Updated for the 2018-2019 Academic Year

Schedule of Classes

For a current schedule of classes, login to GOLD and filter by the “Chemical Engineering” subject area.

Chemical Engineering Course Descriptions

202 - Biomaterials and Biosurfaces (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Fundamentals of natural and artificial biomaterials and biosurfaces with emphasis on molecular level structure and function and their interactions with the body. Design issues of grafts and biopolymers. Basic biological, biophysical and biochemical systems reviewed for nonbiologists.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as BMSE 202. Recommended preparation: prior biochemistry, physical chemistry, or organic chemistry.

210A - Fundamentals and Applications of Classical Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (4) 
Instructors: Shell
Fundamental concepts in classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics for engineering students. Establishes the framework within which problems can be solved using methodologies that start with molecular level understanding.

210B - Advanced Topics in Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics (3)     
Instructors: Fredrickson
Application of the principles of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics to treat classical fluid systems at equilibrium. Topics include liquid state theory, computer simulation methods, critical phenomena and scaling principles, interfacial statistical mechanics, and electrolyte theory.
Recommened preparation: a course in physical chemistry. Same course as Materials 214.

210C - Statistical Mechanics (3) 
Instructors: Staff
Fundamentals of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, kinetic theory of gases, Boltzmann equation, correlation functions, linear response theory, fluctuation- dissipation theorem, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations.

210D - Principles of Modern Molecular Simulation Methods (3) 
Instructors: Shell
Provides a broad overview of modern methods for computing the properties of multibody molecular systems. The course will cover: ab initio techniques, classical potential energy functions, Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics methods, free energy calculations, phase equilibria, and self- assembly/organization.

211A - Matrix Analysis and Computation (4)     
Instructors: Staff
Graduate level-matrix theory with introduction to matrix computations. SVD's, pseudoinverses, variational characterization of eigenvalues, perturbation theory, direct and iterative methods for matrix computation.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Computer Science 211A, ECE 210A, Geology 251A, ME 210A and Mathematics 206A. Students should be proficient in basic numerical methods, linear algebra, mathematically rigorous proofs, and some programming language.

211B - Numerical Simulation (4)     
Instructors: Staff
Linear multistep methods and Runge-Kutta methods for ordinary differential equations: stability, order and convergence. Stiffness. Differential algebraic equations. Numerical solution of boundary value problems.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Computer Science 211B, ECE 210B, Geology 251B, ME 210B and Mathematics 206B. Students should be proficient in basic numerical methods, linear algebra, mathematically rigorous proofs, and some programming language.

211C - Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations - Finite Difference Methods (4)     
Instructors: Staff
Finite difference methods for hyperbolic, parabolic and elliptic PDE's, with application to problems in science and engineering. Convergence, consistency, order and stability of finite difference methods. Dissipation and dispersion. Finite volume methods. Software design and adaptivity.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Computer Science 211C, ECE 210C, Geology 251C, ME 210C and Mathematics 206C. Students should be proficient in basic numerical methods,linear algebra, mathematically rigorous proofs, and some programming language.

211D - Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations - Finite Element Methods (4)     
Instructors: Staff
Weighted residual and finite element methods for the solution of hyperbolic, parabolic and elliptical partial differential equations, with application to problems in science and engineering. Error estimates. Standard and discontinuous Galerkin methods.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Computer Science 211D, ECE 210D, Geology 251D, ME 210D, and Mathematics 206D. Students should be proficient in basic numerical methods, linear algebra, mathematically rigorous proofs, and some programming language.

216A - Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Techniques (3)     
Instructors: Chmelka
An introduction to magnetic resonance theory and experimental techniques, with emphasis on quantum-mechanical descriptions of basic NMR methods for solid-state applications.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

216B - Advanced Methods of Magnetic Resonance with Applications to Materials Science (3) 
Instructors: Chmelka
This course is intended to provide an understanding of advanced methods of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging, emphasizing new applications to current issues in materials research.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

220A - Advanced Transport Processes-Laminar Flow and Convective Transport Processes (4)     
Instructors: Squires
Basic principles of fluid mechanics and convective transport processes. Governing equations and boundary conditions. Non-dimensionalization and scaling. Self-similar solutions and similarity transformations. Unidirectional flows. The thin gap approximation, lubrication theory and thin film dynamics. Low Reynolds number flows.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

220B - Advanced Transport Processes-Laminar Flow and Convective Transport Processes (3)     
Instructors: Squires
Continuation of ChE 220A. Viscous flows. Application of scaling and asymptotic methods to transport problems and fluid motions; Weak convection effects; Boundary layer theories for fluid mechanics and transport processes. Introduction to Linear stability theory for interfacial and buoyancy-driven flows.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

220C - Advanced Transport Processes-Mass Transfer (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Basic principles of diffusional processes, multicomponent systems, diffusion with chemical reaction, penetration and surface renewal theories, turbulent transport.

