Chemical engineering possibilities?

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>I'll be heading to the University of Delaware in the fall as a freshman and I am majoring in chemical engineering. I've always had an interest in science, specifically molecular and cellular biology. I don't have much of a chemistry background (only took a semester in highschool) but chemical engineering seems to have applications in the biotech industry.</p>

<p>I'm also very interested in space, specifically searching for life on other planets.</p>

<p>I've come here to ask, am I taking the wrong major? My college offers a minor in biochemical engineering, and I figure that will give me more of a biology background. Basically though, when I think of a chemical engineer, I think of someone making plastics or working in the petroleum industry, which I don't want to do. </p>

<p>If anything, my dream job would either be to a) Help towards making humans live longer..make humans stronger, etc etc (sci-fi kinda stuff), which is where the biotech comes in or b) Somehow help search for other life in the universe. Is b) even an option for me, though? I guess I'd have to major in astronomy or physics for that.</p>

<p>Any chem engineers out there? Care to share your current experiences? Like I said, when I think of chem engineers, I think of them soley making materials or working with energy, yet that isn't my interest. However, I know chemical engineer careers encompass a lot, so I'd appreciate it if I could get more info.</p>

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<p>alright, bump</p>

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<p>Chemical engineering is a very broad major.</p>

<p>Some other areas you can specialize in that you didn’t mention:</p>

<p>Process Analysis and Control</p>

<p>The chemical process industry is one of the most advanced in the applications of modern control techniques and computer technology. These rapidly developing techniques are of great utility to the practicing engineer.</p>

<p>Materials Engineering</p>

<p>Polymers, semiconductors, and other advanced materials make possible many conveniences of modern life. Chemical engineers can assume a creative role in developing, manufacturing, and applying these materials to a range of purposes.</p>

<p>Environmental Engineering</p>

<p>Chemical engineers are uniquely qualified to contribute to the solution of environmental problems and to design processes and products that minimize environmental hazards.</p>

<p>Process Engineering</p>

<p>The design and operation of processes is a major function of chemical engineers that is essential to any successful product. Competence in design, economics, fault detection, optimization, control, and simulation is essential.</p>

<p>Product Engineering</p>

<p>Chemical engineers are frequently involved in the development of new consumer and specialty products, an assignment that requires not only technical skills but also an understanding of the principles of successful marketing and quality control.</p>

<p>Biotechnology</p>

<p>The discoveries in the biological sciences that placed large areas of these sciences on a molecular basis provide great potential for new products to improve living standards and health. Those with proper training in the basics of chemical engineering and in application techniques will make major contributions to commercial development of such products.</p>

<p>These descriptions and areas were all taken from my school’s (UT Austin) ChemE website.</p>

<p>Hope it helps!</p>

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<p>ChemEs will look at practical applications of science, option b doesn’t fit that bill. However, if you want you could get your BS and then go for a masters in theoretical physics or some field that looks for aliens…</p>

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<p>Or you could major in Biology, or Cellular Biology, or Molecular Biology… or Biophysics, or Physical Biology, or something else that sounds catchy.</p>

<p>FOR INSTANCE:</p>

<p>Check out the following site: [UD</a> Biological Sciences - Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees](<a href=“http://www.udel.edu/bio/ed/undergrad/degrees/]UD”>http://www.udel.edu/bio/ed/undergrad/degrees/). It sounds like the following major is right up your alley: “B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology & Genetics”. There are other good options there, including biotechnology and organismic.</p>

<p>Another options? [Undergraduate</a> Program](<a href=“http://www.udel.edu/chem/ugrad/ugrad.html]Undergraduate”>Undergraduate Program). Biochemistry. Think about it.</p>

<p>There may be other options, but these are probably the best ones. A point: don’t feel like you have to do an “engineering” degree because it has “engineering” in the name. It really sounds like you’re interested in science, not engineering, per se. Minors exist for what I’m gauging as your level of interest. It sounds like your real love is finding out fundamentally new things - not the job of the engineer, and it sounds like you already know this.</p>

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<p>@ Japher: I’m not very familiar with graduate school, and the requirements I need, but from what you’re saying, I can get my BS in one field (chem eng, for example) and go to graduate school for something else (that’s at least related to my BS, I assume)?</p>

<p>@ Auburn: You pretty much hit the nail on the head. However, it just seems that engineers today have a much more stable life, since they’re needed everywhere. I just figured I could get my degree in chem engineering, and if there weren’t options available to do what I REALLY wanted to do, I’d still have a good chance at a stable job doing something with science.</p>