Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Hannah's Highlights

Welcome CBE!

Welcome to our Undergraduate Announcement and Highlights Page! Your one-stop source for essential updates, events, and resources tailored to your academic journey. Stay connected, informed, and engaged as you navigate your path to success. Explore, discover, and make the most of your time as a CBE Student!

Reminders

Academic Updates

Upcoming Dates: Last day of classes April 29

Message to CBE First Year Students

You Must Obtain Credit for Math 1400

I want to make sure that you are all planning to work towards obtaining credit for Math 1400. You are the first incoming class that AP will not give you credit for Math 1400–you have all instead received credit for 1300–which waives the prerequisite for 1410 but you still owe me 1 cu for 1400.

You should plan to either test out of 1400 (you should still have the option to do that this semester as the placement is schedule for next week here: https://www.math.upenn.edu/undergraduate/make-and-credit-exam-advanced-placement-exams) OR take the class. You do have the option to take the placement more than once. I encourage you all to make this a priority. Retro credit is also no longer an option.

Please reach out with any questions.

Please read the following updates to help you prepare for advance registration:

1. Math 2400 and Math 2410 will no longer be offered by the Math department. All engineering students are advised to take ENM/ESE 2030 in place of Math 2400 and Math 2300 or ENM 2510 in place of Math 2410. Please note: Math 2200 is not currently approved for engineering students.

2. CBE 4790 and CBE 4800 will not be offered in the upcoming academic year. Students who planned on taking the biotech option as your tech elective may plan to take ENGR 4500 in Fall ’26 as a substitute prerequisite for CBE 4790; and CBE 5800 in Spring ’27 as a substitute for CBE 4800. All students taking CBE 5800 as their lab tech elective must submit a CBE core substitution form.

You may also take ENGR 5300: Renewable Energy Technologies Lab, Dr. Grundy’s new grad lab course as your tech elective lab option. Students must also submit a CBE core substitution form to have this approved as a tech elective.

3. The current CBE CPG (course planning guide) can be found on the CBE UG Curriculum page here. Each student should be using the “CBE CPG with STEM electives” handout linked on the curriculum page. The CBE curriculum will now include a 2 cu requirement of STEM electives in the tech elective category. This change will be reflected on your degree audit in Path at the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. Please review the CBE curriculum page to find out more about the STEM elective requirement and how it offers more flexibility to students.

Important tips to prepare for advance registration:

If you would like to schedule an advising session with Hannah to discuss your course plans etc, please choose a date on calendly here. Walk-in advising is still available every Friday in the CBE office from 9 am- 3pm.

Advising holds have been placed on each students’ Path account. In order to have your hold removed, you must meet with your assigned faculty advisor. You will not be able to register if this hold remains on your Path.

You may have other holds on your account that you must resolve before you can register. Please see more information on holds, how to find them and remove them here.

The current CBE CPG (course planning guide) can be found on the CBE UG Curriculum page here. Every student should be using the “CBE CPG with STEM electives” handout linked on the curriculum page. The CBE curriculum will now include a 2 cu requirement of STEM electives in the tech elective category. This change will be reflected on your degree audit in Path at the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. Please review the CBE curriculum page to find out more about the STEM elective requirement and how it offers more flexibility to students.

All students applying to the accelerated master’s program must review their course planning sheet with me. I need to verify that your undergrad requirements are met before you receive sign off to apply for the master’s program. Forms submitted via email require a 24-48 hour review period.

Please make sure you are choosing your courses carefully, and that they have the proper attributes or are approved courses in the SEAS handbook. Otherwise, you may choose a course that won’t count in your engineering curriculum.

A reminder of the Course Load/CU Increase Policy from handbook:

“Students are not permitted to pre-register for more than 5.5 cu during advance registration. (A 6.5 cu maximum may be granted for dual degree students and seniors who need more cus to graduate on time.) Students may only register for more than 5.5 course units at the start of the new semester after grades and course load from the previous semester are available. The department can increase the maximum load from 5 to 6 cu or 5.5 to 6.5 cu (one cu increment) if the student is in good academic standing (a 3.0 gpa or better and no outstanding incompletes).”

CBE Events & Announcements

SEAS Events & Announcements

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Jobs & Internships

Graduation and Senior Updates

Dear CBE Seniors,

All students should have received an email about registering for Tassel–the program used to capture information for all undergraduate students participating in this year’s engineering graduation ceremony. The deadline to complete registration on Tassel is 4/18. If you did not receive information on how to register for Tassel–please email Hannah.

Ordering Regalia
Regalia can be ordered online from this website. The deadline to place an order is March 20, 2026.

If you have questions related to the Undergraduate Ceremony, please contact the Office of Academic Services at academic-services@seas.upenn.edu. Additional information about Penn Engineering’s other commencement ceremonies can be found here. Information about the University’s Class of 2026 Commencement, to be held on May 18, 2026, can be found here.

Senior Surveys

I ask that each of you please complete the 2026 exit survey here. And the 2026 Outcomes survey here.

Our seniors complete these surveys each spring before graduation. Your feedback is helpful and greatly appreciated.

Once you have completed both surveys, grad gift pick up begins on Thursday, April 2nd in the CBE office (Towne 311A). You may drop by the CBE office any day after 4/2 to collect your grad gift, but you must first complete both surveys in order to receive your gift.

Final day for gift pick up is the last day of the spring semester, Tuesday, May 12th. Please make sure to complete your survey and collect your grad gift by 5/12.