or CHEM 12B.
  4. A grade of C- or better in CHM ENG 140 is required before enrolling in any other chemical engineering courses.
  5. ENGIN W7 may be substituted for ENGIN 7.
  6. ENGIN 7 must be taken before or concurrently with CHM ENG 141 and before CHM ENG 150B.
  7. Students should start MATH 1A in the first semester of their freshman year.
  8. Students should start PHYSICS 7A in the second semester of the freshman year.

Upper Division Requirements

CHEM 120APhysical Chemistry3-4
or PHYSICS 137A Quantum Mechanics
CHM ENG 130Mathematics and Statistics in Chemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 140Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis4
CHM ENG 141Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics4
CHM ENG 142Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering4
CHM ENG 150ATransport Processes4
CHM ENG 150BTransport and Separation Processes4
CHM ENG 154Chemical Engineering Laboratory3-4
or CHM ENG C170L Biochemical Engineering Laboratory
CHM ENG 160Chemical Process Design4
CHM ENG 162Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes4
3 units engineering electives chosen from the Lower Division Engineering Electives List OR the Upper Division Engineering Electives List3
Electives and Concentrations: Select one of the following: 1
Open Elective Program: 12 units (see below for details)
Concentration (see below for details)
1

 A course used toward satisfaction of the open elective program or a concentration cannot also be used toward satisfaction of another college or major requirement.

A maximum of 6 units of research can be applied toward electives.

Open Elective Program

Students who do not choose a concentration must complete the following requirements for the open elective program:

One science elective, selected from physical and biological sciences electives list (see below)3
CBE elective 13
Engineering electives, selected from the engineering electives list 26
1

 CHM ENG 196 may not be used to fulfill this elective requirement.

2

  Other engineering courses may be approved by the CBE Department.

