About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The joint major programs are designed for students who wish to undertake study in two areas of engineering in order to qualify for employment in either field or for positions in which competence in two fields is required. The joint majors contain comparable proportions of coursework in both major fields. While they require slightly increased course loads, they can be completed in four years. Both majors are shown on the student's transcript of record. Students in this joint major program are concurrently enrolled in both the College of Engineering and the College of Chemistry, but their college of residence will be Chemistry.

The areas of nuclear technology that depend heavily upon chemical engineering training include isotope separation, fuel reprocessing, waste management, feed material preparation, fuel chemistry, effluent control, fusion reactor fuel processing, and new reactor types.

Admission to the Joint Major

Admission to the joint major programs is open to transfer students but closed to freshmen. Continuing students may petition for a change to a joint major program after their first year. For further details regarding how to declare the joint major, please contact the College of Chemistry.

Other Joint Major Offered with the College of Engineering

Chemical Engineering/Materials Science Engineering

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Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

1. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in all courses undertaken at UC Berkeley, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, UC Berkeley in Washington Program, and XB courses from University Extension.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken in the college is required in order to advance and continue in the upper-division.
3. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all upper-division courses taken at the University is required to satisfy major requirements.
4. Students in the College of Chemistry who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering or Chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at UC Berkeley.

For information regarding grade requirements in specific courses, please see the notes sections below.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower-division Requirements 

MATH 1A	Calculus	4
MATH 1B	Calculus	4
MATH 53	Multivariable Calculus	4
MATH 54	Linear Algebra and Differential Equations	4
CHEM 1A   & 1AL	General Chemistry    and General Chemistry Laboratory	4
or CHEM 4A	General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 1B	General Chemistry	4
or CHEM 4B	General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
PHYSICS 7A	Physics for Scientists and Engineers	4
PHYSICS 7B	Physics for Scientists and Engineers	4
PHYSICS 7C	Physics for Scientists and Engineers	4
EL ENG 40	Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits	4
ENGIN 7	Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers	4
ENGIN 45	Properties of Materials	3

Upper-division Requirements

CHEM 120A	Physical Chemistry	3-4
or PHYSICS 137A	Quantum Mechanics
CHM ENG 140	Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis	4
CHM ENG 141	Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics	4
CHM ENG 142	Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering	4
CHM ENG 150A	Transport Processes	4
CHM ENG 150B	Transport and Separation Processes	4
CHM ENG 154	Chemical Engineering Laboratory	4
CHM ENG 160	Chemical Process Design	4
or NUC ENG 170A	Nuclear Design: Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation
CHM ENG 162	Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes	4
CHM ENG 185	Technical Communication for Chemical Engineers	3
ENGIN 117	Methods of Engineering Analysis	3
NUC ENG 101	Nuclear Reactions and Radiation	4
NUC ENG 104	Radiation Detection and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory	4
NUC ENG 150	Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory	4
Nuclear Engineering Electives: Select 9 units of upper-division NUC ENG courses
At least two courses must be NUC ENG 120, NUC ENG 124, or NUC ENG 161

College Requirements

Undergraduate students in the College of Chemistry must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by the major program.  

For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please see the College of Chemistry  page in this bulletin. 

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing Requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley.

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a U.S. resident graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

American Cultures

American Cultures is the one requirement that all undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

Foreign Language

Applies to Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors only.

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied with one foreign language, in one of the following ways:

• By completing in high school the third year of one foreign language with minimum grades of C-.

• By completing at Berkeley the second semester of a sequence of courses in one foreign language, or the equivalent at another institution. Only foreign language courses that include reading and composition as well as conversation are accepted in satisfaction of this requirement. Foreign language courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

• By demonstrating equivalent knowledge of a foreign language through examination, including a College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examination with a score of 3 or higher (if taken before admission to college), an SAT II: Subject Test with a score of 590 or higher, or a proficiency examination offered by some departments at Berkeley or at another campus of the University of California.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing and critical thinking the College requires lower division work in composition.

• Chemical Engineering majors – A-level R&C course (e.g., English R1A) by end of freshman year

• Chemical Biology and Chemistry majors – A- and B-level courses by end of sophomore year

Breadth Elective Requirement – Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors

• 15 units total; includes Reading & Composition (R1A + R1B) and American Cultures courses

• Remaining units must come from the College of Chemistry’s list of acceptable Humanities and Social Science courses (Group II)

• Breadth elective courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding R&C)

• AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

Breadth Elective Requirement – Chemical Engineering major

• 19 unit total; includes Reading & Composition (R1A only) and American Cultures courses

• Breadth Series requirement: As part of the 19 units, students must complete two courses, at least one being upper division, in the same or very closely allied humanities or social science department(s).  AP credit may be used to satisfy the lower division aspect of the requirement.

