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How math heavy is Chemical Engineering?
I'm looking into chemical engineering, but I'm just not that sure about how math heavy it is. I'd like to be clear that I CAN do math (sort of well), I just don't like it that much.
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Robert Rossi
Many things! But mostly chemistry and chemical engineering
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Robert’s Answer
I'm not going to sugar-coat it, chemical engineering is applied math. To get through the coursework, you will have to take, learn, really understand, and in your ChE courses apply multidimensional calculus. Once you get into the working world, you might not see a lot more raw math - computers will do a lot of it for you. But that understanding from your student years will come into play from time to time, and you will need to have it.
See also my answers to
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/1181522/what-is-the-best-choice-of-major-career-for-me-math-and-physics-based
and
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/1131099/resources-for-aspiring-chemical-engineers
Be sure you understand what chemical engineering actually is - it's often something of a "gotcha" field, in that it is NOT designing chemicals (the way electrical engineers design electronics and mechanical engineers design mechanical things). My answer in the second link above tries to lay out what chemical engineering is actually about, in a nutshell.
Good luck!
See also my answers to
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/1181522/what-is-the-best-choice-of-major-career-for-me-math-and-physics-based
and
https://www.careervillage.org/questions/1131099/resources-for-aspiring-chemical-engineers
Be sure you understand what chemical engineering actually is - it's often something of a "gotcha" field, in that it is NOT designing chemicals (the way electrical engineers design electronics and mechanical engineers design mechanical things). My answer in the second link above tries to lay out what chemical engineering is actually about, in a nutshell.
Good luck!
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Amarli,
I guess you're seriously exploring career choices. Interest in & love of what you do is essential in choosing a fulfilling career.
Mathematics and physics are the two most important subjects for any engineering course. Sufficient proficiency in them in high school is usually sufficient for one to successfully complete a course in engineering. Diligence, passion, commitment & perseverance are important personal qualities that will help you succeed in your endeavors. Just remember to be positive.
Approaching mathematics from first principles can be a good way to master it. With practice, many of the concepts will, eventually, be at your finger tips.
I hope you find this useful. Good luck in your studies.
I guess you're seriously exploring career choices. Interest in & love of what you do is essential in choosing a fulfilling career.
Mathematics and physics are the two most important subjects for any engineering course. Sufficient proficiency in them in high school is usually sufficient for one to successfully complete a course in engineering. Diligence, passion, commitment & perseverance are important personal qualities that will help you succeed in your endeavors. Just remember to be positive.
Approaching mathematics from first principles can be a good way to master it. With practice, many of the concepts will, eventually, be at your finger tips.
I hope you find this useful. Good luck in your studies.
Updated
Michael’s Answer
To put it very plainly chemical engineering as all engineering disciplines are is extremely math heavy
You will not find another undergraduate major that requires as much math as an engineering undergraduate degree
You will not find another undergraduate major that requires as much math as an engineering undergraduate degree
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Dennis’s Answer
Hello Amali: Rafael has it right. Let me add a bit of color - most engineering is built upon mathematical models that describe the physical elements we want to analyze. You are probably familiar with Newton's equation: F=ma. That's the simple form. As you move along in the technical world, you will come to understand that most of the equations we know are the simple form. The next step will be to realize that the formula is a Vector equation, and also a differential equation. In its simplest form, we can find the acceleration of a solid body. Eventually (in Fluid Mechanics) we can relate it to motion of a liquid or a solid like a beam in a bridge or a machine. If we talk about strength of materials, we first learn how to solve for the forces acting on a beam. At a later point, we learn how to solve for the stresses and strains within the beam when a force or moment is applied to it. So, yes, there is some "heavy" math ( if you don't like math). But, it isn't so heavy if you are using it to solve the problem you have in front of you, and you are interested in that problem.
I like to think that engineers (whatever discipline they study) are accountants. Accountants keep track of money - where it comes from, where it is used, who used it, etc. In engineering, we try to account for the (changes in ) physical parameters in the system we are studying. I'm not a Chem E, but I suspect that they look at chemical systems in the same way I look at mechanical systems. It is likely that they look at 1) the ingredients and their properties used in a process; 2) the temperature and pressure of the mixture as it is processed, 3) Time (always important), and other things like what catalysts or materials that affect a reaction.. 4) it isn't just the chemistry that matters, but that has math in it as well; 4) If you are a member of a team that is in charge of manufacturing some product, you have to focus on all of those things at once. More math. But, don't forget, you have computers and other methods and devices to help you along the way.
Don't be afraid of the math, Amali. Embrace it. It is the most important tool in your tool box.
Best wishes to you as you pursue your goals.
I like to think that engineers (whatever discipline they study) are accountants. Accountants keep track of money - where it comes from, where it is used, who used it, etc. In engineering, we try to account for the (changes in ) physical parameters in the system we are studying. I'm not a Chem E, but I suspect that they look at chemical systems in the same way I look at mechanical systems. It is likely that they look at 1) the ingredients and their properties used in a process; 2) the temperature and pressure of the mixture as it is processed, 3) Time (always important), and other things like what catalysts or materials that affect a reaction.. 4) it isn't just the chemistry that matters, but that has math in it as well; 4) If you are a member of a team that is in charge of manufacturing some product, you have to focus on all of those things at once. More math. But, don't forget, you have computers and other methods and devices to help you along the way.
Don't be afraid of the math, Amali. Embrace it. It is the most important tool in your tool box.
Best wishes to you as you pursue your goals.
Updated
Rafael’s Answer
Hey Amarli! Chemical engineering is definitely one of the more math-heavy engineering disciplines, you're looking at calculus (multiple levels), differential equations, linear algebra, statistics, and then a lot of applied math through things like thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and reaction kinetics, so math is kind of into everything. That said, the good news is that most of the math becomes a tool rather than the main focus, meaning you're using it to solve real chemistry and process problems rather than just doing abstract equations for the sake of it, which a lot of people find way more tolerable than pure math classes. From my own experience going through an engineering undergrad and later doing graduate work with heavy analytics and optimization, the math was tough at times but it became much more bearable once I could see how it connected to actual work, like improving efficiency or solving real problems. The first two years are honestly the hardest math-wise because that's when you're grinding through the core calc and physics courses, but once you get past that it shifts more toward applying those concepts in labs and design projects, which feels very different. If you can do math sort of well and you're willing to put in the study time, you can absolutely handle it, it's more about persistence than being some kind of math genius, just know going in that you won't be able to avoid it entirely so it's about making peace with it as a tool rather than loving it. You've got this!