Physical and Biological Sciences Electives List

ANTHRO 1Introduction to Biological Anthropology4
ANTHRO 107Evolution of the Human Brain4
ANTHRO 134Analysis of the Archaeological Record4
ANTHRO 135Paleoethnobotany: Archaeological Methods and Laboratory Techniques4
ASTRON 3Introduction to Modern Cosmology2
ASTRON 7AIntroduction to Astrophysics4
ASTRON 7BIntroduction to Astrophysics4
ASTRON 10Introduction to General Astronomy4
ASTRON C10Introduction to General Astronomy4
ASTRON C12The Planets3
ASTRON C162Planetary Astrophysics4
BIOLOGY 1BGeneral Biology Lecture and Laboratory4
CHEM 12BOrganic Chemistry5
CHEM 103Inorganic Chemistry in Living Systems3
CHEM 104AAdvanced Inorganic Chemistry3
CHEM 104BAdvanced Inorganic Chemistry3
CHEM 105Instrumental Methods in Analytical Chemistry4
CHEM 108Inorganic Synthesis and Reactions4
CHEM 113Advanced Mechanistic Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 114Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 115Organic Chemistry--Advanced Laboratory Methods4
CHEM 120BPhysical Chemistry3
CHEM 121Introduction to Computational Chemistry3
CHEM 122Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy3
CHEM 125Physical Chemistry Laboratory3
CHEM C130Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life4
CHEM 135Chemical Biology3
CHEM 143Nuclear Chemistry2
CHEM C150Introduction to Materials Chemistry3
CHEM C182Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory3
CHEM C191Introduction to Quantum Computing4
CHEM 192Individual Study for Advanced Undergraduates1-3
CHEM H194Research for Advanced Undergraduates2-6
CHEM 196Special Laboratory Study2-6
CIV ENG C106Air Pollution3
CIV ENG C116Chemistry of Soils3
COG SCI C126Perception3
COG SCI C127Cognitive Neuroscience3
EPS 3The Water Planet3
EPS C12The Planets3
EPS 20Earthquakes in Your Backyard3
EPS C20Earthquakes in Your Backyard3
EPS 50The Planet Earth4
EPS 80Environmental Earth Sciences3
EPS 100AMinerals: Their Constitution and Origin4
EPS 103Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry4
EPS 108Geodynamics4
EPS 117Geomorphology4
EPS C129Biometeorology3
EPS 130Strong Motion Seismology3
EPS C162Planetary Astrophysics4
EPS C180Air Pollution3
EPS C181Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics3
EPS C182Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory3
ESPM 2The Biosphere3
ESPM 6Environmental Biology3
ESPM 15Introduction to Environmental Sciences3
ESPM C10Environmental Issues4
ESPM C11Americans and the Global Forest4
ESPM 40Insects and Human Society3
ESPM 42Natural History of Insects3
ESPM 44Biological Control2
ESPM 100Environmental Problem Solving4
ESPM 102BNatural Resource Sampling2
ESPM 102CResource Management3
ESPM C103Principles of Conservation Biology4
ESPM 106American Wildlife: Management and Policy in the 21st Century3
ESPM C107Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands15
ESPM 108ATrees: Taxonomy, Growth, and Structures3
ESPM 108BEnvironmental Change Genetics3
ESPM 112Microbial Ecology3
ESPM 113Insect Ecology3
ESPM 114Wildlife Ecology3
ESPM 115BCoral Reef Ecology3
ESPM 117Urban Garden Ecosystems4
ESPM 118Agricultural Ecology4
ESPM 120Science of Soils3
ESPM C128Chemistry of Soils3
ESPM C129Biometeorology3
ESPM C130Terrestrial Hydrology4
ESPM 131Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemistry3
ESPM 134Fire, Insects, and Diseases in Forest Ecosystems3
ESPM 137Landscape Ecology3
ESPM C138Introduction to Comparative Virology4
ESPM 140General Entomology4
ESPM 142Insect Behavior3
ESPM 144Insect Physiology3
ESPM C148Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology3
ESPM 152Global Change Biology3
ESPM 172Remote Sensing of the Environment3
ESPM 174Design and Analysis of Ecological Research4
ESPM C180Air Pollution3
ESPM 185Applied Forest Ecology4
ESPM 186Grassland and Woodland Management and Conservation4
ESPM 187Restoration Ecology4
GEOG N1Global Environmental Change3
GEOG 35Global Ecology and Development4
GEOG 40Introduction to Earth System Science4
GEOG C136Terrestrial Hydrology4
GEOG 137Top Ten Global Environmental Problems4
GEOG 140APhysical Landscapes: Process and Form4
GEOG 143Global Change Biogeochemistry3
GEOG 144Principles of Meteorology3
GEOG 171Special Topics in Physical Geography3
GEOG C148Biogeography4
INTEGBI 31The Ecology and Evolution of Animal Behavior3
