Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
As stated in the undergraduate catalog, Chemical Engineers apply concepts from the physical sciences (chemistry and physics) and life sciences (biochemistry and microbiology) to the design and optimization of processes for the efficient production of products ranging from fuels and chemicals to pharmaceuticals to advanced materials. Penn’s chemical engineering department provides students with both a strong foundation in engineering fundamentals and exposure to modern chemical engineering technologies. The program’s versatility allows our students to excel in diverse careers in the chemical industries, research, medicine, law, government, and education. Please find course requirements here.
CBE STEM Electives List
CBE Course Planning Guide
*Students entering Fall 2025 and onward must take Chemistry placement test at Penn or take CHEM 1012. AP Chem (EAS 0091) not accepted.
** Starting Fall 22, to complete the Organic Chemistry lab tech elective requirement, students must take two 1.5 CU lecture + lab courses (CHEM 2411 + CHEM 2421) or two 1 CU lecture-only chemistry courses plus 1 cu of corresponding labs.
*** EAS 2030 (also counts as SS/H elective) or CBE 3200 (also counts as engineering elective) must be one of the ethics courses taken
The Course Planning Guide (CPG) helps students plan a course of study to complete the program as expected.
Entering Fall 2026 and later:
Entering Fall 2020 and later:
The CBE Minor
The Minor in CBE consists of 6 engineering courses in CBE. It can be found in the catalog here. Beginning Fall ’25, students pursuing the CBE minor must adhere to the following requirements outlined:
Choose 3 courses from the list of core classes below: 3 cus
Choose 3 courses from the options of CBE core courses or electives: 3 cus
The official academic rules and regulations governing the undergraduate course of study are found in the SEAS Undergraduate Handbook.