220D - Complex Fluids and Rheology (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Microstructural basis of constitutive models for simple “complex fluids” (dilute suspensions of non-spherical Brownian particles). Qualitative physics that leads to viscoelastic behavior in a variety of complex fluids, including polymeric liquids (dilute solutions and melts), wormlike micelle solutions, liquid crystalline fluids, emulsions, gels, and suspensions of vesicles or cells. Relationship between microscale physics and macroscopic rheology of materials in flow, including spatial non- uniformities in material properties that arise when flow couples to concentration or molecular weight.
Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering 220A-B

222A - Colloids and Interfaces I (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Introduction to the various intermolecular interactions in solutions and in colloidal systems: Van Der Waals, electrostatic, hydrophobic, solvation, H-bonding. Introduction to colloidal systems.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Materials 222A and BMSE 222A.

222B - Colloids and Interfaces II (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Continuation of 222A. Interparticle interactions, coagulation, DLVO theory, steric interactions, polymer-coated surfaces, polymers in solution, thin film viscosity. Surfactant and lipid self-assembly: micelles, microemulsions. Surfaces: wetting, contact angles, surface tension. Surfactants on surfaces: langmuir-blodgett films, adsorption, adhesion. Non-equilibrium and dynamic interactions.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as BMSE 222B and Materials 222B. Recommended preparation: Materials 222A or Chemical Engineering 222A.

228 - Non-Newtonian Fluids, Soft Materials and Chemical Products (3)     
Instructors: Squires, Helgeson
Overview of soft materials (suspensions, gels, polymers, surfactants, emulsions, powders and granules) that arise in diverse industries, including consumer products, foods, advanced materials, biotechnology, and mineral and energy production. Influence of non-Newtonian rheology (shear-thickening and thinning, viscoelasticity, extension- thickening, yield stresses, normal stress differences, and metastability) upon handling, processing, production, and performance of chemical products. Strategies to design chemical products that meet performance targets, and to scale-up production. Real-world case studies and classroom demonstrations.
Enrollment comments: Concurrently offered with Chemical Engineering 126.

230A - Advanced Theoretical Methods in Engineering (4)     
Instructors: Staff
Methods of solution of partial differential equations and boundary value problems. Linear vector and function spaces, generalized fourier analysis, Sturm-Liouville theory, calculus of variations, and conformal mapping techniques.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as ME 244A.

230B - Advanced Theoretical Methods in Engineering (3)     
Instructors: Squires
Advanced mathematical methods for engineers and scientists. Complex analysis, integral equations and green's functions. Asymptotic analysis of integrals and sums. Boundary layer methods and WKB theory.
Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering 230A and consent of instructor. Same course as ME 244B.

230D - Numerical Methods in Chemical Engineering (3)     
Instructors: Staff
The course will cover topics of numerical analysis with emphasis on methodsfor solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic equation sets and initial-value problems, finite-difference and finite-element methods, numerical bifurcation analysis, nonlinear optimization, and Monte Carlo methods.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. 

238A - Rheology of Complex Liquids (3)     
Instructors: Squires
An introduction to molecular and microscale theories for the viscoelastic behavior of complex fluids: suspensions, colloidal dispersions, liquid crystals, dilute polymer solutions.
Enrollment comments: Same course as Materials 238A.

240A - Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering (3) 
Instructors: McFarland, Gordon
Following review of the theory of reaction kinetics for catalyzed and noncatalyzed systems, detailed consideration is given to design and performance of catalysts and chemical reactors. Mathematical studies of stability and optimization are emphasized in relationship to mass, energy, and momentum transport.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

241 - Advanced Science and Engineering of Energy Conversion (3)     
Instructors: McFarland
The course provides a framework for understanding the energy supply issues facing society with a focus on the science, engineering, and economic principles of the major alternatives. Emphasis will be on the physical and chemical fundamentals of energy conversion technologies.

