Curriculum Details (BS CHemical Engineering)

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

The students are provided with flexible and well-rounded courses that will enable them think critically and creatively, using the basic tools in the field, to solve the challenges of the chemical, as well as agro-industries, with a mindset of sustainability and a multidisciplinary approach. 

curriculum description

The BS Chemical Engineering curriculum was designed to give a holistic training in chemical engineering within the context of agro-industrial development.  The students are provided with flexible and well-rounded courses that will enable them think critically and creatively, using the basic tools in the field, to solve the challenges of the chemical, as well as agro industries, with a mindset of sustainability and a multidisciplinary approach.  The UPLB environment with its rich resources in agricultural research and a culture of sustainable development has given the chemical engineering program a unique flavor in the University.

The Chemical Engineering curriculum has three major fields of specialization: (1) General Chemical Engineering (163 units), (2) Sugar Technology (163 units), and (3) Pulp and Paper Technology (165 units). All the major tracks of specialization have the same courses for General Education/Legislated , Foundation and Core Courses. The divergence is in the Specialized and Track courses, where the students take different sets of courses, depending on their chosen fields of specialization.

program educational objectives and learning outcomes

  1. Excel in chemical engineering practice and allied fields.
  2. Practice chemical engineering profession with integrity, social responsibility, ethical, and environmental awareness.
  3. Collaborate in interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and multicultural endeavors with open-mindedness, leadership, and good workmanship through community involvement and participation in professional organizations.
  4. Pursue lifelong learning for continued development of career skills

Common to all programs

a) Articulate the latest developments in their specific field of practice and engage in life-long learning (PQF level 6 descriptor)

b) Effectively communicate orally and in writing both English and Filipino languages

c) Work effectively and independently in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams (PQF level 6 descriptor)

d) Act in recognition of professional, social, and ethical responsibilities

e) Preserve and promote “Filipino historical and cultural heritage” (based on RA 7722)

Common to all engineering programs

f) Apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve engineering problems.

g) Design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

h) Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability, in accordance with standards.

i) Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

j) Understanding of contemporary issues.

k) Use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

l) Apply knowledge and understanding of engineering and management principles as a member and leader in a team, to manage projects and in multidisciplinary environments

Specific to BS Chemical Engineering

m) Show in depth knowledge of the core areas of chemical engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, engineering sciences, and allied fields

n) Demonstrate the ability to recognize, analyze, and develop solutions to chemical engineering problems

o) Design innovative process and equipment in meeting needs within realistic constraints

p) Recommend possible solutions to current problems through the application of chemical engineering knowledge

Specific to the University of the Philippines

q) Lead with honor and excellence in public service and in fields of practice

curriculum components

These courses are aimed to strengthen the Filipino identity, as well as to provide an overview and appreciation of the different dimensions: society, technology, and culture. Courses are sub-divided into two categories: 

A.    Required GE Courses

ARTS 1. Critical Perspectives in the Arts
COMM 10. Critical Perspectives in Communication
ETHICS 1. Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Everyday Life
KAS 1. Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas OR HIST 1. Philippine History
STS 1. Science, Technology and Society
PI 10. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

B.    Elective GE Courses (choose only THREE COURSES)

HUM 3. Reading Film, TV and Internet
KAS 4. Ang Kababaihan sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas
MATH 10. Mathematics, Culture and Society
PHILARTS 1. Philippines Arts and Culture
PHLO 1. Understanding Philosophy
PS 21. Wika, Panitikan at Kultura sa Ilalim ng Batas Militar sa Pilipinas
SAS 1. Self and Society
SCIENCE 10. Probing the Physical World
SCIENCE 11. Living Systems: Concepts and Dynamics
SOSC 3. Exploring Gender and Sexuality
WIKA 1. Wika, Kultura at Lipunan

Students are required to accomplish and submit the “GE Plan of Study” form to CEAT Office of the College Secretary (CEAT OCS). The GE Plan of Study form and instructions related to this form are available in the CEAT OCS website under the heading “Application of GE Plan of Study” (https://ocs.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/ceat-downloadable-forms/). 

These are the courses that provide the concepts in the mathematical, physico-chemical, as well as the biological sciences, that will serve as a foundation for the development of more sophisticated problem solving tools in chemical engineering.  In addition to learning the basic scientific concepts needed by the chemical engineering field, the foundation courses will also strengthen the students’ ability for technical communication. Courses include:

CHEM 18. University Chemistry
Chem 18.1 University Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 32. Quantitative Inorganic Chemistry
Chem 32.1 Quantitative Inorganic Analysis
CHEM 40. Basic Organic Chemistry
Chem 40.1 Basic Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 111. Physical Chemistry I
Chem 111.1 Physical Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 112. Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 160. Introduction to Biochemistry
PHYS 51. Elements of Physics
PHYS 51.1 Elements of Physics Laboratory
MCB 11 Biology and Application of Microorganisms
MATH 27. Analytical Geometry and Calculus II
MATH 28. Analytical Geometry and Calculus III
STAT 168. Experimental Design I
ENG 10. Writing of Scientific Paper