INTEGBI 41Marine Mammals2
INTEGBI 102LFIntroduction to California Plant Life with Laboratory4
INTEGBI 103LFInvertebrate Zoology with Laboratory5
INTEGBI 104LFNatural History of the Vertebrates with Laboratory5
INTEGBI C107LPrinciples of Plant Morphology with Laboratory4
INTEGBI 117Medical Ethnobotany2
INTEGBI 118Organismal Microbiomes and Host-Pathogen Interactions4
INTEGBI 123ALExercise and Environmental Physiology with Laboratory5
INTEGBI 131General Human Anatomy3
INTEGBI 135The Mechanics of Organisms4
INTEGBI 137Human Endocrinology4
INTEGBI C143ABiological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior3
INTEGBI 148Comparative Animal Physiology3
INTEGBI 151Plant Physiological Ecology4
INTEGBI 154Plant Ecology3
INTEGBI 154LPlant Ecology Laboratory2
INTEGBI C156Principles of Conservation Biology4
INTEGBI 159The Living Planet: Impact of the Biosphere on the Earth System3
INTEGBI 161Population and Evolutionary Genetics4
INTEGBI 162Ecological Genetics4
INTEGBI 164Human Genetics and Genomics4
INTEGBI 168LPlants: Diversity and Evolution4
INTEGBI 169Evolutionary Medicine4
INTEGBI 174LFOrnithology with Laboratory4
INTEGBI 184LMorphology of the Vertebrate Skeleton with Laboratory4
L & S C30UAmericans and the Global Forest4
L & S C30VEnvironmental Issues4
L & S C70TThe Planets3
L & S C70UIntroduction to General Astronomy4
L & S C70WPhysics and Music3
L & S C70YEarthquakes in Your Backyard3
MAT SCI C150Introduction to Materials Chemistry3
MCELLBI 32Introduction to Human Physiology3
MCELLBI 41Genetics and Society3
MCELLBI 50The Immune System and Disease4
MCELLBI C100ABiophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life4
MCELLBI 100BBiochemistry: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Regulation4
MCELLBI 102Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology4
MCELLBI C103Bacterial Pathogenesis3
MCELLBI 104Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology4
MCELLBI C112General Microbiology4
MCELLBI C114Introduction to Comparative Virology4
MCELLBI C116Microbial Diversity3
MCELLBI 132Biology of Human Cancer4
MCELLBI 133LPhysiology and Cell Biology Laboratory4
MCELLBI 135ATopics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology3
MCELLBI 136Physiology4
MCELLBI 140General Genetics4
MCELLBI 140LGenetics Laboratory4
MCELLBI 141Developmental Biology4
MCELLBI 143Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development3
MCELLBI C148Microbial Genomics and Genetics4
MCELLBI 150Molecular Immunology4
MCELLBI 160LNeurobiology Laboratory4
MCELLBI 166Course Not Available
NUSCTX 10Introduction to Human Nutrition3
NUSCTX 11Introduction to Toxicology3
NUSCTX 108AIntroduction and Application of Food Science3
NUSCTX 110Toxicology4
NUSCTX 160Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases4
NUSCTX 171Nutrition and Toxicology Laboratory4
PHYSICS 7CPhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
PHYSICS C21Physics and Music3
PHYSICS 105Analytic Mechanics4
PHYSICS 110AElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 110BElectromagnetism and Optics4
PHYSICS 112Introduction to Statistical and Thermal Physics4
PHYSICS 129Particle Physics4
PHYSICS 130Quantum and Nonlinear Optics3
PHYSICS 137BQuantum Mechanics4
PHYSICS 138Modern Atomic Physics3
PHYSICS 141ASolid State Physics4
PHYSICS 177Principles of Molecular Biophysics3
PLANTBI 10Plants, Agriculture, and Society2
PLANTBI 40The (Secret) Life of Plants3
PLANTBI C103Bacterial Pathogenesis3
PLANTBI C107LPrinciples of Plant Morphology with Laboratory4
PLANTBI C112General Microbiology4
PLANTBI C114Introduction to Comparative Virology4
PLANTBI C116Microbial Diversity3
PLANTBI 120Biology of Algae2
PLANTBI 120LLaboratory for Biology of Algae2
PLANTBI 122Bioenergy2
PLANTBI 135Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants3
PLANTBI C148Microbial Genomics and Genetics4
PLANTBI 150Plant Cell Biology3
PLANTBI 160Plant Molecular Genetics3
PLANTBI 170Modern Applications of Plant Biotechnology2
PLANTBI 180Environmental Plant Biology2
PSYCH 110Introduction to Biological Psychology3
PSYCH C113Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior3
PSYCH 114Biology of Learning3
PSYCH C116Hormones and Behavior3
PSYCH 117Human Neuropsychology3
PSYCH C126Perception3
PSYCH C127Cognitive Neuroscience3
PB HLTH 162APublic Health Microbiology4

