• M.H. Wong Building, Room 3060
• 3610 University Street
• Montreal QC H3A 0C5
• Telephone: 514-398-4494
• Fax: 514-398-6678
• Email: ugrad.chemeng [at] mcgill.ca
• Website: mcgill.ca/chemeng

The central purpose of engineering is to pursue solutions to technological problems in order to satisfy the needs and desires of society. Chemical engineers are trained to solve the kinds of problems that are typically found in the “chemical process industries”, which include:

• chemical manufacturing;
• plastics;
• water treatment;
• pulp and paper;
• petroleum refining;
• ceramics; and
• paint industries;

as well as substantial portions of the:

• food processing;
• textile;
• nuclear energy;
• alternative energy;
• biochemical;
• biomedical; and
• pharmaceutical industries.

The technological problems and opportunities in these industries are often closely linked to social, economic, and environmental concerns. For this reason, chemical engineers often deal with these questions while working in management, pollution abatement, product development, marketing, and equipment design.

By means of complementary courses, students can also obtain further depth in technical areas and breadth in non-technical subjects. Some students elect to complete a minor in biotechnology, nanotechnology, management, materials engineering, computer science, environmental engineering, chemistry, or another minor (see Minor Programs for minors available to engineering students).

The solution to many environmental problems requires an understanding of technological principles; a Chemical Engineering degree provides an ideal background. In addition to relevant material learned in the core program, a selection of environmental complementary courses and minor programs is available. The involvement of many Chemical Engineering faculty members in environmental research provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to carry out research projects in this area.

The B.Eng. curriculum also provides the preparation necessary to undertake postgraduate studies leading to M.Eng., M.Sc., or Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering. Students completing this curriculum acquire a broad, balanced education in the natural sciences with the accent on application. Thus, for those who do not continue in Chemical Engineering, it provides an exceptionally balanced education in applied science. For others, it will form the basis of an educational program that may continue with a variety of studies such as business administration, medicine, or law. Versatility is, therefore, one of the most valuable characteristics of Chemical Engineering program graduates.

The Chemical Engineering program comprises 143 credits (114 credits for those who completed the Quebec CEGEP program in Pure and Applied Sciences).

Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all core courses. For the Department of Chemical Engineering, core courses include all required courses (departmental and non-departmental) as well as technical complementary courses.

The Chemical Engineering Student Society has for many years been affiliated with both the CSChE (Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering) which is one of the member societies of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and with the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers). CSChE membership is free for all full-time undergraduate students at McGill. CSChE and AIChE members gain access to a range of benefits, including registration rates at the Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, as well as member rates in the American Chemical Society (ACS) and affiliated events. The student chapter also organizes a series of local social, educational, and sporting events. Recent events have included student–professor banquets, parties, speakers, broomball games, and joint events with the Montreal Section of the CIC (www.cicmontrealsection.ca), which gives students a chance to network with practising chemical engineers in the Montreal region.