Versatility Pays Off for Chemical, Environmental Engineering Majors

Earn your bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or environmental engineering at one of the best value universities in the United States. Bring your ambition, and get a well-rounded education in the UA Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. 

Chemical engineers develop materials and processes, safely and economically. They improve food processing techniques and fertilizer production, create synthetic fibers for clothing, advance mass production of drugs, and find better ways to refine petroleum products, for example.

Environmental engineers work in industry and on government policy and public infrastructure. They create technologies for water purification, wastewater treatment, air pollution control, and recovery of resources and energy from waste. They develop ways to prevent pollution and rid soil and groundwater of hazardous materials. 

Today there is much overlap between chemical engineers and environmental engineers, in the world and at the UA. Chemical engineers who can turn pollutants into harmless materials, clean contaminated water and design alternative fuels are a commodity in many industries.

Gain skills with chemical and environmental faculty who consider your success their most important job!

Academics Aimed at Doing Engineering

From the very first day of your introductory courses, you’ll benefit from lively discussions, one-on-one help, hands-on activities and team projects. CHEE faculty are in the vanguard of active learning. Students are engaged, challenged and supported every step of the way. You’ll get a solid grounding in the fundamentals, work with a small cohort of students, and benefit from experts in chemical engineering and environmental engineering – regardless of your major – throughout your academic journey.

CHEE is popular among UA Honors College students and one of the few College of Engineering departments that offers a pre-medical curriculum.

Outside the Classroom

Research is an integral part of the CHEE Wildcat experience – so much so, in fact, that nine out of 10 undergraduates are involved in research and 35 percent go on to grad school. In addition to conducting research, students create valuable products working on engineering design teams, develop leadership skills and STEM outreach efforts in clubs and organizations, and connect with future employers through internships.

Graduates Ready for Jobs and Grad School

Many UA chemical and environmental engineering students continue on to prestigious graduate programs, at institutions such as Cambridge University, Duke University and UC Berkeley. Others go right to work with companies like ASM America, ExxonMobil, Freescale, IBM, Intel and Micron Global Foundries, typically earning a starting salary of $59,000 to $67,000 a year.