Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Advising

Category: Minors

What do I need to know to plan out a minor in Bioprocess Engineering?

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Here is some additional scheduling information to help you plan. Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements.

Engineering Course

Select one course below.

  • CM 2110 Material and Energy Balances is usually offered every fall and summer. In the summer there is usually both an in-person and an online section.
  • CM 2200 Intro to Minerals and Materials is usually offered every fall.
  • CEE 3501 Environmental Engineering Fundamentals is usually offered every fall.
  • CEE 3503 Environmental Engineering is usually offered every spring.

Biochemistry Course

Select one course below. ChE students need to plan ahead because of time conflict issues.

  • BL 3020 Biochemistry I is usually offered every fall and occasionally in the summer. For ChE students, this course has a time conflict with senior classes.
  • CH 4710 Biomolecular Chemistry I is usually offered every fall. For ChE students, this course has a time conflict with senior classes.

Applied Biochemistry Course

Select one or more of the courses below.

  • BL 4070 Environmental Toxicology is usually offered every spring. For ChE students, this course has a time conflict with senior classes.
  • BL 4120 Environmental Remediation is usually offered fall of odd years. For ChE students, this course has a time conflict with senior classes.
  • CM 4710 Biochemical Processes is usually offered fall of odd years.

Elective Courses

Select remaining credits from the list below.

  • BL 3210 General Microbiology is usually offered every fall.
  • or BL 3310 Environmental Microbiology is usually offered every spring.
  • BL 4020 Biochemistry II is usually offered every spring.
  • CH 4110 Medicinal Chemistry: Mechanism of Drug Action is usually offered every spring.
  • CH 4120 Medicinal Chemistry: Drug Design is usually offered every fall.
  • CH 4140 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Analysis is usually offered every spring.
  • CH 4720 Biomolecular Chemistry II is usually offered every spring.
  • CM 3025 Bioprocessing Laboratory is usually offered every spring.
  • CM 4780 Biomanufacturing and Biosafety is usually offered fall of even years.
  • Undergraduate research BL 4000 Research in Biology, BL 4995 Research in Biochemistry, CM 4040 Research in Biological Engineering, CM 4080 Research in Biofuels Engineering are offered on demand. If you are interested in doing this then you’ll need to talk to the faculty who are doing research in these areas to see if they have a project you can work on with them. The chemical engineering faculty currently doing research in bioprocessing and biofuels are Dr. Heldt, Dr. Ong and Dr. Shonnard.
  • Enterprise Project Work in the bioprocessing area may be used towards the minor. Email a brief description of your project to the chemical engineering advisor for approval.
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What are the requirements for a minor in mathematics?

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The minor in mathematics is easy to fit in because you just need to take two more math classes. These classes can double count towards your technical electives.

Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements.

Choose one course in Calculus I

You are already required to take calc I.

Choose one course in Calculus II, Linear Algebra, or Statistics

You are already required to take calc II (and linear algebra, but calc II works better for completing the minor.)

Choose at least one of the following

You are already required to take multivariable calculus, which is on this list. This works best for completing the minor because then you only need 6 more credits.

Choose at least one course that emphasizes mathematical logic and reasoning

You’ll need to pick one of these classes. Brush off your mathematical proof skills!

  • MA 3202 Introduction to Coding Theory
  • MA 3210 Introduction to Combinatorics
  • MA 3310 Introduction to Abstract Algebra
  • MA 3450 Introduction to Real Analysis
  • MA 3924 College Geometry with Technology
  • MA 4908 Theory of Numbers with Technology
  • MA 4330 Linear Algebra
  • MA 4760 Mathematical Statistics I

Elective Course

For this last requirement you need to choose either another course from the mathematical logic and reasoning list or any 3 credit, 4000-level MA course (except not MA 4945 which is History of Math).

Dr. Morrison’s Recommendations

Among the mathematical logic and reasoning choices Dr. Morrison recommends:

  • MA 3210 Introduction to Combinatorics
  • MA 4760 Mathematical Statistics I, if you have the prereq which is MA 3720 Probability.

