Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Advising

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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Are there any upcoming peer mentoring workshops?

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Yes! Here’s the current schedule for this semester. These are informal chats. Leave early, come late as your schedule permits.

Fall 2022

*Subscribe to the ChE advising events calendar for the most current date/time/location information.

Topic Date* Time* Location*
Student Organizations: Learn about how and why to involved in student orgs. Wednesday, September 7th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
Resumes: Bring your resume, even if it’s just a draft. Wednesday, September 14th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
Co-ops/Internships: What it’s like to do a co-op/internships and interview tips. Monday, September19th 7:00 pm Chem Sci 215
Preparing for Exams: Learn about campus resources to help you prepare for mid-terms. Tuesday, September 27th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
Enterprise: What it’s like to be on an Enterprise team. Wednesday, October 5th 5:00 pm Chem Sci 310
Registration: Start preparing for spring registration with tips on how to plan your schedule. Wednesday, October 12th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
Minors: Minor options and how to fit it in with your major requirements. Wednesday, October 19th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
Junior ChE Courses: If you’ll be taking junior-level ChE classes next semester then stop by for help planning your classes. Tuesday, October 25th 5:00 pm Chem Sci 310
Sophomore ChE Courses: If you’ll be taking sophomore-level ChE classes next semester then stop by for help planning your classes. Wednesday, October 26th 5:00 pm Chem Sci 310
First-year Courses: If you’ll be taking first-year classes next semester then stop by for help planning your classes. Tuesday, November 1st 5:00 pm Chem Sci 310
Research: What it’s like to do undergraduate research with a faculty member and how to find a research mentor. Tuesday, November 29th 6:30 pm Chem Sci 215
First-Semester Recap: How did your first semester go? Tell us about it. Tuesday, December 6th 5:00 pm Chem Sci 310

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How do I fit in a co-op?

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Be prepare for a co-op to delay your graduation by one year because of the order that the ChE classes need to be taken. These classes are also only offered in certain semesters. You can use this as an opportunity to fit in two co-op experiences. The table below shows one way to do this. Another option is to use the extra semester to spread out your classes and/or fit in a minor or study abroad.

Year Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
First Year Classes.
Take calc I plus all the usual fall freshman classes. Most of these classes are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. 		Classes.
Take calc II plus all the usual spring freshman classes. Most of these classes are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. 		Open.
Work and take a break.
Second Year Classes.
Take the usual fall sophomore classes. Some of these classes are only offered in the fall and summer. 		Classes.
Take the usual spring sophomore classes. Most of these classes are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. 		Co-op 1.
On first co-op for 6 months (summer-fall)
Third Year Co-op 1.
On first co-op for 6 months (summer-fall) 		Classes.
Take the usual fall junior classes. These classes are offered in the fall and spring and are prereqs for the spring junior classes. 		Co-op 2.
On second co-op for 6 months (summer-fall)
Fourth Year Co-op 2.
On second co-op for 6 months (summer-fall) 		Classes.
Take the usual spring junior classes. These classes are only offered in the spring and are prereqs for the fall senior classes. 		Open.
Finding a summer internship is usually easier when you have previous co-op experience.
Fifth Year Classes.
Take the usual fall senior classes. These classes are only offered in the fall and are prereqs for the spring senior classes. 		Classes.
Take the usual spring senior classes. These classes are only offered in the spring. 		Graduated!!
Start your full-time job with a significant amount of industrial experience!
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What information needs be in my capstone design abstract?

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Your project summary will need to addresses the following topics. If your project is though an Enterprise team then you’ll use the Enterprise project template.

Background

This is a brief description of the context of the project.

Functional Requirements

This is what the device or process should be able to do.

Realistic Constraints

These are your design boundaries. You are required to address the following.

  • Engineering Codes and Standards. Codes are legally enforceable, such as ASME BPV, OSHA, 1990 Clean Air Act, RCRA, CERCLA (Superfund), etc. Standards are best practices, such as TEMA, ASTM, etc.
  • Economic Factors. Examples are process or product cost, market pricing, market opportunities, target markets, pricing, minimum selling price, availability of raw materials, etc.
  • Physical Limitations. Examples are size, weight, ergonomics, user interface, service life, ability to operate in a hazardous environment, etc.
  • Health and Safety Issues. Examples are laboratory practices, OSHA regulations, operator exposure to toxic chemicals, mechanical guarding, hot surfaces, fire and explosion situations, fail-safe mode, handling spills, etc.
  • Environmental Concerns. Examples are EPA regulations, identifying and handling air emissions and liquid/solid wastes, etc.
  • Ethical Conduct. Examples are adherence to codes of ethics from organizations like AIChE or the Order of the Engineer, responsible conduct of research, etc.
  • Include additional constraints when applicable. Examples are sustainability, manufacturability, constructability, social ramification, political factors, legal issues, etc.

Deliverables

These are the final outputs of your project. You are required to include an economic analysis as part of your deliverables. The analysis should considers economic factors from both customer and sponsor perspectives when possible. Describe your intended economic analysis and include the types of economic factors that will be considered.

Sponsor Interactions

If you have a sponsor, this is a description of how your sponsor is involved. Sponsors sometimes provide information and materials as well as communication throughout the project.

Team Organization

This is a description of your team. Include team member names, major, and year in school.

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What needs to be in my senior design abstract for Enterprise?

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Go to the Enterprise Student Resources page, Project Template section, and download the Enterprise Project Summary (all other majors). If there are other ChE students on your team who are also using the project for senior design then you should be submitting the same abstract.

There is a nice description of what to include in each section in the template. Use that as your guide. We will also be looking for additional information in the following sections based on our general abstract guidelines:

Anticipated Outcomes of the Student Team

In this section include an economic analysis as part of your project deliverables. This analysis should addresses economic factors from both customer and sponsor perspectives where possible. Give a brief description of your intended analysis and indicate the types of economic factors that will be considered.

Special Notes

In this section include a description of the realistic constraints. At a minimum specifically address each of the following, using the same subheadings:

  • Engineering Codes and Standards. Codes are legally enforceable, such as ASME BPV, OSHA, 1990 Clean Air Act, RCRA, CERCLA (Superfund), etc. Standards are best practices, such as TEMA, ASTM, etc.
  • Economic Factors. Examples are process or product cost, market pricing, market opportunities, target markets, pricing, minimum selling price, availability of raw materials, etc.
  • Physical Limitations. Examples are size, weight, ergonomics, user interface, service life, ability to operate in a hazardous environment, etc.
  • Health and Safety Issues. Examples are laboratory practices, OSHA regulations, operator exposure to toxic chemicals, mechanical guarding, hot surfaces, fire and explosion situations, fail-safe mode, handling spills, etc.
  • Environmental Concerns. Examples are EPA regulations, identifying and handling air emissions and liquid/solid wastes, etc.
  • Ethical Conduct. Examples are adherence to codes of ethics from organizations like AIChE or the Order of the Engineer, responsible conduct of research, etc.
  • Additional realistic constraints should also be addressed where applicable. This may include: sustainability, manufacturability, constructability, social ramification, political factors, legal issues, etc.

Michigan Tech to Provide

In this section include a description of your team make-up including team member names, their major, and their year in school.

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What is the difference between a co-op and an internship?

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A co-op is usually longer and during the school year. An internship is usually shorter and during the summer.

It is usually easier to find a co-op than a summer internship.

You can earn college credit while working by taking the co-op class. During the fall and spring semesters some students need student status for financial aid or insurance reasons. In this case, you will need to enroll in the co-op class or some other online course. During the summer, in most cases, it is up to you on whether or not to seek the co-op credit.

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