McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
The Dr. John J. McKetta Department of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering was named in honor of Dr. John J. McKetta, a 1937 chemical engineering graduate and member of the University’s Board of Trustees. The McKetta Department of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering offers the following degree:
Trine University’s chemical engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The core classes for chemical engineering are focused on the chemical sciences. The chemical sciences affect virtually every aspect of life: the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the materials for our homes and cars, our medicines and health care products, and the protection of the environment. Chemical engineers are found in every industry.
Chemical engineering is distinctive in its emphasis on chemistry. The chemistry studied by the chemical engineer may include quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, physical or biochemistry and instrumental analysis. These are the same courses that a chemist would be required to take. The chemical engineer takes these chemical principles and applies them to industrial processes.
Chemical engineering has many common elements with the other engineering disciplines. It is based upon the fundamentals of physics and mathematics. It shares the core engineering sciences of mechanics, fluid flow, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and economics. Oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills are required for success.
Engineering design is an integral component in chemical engineering coursework. Solution of open-ended problems and the design process are introduced in the department’s freshman engineering course. Design of experiments is covered in the Unit Operations laboratories, and equipment and process design concepts are taught through the Unit Operations and Chemical Engineering Kinetics courses. This work culminates in the capstone courses Chemical Process Design I and Chemical Process Design II.
Chemical engineering differs from the other engineering disciplines in three main ways. First, chemical engineers work with not only pure or single component materials, but with complex mixtures or multi-component materials. A chemical engineer must characterize and predict the behavior of these complex mixtures. Second, chemical engineers are the purification and separation specialists. The processes for removing impurities or extracting a valuable product are the domain of the chemical engineer. Third, by using chemical or biochemical processes, chemical engineers create materials that did not previously exist. These new and useful components or materials improve the way we live.
Chemical engineers find themselves employed in positions of research and development, process engineering and operations, engineering design and construction, technical sales and service, and plant and corporate management. Typical industries employing chemical engineers include bulk and specialty chemical, petroleum and natural gas, consumer products, pharmaceuticals and biomedical, steel production, plastics and polymers, semiconductor and electronic materials, environmental and consulting. Chemical engineering is also an excellent preparation for those desiring to undertake graduate studies in engineering and other fields such as medicine, law, or business.
Mission
To offer higher education in chemical and bioprocess engineering by providing a personalized learning environment in which students receive mentoring, small classes, and excellent teaching combined with opportunities for research, industry, and extracurricular experience. The program prepares graduates to succeed, lead and serve to their employers, profession and society.
Objectives
To meet this mission, a graduate from the McKetta Department of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering must be:
- A Technically Competent Problem Solver – Alumni will be technically competent, with the ability to implement creative problem solving toward their professions as well as non-work related endeavors 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.
- An Effective Communicator with Collaborative Experience and Leadership Ability - Graduates will provide valuable service and leadership to their community, professional organizations and Trine University through their strong communication and productive teamwork skills.
- Professionally Obligated - Alumni will demonstrate ethical and professional responsibility and the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as evidence by advanced elective projects, advanced degrees, professional registration, certificates and other personal and professional development activities.
Outcomes
As specified by the accrediting body, engineering programs assure that their students will be able to:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to 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.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- An ability to recognize hazards associated with chemical, biological, and physical processes and be able to evaluate, minimize, and control these hazards.