Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Undergraduate Curriculum

The Typical Undergraduate Course of Study

Entering Fall 2020 and later

Year 1

Fall Spring
  • CHEM 101
  • CHEM 053
  • MATH 104
  • PHYS 140
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*
  • CBE 160
  • CHEM 102
  • CHEM 054
  • MATH 114
  • PHYS 141
  • WRIT Requirement

Year 2

Fall Spring
  • CBE 230
  • CHEM 241
  • MATH 240
  • ENGR 105
  • CBE 231
  • MATH 241
  • CHEM 242 or CHEM 243 or CHEM 251
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*

Year 3

Fall Spring
  • CBE 350
  • CBE 360
  • CHEM 221 or MSE 221
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*
  • Technical Elective
  • CBE 351
  • CBE 353
  • CBE 371
  • Laboratory Technical Elective
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*

Year 4

Fall Spring
  • CBE 400
  • CBE 410
  • CBE 451
  • Technical Elective
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*
  • CBE 459
  • Technical Elective
  • Technical Elective
  • SS/H/TBS Elective*

* EAS 203 (Engineering Ethics) must be one of the social science courses taken

Entering Fall 2017 and later

Year 1

Fall Spring
  • MATH 104 Calculus, Part I
  • CHEM 101 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 053 General Chemistry Lab I
  • CBE 150 Introduction to Biotechnology
  • PHYS 140 Principles of Physics I
  • SSH Elective *
  • CBE 160 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
  • MATH 114 Calculus, Part II
  • CHEM 102 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 054 General Chemistry Lab II
  • PHYS 141 Principles of Physics II
  • WRIT Requirement 

Year 2

Fall Spring
  • CBE 230 Material and Energy Balances
  • MATH 240 Calculus, Part III
  • CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry I
  • SSH Elective*
  • Free Elective
  • CBE 231 Thermodynamics of Fluids
  • MATH 241 Calculus, Part IV
  • CHEM 242 Organic Chemistry II or CHEM 251 Principles of Biological Chem
  • ENGR 105 Engineering Computer Elective
  • SSH Elective*

Year 3

Fall Spring
  • CBE 350 Fluid Mechanics
  • CBE 360/460 Chemical Process Control
  • CHEM 221 Physical Chemistry I or MSE 221 Quantum Physics of Materials
  • CBE Elective
  • SSH Elective*
  • CBE 351 Heat and Mass Transport
  • CBE 353 Molecular Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics
  • CBE 371 Separation Processes
  • CBE 480 Lab in Biotech & Genetic Engineering or CHEM 223 Exp Physical Chem I
  • SSH Elective*

Year 4

Fall Spring
  • CBE 400 Introduction to Process Design
  • CBE 410 Chemical Engineering Lab
  • CBE 451 Chemical Reactor Design
  • Free Elective
  • Technical Elective
  • CBE 459 Process System Design Projects
  • CBE Elective
  • Technical Elective
  • SSH Elective*
  • Free Elective

* EAS 203 (Engineering Ethics) must be one of the social science courses taken

Course Planning Guides:

The Course Planning Guide (CPG) assists the student in planning a course of study to complete the program as expected. A sample CPG is available to assist with planning.

Entering Fall 2020 and later:

Entering Fall 2017 and later:

Entering Fall 2013 and later:

Entering Fall 2011 and 2012:

Entering Fall 2010 and earlier:

NOTE: While the paper CPG is a useful goal-planning tool, all students are required to tally courses taken on the electronic worksheets located at the Penn InTouch Web site.

Additional Information:

CBE Minor

The Minor in  CBE consists of 6 engineering courses in CBE, selected with the approval of the Undergraduate Curriculum Chair.  Detailed information concerning minors in the School of Engineering is available here.

Undergraduate Academic Rules and Regulations

The official academic rules and regulations governing the undergraduate course of study are found in the SEAS Undergraduate Handbook.

In This Section:

Your CBE Contact:

Julia Falcon
Undergraduate Coordinator
Office: 311A Towne Building
Phone: 215-898-8352
Email: jfalcon@seas.upenn.edu

Student Resources