• Breadth Series courses and all remaining units must come from the College of Chemistry’s list of acceptable Humanities and Social Science courses (Group II)

• Breadth elective courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding R&C)

• AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

Class Schedule Requirements

Minimum units per semester

Maximum units per semester – 19.5

12 units of course work each semester must satisfy degree requirements.

Chemical engineering freshmen and Chemistry majors are required to enroll in a minimum of one chemistry course each semester.

After the freshman year, Chemical Engineering majors must enroll in a minimum of one chemical and biomolecular engineering course each semester.

Semester Limit

• Students who entered as freshmen – 8 semesters

• Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors who entered as transfer students – 4 semesters

• Chemical Engineering majors who entered as transfer students – 5 semester

Summer sessions are excluded when determining the limit on semesters. Students who wish to delay graduation to complete a minor, a double major, or simultaneous degrees must request approval for delay of graduation before what would normally be their final two semesters. The College of Chemistry does not have a rule regarding maximum units that a student can accumulate.

Senior Residence

After 90 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters (the semester in which the 90 units are exceeded, plus at least one additional semester).

To count as a semester of residence for this requirement, a program must include at least 4 units of successfully completed courses. A summer session can be credited as a semester in residence if this minimum unit requirement is satisfied.

Juniors and seniors who participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) for a full year may meet a modified senior residence requirement. After 60 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 (excluding EAP) of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters. At least 12 of the 24 units must be completed after the student has already completed 90 units. Undergraduate Dean’s approval for the modified senior residence requirement must be obtained before enrollment in the Education Abroad Program.

Minimum Total Units

A student must successfully complete at least 120 semester units in order to graduate.

Minimum Academic Requirements

Grades

A student must earn at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses undertaken at UC, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, and UC Berkeley Washington Program, as well as XB courses from University Extension.

Minimum Course Grade Requirements

Students in the College of Chemistry who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a chemical and biomolecular engineering or chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at Berkeley.

Students in the College of Chemistry must achieve:

• C- or higher in CHEM 4A General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis before taking CHEM 4B General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis

• C- or higher in CHEM 4B General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis before taking more advanced courses

• C- or higher in CHEM 112A Organic Chemistry before taking CHEM 112B Organic Chemistry GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses taken in the college in order to advance to and continue in the upper division

Chemistry or chemical biology majors must also achieve:

• C- or higher in CHEM 120A Physical Chemistry and CHEM 120B Physical Chemistry if taken before CHEM 125 Physical Chemistry Laboratory or CHEM C182 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory

• 2.0 GPA in all upper division courses taken at the University to satisfy major requirements

Chemical engineering students must also achieve:

• C- or higher in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) 140 before taking any other CBE courses

• C- or higher in CHM ENG 150A Transport Processes to be eligible to take any other course in the 150 series

• 2.0 GPA in all upper division courses taken at the University to satisfy major requirements

Chemical engineering students who do not achieve a grade of C- or higher in CHM ENG 140 Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis on their first attempt are advised to change to another major. If the course is not passed with a grade of C- or higher on the second attempt, continuation in the Chemical Engineering program is normally not allowed.

Minimum Progress

To make normal progress toward a degree, undergraduates must successfully complete 30 units of coursework each year. The continued enrollment of students who do not maintain normal progress will be subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Dean. To achieve minimum academic progress, the student must meet two criteria:

1. Completed no fewer units than 15 multiplied by the number of semesters, less one, in which the student has been enrolled at Berkeley. Summer sessions do not count as semesters for this purpose.

2. A student’s class schedule must contain at least 13 units in any term, unless otherwise authorized by the staff adviser or the Undergraduate Dean.

Sample Plan of Study

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), please see the Major Requirements tab.

