Department of Chemical Engineering
Make Lives Better: Study Chemical Engineering at Kettering
From the food the world consumes to the fuel that powers global transportation, the future depends on chemical engineers. They have the skills and drive to turn lab innovations into profitable, large-scale manufacturing processes and products that make life better — and easier.
Kettering’s degree in chemical engineering prepares you for these important roles, empowering you to troubleshoot and solve problems, design new products and create a healthier, cleaner world. Here, you’ll experience both theoretical and practical learning in chemical engineering courses, the lab, and our unrivaled co-op program to help you be prepared for what you’ll encounter in the real world.
With robust coursework that allows you to put theory into practice, our chemical engineering degree will put you in control of your future. Explore Kettering’s chemical engineering degree program to begin engineering that future today.
Addressing Global Challenges: Kettering’s Chemical Engineering Programs
Our chemical engineering curriculum is designed to prepare you to improve the world around you. You’ll learn to apply theory to practice in innovative on-campus laboratories , the backbone of our chemical engineering programs. There, you’ll collaborate with peers on projects, learn critically important skills and get real hands-on experience with industrial chemical equipment and processes.
Undergraduate students work in a built-in, paid co-op program, meaning you’ll realize return on investment on your chemical engineering degree right away. Once you have your degree in chemical engineering, you’ll rise to the top of the candidate pool and be able to list years of professional experience on your resume.
In addition to the chemical engineering degree, there are also several minors and elective that will allow you to tailor your degree to meet your career goals. Our chemical engineering students can complete minors in areas like sustainability, manufacturing, business, and computer science and also take elective courses in areas like bioengineering, polymers, materials engineering, and battery technology.
At Kettering, you’ll learn in small classes and have access to social events that help connect you with students and faculty — and build a lifelong network of professionals you can also call friends.
Chemical Engineering Degrees
Kettering’s chemical engineering courses and programs teach you how to apply the principles of chemistry, math, physics and biology to design and enhance cutting-edge processes. Throughout the curriculum, you’ll build skills to help organizations revolutionize performance and product quality, increase profitability, reduce waste and pollution and adhere to strict safety standards.
And, you’ll find our chemical engineering program leads to more than an everyday job — it can serve as the cornerstone for a rewarding, thriving career in fields ranging from petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals to alternative energy, aerospace and food.
Choose your degree in chemical engineering.
About the Department of Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical Engineering seeks to develop chemical engineers who pioneer the way in making our world better. Our chemical engineering undergraduate degree will help you develop expertise in improving materials, developing energy solutions, advancing biotechnology and medicine, and much more. As a chemical engineering graduate from Kettering, you’ll have the opportunity to play an important role in addressing the world’s challenges and improving our everyday lives.
Wondering what else makes Kettering different? Here are a few examples:
Earn while you learn
Undergraduates get paid professional experience from Day One as they take their chemical engineering courses. As you study, you’ll apply what you learn while working with one of our corporate partners, such as Bosch, Ford Motor Company, and GM — to name just a few.
Get two degrees at once
Our combined program lets you work toward your bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time so you can graduate faster — with less student debt.
Gain exposure to different industries
Discover how chemical engineering impacts everything and everyone. See a heat exchanger operation for energy recovery in action, run a distillation column, remove carbon dioxide from the air, explore new processes like turning algae into fuel, model a manufacturing plant and reverse engineer a coffeemaker.
Build hard and soft skills
While you learn how to use modeling and data analysis software, study reaction rates and heat and momentum transfer, you’ll build project management and problem-solving skills. You’ll also study how costs, revenue, ROI and other factors impact chemical plant processes.
Learn in a fast-paced, culturally diverse community
If you’re an undergraduate, you’ll join us on our Flint, Michigan, campus to earn your chemical engineering degree and experience a rich campus life in your time outside the classroom. Browse student organizations and Greek Life.
Flexible graduate degree options
Incoming graduate students have on-campus and online program options. Earn your master’s degree in chemical engineering in the format that works best for you.
In The Lab
You will gain experience in the labs with laboratory-scale versions of industrial chemical equipment and processes. Your skills and knowledge of appropriate use of these tools will be tested throughout your degree program.
Computing in Chemical Engineering Lab
Cover computer programming basics and how they apply to chemical engineering solutions. Use advanced programs, including a powerful chemical process simulator, to formulate chemical engineering problems and develop computational solutions.
Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer Lab
Discover how fluid mechanics and heat transfer relate to chemical engineering by evaluating process measurements, fluid statics and dynamics, flow metering, heat exchanger design and analysis, and more. Learn about feed loop design and solutions of boundary value problems in momentum and heat transport.
Separations, Reaction and Prototyping Lab
Design, build and demonstrate equipment prototypes as you explore the operation and optimization of chemical production using reactors. Study the separation and purification of products using distillation columns, adsorption columns and filtration.
Our Prominent Faculty Lead Kettering’s Chemical Engineering Programs
At Kettering, small class sizes mean you can learn and experiment in labs and chemical engineering courses alongside our faculty — energetic and enthusiastic professors with research expertise in a variety of fields including materials engineering, alternative energy, battery technology, sustainability, and computational modeling. They’re leading experts in their fields, conducting real-world research that’s changing lives.
Our professors know that the future depends on you and want to see you succeed. They’re here to help you build the skills you need to fill critical roles in chemical engineering.
Our Chemical Engineering Programs Are Ranked and Recognized
- Kettering’s chemical engineering programs are unique to Michigan — and unique to the country. Our STEM curriculum blends academic and hands-on experiences in a distinctive and impactful way.
- As you earn your degree in chemical engineering at Kettering, you’ll be supported throughout your education.
- In addition to caring faculty, an entire team works behind the scenes to support your co-op experience: how to find lucrative opportunities, set up your resume, ace your interview, choose the right co-op for you and connect with Kettering alumni who can tell you what the real world is like.
- We’re accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET and honored by many publications for our dedication to quality education and innovation:
- Ranked first in career preparation in 2017 by the Wall Street Journal
- Ranked 13th nationally in non-PhD engineering programs in 2022 by U.S. News and World Report
- Ranked second in the College Gazette’s Top 10 Best “Hidden Gem” U.S. Technology Schools in 2021
Financial Aid for Our Chemical Engineering Programs
There are so many ways to fund your Kettering education. We’ll help you navigate financial aid, grants, scholarships — and don’t forget about the salary you’ll earn as part of your co-op.
The average Kettering student makes between $50,000 and $75,000 while they study here — on top of the grants, loans and/or work-study options that 99% of our students receive.
Kettering also has 100+ scholarship opportunities available to incoming freshmen. Institutional grants based on financial need are available from Kettering, the state of Michigan and the federal government as well.
Be Kettering Built: Earn Your Chemical Engineering Degree
Are you ready to start your journey to earn your chemical engineering degree? We’re here to answer your questions, help you explore our chemical engineering courses and map out your future. Request more information or apply today.
Meet the Faculty
Chemical Engineering
Susan Farhat
Department Head - Chemical Engineering Contact sfarhat@kettering.edu
Asanga Manamperi
Assistant Professor Contact amanamperi@kettering.edu
Foroogh Rouhollahi
Assistant Professor Contact frouhollahi@kettering.edu
Sihe (Helena) Zhang
Assistant Professor Contact szhang@kettering.edu
Chemistry Department Joint Appointments
Lisandro Hernandez de la Pena
Associate Professor Contact lhernand@kettering.edu
Montserrat Rabago-Smith
Associate Professor Contact mrabagos@kettering.edu
Lihua Wang
Professor Contact lwang@kettering.edu
Ali Zand
Professor Contact azand@kettering.edu
