General Information

The Chemical Engineering Department at Louisiana State University is a leader in research, teaching and service in a field that is crucial to the economy of the Gulf South. It is the largest and most active chemical engineering department at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the State. The Department has received international recognition for its contributions to chemical engineering research, education and service, and the doctoral program received a "commendation for excellence" from the previous review by the Board of Regents.

The Department of Chemical Engineering developed from the Audubon Sugar School, which officially became part of the University in 1897. The first B. S. Degree in Chemical Engineering at LSU was awarded in 1905 when the Department was closely associated with the Chemistry Department. By 1938, when it was transferred to the College of Engineering, the program was already a thriving operation catering to the needs of the local chemical industry. It was the first in the state, and one of the first in the South, to be accredited by the Engineer's Council for Professional Development. Initial ECPD accreditation of Chemical Engineering undergraduate programs was granted to LSU in 1939 shortly after national level accreditation of engineering programs was started. The graduate program was initiated around 1908, and the first Ph.D. granted by the University was in Chemical Engineering in 1935.

Noteworthy achievements of the Department include:

• Consistently among the top ChE departments in the nation in sponsored research, graduate enrollment and degrees.
• Research activity currently involves 34 externally funded research projects (> $7.5 million).
• Placement of more than 50 LSU graduates in faculty positions around the world.
• Four graduates have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
• Five current members of the faculty have been elected Fellows of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; two holds NSF CAREER awards.

Specific goals of the Department include:

• Increase the reputation of the department for producing well-prepared, high-quality graduates for industry, teaching, and research.
• Maintain and strengthen our ties with the leading edge needs and interests of the local chemical and energy industries that are vital to the economy of the State.
• Further improve teaching and research activities in the critical areas of environmental engineering, plant safety, and hazardous material handling.
• Develop departmental expertise in key developing fields, such as material processing and biochemical engineering

Chemical engineering is the most broadly based of all engineering disciplines. The applications of physics and mathematics are common to all fields of engineering; however, chemical engineering requires the understanding and application of the principles of chemistry as well. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers has defined chemical engineering as "The profession in which knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and other natural sciences...is applied with judgment to develop economical ways of using materials and energy for the benefit of mankind." In the broadest sense, chemical engineering is the creative application of chemistry to the solution of significant problems.

Because of this broad and fundamental education, the chemical engineer can contribute to society in a variety of functions, such as pure research, process or product development, process design, plant operation, and corporate or government administration. The work of a chemical engineer encompasses many industries, ranging from the manufacture of chemicals and petroleum products to the development of nuclear energy and space technology. Because of this breadth, there are many special fields in which chemical engineers may concentrate. Chemical engineers today are making unparalleled contributions in the areas of chemical processing, petroleum refining, pollution control and abatement, materials processing, biochemical and biomedical engineering, instrumentation, oceanography, energy, food processing, systems engineering, manufacturing, and computer automation, control, and modeling.

Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region lead the nation in growth of the chemical, petroleum, and materials industries. In these industries, about 40 percent of the professional staffs are chemical engineers. Besides providing technical leadership for the industries, chemical engineers are a major source of management personnel. Chemical engineering also offers many opportunities for independent enterprise. The chemical engineering curriculum at LSU provides sound preparation for work in industry, academia, or government.

The chemical engineering curriculum at LSU provides sound preparation for work in industry or government, as well as for graduate study. The undergraduate curriculum includes basic studies in physics and mathematics, a major concentration in chemistry, and a strong core of chemical engineering subjects. Computer usage is integrated throughout the curriculum. Elective courses permit in-depth study in a particular area of chemical engineering. Progress as a chemical engineer and accomplishments are not determined solely by technological competence; equally as important are breadth of outlook and an understanding of society. Therefore, in addition to work in science and engineering, there are required courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

The Department of Chemical Engineering has a long history of stressing excellence in both instructional and research efforts. The undergraduate program has held continuous accreditation since 1939 from the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Graduate studies began in 1908 as a part of the sugar engineering program. The first PhD awarded by LSU was presented in 1935 to Mr. Gipson Carter, by the Department of Chemical Engineering. As early as 1938, a departmental report prepared for an AIChE accreditation visit stressed the importance of high quality research. The present faculty remains committed to excellence in all its endeavors and to maintaining an appropriate balance between the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Several members of the chemical engineering faculty have received local or national recognition for outstanding teaching and achievement. They are also active in local and national professional societies. Five members have been recognized as fellows of AIChE, the major professional society in our discipline. Faculty members are involved in a variety of research areas stressing areas of importance to Louisiana and the nation, including environmental engineering, reaction engineering, catalysis, polymer and textile processing, electrochemical engineering and biochemical engineering. The faculty also cooperate with faculty from other areas of the university on joint projects and grants. The breadth of background among the faculty and the ongoing research in areas relevant to the ever-changing needs of the chemical engineer ensure that the undergraduate will receive an up-to-date and thorough education. Roughly 20 of our undergraduates annually participate in these research programs, in addition to their classroom studies.

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This page was last modified on February 1, 2002