Freshman
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
MATH 1A	4	MATH 1B	4
English R1A or equivalent	4	ENGIN 7	4
Chemistry: CHEM 4A, or CHEM 1A & CHEM 1AL	4	PHYSICS 7A	4
Breadth Elective	3	CHEM 4B or 1B	4
	15		16
Sophomore
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
PHYSICS 7B	4	MATH 54	4
EL ENG 40	4	PHYSICS 7C	4
MATH 53	4	CHM ENG 141	4
CHM ENG 140	4	CHM ENG 150A	4
	16		16
Junior
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
ENGIN 45	3	NUC ENG 104	4
ENGIN 117	3	Nuclear Engineering Elective	3
NUC ENG 101	4	CHM ENG 185	3
CHM ENG 142	4	Breadth Elective	3
CHM ENG 150B	4	NUC ENG 150	4
	18		17
Senior
Fall	Units	Spring	Units
Nuclear Engineering Electives	6	CHM ENG 160 or NUC ENG 170A	3-4
CHEM 120A or PHYSICS 137A	3-4	CHM ENG 162	4
CHM ENG 154	4	Breadth Electives	6
Breadth Elective	3
	16-17		13-14
Total Units: 127-129

Courses

Chemical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering

Faculty

Professors

Nitash P. Balsara, Professor. Chemical engineering, synthesis and characterization of soft microstructured polymer materials, nucleation, neutron scattering, depolarized light scattering.
Research Profile

Alexis T. Bell, Professor. Chemical engineering, heterogeneous catalysts, spectroscopic techniques.
Research Profile

Douglas S. Clark, PhD, Professor. Chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, cell culture, biocatalyst engineering, microsystems, extremozymes, genomics of extremophiles, metabolic flux analysis, enzyme technology, bioactive materials.
Research Profile

David B. Graves, Professor. Chemical engineering, plasma processing, dynamics (MD), plasma-surface chemistry, high pressure micro-scale grow, electronic materials, plasma biomedicine.
Research Profile

Enrique Iglesia, Professor. Chemical engineering, catalytic materials, heterogeneous catalysis, chemical reaction engineering, methane and biomass coversion processes, refining processes, hydrogen generation, alkane activation deoxygenatiion and desulfurization catalysis, zeolites.
Research Profile

Jay D. Keasling, Professor. Chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, metabolic engineering of microorganisms, degradation of environmental contaminants, environmentally friendly synthesis, biodegradable polymers, mineralization of organophosphate nerve agents, pesticides, biofuels.
Research Profile

Roya Maboudian, Professor. Surface and interfacial science and engineering, thin-film science and technology, micro- and nano-systems technology, surface science and engineering of M/NEMS, silicon carbide technology, harsh-environment sensors, biologically-inspired materials synthesis.
Research Profile

Susan J. Muller, Professor. Chemical engineering, fluid mechanics, Rheology, complex fluids, microfabrication processes, Genetic Engineering of Protein Polymers, Finite Element Modeling of Bubbles, Stress Fluids, Taylor-Couette instabilities.
Research Profile

Clayton J. Radke, Professor. Chemical engineering, surface & colloid science technology, protein/polymer/surfactant adsorption from solution, two-phase enzymatic catalysis, interfacial surfactant transport, electrokinetics, pore-level fluid mechanics, contact-lens & eye mechanics.
Research Profile

Jeffrey A. Reimer, Professor. Materials chemistry, chemical engineering, electrocatalysis, magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, nanostructures, spin.
Research Profile

David Schaffer, Professor. Neuroscience, chemical engineering, bioengineering, stem cell biology, gene therapy.
Research Profile

Rachel A. Segalman, Professor. Chemical engineering, plastic electronic, stable conductive molecules, polymer properties, nanoscale morphology, oxidizable chemicals, nanoscale polymer.
Research Profile

Associate Professors

Alexander Katz, Associate Professor. Chemical engineering, nanoengineering, catalytic imprinted silicas, catalysts in biological systems, catalysis, chemical sensing.
Research Profile

Assistant Professors

Bryan D. Mccloskey, Assistant Professor.

Danielle Tullman-Ercek, PhD, Assistant Professor. Bioenergy, synthetic biology, protein engineering, bionanotechnology.
Research Profile

Wenjun Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor. Synthetic biology, chemical biology, natural product biosynthesis, biofuel synthesis, enzyme discovery and characterization, biomolecular engineering.
Research Profile

Adjunct Faculty

Brian Lee Maiorella, Adjunct Faculty.

Lecturers

Carlo G. Alesandrini, Lecturer.

Paul Bryan, Lecturer.

Colin Cerretani, Lecturer.

Shannon Ciston, Lecturer.

Dean C.Draemel, Lecturer.

Gregory R.Schoofs, Lecturer.

Steve Sciamanna, Lecturer.

Ravi Upadhye, Lecturer.

P. Henrik Wallman, Lecturer.

Marjorie Went, Lecturer.