Simultaneous Degree: What complements Chemical Engineering?

<p>Trying to explore my options here...</p>

<p>Enrolling into College of Chemistry for Chemical Engineering, I was wondering if I choose to pursue a simultaneous degree, what other major would complement Chemical Engineering well? Was thinking Haas business or economics, not sure if it's even possible or do-able.</p>

<p>Anybody here who has tried something like this or has friends who tried this? How was their experience?</p>

<p>What majors would complement Chem E nicely?</p>

<p>wondering same thing</p>

<p>When I went to the accepted students reception a lot of the students were pushing pursuing a dual degree between ChemE and Business but I’m not sure that would be the best choice seeing as its already difficult to get a high GPA in ChemE. I was thinking of just minoring in economics, but is doing a dual degree with econ feasible?</p>

<p>BS Chemical Engineering -> work -> MBA.</p>

<p>I also suggest enrolling in some econ classes as electives.</p>

<p>Chem E. is a pretty all-consuming major. I mean no discouragement, but unless you’re willing to invest more than 4 years into this, you’re probably not going to manage it. Most Chem E. classes are fall- or spring- specific and scheduled around the suggested course track. Outside of some freedom with the order in which you take your lower divs, you’re pretty much stuck with what they tell you to do in the CoC pamphlet. You also have 3 viciously hard classes in the first four semesters - I honestly doubt that attempting to give yourself more work is a good idea.</p>

<p>That being said, Chem E. is arguably the single most valuable undergrad degree Cal offers, so it’s not like you’re being short-changed on this.</p>

<p>Hmm you sound like a chem e student. What are the hard classes? I’m trying to balance out my classes in terms of GPA =D</p>

<p>Have you guys looked at the 4 year plan of ChemE in the College of Chem announcement? That is the most structured major I have ever seen. There is not much leeway in taking extra classes. Also, chemE classes are semester specific like jonno said. Also, just think of planning the classes. How will you fit in your extra major’s classes when you have a a 5 or 6 hr lab section once a week?</p>

<p>hmm true. i hate the semester-specific courses.</p>

<p>if i wan to do it i’m sure it can be done… my qn is more of whether a second degree would be useful in the future. like maybe to climb higher in a company or something.</p>

<p>The way to pull off a simultaneous degree is to take EVERYTHING except the chemE classes (i.e. E7, E45, EE100, Bio 1A, Physics 137A, and all the humanities) over the summer (for the science/engineering stuff) and at community colleges (for the humanities stuff). Also, skip Math1a-1b and take 53-54 in your first year. Take Physics 7A-7B in your first year as well. That leaves only Chem 4a,4b,112a, and ChemE 140,141,142,150a,150b,154,160, 162, and electives. You could probably pull off a simultaneous degree with only those classes left.</p>

<p>singh - how hard are chem4a and calculus at berkeley? This year the ChemE department will be impacted (too many students are in it), do you think that it would still be feasible to transfer in? What general scores do you need in chem4a and calc to successfully transfer?</p>

<p>They honestly aren’t that bad…my friends and I didn’t have any trouble getting A’s in 4A and Math 53 last semester. 4A is uncurved, meaning that as long as you get a certain overall grade (high 80’s), you’re good to go. Many of us got over 95, which is pretty comfortable. And what you’ll find in calculus classes here is that if you had rigorous math in high school, you’re WAY better prepared than most people here. An A or A+ is really not that difficult to get in 53.</p>

<p>EDIT: Also, someone said above that they wanted to do an economics minor. I’m pretty sure that that doesn’t exist here. Maybe look at stats or math instead?</p>

<p>What majors were you and your friends before you transferred? I’m just a bit nervous now because I’m a guarantee ChemE at UT Austin but I’d be entering Berkeley as pre-business and taking the risk. Even now that ChemE is impacted for the first time, do you think its feasible to transfer in? Generally how many people leave ChemE by the end of freshman year, and how many transfer in?</p>

<p>I didn’t have to transfer in (I was a ChemE from the start), but one of my friends transferred in pretty easily after his first semester. I’ve always been told that more people transfer out than in, but it looks like they got a higher yield than they anticipated this year. I’m sure they will balance it out eventually though (with next year’s class). </p>

<p>I’d say that if you stay on the ChemE track for the first two years and still want in, they’ll probably let you in, as long as your grades are decent (B’s and better on everything).</p>

<p>@ singh: the undergraduate guide says that math 1a/1b is required to be taken as a lower div classes, how do u skip it? with APs? And do you know if anyone has tried to accelerate courses by petitioning to take courses concurrently with their prerequisites or something like that?</p>

<p>Yeah I meant with Calc BC. I’d say at least a third of ChemE freshmen skip Math 1A-1B. Maybe more. </p>

<p>Most classes/professors don’t care at all about prerequisites, so if you feel you have a strong background in a subject, you can go ahead and take classes with prerequisites at the same time (in most cases). Like, I think it would be pretty easy to take Math 53 or 54 at the same time as Math 1B. If you’ve taken AP Physics then Physics 7A and 7B can also be taken at the same time in my opinion.</p>

<p>Oh, but i would have to seek approval with my advisor right? I’m thinking of maybe even taking Physics 7A + 7B and CE 140 in my freshman semester to speed things up. Only problem now is Physics 7A is prerequisite for Physics 7B. </p>

<p>I’m exempted from Math 1A/B and Chem 1A/B.</p>

<p>Uhhhh, it’s not a good idea to skip Chem 4A and 4B. The only way to be exempted from those is to have taken a community college or other equivalent university course, but even that is highly recommended against. But I’m going to guess that what you’ve taken is nowhere near as good as the Chem 4 series. For example: you may have learned some basic molecular orbital theory, but can you explain Crystal Field Theory in excruciating detail, including a complete description of the order of ligands in the spectrochemical series, and pi backbonding? I will be VERY impressed if you can…</p>

<p>Honestly, your first semester would be a total nightmare if you tried to take ChemE 140 with a bunch of other technical classes. Even the best of students would be slaughtered by a schedule like that straight out of high school.</p>

<p>A better schedule would be Math 53, Physics 7A+7B, and Chem 4A. Again, this is only recommended if you’re super confident in your Physics ability…</p>

<p>eh whoops sorry. i forgot to say i’m exempted from chem 4a and 4b, not 1a/b =X</p>

<p>i suck at chem though, forgot most of it already =D</p>

<p>you’re scaring me. maybe i should just take it easy first year. haha.</p>

<p>Where’d you take the 4A-4B equivalent classes? Just take 4A, honestly.</p>

<p>i’m an international student. GCE A’ level Chemistry. Muara Daly told me i was exempted. sure as hell i’ll probably need to revise and fill in the gaps for some parts of the syllabus though.</p>