American University of Beirut

Baha and Walid Bassatne Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy

​​Chairperson
Azizi, Fouad
ProfessorAhmad, Mohammad
Associate ProfessorsAl-Hindi, Mahmoud; Azizi, Fouad; Saad, Walid; Zeaiter, Joseph
Assistant ProfessorsMaalouf, Elsa; Rahal, Said
Senior LecturerManneh, Rima
InstructorsItani, Adnan; El Berjawi, Mohammad​

​​

Undergraduate Programs​

The Baha and Walid Bassatne Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy offers two undergraduate degree programs, bachelor of engineering in chemical engineering (BE CHEN), and bachelor of science in chemical engineering (BS CHEN), a minor in chemical engineering, and a minor in petroleum engineering.

Bachelor of Engineering (BE) Major: Chemical Engineering​

Program Mission

The mission of chemical engineering in MSFEA is to provide a stimulating and supportive environment for quality education to prepare graduates for career opportunities in a rapidly changing world by fostering the development of professionalism, leadership qualities and ethical behavior, and to contribute to expanding knowledge in chemical engineering and its related fields.

Program Educational Objectives

Our graduates will be able to:

  • Advance successfully in their careers as reflected in continued employment, job satisfaction, leadership responsibilities and professional recognition while always maintaining ties with the university.
  • Apply their scientific knowledge and engineering skills in graduate studies and/or industry.
  • Be professionals who recognize the broader aspects of engineering practice including economic, environmental, social, political, safety, and sustainability constraints.

Program Requirements

The undergraduate curriculum for the degree of bachelor of engineering (BE) in chemical engineering is a four-year program. It consists of 150 term credit hours of coursework, which are completed while the students are enrolled in the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. The distribution of credits follows the outline below:

  • General Engineering: FEAA 200, CIVE 210, EECE 210, EECE 231, MECH 220, INDE 302
  • Mathematics: MATH 201, MATH 202, MATH 218, MATH 251, STAT 230
  • Sciences: CHEM 204, CHEM 207, CHEM 219, and 6 credits of science electives (From the Approved List)
  • General Education:
The General Education requirements include: 

    • 9 cr. in “Understanding Communication” divided into 3 cr. in Arabic and 6 cr. in English (ENGL 203, ENGL 206)
    • 15 cr. in “Understanding Ourselves” divided as follows:
      • 6 cr. from the Societies & Individuals list, out of which 3 cr. are completed by the required ECON 212 course,
      • 9 cr. from the Cultures & Histories list that should at least include
      • 3 cr. from the theme of Social Inequalities, 
      • 3 cr. from the theme of History of Ideas (must be a CHLA 2xx course).
    • 6 cr. in “Understanding our Role in the World” divided as follows:
      • 3 cr. from Community Engaged Learning,
      • 3 cr. from the Human Values list (i.e., INDE 410 or PHIL 210)
  • Chemical Engineering Core Courses: CHEN 201, CHEN 214, CHEN 310, CHEN 311, CHEN 312, CHEN 314, CHEN 351, CHEN 410, CHEN 411, CHEN 415, CHEN 417, CHEN 431, CHEN 451, CHEN 470, CHEN 480, CHEN 541, CHEN 570, CHEN 571
  • Chemical Engineering Electives:  CHEN 413, CHEN 490, CHEN 499, CHEN 590, CHEN 591, CHEN 592, CHEN 593, CHEN 594, CHEN 595, CHEN 6XX, CHEN 610, CHEN 611, CHEN 612, CHEN 613, CHEN 614, CHEN 615, CHEN 617, CHEN 618, CHEN 619, CHEN 620, CHEN 630, CHEN 632, CHEN 633, CHEN 651, CHEN 670, CHEN 672, CHEN 673, CHEN 674, CHEN 675, CHEN 690, CHEN 691, CHEN 696, CHEN 697, CHEN 798A, VIPP xxx
Note: Students can take up to 2 VIPP courses as technical electives. 

  • Approved Experience: CHEN 500 or COOP (FEAA 500+FEAA 500A)
  • Final Year Project: CHEN 501 and CHEN 502 (or VIPP 501 and 502 by approval of the department)

Curriculum for BE in Chemical Engineering

First Year (31 credits)​

​Term I (Fall) Credits
FEAA 200Introduction to Engineering and Architecture3
CIVE 210Statics3
EECE 210Electric Circuits3
MECH 220Engineering Graphics1
MATH 201Calculus and Analytic Geometry III3
ENGL 203Academic English (Understandin​g Communication)3
  ​ Total 16
Term II (Spring) Credits
CHEN 201Chemical Process Principles3
CHEN 214Thermodynamics I3
STAT 230Introduction to Probability and Random Variables3
ENGL 206English Technical Writing (Understanding Communication)3
MATH 202Differential Equations3
  ​ Total 15

