Undergraduate Minors in CEMS
Two students use equipment in a lab

We are excited you want to enhance your undergraduate CSE degree with one of our minors. 

Why add a minor? In our consultation while developing the minor, many of our industry partners were excited at the idea of College of Science & Engineering graduates having a minor in chemical engineering or materials science and engineering - many stating that the minor would enhance the students’ competitiveness for positions given the demands for engineers with interdisciplinary training. 

Important: You may not earn a minor in the same subject as your major - so if you are majoring in chemical engineering, you may not also earn a minor in chemical engineering. Likewise, if you are majoring in materials science and engineering, you may not earn a minor in materials science and engineering. Note: If a ChEn or MatS student decides to change majors, prior coursework could be used toward completion of a minor in the original major. 

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Minor Requirements - Chemical Engineering

To declare either minor, you must be an upper-division CSE student with a minimum of a 2.8 technical GPA, meaning you must have declared your major in the College of Science & Engineering.

To earn the chemical engineering minor, you will need to complete the following: 

  • Admission Requirements: 
    • ChEn 2001, Materials and Energy Balances 
    • Math 2374 or Math 2263 (or equivalent), Multivariable Calculus
  • Program Requirements: 
    • ChEn 3101, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
    • Math 2373 or Math 2243 (or equivalent), Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
    • Choose one: ChEn 3005, Transport Phenomena OR ChEn 3102, Reaction Kinetics
    • One additional class: 
      • ChEn 3005, Transport Phenomena
      • ChEn 3102, Reaction Kinetics
      • ChEn 3006, Mass Transfer
      • ChEn 3701, Biomolecular Engineering
      • ChEn / MatS / Chem 4214, Polymers
      • ChEn 4601, Process Control
        Completing both ChEn 3005 and 3102 is recommended, but not required

Important note: All ChEn courses must be completed with the ChEn designator, unless cross-listed (such as polymers). Substitutions from other disciplines are not allowed. 

Minor Requirements - Materials Science & Engineering

To declare either minor, you must be an upper-division CSE student with a minimum of a 2.8 technical GPA, meaning you must have declared your major in the College of Science & Engineering.

To earn the materials science and engineering minor, you will need to complete the following: 

  • Admission Requirements: 
    • MatS 3011, Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering OR MatS 2001 Introduction to to the Science of Engineering Materials and MatS 2002, Introduction to the Science of Engineering Materials Lab
    • Math 2374 or Math 2263 (or equivalent), Multivariable Calculus
    • Math 2373 or Math 2243 (or equivalent), Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
  • Program Requirements: 
    • Two courses from the following: 
      • MatS 3001, Thermodynamics
      • MatS 3002, Mass Transport / Kinetics
      • MatS 3012, Metals and Alloys
      • MatS 3013, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Materials
      • MatS 3801, Structural Characterization Lab
      • MatS 3851W, Materials Properties Lab 
      • MatS / ChEn / Chem 4214, Polymers
      • MatS 4212, Ceramics
    • One additional class from the following: 
      • MatS 3001, Thermodynamics
      • MatS 3002, Mass Transport / Kinetics
      • MatS 3012, Metals and Alloys
      • MatS 3013, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Materials        
      • MatS 3801, Structural Characterization Lab
      • MatS 3851W, Materials Properties Lab 
      • MatS / ChEn / Chem 4214, Polymers
      • MatS 4212, Ceramics
      • MatS 4312, Energy and Solar Cells 
      • MatS / ChEn 5531, Electrochemical Engineering
      • ME 5223, Materials in Design

Important note: All courses must be completed with the MatS designator, unless cross-listed (such as polymers or electrochemical engineering) or explicitly listed (such as ME 5223). Substitutions from other disciplines are not allowed. 

Application Process

To apply, please complete this application form. 

While we will make every effort to accept all applications with a technical GPA of 2.8 or higher, we are also under space constraints within the classes and may not be able to accommodate all of those interested in the minor while also ensuring space for the students in our majors.

After submitting the minor application form you will be contacted by CEMS regarding next steps.

Information for Admitted Students

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Advising for the Minor

The CEMS Undergraduate Programs Coordinator will be added to your record as your first-point-of-contact for questions regarding the minor. 

Monitoring Academic Progress

You should use your APAS (Academic Progress Audit System) report to monitor your academic progress. Learn about your APAS report. 

University Catalog

The University Catalog page outlines all of the requirements for the minor. The Requirements tab will have the most up-to-date options to complete the minor. 

Chemical Engineering Minor

Materials Science and Engineering Minor

Course access

Please note that priority consideration is given towards degree-seeking (BChE and BMatSE) students with secondary consideration provided towards those who have declared a minor. Please use this permission number request form to request a permission number, noting that you have declared the minor. 

Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment

The minor will encourage students to develop skills in problem solving (can identify, define, and solve problems), and in critical thinking (can locate and critically evaluate information). This will be done in the coursework and will be assessed through problem sets and exams. The department regularly assesses courses and programs as part of their ABET accreditation, and will use those same mechanisms to assess the minors in chemical engineering and materials science and engineering.