Option Requirements - Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

https://www.cce.caltech.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-chemical-engineering/option-requirements • 233 KB fetched
Open original page

Option Requirements

-

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

skip to main content

*

Access

*

Visit

*

Faculty

*

Students

*

Staff

*

Alumni

*

Directory

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

*

Faculty

Open Faculty submenu

*

Faculty

*

Instructional Faculty

*

Emeritus Faculty

*

In Memoriam

*

Undergraduate

Open Undergraduate submenu

*

Undergraduate Program

*

Chemistry

Open Chemistry submenu

*

Curriculum Plan Form (pdf)

*

Option Requirements

*

Minor in Chemistry

*

Double Majors

*

Senior Thesis

*

Course List

*

Chemical Engineering

Open Chemical Engineering submenu

*

Option Requirements

*

Typical Course Schedule

*

Undergraduate Laboratory

*

Course List

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Undergraduate FAQs

*

Curriculum Change Form (pdf)

*

CCE Course Listings

*

CCE Course Descriptions

*

Caltech Chemistry Club

Open Caltech Chemistry Club submenu

*

Caltech Chemistry Club Annual Speakers

*

Chemistry Club ExComm

*

Caltech AIChE

Open Caltech AIChE submenu

*

Caltech AIChE Excomm

*

FAQ

*

Graduate

Open Graduate submenu

*

Graduate Program

*

Chemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

Open Chemical Engineering submenu

*

Graduate Admissions for Chemical Engineering

*

Selecting an Advisor, Rotations, and Teaching Assistantship

*

Candidacy Report and Oral Exam

*

Course Requirements

*

Thesis Review Committee

*

Final Examination and Thesis Defense

*

Subject Minor in Chemical Engineering

*

Curriculum

*

Courses

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Seminars

*

ABET Accreditation

*

Frequently Asked Questions

*

Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Council

*

Biochemistry

*

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

Open Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics submenu

*

Homepage

*

BMB Research Areas

*

BMB Faculty

*

BMB GSC

*

Graduate Admission for BMB

*

BMB Courses

*

Seminars

*

BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only) OLD

*

BMB Facilities & Resources

*

BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only)

*

Biotechnology Leadership Program

*

Graduate Admissions

*

CCE Course Listings

*

CCE Course Descriptions

*

Research

Open Research submenu

*

Chemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

Open Chemical Engineering submenu

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Chemical Engineering News

*

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program

*

Chemical Engineering Graduate Program

*

Campus-wide research resources - Human health and medicine

*

Campus-wide research resources - Planet, environment, sustainability

*

Campus-wide research resources – Energy, catalysis, and materials

*

Research Centers

Open Research Centers submenu

*

Center for Molecular Medicine

*

Center for Catalysis and Chemical Synthesis (3CS)

*

Service Centers

Open Service Centers submenu

*

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Facility

*

Glass Shop

*

Liquid NMR Facility

*

Machine Shop

*

Mass Spectrometry

*

Solid State NMR Facility

*

FY2023 CCE Rate Sheet

*

For Postdoctoral Scholars

*

News & Events

Open News & Events submenu

*

News

*

Events

*

CCE Newsletters

*

Academic Calendar

*

CCE Seminars

Open CCE Seminars submenu

*

Biochemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

*

Chemical Physics

*

Inorganic Chemistry

*

Organic Chemistry

*

PhD Thesis Defense

*

Special Seminars & Awards

*

Named Lectures

*

CCE Alumni News

*

Community Programs

Open Community Programs submenu

*

James LuValle Award

*

Day of Inclusion 2025

*

Safety

Open Safety submenu

*

Chemical Safety

*

CCE Safety Reports

*

Resources

Open Resources submenu

*

Meeting Facilities

*

Caltech Resources

*

Caltech Library

*

Division Office

*

Stockroom Resources

*

About

Open About submenu

*

About CCE

*

Women in Chemistry

*

BOND

*

CCE Alumni and Giving

Open CCE Alumni and Giving submenu

*

Update your Alumni Information

*

Contact

*

Quick Links for Alumni

*

Visit Us

*

Contact Us

*

CCE Communications

*

Crellin Display Case

*

Search Search

Menu

Close

*

Faculty

Open Faculty submenu

*

Undergraduate

Open Undergraduate submenu

*

Graduate

Open Graduate submenu

*

Research

Open Research submenu

*

News & Events

Open News & Events submenu

*

Community Programs

Open Community Programs submenu

*

Safety

Open Safety submenu

*

Resources

Open Resources submenu

*

About

Open About submenu

*

Access

*

Visit

*

Faculty

*

Students

*

Staff

*

Alumni

*

*

Directory

Faculty

Back

*

Faculty

*

Instructional Faculty

*

Emeritus Faculty

*

In Memoriam

Undergraduate

Back

*

Undergraduate Program

*

Chemistry

*

Curriculum Plan Form (pdf)