​​Second Year (42 credits)​

Term III (Summer) Credits
Arabic ElectiveUnderstanding Communication - Arabic3
CHEM 204Physical Chemistry for Chemical Engineers2
CHEM 207Survey of Organic Chemistry and Petrochemicals4
  ​ Total 9
Term IV (Fall) Credits
CHEN 311Introduction to Fluids Engineering3
CHEN 314Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics3
CHEN 351Process Instrumentation and Measurements3
ECON 212Elementary Macroeconomics Theory3
MATH 218Elementary Linear Algebra with Applications3
EECE 231Introduction to Programming Using C++ and MATLAB3
  ​ Total 18
Term V (Spring) Credits
CHEM 219Analytical and Instrumental Chemistry for Chemical Engineers3
CHEN 312Separation Processes3
CHEN 415Mechanical Unit Operations3
MATH 251Numerical Computing3
Societies and Individuals Elective ​3
  ​ Total 15​​

Third Year (40 credits)​

Term VI (Summer) Credits
Cultures and Histories (History of Ideas)3
Understanding the World (approved list)3
  Total 6
Term VII (Fall) Credits
CHEN 310Transport Phenomena Lab2
CHEN 411Heat and Mass Transfer Operations3
CHEN 417Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design3
CHEN 470Chemical Process Design3
CHEN 480Safety and Loss Prevention3
Human Values Elective ​3
  ​ Total 17
Term VIII (Spring) Credits
CHEN 410Unit Operations Lab3
CHEN 431Materials Engineering & Corrosion3
CHEN 451Process Control3
CHEN 541Biochemical and Bioprocess Engineering3
Community Engaged Learning Technical Elective I ​3
Cultures and Histories ​3
  ​ Total 18​

​Fourth Year (30 credits)​

Term IX (Summer)   Credits
CHEN 500/ FEAA 500Approved Experience6
  ​ Total 6
Term ​X (Fall)   Credits
CHEN 501Final Year Project I3
CHEN 570Process Synthesis and Optimization3
Cultures and Histories Elective ​3
CHEN 571Chemical Product Design3
INDE 302Operations Research I3
  ​ Total 15
Term XI (Spring)   Credits
CHEN xxxTechnical Elective II3
CHEN xxxTechnical Elective III3
CHEN xxxTechnical Elective IV3
CHEN 502Final Year Project II3
Understanding the World Elective (approved list) ​3
  ​ Total 15
Total Credit Hours 150​

Bachelor of Science (BS) Major: Chemical Engineering

Program Mission

The mission of chemical engineering in MSFEA is to provide a stimulating and supportive environment for quality education to prepare graduates for career opportunities in a rapidly changing world by fostering the development of professionalism, leadership qualities and ethical behavior, and to contribute to expanding knowledge in chemical engineering and its related fields.

Program Educational Objectives

Our graduates will be able to:

  • Advance successfully in their careers as reflected in continued employment, job satisfaction, leadership responsibilities and professional recognition while always maintaining ties with the university.
  • Apply their scientific knowledge and engineering skills in graduate studies and/or industry.
  • Be professionals who recognize the broader aspects of engineering practice including economic, environmental, social, political, safety, and sustainability constraints.

Program Requirements

The undergraduate curriculum for the degree of bachelor of science (BS) in chemical engineering is a three-year program. It consists of 117 term credit hours of course work, which are completed while the students are enrolled in the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. The distribution of credits follows the outline below:

  • General Engineering: FEAA 200, CIVE 210, EECE 210, EECE 231, MECH 220
  • Mathematics: MATH 201, MATH 202, MATH 218, MATH 251, STAT 230
  • Sciences: CHEM 204, CHEM 207, CHEM 219
  • General Education: The General Education requirements include: 
    • 9 credits in “Understanding Communication” divided into 3 credits in Arabic and 6 credits in English (ENGL 203, ENGL 206)
    • 12 credits in “Understanding Ourselves” divided as follows:
      • 3 cr. from the Societies & Individuals list, completed by the required ECON 212 course,
      • 3 cr. from the Cultures & Histories list
      • 3 cr. from the theme of Social Inequalities, 
      • 3 cr. from the theme of History of Ideas (must be a CHLA 2xx course).
    • 6 credits in “Understanding our Role in the World” divided as follows:
      • 3 cr. from Community Engaged Learning list. 
      • 3 cr. from the Human Values list (i.e., INDE 410 or PHIL 210) 
  • Chemical Engineering Core Courses: CHEN 201, CHEN 214, CHEN 310, CHEN 311, CHEN 312, CHEN 314, CHEN 351, CHEN 410, CHEN 411, CHEN 415, CHEN 417, CHEN 451, CHEN 470, CHEN 480, CHEN 541
  • Approved Experience: CHEN 400 or COOP
  • Final Year Project: CHEN 401

