<p>Who can tell me what is the difference between these two majors? Which one is more appealing? What are the job opportunities for these two majors?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>They’re actually quite different. Just look at the classes a Chemistry major takes vs. Chemical Engineering. Chemistry is interested in learning more about the chemistry, Chemical Engineering is interested in how to take the chemistry already known and apply it using math and physics. A chemistry major will take classes such as inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry eventually giving way to mostly laboratory type classes. Chemical Engineers take thermodynamics, material and energy balances, fluid flow and heat transfer etc. Ontop of alot of math. </p>
<p>Really the best thing to do is to look at the major requirements for these two majors at your specific school. I have heard people say at some schools the requirements for chemistry and chemical engineering are similar for the first 2 years, which I find odd. At my school they are very different. Chemistry majors are required to take most the math ChemE’s do except for DE (So basically Calc 1-3). However, at my school ChemE’s are actually required to take much less chemistry than people assume. For instance, we only have to take the general chemistry sequence and only one unit of organic chemistry, outside of that you’re actually given chem “electives”. However, if you plan on doing biomolecular concentration you are required to take both units of Organic before taking the Biochem sequence. Which leads to my next point, most Chemical Engineering programs are now labelled “Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering”. This means you’ll be taking a few biology classes as a ChemE, you won’t be doing this at all for chemistry.</p>
<p>“science makes it known, engineering makes it possible” (so said a sign over the entrance to the ut austin engineering dept decades ago - probably no longer there). after my 4 decades grad school, research and working in both capacities in industry, chemistry imho has become something of a dead science insafar as it is no longer a leading edge of major development. it is, however, an essential language that must be understood in considerable detail before one can work in crossover fields such as material science, cellular chemistry, environmental science, or similar applied science. with a bs chemistry, you can do fairly routine lab work for a wide variety of companies, or you can go to grad school in any of these “hybrid” fields.</p>
<p>chemical engineering has changed a lot, but in some ways is much the same - you can’t manufacture without a production facility, and these must be designed specifically to make what is needed, in the amounts required, at a cost that meets marketing objectives, and in accordance with numerous governmental regulations. with a bs in chem e you are more likely to find better paying and more interesting work immediately after graduation. long term???</p>