Chemical Engineers find unlimited opportunities to solve the world's most pressing challenges and to invent the process technologies of tomorrow, in satisfying positions ranging from global multi-national companies to start-up firms, from the medical field to patent law and from research labs to universities. The core of the degree is focused on a well-rounded education, beginning with the foundations of math, physics, biology, and chemistry, and building up to the critical analysis of chemical, biochemical, and petrochemical installations and the design of efficient processing units. Students develop theoretical and hands-on expertise in fluid dynamics, heat transfer, purification, computer solutions to complex engineering problems, process control, kinetics, and reactor design.
While chemical engineers are well trained in these fundamental science and engineering topics, their versatile skill set allows them to serve several diverse industries, such as, alternative energy, petroleum, specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, life-sciences, semi-conductors, molecular simulation, nano, polymers, food, environmental, biochemical and biomedical engineering, household products, or advanced materials. This diversity is represented in the companies that hire SDSM&T ChE graduates.
Companies hiring recent graduates: Cargill, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, POET, 3M, ADM, Dakota Gasification, Coca-Cola, Ecolab, General Mills, Lyondell-Basell, KL Energy, FMC, Halliburton, HTI, Lafarge, Michelin, Micron, Tate & Lyle, USAF, US Navy, ICM, Wilbur Chocolates, Toshiba, and many others.
Average starting salary: $64,860
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
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