246 - Advanced Catalysis (3)     
Instructors: Scott
Theories of reaction rates. Heterogeneous and homogenous catalysis, including physical structure and characterization of catalysts. Catalyst poisoning.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Same course as Chem 264.

248 - Reaction Rate Theory (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Advanced theoretical and computational methods for the analysis of reaction kinetics and mechanisms. Topics include transition state theory, Kramers' theory, tunneling effects, transition state search algorithms, transition path sampling, kinetic Monte Carlo, reaction coordinate and degree-of-rate-control analyses.
Prerequisites: Same course as Chemistry 248. Recommended preparation: Physical chemistry and statistical mechanics.

255 - Methods in Systems Biology (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Fundamentals of dynamic network organization in biology (genes, proteins, metabolites). Emphasis on mathematical approaches to model and analyze complex biophysical network systems. Detailed case studies demonstrating successes of systems biology. Basic biological systems reviewed for non-biologists.
Prerequisites: prior coursework in cellular biology and mathematics; consent of instructor. Same course as BMSE 255.

258 - Protein Design and Engineering (3)     
Instructors: Staff
Introduction to principles of the development of proteins and peptides for technological applications; including consumer products, materials, chemicals, biofuels, and medicine. Topics include protein engineering technologies, experimental and computational tools for sequence design, structural and immunogenicity analysis.
Recommended preparation: Undergraduate Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry or equivalent.

260 - Introduction to Polymer Science (3)     
Instructors: Segalman
Introductory course covering synthesis, characterization, structure, and mechanical properties of polymers. The course is taught from a materials perspective and includes polymer thermodynamics, chain architecture, measurement and control of molecular weight as well as crystallization and glass transitions.
Enrollment comments: Concurrently offered with Chemical Engineering 160.

272 - Omics-enabled Biotechnology (3)     
Instructors: O'Malley
Integrates genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic approaches to quantify and understand intricate biological systems. Complementary bioinformatics approaches to curate the large datasets associated with these experiments are also discussed. Recent examples from the literature reinforce core concepts, ranging from applications to human health to the environment. By the end of the course, students should be able to design an integrated experiment that capitalizes on these “omics”- based approaches to enhance the scope of their research.
Enrollment comments: Molecular and Cell Biology (undergraduate level)

289A - Spectroscopy of Materials (3)     
Instructors: Gordon
Introduction to continuum and quantum mechanical descriptions of solid materials with emphasis on interactions of light and electrons with matter from an experimental viewpoint. Topics: Maxwell's equations, electron and lattice waves, band theory, photoelectron and various optical spectroscopies.

290 - Chemical Engineering Seminars (.5) 
Seminars event listing
Instructors: Staff
Seminar featuring guest speakers and graduate students on topics of current research interest.
May be repeated for credit.

291 - Research Group Studies (1-2)     
Instructors: Staff
Students or instructors present recently published papers and/or results relevant to their own research.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

294B - Bioengineering: Career and Development Opportunities at the Interface between Biotechnology and Engineering (2)
Instructors: Staff
Based on presentations by experts from the bioengineering industry. Presenters describe their companies' technologies and developments, including biosensors, therapeutics, tissue engineering, quantum dots and advanced instrumentation. Training and educational requirements for different career tracks are discussed.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Quarters usually offered: Spring. Same as BMSE 294B and MCDB 294B.

493 - Internship in Industry (1-4)
Instructors: Staff
Special projects for selected students. Students pursue practical engineering experience in selected industrial and research firms, under faculty supervision.
Prerequisites: Prior departmental approval needed.

594 - Special Topics (1-4)
Instructors: Staff
Special seminar on research subjects of current interest.

596 - Directed Reading and Research (1-12)     
Instructors: Staff
Experimental or theoretical research undertaken under the direction of a faculty member for graduate students who have not yet advanced to candidacy.

598 - Master's Thesis Research and Preparation (1-12)     
Instructors: Staff
Only for research underlying the thesis and writing the thesis.
Not applicable to course requirement for master of science degree.

599 - Dissertation Research and Preparation (1-12)     
Instructors: Staff
Only for research underlying the dissertation and writing the dissertation.