Chemical Engineering
Experiential Major Menu
BS, Chemical Engineering
WHERE CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS GO
Students pursuits one-year post-graduation:
- Employed: 70%
- Further Education: 21%
- Seeking: 9%
Industries of employment for students one-year out:
- Biotech/Bioengineering/Pharmaceuticals
- Aerospace/Defense/Aviation
- Healthcare/Medical Equipment
- Civil/Construction & Building Trades
- Consulting
- High Tech/ Information Technology
- Energy
- Oil & Gas
- Manufacturing/Machinery/Equipment
- Electronics/Electrical
Job titles of our graduates one-year out:
- Field Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Manufacturing/Production Engineer
- Research Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Project Manager
- Quality Control/Validation Engineer
- Research Associate
- Nuclear Test Enginee
*Data from 2024 graduates
This menu is a tool for you to use to explore opportunities at Mines outside of the classroom. These are not requirements, but rather recommendations to help you leverage what Mines has to offer. Just like at a restaurant, choose what looks best to you and start from there! This menu can help you create your own pathway and customize your experience during your time at Mines.
The activities are placed in specific years below based off staff and faculty recommendations, but you can participate in most of them at any time. There is never a wrong time to get involved if you’re looking, and no pressure to do any of these things!
Get to know Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering is a broad field encompassing chemistry, biology, math and physics. It explores how materials are processed and produced, from design to large-scale manufacturing through chemical and biochemical processes.
Our degree is consistently shown to have some of the highest lifetime returns on investment for a public US university in an engineering department. The ABET-accredited degree offers increased flexibility in elective options and provides optional specialty tracks in Process Engineering and Biological Engineering. There is an emphasis on active learning starting with Studio Biology at the freshman level, research labs, and a six-week intensive field session.
Academic options in Chemical Engineering
Explore the options below to see how to expand upon a Chemical Engineering degree and what to expect from the course load.
Frequently Pursued Minors
Common 4+1 Programs
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, Data Science, Nuclear Engineering, Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering (QBE)
Popular Masters Programs
Academic Catalog
Get Involved
Attend Celebration of Mines in August to get to know campus organizations and academic departments, sample food, and play games. Below are some departments that offer many great opportunities to enhance your experience here at Mines.
Contact Us:
1613 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401 CBE@mines.edu 303-273-3720 https://chemeng.mines.edu
Experiential Major Menu Opportunities
The online Experiential Major Menus are designed for accessibility. A PDF with the same content is available above to download and/or print but may not be fully accessible for all users. If you experience barriers to accessing this content or need an alternate format, please contact trail@mines.edu.
First Year
Leadership & Innovation
- Explore opportunities to get involved with the Undergraduate Student Government
- Explore options to get involved with CLSA and Community Councils
Professional Development
- Attend Lunch and Learn events to learn about careers in different organizations (departmental)
- Update or create a college resume and get it reviewed with feedback
- Attend Career Day
- Use DiggerNet or Workday for employment opportunities
Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement
- Explore the option of a summer with SURF or REU or a semester with MURF
- Pick up copies of The Oredigger to see what is going on at Mines and maybe contribute a written piece.
- Explore how to get involved with research through different opportunities on campus
Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement
- Look into going on a CBE Faculty Lead Study Abroad trip (departmental)
- Volunteer as a mentor for K-14 student with Rocky Mountain MESA
- Join Society of Women Engineers as a mentee
- Attend the Study Abroad Fair this Fall to start exploring your options. Additional scholarships may be available.
Health & Wellness
- Participate in Oredigger Camp to build your Mines community before classes start
- Balance studying for finals with wellness activities during Stress Less Week
- Become familiar with the Counseling Center’s services
- Attend a QPR suicide prevention training
- Attend a Bystander Intervention workshop
- Attend Fresh Check Day
- Take a group fitness class
Academic Success
- Request access from cbe@mines.edu to the CBE UG Communications Canvas site and explore it each semester for helpful advising sheets, elective information, and research and career information (departmental)
- Sign your family or support system up for Oredigger Family Portal so they can support your academic success
- Engage in major exposure and exploration activities.