*

Option Requirements

*

Minor in Chemistry

*

Double Majors

*

Senior Thesis

*

Course List

*

Chemical Engineering

*

Option Requirements

*

Typical Course Schedule

*

Undergraduate Laboratory

*

Course List

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Undergraduate FAQs

*

Curriculum Change Form (pdf)

*

CCE Course Listings

*

CCE Course Descriptions

*

Caltech Chemistry Club

*

Caltech Chemistry Club Annual Speakers

*

Chemistry Club ExComm

*

Caltech AIChE

*

Caltech AIChE Excomm

*

FAQ

Graduate

Back

*

Graduate Program

*

Chemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

*

Graduate Admissions for Chemical Engineering

*

Selecting an Advisor, Rotations, and Teaching Assistantship

*

Candidacy Report and Oral Exam

*

Course Requirements

*

Thesis Review Committee

*

Final Examination and Thesis Defense

*

Subject Minor in Chemical Engineering

*

Curriculum

*

Courses

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Seminars

*

ABET Accreditation

*

Frequently Asked Questions

*

Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Council

*

Biochemistry

*

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

*

Homepage

*

BMB Research Areas

*

BMB Faculty

*

BMB GSC

*

Graduate Admission for BMB

*

BMB Courses

*

Seminars

*

BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only) OLD

*

BMB Facilities & Resources

*

BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only)

*

Biotechnology Leadership Program

*

Graduate Admissions

*

CCE Course Listings

*

CCE Course Descriptions

Research

Back

*

Chemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Chemical Engineering News

*

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program

*

Chemical Engineering Graduate Program

*

Campus-wide research resources - Human health and medicine

*

Campus-wide research resources - Planet, environment, sustainability

*

Campus-wide research resources – Energy, catalysis, and materials

*

Research Centers

*

Center for Molecular Medicine

*

Center for Catalysis and Chemical Synthesis (3CS)

*

Service Centers

*

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Facility

*

Glass Shop

*

Liquid NMR Facility

*

Machine Shop

*

Mass Spectrometry

*

Solid State NMR Facility

*

FY2023 CCE Rate Sheet

*

For Postdoctoral Scholars

News & Events

Back

*

News

*

Events

*

CCE Newsletters

*

Academic Calendar

*

CCE Seminars

*

Biochemistry

*

Chemical Engineering

*

Chemical Physics

*

Inorganic Chemistry

*

Organic Chemistry

*

PhD Thesis Defense

*

Special Seminars & Awards

*

Named Lectures

*

CCE Alumni News

Community Programs

Back

*

James LuValle Award

*

Day of Inclusion 2025

Safety

Back

*

Chemical Safety

*

CCE Safety Reports

Resources

Back

*

Meeting Facilities

*

Caltech Resources

*

Caltech Library

*

Division Office

*

Stockroom Resources

About CCE

Back

*

About CCE

*

Women in Chemistry

*

BOND

*

CCE Alumni and Giving

*

Update your Alumni Information

*

Contact

*

Quick Links for Alumni

*

Visit Us

*

Contact Us

*

CCE Communications

*

Crellin Display Case

Search Search

Home

/

Undergraduate

/

Chemical Engineering

/

Option Requirements

Option Requirements in Chemical Engineering

Related Pages

Close

Chemical Engineering

*

Option Requirements

*

Typical Course Schedule

*

Undergraduate Laboratory

*

Course List

*

Chemical Engineering Faculty

*

Undergraduate FAQs

*

Curriculum Change Form (pdf)

Related Links

*
Academic Calendar

*
Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal

*
Counseling Center

*
Course Catalog

*
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

*
SURF Program

*
Undergraduate Admissions

*
Undergraduate Housing Office

You can find the option requirements below or in this easy-to-read graphic .

* Ma 2, Ph 2 a, Ch/ChE 9, ChE 15, Ch 21 ab † , Ch 41 ab †, ChE 62, ChE 63 ab, Ch/ChE 91 (or En/Wr 84), ACM 95 ab, ChE 101, ChE 103 abc, ChE 105, ChE 126, and one of [Ec 111, BEM 102, BEM 103] 1.

