Letter to Incoming UG Students

CU Boulder campusWelcome to Chemical and Biological Engineering!  Please read this letter carefully so that you make the right choices for the fall. Suggested course guidelines will help to ensure that you are on track for your degree program.

If you are coming to CU-Boulder with no AP or IB credits, we suggest that you take the following courses during the Freshman Fall semester:
 
    CHEN 1211/CHEM 1221 - Chemistry for Engineers -
    5 credits
    GEEN 1300 - Introduction to Computing - 3 credits
    APPM 1350 - Calculus 1 - 4 credits
    A Humanities and Social Science course - 3 credits

NOTE: Before you are eligible to register, you must complete the Online Math Assessment. Information on the Math Assessment is included in your information packet from Dean Mary Steiner.
Once you have completed the assessment, take one of the following actions:
For students with AP Calculus credit, take the course that is recommended via the Math Assessment.
For students with NO Calculus credit, take Calculus 1.

Your AP/IB exam score will determine your Chemistry requirement for the department.
   If your score is a "5":
You have placed out of the Chemistry requirement for the department.
In this case we suggest you take Physics 1 instead of Chemistry for Engineers.
   If your score is a "4":
You will be given credit for CHEM 1111. You will need to enroll for either CHEM 1131 or
CHEN 1211/CHEM 1221.

If you do take CHEM 1131, you can apply this course towards the completion of a Chemistry or Biochemistry minor due to the number of Chemistry courses in the Chemical & Biological Engineering Department curriculum.
Note: (To obtain a CHEM or BioCHEM Minor you will need to contact the Chemistry department as soon as you have completed the necessary courses - usually during your junior year).
We suggest you sign up for Physics 1 or Chemistry 2 in the Fall - depending on your course schedule then take the other class in the Spring

If you are coming to our department with Physics credits, please be aware that only AP Physics-C examination credits will count towards our degree. All other students should enroll for Physics 1.

The Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering requires all students to enroll in 1 semester (or 1 year) of Biology. This requirement differs from many other majors at CU.
This requirement can be satisfied by:

  • Receiving a score of either a 4 or 5 on the AP/IB Biology exam;

  • Enrolling in MCDB 1150
    (offered in the fall semester);

  • Enrolling in CHEN 2810
    (offered in the Spring semester);

  • Or by enrolling in both EBIO 1210 and 1220
    ( a two semester sequence course)

Students considering a pre-med career path follow a more restricted schedule.

  • First, if you DO NOT have AP or IB credit for Biology, you will need to enroll in two semesters of Biology with lab. The ChBE Department recommends the MCDB sequence of Biology courses.

  • Second, pre-med option students have a more limited choice of humanities courses.

    If your major is Chemical Engineering
    Enroll in a literature course as your Humanities and Social Sciences choice. The pre-med advisors recommend an English lit class such as ENGL 1500.

    If you received a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the English Literature and Composition AP test OR you received a score of 4 on the English A-2 Higher IB test, you will receive credit for ENGL 1500. In this case, you can instead consider enrolling in another literature course or enrolling in MCDB 1150 with the lab during your first semester.

    If your major is Chemical and Biological Engineering:
    Instead of taking a Humanities and Social Science course your first semester, enroll in MCDB 1150 and 1151

We hope that this information gives you some guidance for your initial schedule.

Further information is available on our website: Click on "Current Students" on the right sidebar.  Information on advising can be found on the "Advising" tab. You can find details on the different curriculum options, as well as the lists of courses that will fulfill humanities and technical elective requirements. Information regarding the application of AP and IB credits to your curriculum can also be found online.

I look forward to meeting all of you at orientation in August.

Janet deGrazia
Associate Chair

Resources and Information for Incoming Students:

Chemical Engineering Help Guide

University of Colorado Honor Code

Can't find your answer? E-mail the ChBE Dept or Undergraduate Advisor Dr. Deb Renshaw.