Engage in interesting coursework defined by the groundbreaking research of VCU Engineering’s award-winning faculty in areas like catalysis, pharmaceutical manufacturing, material design and more. Etched into the landscape of Richmond, the VCU College of Engineering gives students access to a culturally vibrant and diverse city full of potential. We focus on developing close partnerships with public institutions and private businesses in order to give you access to unique learning and job opportunities.

Undergraduate students also have access to benefits like:

• Proximity to policymakers in Richmond, Virginia’s capital, and Washington D.C.
• Connections to public and private institutions that improve the quality of life for communities and individuals, like Afton, ChemTreat, Veolia.
• Faculty who are industry experts, finding innovative solutions to sustainability problems as respected leaders in their fields with well-funded labs and industry partnerships.
• Design your own path to education with flexible electives and focus on environmental and sustainable engineering topics you’re passionate about.
• Dedicated Career Services department that provides internship and employment opportunities
• Industry connections through college partnerships with public and private industry
• Interdisciplinary education to teach collaboration with engineering practitioners outside your field of study

Reference the VCU Bulletin for a full list of chemical and life science engineering classes. Below are a few interesting courses from the program:

Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria (CLSE 305): Explore the thermodynamic properties of fluids and mixtures; partial molar quantities; phase equilibria; activity coefficients and correlations; equations-of-state; chemical reaction equilibria for liquid, vapor and multiphase reactions; and the use of equations-of-state and activity/fugacity correlations to obtain the thermodynamic functions required for the calculation of chemical reaction equilibrium constants.

Chemical Reaction Engineering (CLSE 312): Gain a foundation in the analysis of reactors via coupling of empirical reaction rates and thermodynamic constraints with reactor material and energy balances. You’ll learn the behavior of the ideal reactor types (batch, CSTR and PFR) with attention given to departure from these ideals by real systems.

An undergraduate degree in chemical and life science engineering can facilitate career advancement in a number of industries like:

• Bioengineering, Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
• Commodity and Specialty Chemicals
• Food Products and Processing
• Materials
• Petrochemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Polymers

Consider possibilities like:

• Product Development Engineer: Designs and develops new products and processes for manufacturing sites. Responsibilities include patent searches, equipment operation and scale-up of processes for commercialization.
• Sales Engineer: Markets products and interacts with customers. Responsibilities involve analyzing customer needs, market trends and competitor technologies.
• Chemical Process Engineer: Monitors operations to maintain effective and efficient process flows. Responsibilities include process data collection and analysis, safety assessments and communication between operators and management.
• Research and Development Scientist: Translates proof of concept technologies and formulations into early process designs for manufacturing and production. Responsibilities include communicating technical data, evaluating methods of manufacture and troubleshooting manufacturing issues.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides valuable insights into the field of chemical engineering, including salary trends, projected job growth and industry demand. As you research and consider your educational options, take advantage of these resources to align your academic path with promising career opportunities.

• Summary
• What They Do
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With the help of our Career Services team, VCU College of Engineering graduates have many opportunities to network with alumni and industry professionals. Our students work at companies like:

• AdvanSix
• Evonik
• Haleon
• Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
• Porex