* Completion of a track (biomolecular, sustainability, process systems, materials, or computational), each consisting of at least 72 units of science or engineering courses. Students should inform the executive officer of their track choice by the beginning of the spring quarter of the sophomore year by providing a planned schedule for completion of all degree requirements. Requirements for the tracks are as follows.
a . Biomolecular Track : ChE/BE 163, Ch/Bi 110, [ChE 130 or ChE 90 c], and additional units of bioengineering or biochemical engineering electives or approved related courses. 3,4 b . Sustainability Track : two of [ChE 111, ESE 101, ESE 102, ESE 103], one of [ChE 128, ChE 90 c, Ge 114a], and additional units of 100-level ESE electives, 100-level EST electives or approved related courses. 3,4,5 c. Process Systems Track : ChE 118, ChE 120, [ChE 128 or ChE 90 c], and additional units of engineering electives, courses from the other tracks, or approved related courses. 3 d . Materials Track : [ChE 128 or ChE 90 c]; one course on materials synthesis or processing selected from [Ch/ChE 1472, ChE 1152, MS 133]; at least one course on the physical basis of structure and properties selected from [Ch 120, ChE/Ch 1482, MS 115, MS/APh 1222, MS 131, MS 132]; and additional units of chemical engineering, materials science, or applied physics elective courses selected from [ChE/Ch 1552, ChE/Ch 164, ChE/Ch 165, APh 109, APh 114 ab, any MS course], or approved related courses. 3,4 e . Computational Track : ACM/IDS 104, ChE 141, at least one course sequence from [Ch 121 ab; BE 163 & BE 191a2; ESE 101 & ESE 1362; Ae 232 ab2; ChE 90 abc], and additional units from ChE 142 or approved courses in IDS, ACM, CS or related options. 3. Passing grades must be earned in all courses required by the Institute and the option. None of the courses satisfying option requirements may be taken pass/fail (except when courses are only available P/F).
4. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above.
† As of March 2021, Ch 21c and Ch 41c are no longer option requirements, and these changes will first appear in the 2021-22 catalog, pending approval. Students who matriculated in 2020 or earlier may petition to substitute any courses for Ch 21c and Ch 41c, if desired.
1 The 9 units of Ec 11 or BEM 103 partially satisfy the Institute requirements in humanities and social sciences, but the 9 units of BEM 102 do not.
2 Course is not typically offered every academic year.
3 No more than 18 units of [ChE 90ab or ChE 80] may count as track electives.
4 ChE 118 and/or ChE 120 may be elected provided the design project undertaken contains a significant component relevant to the track.
5 Students in the sustainability track are encouraged to take one policy-related course [BEM/Ec/ESE 1192 or ME/EE/EST 1172] as a track elective

California Institute of Technology

1200 East California Boulevard

Pasadena, California 91125

Contact Us
|

Claimed Copyright Infringement
|

Digital Accessibility
|
Privacy Notice
|
Site Content Copyright (c) 2026

|
Log In

Links found on this page

1. skip to main content [direct]
2. Access [direct]
3. Visit [direct]
4. Faculty [direct]
5. Students [direct]
6. Staff [direct]
7. Alumni [direct]
8. Directory [direct]
9. Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering [direct]
10. Faculty [direct]
11. Instructional Faculty [direct]
12. Emeritus Faculty [direct]
13. In Memoriam [direct]
14. Undergraduate [direct]
15. Chemistry [direct]
16. Curriculum Plan Form (pdf) [direct]
17. Option Requirements [direct]
18. Minor in Chemistry [direct]
19. Double Majors [direct]
20. Senior Thesis [direct]
21. Course List [direct]
22. Chemical Engineering [direct]
23. Typical Course Schedule [direct]
24. Undergraduate Laboratory [direct]
25. Course List [direct]
26. Chemical Engineering Faculty [direct]
27. Undergraduate FAQs [direct]
28. Curriculum Change Form (pdf) [direct]
29. CCE Course Listings [direct]
30. CCE Course Descriptions [direct]
31. Caltech Chemistry Club [direct]
32. Caltech Chemistry Club Annual Speakers [direct]
33. Chemistry Club ExComm [direct]
34. Caltech AIChE [direct]
35. Caltech AIChE Excomm [direct]
36. FAQ [direct]
37. Graduate [direct]
38. Chemistry [direct]
39. Chemical Engineering [direct]
40. Graduate Admissions for Chemical Engineering [direct]
41. Selecting an Advisor, Rotations, and Teaching Assistantship [direct]
42. Candidacy Report and Oral Exam [direct]
43. Course Requirements [direct]
44. Thesis Review Committee [direct]
45. Final Examination and Thesis Defense [direct]
46. Subject Minor in Chemical Engineering [direct]
47. Curriculum [direct]
48. Courses [direct]
49. Seminars [direct]
50. ABET Accreditation [direct]
51. Frequently Asked Questions [direct]
52. Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Council [direct]
53. Biochemistry [direct]
54. Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics [direct]
55. BMB Research Areas [direct]
56. BMB Faculty [direct]
57. BMB GSC [direct]
58. Graduate Admission for BMB [direct]
59. BMB Courses [direct]
60. Seminars [direct]
61. BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only) OLD [direct]
62. BMB Facilities & Resources [direct]
63. BMB Option Handbook (Caltech Only) [direct]
64. Biotechnology Leadership Program [direct]
65. Graduate Admissions [direct]
66. Research [direct]
67. Chemistry [direct]
68. Chemical Engineering [direct]
69. Chemical Engineering Faculty [direct]
70. Chemical Engineering News [direct]
71. Campus-wide research resources - Human health and medicine [direct]
72. Campus-wide research resources - Planet, environment, sustainability [direct]
73. Campus-wide research resources – Energy, catalysis, and materials [direct]
74. Research Centers [direct]
75. Center for Molecular Medicine [direct]
76. Center for Catalysis and Chemical Synthesis (3CS) [direct]
77. Service Centers [direct]
78. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Facility [direct]
79. Glass Shop [direct]
80. Liquid NMR Facility [direct]