Lower Division Engineering Electives List

CHM ENG 90Science and Engineering of Sustainable Energy3
COMPSCI 61BData Structures4
COMPSCI C8Foundations of Data Science4
EECS 16AFoundations of Signals, Dynamical Systems, and Information Processing4
EECS 16BIntroduction to Circuits & Devices4
MAT SCI 45Properties of Materials (45 or 45/L; 45L may not be used alone)3
MAT SCI 45LProperties of Materials Laboratory1

Upper Division Engineering Electives List

BIO ENG 101Instrumentation in Biology and Medicine4
BIO ENG 102Biomechanics: Analysis and Design4
BIO ENG 103Engineering Molecules 24
BIO ENG 104Biological Transport Phenomena4
BIO ENG 110Biomedical Physiology for Engineers4
BIO ENG 111Functional Biomaterials Development and Characterization4
BIO ENG C112Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell4
BIO ENG 114Cell Engineering4
BIO ENG 115Tissue Engineering Lab4
BIO ENG C117Structural Aspects of Biomaterials4
BIO ENG C118Biological Performance of Materials4
BIO ENG C119Orthopedic Biomechanics4
BIO ENG 121BioMEMS and Medical Devices4
BIO ENG 121LBioMems and BioNanotechnology Laboratory4
BIO ENG 124Basic Principles of Drug Delivery3
BIO ENG C125Introduction to Robotics4
BIO ENG C125BRobotic Manipulation and Interaction4
BIO ENG 131Introduction to Computational Molecular and Cell Biology4
BIO ENG 135Frontiers in Microbial Systems Biology4
BIO ENG C136LLaboratory in the Mechanics of Organisms3
BIO ENG 140LSynthetic Biology Laboratory4
BIO ENG 143Computational Methods in Biology4
BIO ENG 144Introduction to Protein Informatics4
BIO ENG 144LProtein Informatics Laboratory3
BIO ENG C145LIntroductory Electronic Transducers Laboratory3
BIO ENG C145MIntroductory Microcomputer Interfacing Laboratory3
BIO ENG 147Principles of Synthetic Biology4
BIO ENG 148Bioenergy and Sustainable Chemical Synthesis: Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology Approaches3
BIO ENG 150Introduction of Bionanoscience and Bionanotechnology4
BIO ENG 151Micro/Nanofluidics for Bioengineering and Lab-On-A-Chip4
BIO ENG 163Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biophotonics4
BIO ENG 163LMolecular and Cellular Biophotonics Laboratory4
BIO ENG 164Optics and Microscopy4
BIO ENG C165Medical Imaging Signals and Systems4
BIO ENG 168LPractical Light Microscopy3
BIO ENG C181The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
BIO ENG 196Undergraduate Design Research2-4
CHM ENG 143Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 170ABiochemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 170BBiochemical Engineering4
CHM ENG C170LBiochemical Engineering Laboratory3
CHM ENG 171Transport Phenomena3
CHM ENG 176Principles of Electrochemical Processes3
CHM ENG C178Polymer Science and Technology3
CHM ENG 179Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices3
CHM ENG 182Nanoscience and Engineering Biotechnology3
CHM ENG 183Climate Solutions Technologies3
CHM ENG H194Research for Advanced Undergraduates2-4
CHM ENG C195AThe Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass (may be repeated for credit when the topic changes)3
CHM ENG 196Special Laboratory Study2-4
CHEM C138The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
CIV ENG 105Design for Global Transformation3
CIV ENG C106Air Pollution3
CIV ENG 107Climate Change Mitigation3
CIV ENG 108Climate Change Adaptation3
CIV ENG 110Water Systems of the Future3
CIV ENG 111Environmental Engineering3
CIV ENG 111LWater and Air Quality Laboratory1
CIV ENG 112Water & Wastewater Systems Design and Operation3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
CIV ENG 115Water Chemistry3
CIV ENG C116Chemistry of Soils3
CIV ENG 120Structural Engineering3
CIV ENG 124Structural Design in Timber3
CIV ENG C133Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method3
CIV ENG 153Transportation Facility Design3
CIV ENG 155Transportation Systems Engineering3
CIV ENG 167Engineering Project Management3
CIV ENG 171Rock Mechanics3
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3
CIV ENG 175Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering3
CIV ENG 176Environmental Geotechnics3
CIV ENG C178Applied Geophysics3
CIV ENG 180Life-Cycle Design and Construction4
CIV ENG 186Design of Internet-of-Things for Smart Cities3
CIV ENG 191Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems Analysis3
CIV ENG 193Engineering Risk Analysis3
COMPSCI C100Principles & Techniques of Data Science4
COMPSCI 161Computer Security4
COMPSCI 162Operating Systems and System Programming4
COMPSCI 184Foundations of Computer Graphics4
COMPSCI 188Introduction to Artificial Intelligence4
COMPSCI 189Introduction to Machine Learning4
EL ENG 105Microelectronic Devices and Circuits4
EL ENG C106AIntroduction to Robotics4
EL ENG C106BRobotic Manipulation and Interaction4
EL ENG 113Power Electronics4
EL ENG 118Introduction to Optical Engineering4
EL ENG 130Integrated-Circuit Devices4
EL ENG 134Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Devices4
EL ENG 137AIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
EL ENG 137BIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
EL ENG 140Linear Integrated Circuits4
EL ENG 142Integrated Circuits for Communications4
EL ENG 143Microfabrication Technology4
EL ENG C145BMedical Imaging Signals and Systems4
EL ENG C145LIntroductory Electronic Transducers Laboratory3
EL ENG C145OLaboratory in the Mechanics of Organisms3
EL ENG 147Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)3
ENGIN 117Methods of Engineering Analysis3
ENGIN 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
IND ENG 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
IND ENG 153Logistics Network Design and Supply Chain Management3
IND ENG 160Nonlinear and Discrete Optimization3
IND ENG 162Linear Programming and Network Flows3
IND ENG 165Engineering Statistics, Quality Control, and Forecasting4
IND ENG 166Decision Analytics3
IND ENG 170Industrial Design and Human Factors3
MAT SCI 102Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects3
MAT SCI 104Materials Characterization3
MAT SCI 111Properties of Electronic Materials4
MAT SCI 112Corrosion (Chemical Properties)3
MAT SCI 113Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials3
MAT SCI 117Properties of Dielectric and Magnetic Materials3
MAT SCI C118Biological Performance of Materials4
MAT SCI 120Materials Production3
MAT SCI 121Metals Processing3
MAT SCI 122Ceramic Processing3
MAT SCI 123ELECTRONIC MATERIALS PROCESSING4
MAT SCI 125Thin-Film Materials Science3
MAT SCI 136Materials in Energy Technologies4
MAT SCI 140Nanomaterials for Scientists and Engineers3
MAT SCI 151Polymeric Materials3
MAT SCI H194Honors Undergraduate Research1-4
MEC ENG 102BMechatronics Design4
MEC ENG 104Engineering Mechanics II3
MEC ENG 106Fluid Mechanics3
MEC ENG 108Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials4
MEC ENG 109Heat Transfer3
MEC ENG 110Introduction to Product Development3
MEC ENG C115Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell4
MEC ENG C117Structural Aspects of Biomaterials4
MEC ENG 119Introduction to MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems)3
MEC ENG 122Processing of Materials in Manufacturing3
MEC ENG 130Design of Planar Machinery3
MEC ENG 131Vehicle Dynamics and Control4
MEC ENG 133Mechanical Vibrations3
MEC ENG 135Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems4
MEC ENG 138Introduction to Micro/Nano Mechanical Systems Laboratory3
MEC ENG 140Combustion Processes3
MEC ENG 146Energy Conversion Principles3
MEC ENG 150ASolar-Powered Vehicles: Analysis, Design and Fabrication3
MEC ENG 151Advanced Heat Transfer3
MEC ENG 163Engineering Aerodynamics3
MEC ENG 164Marine Statics and Structures3
MEC ENG 165Ocean-Environment Mechanics3
MEC ENG 167Microscale Fluid Mechanics3
MEC ENG 170Engineering Mechanics III3
MEC ENG 173Fundamentals of Acoustics3
MEC ENG 175Intermediate Dynamics3
MEC ENG C176Orthopedic Biomechanics4
MEC ENG C180Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method3
MEC ENG 185Introduction to Continuum Mechanics3
NUC ENG 100Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Technology3
NUC ENG 101Nuclear Reactions and Radiation4
NUC ENG 102Nuclear Reactions and Radiation Laboratory3
NUC ENG 120Nuclear Materials4
NUC ENG 124Radioactive Waste Management3
NUC ENG 130Analytical Methods for Non-proliferation3
NUC ENG 150Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory4
NUC ENG 155Introduction to Numerical Simulations in Radiation Transport3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
NUC ENG 162Radiation Biophysics and Dosimetry3
NUC ENG 167Risk-Informed Design for Advanced Nuclear Systems3
NUC ENG 175Methods of Risk Analysis3
NUC ENG 180Introduction to Controlled Fusion3
PLANTBI C124The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3