For the elective requirement, Dr. Morrison likes:

  • MA 4525 Applied Vector and Tensor Mathematics
  • MA 4515 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations

Two more possibilities recommended by Prof. Todd King are on the numerical side: 

  • MA 4610 Numerical Linear Algebra
  • MA 4620 Numerical Methods for PDEs

In general, vector and tensor mathematics and PDEs have applications in transport phenomena; statistics is always a practical engineering subject; and combinatorics is a class that is accessible for chemical engineers.

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What should I minor in?

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Asking what you should minor is like asking what you should major in.  The answer is:  whatever you like.

To help you explore your options, here is a list of minors that other chemical engineering majors have found appealing.  Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current requirements.

Chemical Engineering Minors

These minors are offered by our department.  They are matched with our faculty’s areas of expertise.

Minors in Related Fields

  • Business or Economics – if you’re interested in engineering management.
  • Foreign Languages – if you’re interested in international business or manufacturing.
  • Mathematics – if you’re interested in graduate studies in engineering or science.
  • Statistics – if you’re interested in almost any area including business, manufacturing, and research.
  • Data Acquisition and Industrial Control – if you’re interested in process automation and control.
  • Sustainable Biomaterials or Environmental Studies – if you’re interested in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
  • Chemistry – if you’re interested in deepening your chemistry knowledge.
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry – if you’re interested in pharmaceutical manufacturing (but also look at the bioprocess engineering minor).

We’ve also had students minor in unrelated fields because it interested them, like art, music, history, psychology, and others. That’s fine too.

Browse through the full list of minors available at Michigan Tech.

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What do I need to know to plan out a business minor with my ChE degree?

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Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements. Jodie Filpus-Paakola, the advisor for the business minor, has provided the additional information below to help you plan.

Block I

The following courses can double count:

  • EC 2001 Principles of Economics is a gen ed core Social Responsibility & Ethical Reasoning list. It is also on the HASS Social & Behavioral Science list. It can count for one of these requirements.
  • FIN 2400 Finance Literacy is on the HASS Restricted list.

Block II

Courses on this list may be offered online in the summer and are typically offered both fall and spring semesters. The following course can double count :

  • EC 3400 Economic Decision Analysis is on the HASS Social & Behavioral Science list.

Block III

The following course can double count:

  • OSM/ENG 4300 Project Management is on the ChE technical elective list, but requires statistics as a prereq. [Statistics is also on the technical elective list and is recommended.]

Elective Courses

The following courses can double count:

  • EC 3100 International Economics is on the HASS Social & Behavioral Science list, but requires EC 2001 Principles of Economics as a prereq.
  • HU 3120 Technical & Professional Communication is on the HASS Communication/Composition list.
  • PSY 4340 Culture & Cognition is on the HASS Social & Behavioral Science list, but requires PSY 2000 Intro to Psychology as a prereq.
  • SS 3650 Intellectual Property Management is on the HASS Social & Behavioral Science list.

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What do I need to know to plan out a minor in Alternative Energy Technology?

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Here is some additional scheduling information to help you plan. Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements.

Thermodynamics Course

Check with the department offering the course for the expected planned schedule.

Circuits Course

Select one course below.

  • EE 3010 Circuits and Instrumentation for Cyber Physical Systems. This is the circuits course that most students take because it is an introductory course designed for non-EE majors. It is usually offered every fall, spring, and summer, in-person and/or online. This course includes a required lab.
  • EE 2111 Electric Circuits I is intended for EE majors and is usually offered every fall, spring, and summer.
  • EET 1121 Circuits I is usually offered every spring and requires an additional lab EET 1122.
  • EET 1141 Basic Electronics is intended for College of Computing majors and is usually offered every fall and spring.

Energy Technology Courses

Take three or more credits from this list.

