COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers are problem solvers that touch every aspect of our lives. Chemical engineers from Louisiana Tech primarily go into petrochemical, chemical or pulp and paper industries but are prepared to go into a variety of career fields depending on their interests.
Chemical engineers also tend to be among the highest-paid engineers. In addition, the starting salaries at graduation for chemical engineering graduates from Louisiana Tech University have been up to 19% higher than the national average for chemical engineers over the last decade.
The Louisiana Tech Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org. To find out more information about the program mission, educational objectives, student outcomes, and enrollment and graduation data, go to our Accreditation & Enrollment page.
CMEN Lab
Research Opportunities
Interested in Joining Our Program?
Whether you’re interested in joining our program or just have questions, we’re here to help.
Program Highlights
Average Salary of Louisiana Tech Chemical Engineering Graduates in 2023
- During junior and senior year, you’ll get hands-on experience with equipment found in many plants through courses held in our Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Labs.
Faculty
Chemical Engineering
Associate Professor and Program Chair
Departments: Chemical Engineering, Institute for Micromanufacturing, MALT Center
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor
Departments: Chemical Engineering, Graduate Studies Office, Institute for Micromanufacturing
Academic Director for Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Departments: Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, Chemical Engineering
Associate Vice President for Research Administration, Professor – Chemical Engineering
Departments: Chemical Engineering, Molecular Science and Nanotechnology
Associate Professor
Departments: Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Institute for Micromanufacturing
Professor
Departments: Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Institute for Micromanufacturing, Molecular Science and Nanotechnology
Assistant Professor
Departments: Chemical Engineering, Institute for Micromanufacturing
Frequently Asked Questions
What Will I Study?
Our unique Chemical Engineering program begins with the Living with the Lab hands-on experience that takes engineering beyond the books by utilizing a student-owned lab kit and much more! As you continue with our curriculum, you will experience a challenging but rewarding program that prepares students for a variety of exciting careers! Our dedicated faculty and small class sizes allow one-on-one interactions between faculty and students, so you can find the support you need to succeed in college…and in life!
What Types of Job Opportunities Will I Have?
A chemical engineer may work in a variety of subfields, including those listed below.
- Design Engineers design new chemical plants and work on teams to design many other things.
- Production Engineers operate the manufacturing plants by using their significant technical knowledge to manage the facility.
- Environmental Engineers oversee systems to reduce emissions from plants, monitor the emissions from facilities, provide feedback to the management team and compile reports needed by government agencies.
- Managers manage the operations at manufacturing plants and lead teams focused on various opportunities.
- Biomedical Engineers apply engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes.
- Pharmaceutical Engineers develop and manufacture products, processes and components in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Nuclear Engineers research and develop the processes, instruments and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.
- Project Managers have the responsibility of planning, procuring and executing projects.
- Research Engineers seek improvements in theory and practice in fields such as fuels processing, bioengineering, pharmaceuticals, power systems, nanotechnology, construction materials, chemicals and much more.
- Oil Production Engineers handle the daily management of oil and gas production and help to maximize profitability, design and select subsurface equipment for oil and gas wells.
- Lawyers, Politicians and even Astronauts use chemical engineering skills!
How Can I Enhance My Degree?
There are various opportunities for you to participate in co-op or internship experiences. The Louisiana Tech University Career Center is available to help you find job opportunities.
What Types of Graduate Opportunities Will I Have?
A Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering opens up opportunities in a number of Louisiana Tech graduate programs.
- Master of Science in Engineering, Chemical Engineering Concentration
- Master of Science in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology (Interdisciplinary)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Science and Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Analysis and Modeling
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
Advising Materials
For the current catalog information, go to Chemical Engineering (BSCH). For a list of prerequisites and required courses, select the curriculum sheet below.
Chemical Engineering Curriculum Fall 2024
Chemical Engineering Curriculum Fall 2024 – Excel Sheet
Approved Directed Electives Spring 2022
Contact Dr. Joan Lynam with questions about the program.
Featured Alumni
Jessie M. DePriest ’09
Dow Chemical, Texas Hydrocarbons Site Integration Specialist and Feedstocks Planner
Why did you select Chemical Engineering? I’d done well and enjoyed both Chemistry and Math classes in high school, but I thought majoring in either subject in college would be too boring or take me down a career path I didn’t want. Engineering sounded like a nice mixture of the two and chemical engineering was the only engineering discipline that sounded interesting.
What was your experience at Louisiana Tech like? The Chemical Engineering program gave me an immersive experience in what it was like to work in industry, although it took me years of working in the industry to fully appreciate what we were taught and how.
How has Louisiana Tech prepared you for industry and the workforce? The chemical engineering curriculum gave me a good foundation in working in teams, process safety, and practical application of chemical engineering concepts. I’ve worked with many graduates of prestigious engineering programs who did not receive such an education in their undergraduate studies.
John Elmore ’07
Shell, Process Safety Manager
Why did you select Chemical Engineering? I was actually a Mechanical Engineering major in my first quarter, but my dad (who is a ChemE) convinced me to switch in the fall of 2003. I’ve never regretted the change!
What was your experience at Louisiana Tech like? I loved (and still love) the Tech community. I had a real connection with not only my friends and classmates but also my professors; I’ll never forget some of the good times working on robotics with Dr. David Hall, playing guitar with Dr. Jim Nelson, or the tough but invaluable classes from Dr. Jim Palmer.
How has Louisiana Tech prepared you for industry and the workforce? Most importantly my Tech education was practical. I was taught how to think critically, approach problems, and care about developing myself and my skills. The team experiences and presentation practice I had couldn’t be replaced in getting me ready for my 12 years and counting in the petrochemical industry.
How has your experience at Louisiana Tech opened up opportunities for you? My Tech degree is competitive with any other engineering degrees I’ve worked with. A critical part of my Tech experience was working with people – in industry you never work on problems in a vacuum, so learning how to interact productively with others from different backgrounds and clearly articulate through writing and presenting has made all the difference in my career.
Joel Mertens ’86
International Paper at Campti, Louisiana, Fiberline Manufacturing Excellence Leader
Why did you select Chemical Engineering? I always enjoyed math and science. Also, I wanted to make sure I had a career where I could provide for my family, and my wife wouldn’t have to work unless she wanted to. Chemical Engineering gave me all of that and much more!
What was your experience at Louisiana Tech like? My time at Louisiana Tech was great! I learned a lot, made a lot of friends, and had a lot of fun.
How has Louisiana Tech prepared you for industry and the workforce? Louisiana Tech prepared me well technically for my jobs in industry. The biggest thing Louisiana Tech taught me was how to think and how to solve problems.
How has your experience at Louisiana Tech opened up opportunities for you? I wouldn’t have had any of the job opportunities in my career without the education and degree that I received from Louisiana Tech.