Concentrations

The concentrations are Biotechnology, Chemical Processing, Energy and Environment, Materials Science and Technology, Business and Management, and Applied Physical Science. Students who plan to declare a concentration must do so no later than the end of their junior year. Double concentrations are not permitted.

Biotechnology

CHM ENG 170ABiochemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 170BBiochemical Engineering (Students graduating before May 2021 may opt to replace CHM ENG 170B with a second course from the list of options below.)4
CHEM 12BOrganic Chemistry5
or MCELLBI C112 General Microbiology
or MCELLBI 104 Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology
Choose one of the following:
Biochemical Engineering Laboratory [3]
Nanoscience and Engineering Biotechnology [3]
Biomolecular Engineering [3]
Engineering Molecules 2 [4]
Functional Biomaterials Development and Characterization [4]
Synthetic Biology Laboratory [4]
Introduction to Protein Informatics
and Protein Informatics Laboratory (Students must sign up for Bio Eng 144L (3) if taking 144)
Bioenergy and Sustainable Chemical Synthesis: Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology Approaches [3]
Fluid Mechanics of Biological Systems [3]
Molecular Immunology [4]
Research for Advanced Undergraduates [3-4] (Use of CHM ENG H194 or 196 toward the concentration for undergraduate research in a biotechnology research laboratory will be considered. Requires approval from the faculty. Send requests to Prof. Wenjun Zhang.)
Special Laboratory Study [3-4] (Use of CHM ENG H194 or 196 toward the concentration for undergraduate research in a biotechnology research laboratory will be considered. Requires approval from the faculty. Send requests to Professor Wenjun Zhang. )
Students in the Biotechnology concentration are required to take BIO ENG 11 or MCELLBI 102 or CHEM 135 instead of BIOLOGY 1A (even with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Bio test).

Chemical Processing

CHEM 104AAdvanced Inorganic Chemistry3-5
or CHEM 12B Organic Chemistry
Select 6 units from the following:
Biochemical Engineering [4]
Biochemical Engineering [4]
Biochemical Engineering Laboratory [3]
Transport Phenomena [3]
Principles of Electrochemical Processes [3]
Polymer Science and Technology [3]
Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices [3]
Research for Advanced Undergraduates [2-4] (up to 3 units)
Select 3 units from the following:
Introduction to Solid Mechanics [3]
Environmental Engineering [3]
Environmental Microbiology [3]
Groundwater and Seepage [3]
Properties of Electronic Materials [4]
Corrosion (Chemical Properties) [3]
Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials [3]
Biological Performance of Materials [4]
Materials Production [3]
Metals Processing [3]
Ceramic Processing [3]
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS PROCESSING [4]
Combustion Processes [3]
Advanced Heat Transfer [3]