  • CM/ENT 3979 Alternative Energy Technology and Processes is usually offered every fall.
  • EE 3120 Electric Energy Systems is usually offered every fall and spring, in-person and online.
  • EE/MEEM 4295 Intro to Propulsion Systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and EE/MEEM 4296 Experimental Studies in Hybrid Electric Vehicles are usually offered every fall.
  • MEEM 4200 Principles of Energy Conversion, MEEM 4235 Wind Energy, and MEEM 4260 Fuel Cell Technology are usually offered every fall.

Energy & Society Courses

Take three or more credits from this list.

  • CM 3980 Sustainable Chemical Engineering is usually offered every fall and spring.
  • EC 4620 Energy Economics is usually offered every spring semester and can be also used as a HASS class. It is an upper-level HASS course and on the Social and Behavioral Science list. For chemical engineering students, this course usually has a time conflict with senior ChE classes.
  • ENG 4515 Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience is usually offered every fall.
  • ENG 4525 System Analysis for Sustainability and Resilience is usually offered every spring.
  • MEEM 4240 Combustion and Air Pollution is usually offered every fall.
  • MEEM 4685 Environmentally Responsible Design & Manufacturing has not been offered recently.
  • SS 3280 Anthropology of Energy is usually offered in the spring of even years and is a HASS course on the Social and Behavioral Science list.
  • SS 3800 Energy Policy & Technology is usually offered every spring and is a HASS course on the Social and Behavioral Science list. It’s also occasionally offered in the summer as an online course.
  • SS 3811 Energy Security and Justice and SS 3815 Energy and Society are usually offered fall of odd years and are HASS courses on the Social and Behavioral Science list.

Optional Elective Courses

Remaining credits can be additional courses from the Energy Technology and Energy & Society lists above or those listed below.

  • CM 4080 Undergraduate Research in Biofuels Engineering is offered on demand. If you are interested in doing undergraduate research in the chemical engineering department then you will need to talk to the faculty who are doing research in the biofuels engineering area to see if they have a project that you can work on with them. The chemical engineering faculty currently doing research in this area are Dr. Ong and Dr. Shonnard.
  • EE 4219 Intro to Electric Machinery and Drives is usually offered every spring, in-person and online.
  • EE 4226 Power Engineering Lab is usually offered every spring and occasionally summer and requires instructor permission to enroll.
  • EE 4227 Power Electronics is usually offered every fall, in-person and online.
  • EET 3390 Power Systems is usually offered every fall.
  • Enterprise Project Work with the Alternative Energy Enterprise team is approved for the minor. Project work in the alternative energy area with other Enterprise teams may also be approved. Email a brief description of your project to the chemical engineering advisor for approval.
  • MEEM 4220 Internal Combustion Engines I is usually offered every fall.
  • MEEM 4250 Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning is usually offered spring of odd years.
  • MEEM 4820 Intro to Aeropace Propulsion is usually offered every spring.
  • MET 4350 Principles and Application of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems is usually offered every spring.
  • MET 4390 Internal Combustion Engines is usually offered every fall.
  • MSE 4410 Science of Ceramic Materials is usually offered every spring.
  • Undergraduate Research in the alternative energy area from other departments may be approved. Email a brief description of your research to the chemical engineering advisor for approval. 

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What do I need to know to plan out a mineral processing minor?

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Here is some additional information to help you plan. Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements.

Required Mineral Processing and Mineralogy Courses

You need to take all three of these courses.

  • CM 2200 Intro to Minerals and Materials is usually offered every fall semester.
  • CM 3830 Mineral Processing and Extraction Lab is usually offered every spring semester.
  • GE 2300 Mineral Science is usually offered every fall semester. This course includes a lecture and laboratory.

Thermodynamics Courses

You need to take one course on the list. Check with the department offering the course for the expected planned schedule.

Elective Courses

You need to take at least seven credits from this list.

