Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Advising

Author: Katie Torrey

A class that I planned to take is full. Can I still get into it?

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Maybe.

If the course is a Chemical Engineering course, then email cmadvise@mtu.edu with your request.  We will increase capacity of almost any CM class, with only a few exceptions.  Lab sections cannot be expanded.

If the course is in another department, please contact the department or the instructor of the class with your request.

If you still are not able to get into the class then you should periodically check the enrollment until the semester starts.  If another student decides to drop the class then a seat will open up.  Remember that you can add/drop classes on Banweb from when registration opens through the first week of classes of that semester.

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Senior UO and plant design classes are full. Can you get me into them?

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Don’t worry.  Yes, we will get you into these classes.

The capacities (maximum number of students that can enroll) in these classes are purposely set low.  The reason that we do this is because we need to have the same number of students in each section as close as possible.  It is very difficult to predict how many seniors we will have with students leaving and returning from co-op.

If you cannot get into one or both of these classes, then you will need to email cmadvise@mtu.edu with the following information:

  1. Which class(es) you need to enroll in.
  2. Which section you prefer.
  3. Why you prefer that section.  Be specific.

You WILL get into the classes, however we cannot guarantee that you will get into the section that you prefer.  We do our best to match preferences whenever possible.

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How can I prepare academically for graduate school in chemical engineering?

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The first year of graduate school in chemical engineering typically involves taking advanced courses in transport, thermodynamics, kinetics, and mathematics (partial differential equations).  It may also involve specialty courses specific to your area of chosen specialization. Anything that makes those required courses easier is a good idea.  I feel that at Michigan Tech we do not go far enough in transport, so I recommend that you take the graduate transport class (CM5300 Advanced Transport Phenomena I, 3 credits, Spring, prereq=CM5100) or Polymer Rheology (CM4650, 3 credits), either of which will introduce you to the use of tensors in mathematical analysis.  After that I recommend taking our graduate math class (CM5100 Applied Mathematics for Chemical Engineers I, 3 credits, Fall) or any advanced mathematics course that interests you (some examples might be MA

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What opportunities are there to do undergrad research at Michigan Tech?

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Undergraduate research is an excellent idea for all students, but it is an especially good idea for those who are interested in attending engineering graduate school after completing their B.S. degree in chemical engineering.  Check out our short video on the subject.

There are three paths to undergraduate research experience at Michigan Tech (for information on off-campus possibilities, click on the tag below), and all three of them begin with speaking with a professor.  You must go to individual professors, presumably those who do research in areas that you find interesting, and discuss with them what types of opportunities there are to do research in their laboratories.

There are three types of research arrangements possible:

  • Research for credit;
  • Research as a part-time job;
  • Research as an unpaid intern.
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Can I retake a class?

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You may retake any class in which you receive a CD, D, or F. However, before you retake a class there are two things that you should know:

  1. The second grade always replaces the first grade.  If you retake a class and receive a better grade this will improve both your semester and overall GPAs.  However you can retake a class and get a poorer grade.  For example if you have a D (a passing grade) and retake a course and receive an F (a failing grade), you now have a failing grade in the course and would have to retake the class a third time.
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What can I do to best prepare myself to succeed in the chemical engineering program at Michigan Tech?

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Success in your freshmen and sophomore science classes is critical to your continued success in the chemical engineering courses.  It is our experience that the first step to being successful in our program (and in your chemical engineering career), is to get a C or better in the following key classes:

  • Math (MA 1032, MA 1160/1161, MA 2160, MA 3160, MA 2320/2121/2330, and MA 3520/3521/3530/3560)
  • Freshman Chemistry (CH 1150 and CH 1160)
  • Physics (PH 2100 and PH 2200)

If you receive a CD or D in any of the math, chemistry, or physics classes listed above, we strongly encourage you to retake the class BEFORE continuing on in the next class in the sequence.

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I am a new transfer student. Do I need to meet with an advisor?

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Yes!  We strongly encourage all incoming transfer students to meet with an advisor. We use this time to review transfer credit and to develop an expected graduation date based on remaining degree requirements, scheduling and prerequisite constraints, and your individual goals.

Walk-in office hours for new transfer students are scheduled during the fall transfer student orientation, which is held the Friday before fall classes start.  The transfer student orientation is highly recommended.  If you are not able to attend during this time or are transferring in during the spring or summer semesters, email cmadvise@mtu.edu to schedule an in-person or phone appointment with an advisor.

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