Energy and Environment

3 units chosen from the following science courses:
ENE,RES 102Quantitative Aspects of Global Environmental Problems4
ENE,RES 131Data, Environment and Society4
EPS 80Environmental Earth Sciences3
EPS 102History and Evolution of Planet Earth4
EPS C180Air Pollution3
EPS C181Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics3
EPS C183Carbon Cycle Dynamics3
ESPM 15Introduction to Environmental Sciences3
ESPM C46Climate Change and the Future of California4
ESPM C125Biogeography4
ESPM 152Global Change Biology3
ESPM C133Water Resources and the Environment3
ESPM C170Carbon Cycle Dynamics3
GEOG 40Introduction to Earth System Science4
GEOG C135Water Resources and the Environment3
GEOG C139Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics3
GEOG 142Global Climate Variability and Change4
GEOG C148Biogeography4
9 units chosen from the following engineering courses:
CHM ENG 90Science and Engineering of Sustainable Energy3
CHM ENG 176Principles of Electrochemical Processes3
CHM ENG 183Climate Solutions Technologies3
CHM ENG C195AThe Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
Other approved CHM ENG 195 courses with energy or environment topics as the main focus, including Carbon Capture and Sequestration
CIV ENG 11Engineered Systems and Sustainability3
CIV ENG 105Design for Global Transformation3
CIV ENG C106Air Pollution3
CIV ENG 107Climate Change Mitigation3
CIV ENG 110Water Systems of the Future3
CIV ENG 111Environmental Engineering3
CIV ENG 111LWater and Air Quality Laboratory1
CIV ENG 113Ecological Engineering for Water Quality Improvement3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
CIV ENG C116Chemistry of Soils3
CIV ENG C103NTerrestrial Hydrology4
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3
EL ENG 134Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Devices4
EL ENG 137AIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
EL ENG 137BIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
MAT SCI 136Materials in Energy Technologies4
MEC ENG 140Combustion Processes3
MEC ENG 146Energy Conversion Principles3
NUC ENG 100Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Technology3
NUC ENG 101Nuclear Reactions and Radiation4
NUC ENG 150Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory4
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
NUC ENG 180Introduction to Controlled Fusion3
A maximum of 4 units of lower division coursework total can be applied from the courses above.
Courses with significant overlap are restricted, such that students may use one, but not both of the paired courses to fulfill the concentration: ESPM 153 OR GEOG 142; EPS C180 OR CIV ENG 106

Materials Science and Technology

Select one of the following:
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry [3]
Inorganic Synthesis and Reactions [4]
Organic Chemistry [5]
Select 3 units from the following:
Principles of Electrochemical Processes [3]
Polymer Science and Technology [3]
Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices [3]
Select 6 units from the following:
Introduction to Solid Mechanics [3]
Integrated-Circuit Devices [4]
Microfabrication Technology [4]
Properties of Materials [3]
Properties of Materials Laboratory [1]
Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects [3]
Phase Transformations and Kinetics [3]
Properties of Electronic Materials [4]
Corrosion (Chemical Properties) [3]
Materials Production [3]
Metals Processing [3]
Ceramic Processing [3]
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS PROCESSING [4]
Thin-Film Materials Science [3]
Processing of Materials in Manufacturing [3] 1
Introduction to Composite Materials [3]
1

Students may take MEC ENG 122 without the prerequisite of MEC ENG 108.

Business and Management

IND ENG 120Principles of Engineering Economics3
3 units of science electives selected from the list of Physical and Biological Science electives 3
3 units of engineering electives selected from the list of Engineering Electives3
6 units chosen from the following UGBA courses:
Financial Accounting [3]
Leading People [3]
Marketing [3]
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution [3]
Leadership [3]
Customer Insights [3]
Market Research: Tools and Techniques for Data Collection and Analysis [3]
Brand Management and Strategy [3]
Pricing [3]
Legal Aspects of Management [3]
International Consulting for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises [3]
Sustainable Business Consulting Projects [3]
Entrepreneurship [3]
Entrepreneurship: How to Successfully start a New Business [3]

Applied Physical Science

6 units of chemistry or physics courses selected from the Physical and Biological Sciences List6
3 units of CHM ENG electives (excluding CHM ENG 196)3
3 units chosen from the Engineering electives list3

Minor Requirements

Chemical Engineering Minor

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements.

General Guidelines

  1. All minors must be declared no later than one semester before a student's Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If the semester before EGT is fall or spring, the deadline is the last day of RRR week. If the semester before EGT is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions. To declare a minor, contact the department advisor for information on requirements, and the declaration process.
  2. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
  3. A minimum of three of the upper division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
  4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
  5. Students must consult with their college/school for information regarding an overlap of courses between their majors and minors.