  • CM 3825 Sampling, Statistics, and Instrumentation has not been offered recently.
  • CM 4020 Undergrad Research in Mineral Processing Engineering is offered on demand. If you are interested in doing undergraduate research then you will need to talk to the faculty who are doing research in the mineral processing area to see if they have a project that you can work on with them. The faculty currently doing research in this area is Dr. Eisele and Dr. Pan.
  • CM 4505 Particle Technology is usually offered every other spring during even years, such as Spring ’22, Spring ’24, etc.
  • CM 4510 Interfacial Engineering is usually offered every other spring during odd years, such as Spring ’23, Spring ’25, etc.
  • CM/MSE 4740 Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy is usually offered every spring.
  • EC 4630 Mineral Industry Economics is usually offered every other spring semester and requires principles of economics as a prereq. However it hasn’t been offered recently and so you’ll need to check with the College of Business to see when it will be available next.
  • ENT XXXX Enterprise Project Work. If you are doing work in Enterprise that is in the mineral processing area then up to three credits of Enterprise may be approved to use towards the minor. Email a brief description of your project for each of the semesters that you wish to be considered for approval to the chemical engineering advisor.
  • GE 3400 Drilling and Blasting is usually offered every fall and requires additional prerequisites. However, if you have already completed both PH 2100 University Physics I and CM 2200 Intro to Minerals and Materials, then you might be able to get permission to enroll in the class. Contact the instructor of the course for consideration.
  • GE 4360 Bulk Material Dynamics and Engineering is usually offered every spring and requires additional prerequisites. However, if you are a chemical engineering student who has already completed both PH 2100 University Physics I and CM 3110 Transport & Unit Operations I, then you might be able to get permission to enroll in the class. Contact the instructor of the course for consideration.
  • MSE 3120 Materials Characterization I are offered every spring and require additional prerequisites and so you’ll need to plan ahead.
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What do I need to know to plan out a polymer science and engineering minor?

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Here is some additional scheduling information to help you plan. Go to the Registrar’s Office minor page for the most current list of requirements.

Introduction to Polymers Course

Select one course below:

  • BE 4300 Polymeric Biomaterials is usually offered spring of odd years, such as Spring ’23, Spring ’25, etc.
  • CM/CH 4610 Introduction to Polymer Science is usually offered every fall.
  • MSE 4110 Introduction to Polymer Engineering is usually offered every fall.

Chemistry or Engineering Courses

Check with the department offering the course for the expected planned schedule.

Elective Courses

Select remaining credits below:

  • BE 3300 Biomechanics I or MEEM 2150 Mechanics of Materials is usually offered every year.
  • BE 4335 Smart Polymers is usually offered fall of odd years, such as Fall ’21, Fall ’23, etc.
  • CH/CM 4620 Polymer Chemistry is usually offered every spring.
  • CH 4710 Biomolecular Chemistry is usually offered every fall but has a time conflict with CM 4855, which is required for senior chemical engineering students.
  • CM 4060 Undergraduate Research in Polymer Engineering is offered on demand. If you are interested in doing undergraduate research in the chemical engineering department then you will need to talk to the faculty who are doing research in the polymer engineering area to see if they have a project that you can work on with them. The faculty currently doing research in this area are Dr. Liu and Dr. Ong.
  • CM 4650 Polymer Rheology is no longer offered because the faculty retired.
  • ENG 4515 Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience is usually offered every fall. To use this class towards the minor you will need to complete a polymer-related term project. Email your topic to the chemical engineering advisor for approval.
  • ENT Enterprise Project Work. Up to 3 credits of Enterprise project work in the polymer science or engineering area may be approved. Email a brief description of your project to the chemical engineering for approval.
  • MEEM 4170 Failure of Materials in Mechanics is usually offered every spring.
  • MEEM 4635 Design with Plastics has not been offered recently. You will need to check with the Mechanical Engineering Department to see when it will be available next.
  • MSE 4430 Composite Materials is usually offered every spring.
  • Undergraduate Research in the polymer science and engineering area from other departments may be approved. Email a brief description of your research to the chemical engineering advisor for approval. Several students have done polymer chemistry research with Dr. Heiden in the Chemistry Department, as one example.

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