Why Chemical & Life Science Engineering?
Apply your engineering knowledge to become the bridge between molecular science and consumer products. Chemistry is essential to modern life, and a bachelor’s in chemical and life science engineering prepares you to lead the development of thousands of consumer products we rely on everyday, from home and personal care products to clothing and sports equipment to automobiles and electronics.
Our undergraduate programs allow you to specialize in areas such as:
- Energy technology
- Development of chemicals and biologics
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmaceutical engineering
- Stem cell engineering
- Systems biology
From day one, you'll thrive in a hands-on learning environment. You'll engage in coursework defined by award-winning faculty research in areas like catalysis, pharmaceutical manufacturing, material design and more. Qualified seniors have the option to enroll in an accelerated master’s program, potentially earning a graduate degree in just one additional year.
Located in the culturally vibrant city of Richmond, VCU provides unique opportunities to network with alumni and industry professionals from companies like AdvanSix, Evonik, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and others.
The nation's first Ph.D. program in pharmaceutical engineering
Focused on providing a collaborative and team-based experience for students, VCU’s Ph.D. in pharmaceutical engineering is a collaboration between VCU’s School of Pharmacy and the College of Engineering. The first of its kind in the nation, the pharmaceutical engineering Ph.D. will prepare you to become a leader in the science and engineering of pharmaceuticals.
$14.7m
total research expenditures in 2023
$1m+
in research expenditures per faculty member*
$85k
average starting salary of chemical engineers in the U.S.
*Ranked in the top 5 in the country alongside Cal Berkeley, MIT, Delaware, Cal Tech and Johns Hopkins