Requirements

Upper Division
CHM ENG 140Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis4
CHM ENG 141Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 14
CHM ENG 150ATransport Processes 14
Select two of the following:
CHM ENG 142Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering4
CHM ENG 143Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 150BTransport and Separation Processes4
CHM ENG 162Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes4
CHM ENG 170ABiochemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 170BBiochemical Engineering4
CHM ENG 171Transport Phenomena3
CHM ENG 176Principles of Electrochemical Processes3
CHM ENG C178Polymer Science and Technology3
CHM ENG 179Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices3
CHM ENG 182Nanoscience and Engineering Biotechnology3
CHM ENG 183Climate Solutions Technologies3
CHM ENG C195AThe Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
1

Students who have completed courses in other departments at Berkeley that are essentially equivalent to CHM ENG 141 and CHM ENG 150A can substitute other courses from the above list.

 

College Requirements

All students in the College of Chemistry are required to complete the University requirements of American CulturesAmerican History and Institutions, and Entry-Level Writing.  In addition, they must satisfy the following College requirements:

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires lower division work in composition.

  • Chemical Engineering majors: A-level Reading and Composition course (e.g., English R1A) by end of the first year
  • Chemical Biology and Chemistry majors: A- and B-level courses by end of the second year
  • R&C courses must be taken for a letter grade
  • English courses at other institutions may satisfy the requirement(s); check with your Undergraduate Adviser
  • After admission to Berkeley, credit for English at another institution will not be granted if the Entry Level Writing requirement has not been satisfied

Humanities and Social Sciences Breadth Requirement: Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors

The College of Chemistry’s humanities and social sciences breadth requirement promotes educational experiences that enrich and complement the technical requirements for each major.  

  • 15 units total; includes Reading & Composition and American Cultures courses
  • Remaining units must come from the following L&S breadth areas, excluding courses which only teach a skill (such as drawing or playing an instrument):

Arts and Literature
Foreign Language1,2
Historical Studies
International Studies
Philosophy and Values
Social and Behavioral Sciences

To find course options for breadth, go to the Berkeley Academic Guide Class Schedule, select the term of interest, and use the 'Breadth Requirements' filter to select the breadth area(s) of interest.

  • Breadth courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding Reading and Composition)
  • AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

Elementary-level courses may not be in the student's native language and may not be structured primarily to teach the reading of scientific literature.

For Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors, elementary-level foreign language courses are not accepted toward the 15 unit breadth requirement if they are used (or are duplicates of high school courses used) to satisfy the Foreign Language requirement.

Foreign Language (Language Other Than English [LOTE]) Requirement

Applies to Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors only.

The LOTE requirement may be satisfied with one language other than English, in one of the following ways:

  • By completing in high school the third year of one language other than English with minimum grades of C-.
  • By completing at Berkeley the second semester of a sequence of courses in one language other than English, or the equivalent at another institution. Only LOTE courses that include reading and composition, as well as conversation, are accepted in satisfaction of this requirement. LOTE courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.
  • By demonstrating equivalent knowledge of a language other than English through examination, including a College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examination with a score of 3 or higher (if taken before admission to college), an SAT II: Subject Test with a score of 590 or higher, or a proficiency examination offered by some departments at Berkeley or at another campus of the University of California.

Humanities and Social Sciences Breadth Requirement: Chemical Engineering major

  • 22 units total; includes Reading and Composition and American Cultures courses
  • Breadth Series requirement: As part of the 22 units, students must complete two courses, at least one being upper division, in the same or very closely allied humanities or social science department(s).  AP credit may be used to satisfy the lower division aspect of the requirement.
  • Breadth Series courses and all remaining units must come from the following lists of approved humanities and social science courses, excluding courses which only teach a skill (such as drawing or playing an instrument):

Arts and Literature
Foreign Language1,2
Historical Studies
International Studies
Philosophy and Values

To find course options for breadth, go to the Berkeley Academic Guide Class Schedule, select the term of interest, and use the 'Breadth Requirements' filter to select the breadth area(s) of interest.

  • Breadth courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding Reading and Composition)
  • AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

Elementary-level courses may not be in the student's native language and may not be structured primarily to teach the reading of scientific literature.

For chemical engineering majors, no more that six units of language other than English may be counted toward the 22 unit breadth requirement.

