Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech gives students a strong foundation in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and engineering, while allowing them to explore areas such as biotechnology, energy, materials, sustainability, and environmental engineering. It is a great choice for students who want to use engineering and scientific knowledge to develop practical solutions for industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing the core mathematics and science knowledge needed for chemical and biomolecular engineering. Courses such as MATH 1551 Differential Calculus, MATH 1552 Integral Calculus, CHEM 1211K Chemical Principles I, and PHYS 2211 Principles of Physics I introduce the fundamentals, while CS 1371 Computing for Engineers helps students build essential computing skills.

Year 2: Students move into the main principles of chemical engineering and start applying their scientific knowledge to engineering problems. Key courses include CHBE 2100 Chemical Process Principles, CHBE 2140 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and CHBE 3205 Fluid Mechanics, alongside CHEM 2311 Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 2312 Organic Chemistry II.

Year 3: The third year focuses on understanding how chemical processes work and how they can be designed and improved. Students study subjects such as CHBE 3215 Heat & Mass Transfer, CHBE 3225 Separations Processes, and CHBE 3300 Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis, as well as gaining practical experience through CHBE 4200 Unit Operations Laboratory.

Year 4: In the final year, students bring together the knowledge they have developed through advanced engineering, design, safety, and process-control courses. Subjects including CHBE 4411 Process Dynamics and Control, CHBE 4510 Process and Product Design and Economics, CHBE 4515 Chemical Process Safety, and CHBE 4520 Chemical Engineering Capstone Design Project prepare students to tackle real engineering challenges in professional settings.

Focus Areas

Bioprocess engineering, biotechnology, polymers, microelectronics, sustainability, environmental engineering, energy systems, nanoscale systems, process systems engineering, reaction engineering, separations, chemical process design, and biomolecular engineering.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems using mathematics, science, and engineering principles; design solutions while considering safety, environmental, economic, and societal factors; conduct experiments and analyse data; communicate effectively; work successfully in teams; make ethical and professional decisions; and continue developing their knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the applicable chemical, biochemical, and biomolecular engineering criteria. Georgia Tech also provides opportunities such as the Cooperative Plan, Research Option, International Plan, and BS/MS pathway, allowing students to gain additional professional, research, international, or graduate-level experience.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Georgia Tech's Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering undergraduate program was ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 among public universities in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The program also has strong links to industry and prepares graduates for a wide range of careers, including roles in chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, microelectronics, food, automotive industries, research, consulting, and academia.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech gives students plenty of opportunities to turn classroom concepts into practical engineering skills. Through dedicated laboratories, research projects, industry experiences, and the senior capstone, students work with real engineering processes, collect and analyse data, use technical tools, and develop solutions to complex chemical and biomolecular engineering problems.

Students can build hands-on experience through:

Unit Operations Laboratory: CHBE 4200 gives students practical experience with chemical engineering processes, experimental work, data collection, and analysis, helping them understand how engineering principles work in real systems.
Process Dynamics and Control Laboratory: CHBE 4412 provides practical experience with process dynamics and control, allowing students to apply concepts from process-control coursework to laboratory-based engineering problems.
Bioprocess Unit Operations Laboratory: Students following the Biotechnology Option can take CHBE 4210, where they gain experimental experience related to bioprocess operations and learn how to interpret data from biotechnology processes.
Chemical Engineering Capstone: In CHBE 4520, students work on an integrated chemical engineering design project involving areas such as process and product design, heat-exchanger networks, optimisation, economics, and safety. This gives students experience bringing together the knowledge they have developed throughout the degree.
Undergraduate Research: Students can work with Georgia Tech faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on real research projects. The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering offers research opportunities across areas including biotechnology, energy, polymers, environmental engineering, nanoscale systems, and microelectronics.
Research Option: Students interested in a deeper research experience can choose the Research Option and complete an undergraduate research project and thesis, giving them experience with developing research questions, conducting investigations, analysing results, and presenting their findings.
Industrial Co-op: Georgia Tech's Cooperative Program allows students to combine academic study with industrial work experience. ChBE students can complete three semesters of industrial assignments, giving them valuable exposure to professional engineering environments before graduation.
Chemical Engineering Software: CHBE 2120 introduces students to numerical methods used to solve chemical engineering problems and provides an introduction to chemical process simulation software, helping students develop computational skills relevant to engineering practice.
Research Laboratories and Equipment: The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has research laboratories equipped with advanced technologies, instrumentation, equipment, and software for teaching, learning, and research.
Ford Environmental Science & Technology Building: ChBE is based in the Ford Environmental Science & Technology Building, which includes classrooms and research laboratories and is part of Georgia Tech's Biotech Quad.
International Plan: Students can also add the International Plan, which combines international coursework, language learning, global topics, and an overseas residential experience with their engineering studies.
Undergraduate Research Funding: Students involved in research can participate for academic credit or pay, and Georgia Tech provides opportunities such as the President's Undergraduate Research Awards to support undergraduate research and conference participation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech prepares students for careers across a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, chemicals, materials, microelectronics, and environmental engineering. Graduates can take on technical, research, consulting, management, and other professional roles, giving them the flexibility to shape their careers around their interests and strengths.

Typical career paths include:

Chemical or Process Engineer
Plant Engineer
Research Engineer or Scientist
Consultant

Students can strengthen their career prospects through Georgia Tech's career support and industry opportunities:

Career Support: Georgia Tech's Career Center provides students with career advising, career fairs, résumé reviews, mock interviews, seminars, internship opportunities, and access to job-search resources.
Cooperative Education: Students can take part in Georgia Tech's Cooperative Education program and alternate academic study with full-time paid industry assignments. ChBE students can complete three semesters of industrial experience, allowing them to graduate with substantial professional experience and a Cooperative Plan designation.
Industry Experience: ChBE students have gained practical experience with companies such as Dow Chemical, LyondellBasell, and Rolls-Royce, working on areas including manufacturing improvement, process instrumentation, environmental compliance, and engineering operations.
Industry Connections: Georgia Tech ChBE graduates have gone on to work with organisations including ExxonMobil, Eastman Chemical, Intel, AbbVie, Genentech-Roche, BASF, Chevron, Air Liquide, Dow Chemical, and LyondellBasell. These connections demonstrate the broad range of industries available to chemical and biomolecular engineering graduates.
Employment and Salary: Georgia Tech publishes career and salary outcome information covering employment destinations, employers, industries, job titles, and salaries. The ChBE School has also reported a $75,000 median starting salary in 2015, with ChBE historically ranking among Georgia Tech's higher-paid majors.
Career Flexibility: The degree can lead to opportunities in traditional chemical and energy industries as well as rapidly developing fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, microelectronics, environmental engineering, and sustainable manufacturing.
Professional Accreditation: The program's ABET accreditation provides long-term professional value by demonstrating that the engineering degree meets established standards for engineering education. This can support graduates pursuing professional engineering careers and further technical education.
Graduation Outcomes: Georgia Tech's career reporting tracks graduate destinations, including employment status, salary, industry, employer, and job title, helping students understand the types of opportunities available after completing their degree.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the bachelor's degree, students can continue their education through Georgia Tech's five-year B.S./M.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, which allows eligible undergraduate students to progress into master's-level study. Students interested in research can also pursue graduate-level research and doctoral study, with the undergraduate Research Option providing valuable preparation for advanced academic work.