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• M.H. Wong Building, Room 3060
• 3610 University Street
• Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C5

• Telephone: 514-398-4494
• Fax: 514-398-6678
• Website: www.mcgill.ca/chemeng

The central purpose of engineering is to pursue solutions to technological problems in order to satisfy the needs and desires of society. Chemical engineers are trained to solve the kinds of problems that are typically found in the "chemical process industries," which include the chemical manufacturing, plastics, water treatment, pulp and paper, petroleum refining, ceramics, and paint industries, as well as substantial portions of the food processing, textile, nuclear energy, biochemical, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries. The technological problems and opportunities in these industries are often closely linked to social, economic, and environmental concerns. For this reason, practitioners of chemical engineering often deal with these questions when they are working in management, pollution abatement, product development, marketing, and equipment design.

By means of complementary courses, students can also obtain further depth in technical areas and breadth in non-technical subjects. Some students elect to complete a minor in biotechnology, management, materials engineering, computer science, environmental engineering, chemistry, or another minor (see Minor Programs for minors available to engineering students).

The solution to many environmental problems requires an understanding of technological principles. A Chemical Engineering degree provides an ideal background. In addition to relevant material learned in the core program, a selection of environmental complementary courses and minor programs is available. The involvement of many Chemical Engineering staff members in environmental research provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to carry out research projects in this area.

The curriculum also provides the preparation necessary to undertake postgraduate studies leading to the M.Eng. or Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering. Students completing this curriculum acquire a broad, balanced education in the natural sciences with the accent on application. Thus, for those who do not continue in Chemical Engineering, it provides an exceptionally balanced education in applied science. For others, it will form the basis of an educational program that may continue with a variety of studies such as business administration, medicine, or law. Versatility is, then, one of the most valuable characteristics of the graduate of the Chemical Engineering program.

The Chemical Engineering program comprises 141 credits (115 credits for those who completed the Quebec CEGEP program in Pure and Applied Sciences). Certain students who take advantage of Summer session courses can complete the program in three calendar years.

In some cases, students from university science disciplines have sufficient credits to complete the requirements for the B.Eng. (Chemical) program in two years. Those concerned should discuss this with their adviser.

Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all core courses. For the Department of Chemical Engineering, core courses include all required courses (departmental and non-departmental) as well as complementary courses (departmental).

The Chemical Engineering Student Society has for many years been affiliated both with the CSChE (Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering) and with the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers). For a nominal fee, students receive Canadian Chemical News, a monthly publication, and the AlChE Student Members Bulletin as well as other privileges of student membership in the two societies. The student chapter also organizes a series of local social, educational, and sporting events. For example, recent events have included student-professor banquets and Christmas parties, dances, speakers, broomball games, and joint meetings with the Montreal Section of the CSChE. The latter gives students a chance to mix with practising chemical engineers.