Class Schedule Requirements

  • Minimum units per semester: 13
  • Maximum units per semester: 19.5
  • 12 units of course work each semester must satisfy degree requirements
  • Chemical Engineering freshmen and Chemistry majors are required to enroll in a minimum of one chemistry course each semester
  • After the freshman year, Chemical Engineering majors must enroll in a minimum of one chemical engineering course each semester

Semester Limit

  • Students who entered as freshmen: 8 semesters

  • Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors who entered as transfer students: 4 semesters

  • Chemical Engineering and Joint majors who entered as transfer students: 5 semesters

Summer sessions are excluded when determining the limit on semesters. Students who wish to delay graduation to complete a minor, a double major, or simultaneous degrees must request approval for delay of graduation before what would normally be their final two semesters. The College of Chemistry does not have a rule regarding maximum units that a student can accumulate.

Senior Residence

After 90 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters (the semester in which the 90 units are exceeded, plus at least one additional semester).

To count as a semester of residence for this requirement, a program must include at least 4 units of successfully completed courses. A summer session can be credited as a semester in residence if this minimum unit requirement is satisfied.

Juniors and seniors who participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) for a full year may meet a modified senior residence requirement. After 60 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 (excluding EAP) of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters. At least 12 of the 24 units must be completed after the student has already completed 90 units. Undergraduate Dean’s approval for the modified senior residence requirement must be obtained before enrollment in the Education Abroad Program.

Minimum Total Units

A student must successfully complete at least 120 semester units in order to graduate.

Minimum Academic Requirements

A student must earn at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses undertaken at UC, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, and UC Berkeley Washington Program, as well as XB courses from University Extension.

Minimum Course Grade Requirements

Students in the College of Chemistry who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a chemical engineering or chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at Berkeley.

Students in the College of Chemistry must achieve:

  • C- or higher in CHEM 4A before taking CHEM 4B

  • C- or higher in CHEM 4B before taking more advanced courses

  • C- or higher in CHEM 12A before taking CHEM 12B 

  • GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses taken in the college in order to advance to and continue in the upper division

Chemistry or chemical biology majors must also achieve:

Chemical engineering students must also achieve:

  • C- or higher in CHM ENG 140 before taking any other CBE courses

  • C- or higher in CHM ENG 150A to be eligible to take any other course in the 150 series

  • 2.0 GPA in all upper division courses taken at the University to satisfy major requirements

Chemical engineering students who do not achieve a grade of C- or higher in CHM ENG 140 on their first attempt are advised to change to another major. If the course is not passed with a grade of C- or higher on the second attempt, continuation in the Chemical Engineering program is normally not allowed.

Minimum Progress

To make normal progress toward a degree, undergraduates must successfully complete 30 units of coursework each year. The continued enrollment of students who do not maintain normal progress will be subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Dean. To achieve minimum academic progress, the student must meet two criteria:

  1. Completed no fewer units than 15 multiplied by the number of semesters, less one, in which the student has been enrolled at Berkeley. Summer sessions do not count as semesters for this purpose.

  2. A student’s class schedule must contain at least 13 units in any term, unless otherwise authorized by the staff adviser or the Undergraduate Dean.

Student Learning Goals

Mission

The mission of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is:

  • To educate people for careers of leadership and innovation in chemical engineering and related fields.
  • To expand the base of engineering knowledge through original research and by developing technology to serve the needs of society.
  • To benefit the public through service to industry, government, and the engineering profession.

Fulfillment of this mission is achieved in part by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering's accredited undergraduate degree program in chemical engineering. The undergraduate curriculum comprises both a technical curriculum and breadth requirements.

The goals of chemical engineering breadth requirements are to teach the arts of writing clearly and persuasively, to develop the skills to read carefully and evaluate evidence effectively, and to instill an awareness of humanity in historical and social contexts. The Berkeley American Cultures requirement affirms the value of diversity in acquiring knowledge.

The technical curriculum in chemical engineering seeks to provide students with a broad education emphasizing an excellent foundation in scientific and engineering fundamentals.

Learning Goals for the Major

1-An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complx engineering problems by applying the 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 a global, economic, environmental, and societal context

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

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Chemical Engineering Major Map.

Courses

Chemical Engineering

Contact Information

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

201 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-642-2291

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Bryan McCloskey

201 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-642-2291

cbechair@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Dean

TBA

121 Gilman Hall

cocugdean@berkeley.edu

Director of Undergraduate Student Services

Maura Daly

121 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-643-0550

mdaly@berkeley.edu

Academic Advisor

Shamaya Pellum

121 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-643-1745

sbeattie@berkeley.edu

Academic Advisor

Jahzeel Flores Morales

121 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-642-7919

jahzeel@berkeley.edu

Academic Advisor

Mellia Kanani

121 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-642-3451

melliakanani@berkeley.edu

Intake Advisor

Maritsi Perez

121 Gilman Hall

Phone: 510-664-5264

maritsip@berkeley.edu

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