Our curriculum provides students with the option to specialize in one of six areas, including chemical process engineering.Academics / Undergraduate Study / Chemical Engineering Major (BS Degree)Curriculum & Requirements
The curriculum of the chemical engineering major is designed so that a student will:
- Behave ethically and consider the social implications of their work, especially as it affects the health, safety, and environment of citizens worldwide.
- Think critically and creatively, especially about the use of technology to address local and global problems.
- Be leaders in their chosen fields.
- Excel in engineering practice, research, and management in industries based on chemistry and biology, such as the chemical, energy, advanced materials, microelectronics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer products industries.
- Apply their broad chemical engineering training to excel in areas such as entrepreneurship, medicine, law, government, and education.
- Excel in top ranked graduate programs and professional schools.
Degree Requirements
An overview of the curriculum for new students starting in the 2026-27 academic year is displayed below. The new engineering core requirement, Engineering Foundations will replace the Engineering Analysis sequence for all McCormick undergraduate degrees. The full curriculum will be published to the Northwestern University Academic Catalog in September 2026.
Engineering Core Requirements (26 units)
- Mathematics (4 units)
- Basic sciences (4 units)
- Engineering Foundations (3 units)
- Design, Communication, and Innovation (3 units)
- Social Sciences/Humanities Theme (7 units)
- Unrestricted electives (5 units)
Major Program Requirements (22 units)
- Required major courses (17 units)
- Technical electives (5 units)
2025-2026 Degree Requirements
View the 2025-26 Academic Catalog
Technical Electives and Specializations
The technical electives may be used to create an individualized area of specialization within the major. Those areas are bioengineering, chemical process engineering, environmental engineering and sustainability, design, polymer science and engineering, and nanotechnology and molecular engineering.
For more information about technical electives, areas of specialization, and chemical engineering degree requirements please download the following PDF: