Chemical Engineering

Do you enjoy chemistry, math, or figuring out how to turn raw materials into powerful, useful things? Do you want to make a real impact on the world—through cleaner energy, safer materials, or lifesaving technology? If so, the Chemical Engineering major at West Point might be your perfect fit.

Chemical engineers use chemistry, physics, and engineering to design processes that create fuels, medicines, materials, and even food. At West Point, you’ll learn to do this while preparing to lead in the Army and beyond.

Why Consider This Major

For a cadet and problem-solver who enjoys chemistry, math, and building systems, Chemical Engineering gives them the chance to make a real impact - both in the lab and on the battlefield. At West Point, cadets in this major gain a top-tier engineering education, graduate debt-free, and develop the leadership skills to succeed in any environment.

This major is ideal for students who want to create solutions that fuel, protect, and empower - while leading others in service of something greater.

What Cadets Learn

As a Chemical Engineering cadet, cadets explore:

• Material and Energy Balances – how matter and energy move through systems
• Thermodynamics – how energy is transferred and transformed
• Chemical Reaction Engineering – how chemical processes are designed and controlled
• Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer – how liquids, gases, and heat behave in engineered systems
• Separation Processes – how to purify chemicals or extract valuable materials
• Materials Engineering – how to develop and use new materials for Army applications

They also complete labs and projects using professional software and equipment used in industry and research.

Choice of Electives

Customize your path with electives like:

• Energy Systems Engineering – explore clean energy and fuel technologies
• Biochemical Engineering – learn how chemical processes are used in medicine and biotechnology
• Environmental Engineering Chemistry – tackle pollution and sustainability challenges
• Materials Engineering – study the science of advanced materials like polymers and composites
• Process Safety and Risk Management – design safe, reliable chemical systems

Learn More

• View the full Chemical Engineering major curriculum
• Meet the Chemical Engineering faculty

Cadets have numerous opportunities to participate in activities that will expand their intellectual and social interests within their field including scholarship opportunities, Projects Day participation, and a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience.

Chemical engineering cadets have earned recognition from a variety of prestigious organizations, including the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, the National GEM Consortium, the Fulbright Scholar Program, and the Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Phi Honor Societies.  Graduates from our program have also gone on to conduct graduate-level studies at well-renowned universities such as Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Honor Societies:

• Gamma Sigma Epsilon- Chemistry Honor Society
• Golden Key - International Honour Society
• Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment in this area of study, visit the Department of Chemical & Biological Science & Engineering or the Center for Molecular Science.

The chemical engineering program 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.

Enrollment information for the Chemical Engineering Program can be found under “Enrollment for ABET Majors” at: https://courses.westpoint.edu/maj_descr_abet.cfm

Program Educational Objectives

During a career as commissioned officers in the United States Army and beyond, program graduates:

• Demonstrate effective leadership by leveraging chemical engineering expertise and precise technical communication.
• Contribute to the solution of complex problems in a dynamic environment.
• Apply disciplined technical expertise to succeed in advanced study programs.

Student Outcomes

On completion of the chemical engineering program, our graduates demonstrate an ability to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
• Understand the chemical engineering curriculum, including chemistry, material and energy balances, safety and environmental factors, thermodynamics of physical and chemical equilibria, heat, mass, and momentum transfer, chemical reaction engineering, continuous and staged separation processes, process dynamics and control, modern experimental and computing techniques, and process design.