Curriculum for BS in Chemical Engineering

First Year (31 credits) ​

​Term I (Fall) Credits
MATH 201Calculus and Analytic Geometry III3
CIVE 210Statics3
EECE 210Electric Circuits3
MECH 220Engineering Graphics1
ENGL 203Academic Writing (Understanding Communication)3
FEAA 200Introduction to Engineering and Architecture3
  ​ Total 16
Term II (Spring) Credits
CHEN 201Chemical Process Principles3
MATH 202Differential Equations3
STAT 230Introduction to Probability and Random Variables3
CHEN 214Thermodynamics I3
ENGL 206English Technical Writing (Understanding Communication)3
  ​ Total 15​

​Second Year (45 credits)​

Term III (Summer) Credits
Arabic Elective(Understanding Communication-Arabic)3
CHEM 204Physical Chemistry for Chemical Engineers2
CHEM 207Survey of Organic Chemistry and Petrochemicals4
  ​ Total 9
Term IV (Fall) Credits
ECON 212Elementary Macroeconomics Theory3
CHEN 311Introduction to Fluids Engineering3
CHEN 314Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics3
CHEN 351Process Instrumentation and Measurements3
EECE 231Introduction to Programming Using C++ MATLAB3
MATH 218Elementary Linear Algebra with Applications3
  ​ Total 18
Term V (Spring) Credits
CHEM 219Analytical and Instrumental Chemistry for Chemical Engineers3
CHEN 312Separation Processes3
CHEN 415Mechanical Unit Operations3
MATH 251Numerical Computing3
Societies and Individuals Elective ​3
Cultures and Histories (History of Ideas) ​3
  ​ Total 18​

​Third Year (34 credits)​

Term VI (Summer) Credits
CHEN 400Approved Experience6
  ​ Total 6
Term VII (Fall) Credits
CHEN 310Transport Phenomena Lab2
CHEN 411Heat and Mass Transfer Operations3
CHEN 417Reaction Engineering and Reactor Design3
CHEN 470Chemical Process Design3
CHEN 480Safety and Loss Prevention3
Human Values Elective ​3
  ​ Total 17
Term VIII (Spring) Credits
CHEN 401Final Year Project3
CHEN 410Unit Operations Lab3
CHEN 451Process Control3
CHEN 541Biochemical and Bioprocess Engineering3
Cultures and Histories Elective ​3
Cultures and Histories Elective ​3
  ​ Total 18
Total Credit Hours 117

Minor in Chemical Engineering

The minor in chemical engineering is open to engineering students in majors other than chemical engineering who have finished their first two academic years in engineering. Only students who have a GPA of 2.3 or more are eligible to apply for the minor.

Program Requirements (21 credits)

Students taking the minor are required to complete 21 credits from the list given below. students have to complete 15 credits of core courses and 6 credits of elective courses. 

Refer to the General University Academic Information section of the catalogue for more information regarding minors. 

  • Required Core Courses (15 Credits): CHEN 214, CHEN 311, CHEN 312, CHEN 411, CHEN 417
  • Elective Courses (6 Credits): CHEN 314, CHEN 415, CHEN 451, CHEN 470, CHEN 480, CHEN 490, CHEN 570, CHEN 571, CHEN 612, CHEN 672, CHEN 673

Minor in Petroleum Engineering

Program Requirements (18 Credits)

The minor in petroleum engineering is open to AUB students from all majors who have finished their first academic year (non-engineering students) or their first two academic years (engineering students) and who have attained a GPA of 2.3.

Refer to the General University Academic Information section of the catalogue for more information regarding minors. 

  • Required Core Courses (15 Credits): PETR 200/CHEN 490
  • Two courses from the following list: PETR 322/CHEN 595, PETR 421/CHEN 699, PETR 432/CHEN 592, PETR 312/CHEN 593
  • Elective Courses, 9 credits from the following list: CHEN 480, CHEN 590, CHEN 591, GEOL 225, GEOL 226, MECH 768, PETR 300, PETR 321 / CHEN 594, PETR 514 / CHEN 697, PETR 520 / CHEN 696
Note: Other courses may be approved as minor equivalents at consent of the B. & W. Bassatne Department of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Energy. Students cannot receive more than 6 credits for both PETR/CHEN cross-listed courses as technical electives in the chemical engineering major. When students take 2 out of the 4 core courses from the core courses list, the other 2 courses can be taken as electives for the minor.

Course Descriptions

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