These courses aim to strengthen the skills related to the design, building of machines and structures. Courses include:

ENSC 10.1. Engineering Graphics
ENSC 11. Statics of Rigid Bodies
ENSC 12. Dynamics of Rigid Bodies
ENSC 13. Strength of Materials
ENSC 21. Mathematical Methods in Engineering
ENSC 26. Computer Applications in Engineering
EE 1. Basic Electrical Engineering

These are the main chemical engineering courses which will enable the students to analyze physico-chemical, and biological processes when applied to an industrial scale, and use the analysis for a a variety of large scale application, such as equipment design, and reactor design. Courses include:

ChE 10. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Profession
ChE 30. Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering
ChE 32. Industrial Stoichiometry
ChE 142. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I
ChE 143. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II
ChE 145. Chemical Reaction Engineering
ChE 147. Applications of Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Engineering
ChE 149. Transport Phenomena
ChE 152. Separation Processes
ChE 153. Transfer Operations I
ChE 154. Transfer Operations II
ChE 157.1. Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory
ChE 185. Chemical Engineering Laws, Ethics, Specifications and Contracts
ChE 192. Chemical Process Equipment Design

More details regarding the description, offering and prerequisite(s) of the different core courses can be seen here.

These are courses that will be taken by the student, depending on the chosen BS ChE curricular program.  

  1. BS ChE General Curriculum (15 units)

ChE 170. Instrumentation and Process Dynamics and Control
ChE 172. Introduction to Biochemical Engineering
ChE 180. Agro-Industrial Waste Management
ChE 191. Special Topics
ChE 193. Plant Design for Technopreneurship

  1. BS ChE Major in Sugar Technology (22 units)

SUTC 148. Sugar Analysis & Factory Operations Control
SUTC 154. Field & Factory Operations and Processes
SUTC 170. Instrumentation and Process Control Application to Sugar Industries
SUTC 171. Sugarcane By-Products Utilization and Sucrochemistry
SUTC 181. Waste Management in the Sugar Industry
SUTC 185. Sugar Laws and Economics
SUTC 193. Sugar Process Engineering and Plant Design

  1. BS ChE Major in Pulp and Paper Technology (23 units)

FPPS 111. Wood and Fiber Anatomy
FPPS 131. Wood Chemistry I
FPPS 132. Pulp and Paper Technology
FPPS 132.1 Pulp and Paper Technology Laboratory
FPPS 183. Engineering Economic Analysis
PPT 170. Instrumentation and Process Control for the Pulp and Paper Industry
PPT 188. Environmental Technology for Pulp and Paper Industry
PPT 193. Pulp & Paper Plant Design

Plant Design and Instrumentation/Process Dynamics and Control courses are common to each of the curricular programs, but the courses’ contents will be geared toward the specific area of specialization. SUTC 170 and SUTC 193 will revolve mostly around the design and process control in sugar industries while PPT 170 and PPT 193 will focus on design and process control of pulp and paper industries.

More details regarding the description, offering and prerequisite(s) of the different specialized courses can be seen here.

These are courses (or areas of specialization) taken by students who are following the BS Chemical Engineering – General Curriculum. Available areas of specialization to choose from are the following: statistical modelling, forest products and paper science, management, scientific and technical communications, environmental chemistry, biotechnology, food microbiology, economics, sugar engineering, food engineering, dairy technology, entrepreneurship and technopreneurship. The student can only choose one (1) area to specialize in. The student then needs to choose two (2) 3-unit courses listed under the chosen area of specialization.

If the student plans to enroll in Innovationeering (ChE 200b), he/she is required to take IE 184 (Project Development and Management) and any one (1) of the following courses: FPPS 183 (Engineering Economic Analysis) or IE 150 (Systems Evaluation) as his cognate courses. These preparatory cognate courses must be taken before enrolling ChE 200b.

Once the cognate courses have been chosen, the student needs to accomplish the “Plan of Course Work” form of CEAT-OCS. Please refer to https://ocs.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/ceat-downloadable-forms/ for instructions on how to apply for the plan of course work.

Use your UP mail to access the file containing the list of cognates.  

The aim of the undergraduate seminar (ChE/PPT 199) is to provide a venue for the students to improve their communication skills while gaining expert knowledge and developing network connections with others. The seminar also aims to build the students’ confidence in presenting their studies.

More details regarding the course offering and prerequisite(s) can be seen here.

The internship program (ChE/PPT 198) aims to expose the students to real workplace environment to build their professionalism, while working with others.  It also provides an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge gained from their courses into practical use. During internship, students may also develop their interests in specific industries to help them decide their future careers. The prescribed length of Internship is 240 hours (6 weeks) wherein at least 200 hours should be devoted to actual internship activities. The student can choose one of the three (3) internship modalities that is currently being applied by the department. Each mode is discussed below:

Mode A (Regular Internship) requires interns to work in a host-training establishment (HTE). A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is directly negotiated and executed with the relevant company.