- Develop good study habits and find academic support across campus
- Attend first-year group advising opportunities
Second Year
Leadership & Innovation
- Join the International Genetically Engineered Machine, iGEM, on the Mines competition team (departmental)
- Join AIChE for free as a student member and check out the Mines chapter (departmental)
- Attend the Leadership Summit and develop your leadership skills right on campus
- Participate in the Leadership Workshop Series with SAIL
- Attend the Hennebach Program lectures
- Sign up to engage in innovative thinking and real-world problem solving with Innov8x Challenge
Professional Development
- Look into the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (departmental)
- Participate in Career Day to network
- Create a LinkedIn Profile
- Enroll in CSM 250 to plan your career path
- Explore ethics opportunities across campus
- Attend VIP events each semester
Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement
- Look into the Honors Research track (departmental)
- Attend the Emerging Scholars Seminar Series to learn about various research topics
- Find a faculty member you are interested in working with and apply for MURF
- Explore classes offered through HASS
Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement
- Participate in outreach at local elementary schools
- Participate in Girls Lead The Way
- See how you can contribute to Mines Without Borders projects
Health & Wellness
- Join CBE Pizza with the Profs (departmental)
- Sign up to be a part of intramural sports
- Get financially savvy with Money Matters
- Participate in a Peer Educator led workshop
- Utilize YOU@Mines to find personalized wellness resources to succeed, thrive & matter at Mines
- Apply to be a Betsy’s Friends Peer Educator
- Check on your own health at the Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Fair in February
Academic Success
- Attend major-specific group or individual advising opportunities
- Explore Bounce Back for academic coaching if you are experiencing any academic set-backs
- Use degree planning tools to create a semester by-semester degree completion plan
- Refine your plan by considering optional tracks or minors, if of interest/applicable
Third Year
Leadership & Innovation
- Become an officer in your student organization
- Apply to be an Undergraduate Writing Fellow, a peer tutor in the Writing Center. Check the Daily Blast for information in early October.
Professional Development
- Attend the AIChE regional meeting (departmental)
- Consider opportunities for graduate schools
- Attend Career Day for summer internship positions
- Take Introduction to Research Ethics (SYGN 502) or Professional Oral Communication (LICM 501), both are graduate classes but accessible to Undergraduates.
- Write an article for SWE’s annual newsletter
- Be a tutor or lead core review with CASA
Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement
- Show your research outcomes in Reuleaux
- Explore options to join a musical group on campus or Mines Little Theater
- Take Research, Values, and Communication (HASS 360)
- Co-author a paper with a fellow student or faculty member
- Manage departmental or student organization’s web and/or social media presence
Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement
- Assist with Trick-or-Treat so Golden Can Eat, more information in Daily Blast
- Explore trainings from SHAPE
- Connect with Admissions to help welcome and recruit students to Mines
- Coordinate an S2S community service event
Health & Wellness
- Adventure with the Outdoor Recreation Center through an organized trip (domestic or international!) or rent gear to have one of your own
- Get CPR/First Aid certified
- Prioritize your sleep by grabbing a Bedtime Box
- Organize a suicide prevention training or a Peer Education workshop for your student organization
- Destress with some therapy dogs at Pause for Paws
- Do a personal training session with Rec Sports
Academic Success
- Apply for a 4 + 1 Program (departmental)
- Participate in Summer Field Session this upcoming summer or next (departmental)
- Start to request letters of recommendation
- Check your degree evaluation each semester to ensure you are on-track for your graduation goals. Work with your CASA advisor for any questions.
Fourth Year
Leadership & Innovation
- Expand your leadership in your organization
- Take CSM 350: Special Studies in Leadership & Small Group Dynamics
Professional Development
- Look for full time employment at Career Day and on DiggerNet.
- Apply to graduate school
- Take advantage of the Career Center’s Offer Letter Review
Research, Creative & Scholarly Achievement
- Submit a piece of visual art, fiction, poetry or music to High Grade
- Present at a conference
- Present at Mines Undergraduate Research Symposium in the spring
Inclusive & Impactful Civic Engagement
- Tutor at a local high school
- Take Art & Environmentalism in Italy
Health & Wellness
- Show your loved ones everything you love about Mines at Family & Friends weekend
- Participate in the Imposter Syndrome Peer Education workshop before heading out into the workforce or graduate school
- Help manage your stress with a Balanced Box
- Take a Self-Check at YOU@Mines
- Do a QPR refresh
Academic Success
- Review your degree evaluation to ensure everything will be complete for your degree to be awarded.