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You could be a chemical engineer if . . .
You want to know how things work, and you’re fascinated with math,
chemistry, physics, and biology. When you think about selecting your major,
think chemical engineering – at Texas A&M University. Endless opportunities
exist in broad work areas, from traditional chemical industries to space
exploration and medicine.
What do chemical engineers do?
Chemical engineers use chemistry, physics, biology, math, and other sciences
along with engineering principles to make better products such as high-efficiency
fuels, medicine, electronics, food and cosmetics. Everything we use involves
chemistry, and chemical engineering touches just about every part of our
lives. If you put on soft contact lenses, changed into sweat-proof athletic
wear, filled your car with gasoline before driving to the gym, and drink
a plastic bottle of purified water or artificially sweetened soda after
your workout, you can thank chemical engineers for making those products
possible.
Chemical engineers design processes and products to solve problems and to supply vital materials for our technology-based society. Their work ranges from making clean energy, to producing more-affordable medicine, to streamlining semiconductor manufacturing – and even ways to improve food production and processing.
You will find chemical engineers in big places like manufacturing industries and production plants. You will find chemical engineers in research laboratories working at the molecular level, to create new synthetic materials. Molecular level work also involves life sciences to look for ways to prevent disease and to improve diagnostics and therapeutic methods such as improved drug delivery.
What about jobs? And my paycheck?
Good chemical engineers are always in demand, even in a slow economy. Starting
salaries for chemical engineers are among the highest – $52,169 (Boston
Globe, April25, 2003, p. C1). Average starting salary offers for Texas
A&M chemical engineering graduates are even higher. How high? Try $56,322
as noted by Texas A&M’s Career Center for spring 2003.
What do I study to become a chemical engineer?
The foundation for a career in chemical engineering starts in high school
with college preparatory courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and
biology. English and speech also are important. Successful engineers must
be able to communicate their ideas so they are understandable to everyone.
A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is mandatory for practice.
Find out more about Texas A&M’s chemical engineering undergraduate program.
