South Dakota - School of Mines and Technology
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Rapid City, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 29,200 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical engineering deals with the design and development of procedures to create products – products essential to sustaining modern life such as food and fuel. It is the application and combination of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve today's most pressing problems.
What does a chemical engineer do?
Chemical engineers take raw materials and create everyday, usable products crucial to modern society. They do this by applying the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve the problems that occur during the production of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and a myriad of other products.
With a degree in chemical engineering from South Dakota Mines, you can work in jobs that increase crop yields to combat world hunger, create new materials, reduce pollution, and meet energy demands. Chemical engineers (as well as biological engineers) are instrumental in creating pharmaceuticals and lifesaving devices such as the artificial kidney, but they also produce products like cosmetics, biofuels, and sandwich bags.
International students may seek scholarship opportunities but should be aware that many scholarships are limited to US citizens or permanent residents. South Dakota Mines does not offer scholarships specifically for international students. You must be ADMITTED by January 15 of the year you are planning to enroll in the fall semester if you wish to be considered for scholarships. Scholarships are only awarded for a start date of the fall semester. Please see the Scholarships website for information on Mines scholarships.
International students are NOT eligible for South Dakota Mines or federal loan programs and should not apply for such financial assistance.
Freshman Year
First Semester
- Introduction to Chemical Process Modeling/Lab
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry I Lab
- Composition I
- Calculus I
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
Second Semester
- Programming for Chemical and Biological Engineering
- General Chemistry II
- General Chemistry II Lab
- Calculus II
- University Physics I
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
Sophomore Year
First Semester
- Biology Elective
- Chemical Engineering Material Balances
- Experimental Organic Chemistry IA
- Organic Chemistry I
- Differential Equations
- University Physics II
Second Semester
- Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics
- Chemical Engineering Process Thermodynamics
- Computer Applications in Chemical Engineering
- Organic Chemistry II
- Communication in the STEM Workplace
- Calculus III
Junior Year
First Semester
- Chemical Engineering Heat Transfer
- Chemical Engineering Equilibrium Thermodynamics
- Process Measurements and Control
- Chemical Engineering Process Control Lab
- Chemical Engineering Fluid Laboratory
- Analytical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry Lab
- Physical Chemistry I
- Explorations in STEM Communications
Second Semester
- Chemical Engineering Mass Transfer
- Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design
- Chemical Engineering Heat Transfer Laboratory
- Chemical Engineering Equilibrium Separations
- Physical Chemistry II
- Physical Chemistry II Lab
- Engineering Elective
- General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s)
Senior Year
First Semester
- Process Control
- Process Design and Economics for Chemical Engineering
- Chemical Process Safety
- Chemical Engineering Elective
- Department Approved Elective
Second Semester
- Chemical Engineering Mass Transfer and Reaction Engineering Laboratory
- Capstone Design for Chemical Engineering (OR)Process/Product Design for CBE
- Global and Contemporary Issues in Chemical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering Elective
- Chemical Engineering Lab Elective
- Department Approved Elective
South Dakota Mines' chemical engineering grades are in high demand due to the large number of industries that depend on the synthesis and processing of chemicals and materials. Our grads work in a variety of fields, including:
- Chemical, energy, and oil industries
- Biotechnology
- Environmental engineering
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electronic device fabrication
- Winemaking
- Manufacturing of nanocomposites, polymers, materials, chemicals, or food