Chemical Engineering vs. Materials Science and Engineering

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

After junior year AP Chem, I knew I wanted to do something involving chemistry. Throughout the past year, I have been pretty sure I wanted to be a chemical engineer. However, during an admissions presentation at a university, a current undergraduate stated that chemical engineering has nothing to do with physical chemistry. Is there any merit to that? I don’t understand how physical chemistry isn’t involved at all. The undergrad explained that he switched to materials science and engineering in order to be involved with physical chem.

Can someone please explain to me the difference between chemical engineering and materials science and engineering? Examples of what a chemical engineer would do versus what a materials engineer would do would be greatly appreciated.

2

You do have to take 4+ semesters of chemistry during a chemical engineering degree, but the major-specific coursework (like mass balances, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics…) is more like physics and math than chemistry.

3

So would a materials science and engineering major focus on those 3 key subjects, but involve a lot more chemistry?