Mode B (Professional Engineering Organization – Assisted Internship) requires interns to work under the supervision of mentors participating in a PEO-organized internship. MOA/MOU is negotiated between the university and the PEO.

Mode C (Unit-Assisted Internship) is an internship program organized by UPLB DChE wherein the alumni in various companies (as well as through other connections) are tapped to train multiple interns at a time. Supervision may be done or relayed among multiple partner alumni/HTEs to meet the required internship hours. MOA/MOU may be between the university and the companies where the alumni work.

Students who will enroll in ChE/PPT 198 are required to attend an orientation that will be given by the department prior to enrollment to guide them on the course requirements.

More details regarding the course offering and prerequisite(s) can be seen here.

Students are given an option to choose only one of the three tracks: Thesis (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200), Innovationeering (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200b) or Engineering Industry Research or EIR (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200c). Each track is a 6-unit course, usually taken during the final year of study of the student. The course can be taken for two terms (3 units for each term). The Undergraduate Thesis and EIR tracks are accomplished individually while the Innovationeering track is conducted as a group. An overview of each track can be seen below:

a. Undergraduate thesis track (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200) stimulates the research capabilities of a student on a chosen topic of interest. Students who are planning to enroll (or currently enrolled) in the first three (3) units are given an orientation to guide them on the course requirements.

b. Innovationeering track (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200b) stimulates the innovation mentality, complementing the students’ technical knowledge. This track aims to convert research into business opportunities, ensure collaboration with engineering peers/mentors/experts and let students experience building their very own start-up venture. Students who are following the BS ChE General Curriculum should have already passed IE 184 and IE 150 (or FPPS 183) before they can enroll in ChE 200b.

To enroll in this track, students also need to do the following:

    1. Form a group composed of 2 to 3 members from at least two different CEAT degrees. The students need to inform their major advisers about their intent to enroll to this course.
    2. Identify a research, innovation project or university-developed technology that has business potential.
    3. Download the application form via this link.
    4. Submit accomplished application form via this link. Deadlines for application are usually posted in the facebook page of the UPLB Industrial Engineering Department.

c. The Engineering Industry Research (EIR) track (ChE/SUTC/PPT 200c) is the employment of engineering practices in real-life situation, which will contribute to the improvement of efficiency and/or operation of the host engineering industry. This track aims to enhance the learnt knowledge, skills and ethical values of the student as they solve problems in real work situations from a reputable engineering-oriented industry.

Students also need to accomplish the following forms: Plan of Course Work (if not yet applied for these courses) and/or Consent of Instructor for Thesis/Practicum/SP (prior to each term’s enrollment). Please refer to https://ocs.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/ceat-downloadable-forms/ for instructions on how to apply for these forms.

More details regarding the description, offering and prerequisite(s) of these courses can be seen here.

major in Pulp and Paper Technology

The graduates of this curriculum who are amply trained in the Science and Technology of pulp and paper making are expected to meet the professional manpower requirements of the pulp and paper industry.  With strong backgrounds in both chemical engineering and in Pulp and Paper Science and Technology, it is expected that this program will produce globally-competitive professionals equipped with the knowledge of the processes involved in converting wood and fibers, and recycling the same, into paper.

major in sugar technology

The graduates of this curriculum are expected to meet the technical manpower requirements of the sugar industry and allied industries.  With solid background in both chemical engineering and sugar technology, it is hoped that this program will develop in the graduates the competency and proper perspective to meet the changing needs of the sugar industry and related agro-based industries.

CHOOSING MY MAJOR

General Curriculum is the default major of all students that have been initially accepted in the BS Chemical Engineering program. Students are expected to learn more about the differences of the different majors during their first year of study. If needed, students can also consult their assigned registration adviser to help them decide if they will continue taking the General Curriculum or transfer to either the Sugar Technology major or the Pulp and Paper Technology major.

If the student decides to stay in the General Curriculum, he/she needs to accomplish the “Plan of Course Work (POCW)” form to identify the cognate courses he/she plans to take. The POCW needs to be submitted:

  1. As early as the 3rd year (1st semester) for those who will take ChE 200 (Thesis) or ChE 200c (Engineering Industry Research)
  2. Before the 3rd year (1st semester) for those who will take ChE 200b (Innovationeering)

If the student wishes to transfer to the Sugar Technology major, the POCW needs to be accomplished as early as the 1st year (2nd semester). The student may still decide to transfer after the 1st year (2nd semester); however, he/she needs to consult with his/her registration adviser for proper planning of courses.

If the student wishes to transfer to the Pulp and Paper Technology major, the POCW needs to be accomplished before the 2nd year (2nd semester). The student may still decide to transfer after the 2nd year (2nd semester); however, he/she needs to consult with his/her registration adviser for proper planning of courses.

The POCW form and instructions related to this form are available in the CEAT OCS website under the heading “Application of Plan of Course Work” (https://ocs.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/ceat-downloadable-forms/).