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Chemical Engineering, BS

As a chemical engineer, you can take advantage of advances in chemistry and biology to create new products, design sustainable chemical processes, develop energy resources, and protect the environment. As a chemical engineering major, you’ll dive into chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics and use your broad scientific training to work on a diverse set of problems involving chemical, physical and biological phenomena.

Design your academic journey

The major

Your primary field of study, which defines your core technical curriculum and the degree you earn.
All program details

Sample Degree/Major Plan

Fall semester (17 credits)
  • CHEM 109 – Advanced General Chemistry 5
  • MATH 221 – Calculus And Analytic Geometry 1 5
  • CBE 150 – Introduction To Chemical Engineering 1
  • Communications A 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Spring semester (16 credits)
  • CHEM 329 – Fundamentals Of Analytical Science 4
  • MATH 222 – Calculus And Analytic Geometry 2 4
  • PHYSICS 201 – General Physics 5
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Fall semester (18 credits)
  • CBE 250 – Process Synthesis 3
  • CHEM 343 – Organic Chemistry I 3
  • MATH 234 – Calculus–functions Of Several Variables 4
  • PHYSICS 202 – General Physics 5
  • ZOOLOGY 153 – Introductory Biology 3
Spring semester (17 credits)
  • CBE 255 – Introduction To Chemical Process Modeling 3
  • MATH 320 – Linear Algebra And Differential Equations 3
  • CBE 310 – Chemical Process Thermodynamics 3
  • CHEM 345 OR CHEM 344 5
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Fall semester (16 credits)
  • CBE 311 – Thermodynamics Of Mixtures 3
  • CBE 320 – Introductory Transport Phenomena 4
  • CBE 355 – Statistics For Chemical Engineers 3
  • Professional Breadth Elective 3
  • Advanced Science Elective 3
Spring semester (16 credits)
  • CBE 326 – Momentum And Heat Transfer Operations 3
  • CBE 324 – Transport Phenomena Lab 3
  • INTEREGR 397 – Engineering Communication 3
  • Advanced Science Elective 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 4
Fall semester (15 credits)
  • CBE 426 – Mass Transfer Operations 3
  • CBE 430 – Chemical Kinetics And Reactor Design 3
  • CBE Elective 3
  • Materials Elective 3
  • Liberal Studies Elective 3
Spring semester (12 credits)
  • CBE 450 – Process Design 3
  • CBE 470 – Process Dynamics And Control 3
  • CBE Elective 3
  • Professional Breadth Elective 3
Summer semester (5 credits)
  • CBE 424 – Operations And Process Laboratory 5
An accelerated engineering master’s program is a great choice if you’d like to earn your master’s degree by adding as little as a single year of study at UW-Madison.
View all accelerated programs

Investing in your future

Value and costs

Based on an average of 12-18 credits per semester for the 2025-26 academic year from bursars office tuition rates workbook.
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance at UW-Madison.  For more information on the cost of attendance, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
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Wisconsin resident

$7,683

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Minnesota reciprocity

$10,346

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Non-resident

$23,695

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Non-resident international

$24,195

Scholarships

Our scholarships aren’t just about financial support; they’re about investing in your potential and helping you focus on what matters most: your education and your future as a leader in engineering.
Engineering scholarships
4.4M
scholarships awarded
1,200
undergrad recipients
1,550
scholarships awarded, made possible by the generous support of donors

Outcomes

Here’s what life after graduation could look like for you.
$80,000
FIRST-YEAR MEDIAN SALARY

Key employers

  • Aramco
  • Cargill
  • ExxonMobil Corporation
  • Procter & Gamble (P&G)
  • Promega Corporation

Common job titles

  • Associate Engineer
  • Chemical quality engineer
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Packaging Engineer
  • Process Engineer

Your path to admission

Freshman

Starting college for the first time?

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Transfer student

Coming from another college or university?

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Cross-campus student

Already at UW–Madison?

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Reentry student

Took time off?

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Your built-in network

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As an undergrad, you can help pioneer new knowledge or technologies on your own or as a researcher in a professor’s lab. It’s a great opportunity to apply what you’re learning in class, explore a field or topic that interests you, and gain insight into what it’s like to be a graduate student.

Undergraduate research
undergraduate showing research technique in structures lab.

Explore, get involved, try new things and soak up everything our campus and the surrounding environs have to offer.

Student life

The College of Engineering offers services specifically for engineering students, in addition to the services offered campus-wide.

Student services
Four students pose and smile with Dr. Ebony McGee in the IEDE Student Center
undergraduate showing research technique in structures lab.
Our eight renowned academic departments form the heart and personality of our college.
Chemical & Biological Engineering

Life as a Badger engineer

See what it’s actually like to live, learn and grow here through the stories of the people who know us best.
“My experience studying Chemical Engineering at Wisconsin has been deeply gratifying. The faculty generously impart their knowledge and expertise while being supportive and encouraging. I also had the opportunity to participate in a research group where I further developed my problem-solving skills, and gained a deeper understanding of the research process. Overall, I feel my undergraduate experience at Wisconsin has prepared me for my career post-graduation.”
Elizabeth Chialdikas BSChE ’24
Elizabeth Chialdikas

Why should you choose UW-Madison for engineering? Find out what it’s like to major in chemical engineering.

Victor Zavala

Zavala honored for elevating engineering and people

On April 29, 2026, Grainger Dean Devesh Ranjan hosted a celebration at which he recognized engineering faculty and staff for…

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8
undergraduate ranking among public universities in chemical engineering

Better Biomass Through Chemistry

Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center rendering

Morgridges’ latest gift drives UW-Madison engineering building forward

UW Crest with engineering background

Honoring the people who power engineering: Celebrating faculty and staff excellence

ABET accreditation

The B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering 

We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. Whatever path our graduates may choose, we expect them to be meeting the following objectives at least three to five years after graduation: 

  1. continue to exhibit strong skills in problem solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication; 
  2. use these skills to contribute to the various communities, both local and global, within which they work, live, and function;   
  3. make thoughtful, well-informed career choices; and 
  4. demonstrate a continuing commitment to and interest in education (their own and others’) 

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program website. (In this Guide, the program's Student Outcomes are available through the "Learning Outcomes" tab.) 

Learning Outcomes

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Degrees:

  • Conferred, 2024-2025
    Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering: 87
  • Enrolled, Fall 2025
    Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering: 513

Still exploring?

We have 13 engineering undergrad majors—so you can find the field that’s the best fit for you (even if you decide to switch later).

Compare majors

Select up to three majors to compare.

Questions?

Email questions to our College of Engineering team at FutureEngineers@engr.wisc.edu and someone will get back to you soon.