Undergraduate Course Syllabi

This page offers syllabi for courses regularly offered by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. For a complete list of chemical and biological engineering courses, please visit CU Boulder's official course catalog for biological engineering and chemical engineering.

If a syllabus for your course of interest isn't listed, please contact chemeng@colorado.edu to inquire whether one is available. Please note, syllabi are subject to change. The version provided in class may differ from the one posted on this page.

CHEN 1000 (3). Creative Technology

Delve into cutting-edge topics such as the science of climate change, biotechnology, biomedical devices, advanced materials, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability! This course will introduce undergraduate students to the most recent concepts in technology and how these concepts impact all aspects of life, including human health and the health of the planet.  Download the CHEN 1000 syllabus.

CHEN 1201 (4). General Chemistry for Engineers 1

A one-semester course designed to meet the general chemistry requirement for engineering students. Topics include stoichiometry; thermodynamics; gases, liquids, and solids; equilibrium; acids and bases; bonding concepts; kinetics; reactions; and materials science. Examples and problems illustrate the application of chemistry to engineering sub-disciplines. Download the CHEN 1201 syllabus.

CHEN 1203 (2), General Chemistry for Engineers 2

Designed for students whose academic plans require advanced work in chemistry. Topics include kinetics, solubility/solubility equilibria, acid-bases, buffers and titrations, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Examples and problems illustrate the application of chemistry to engineering sub-disciplines. AP Chemistry credit not accepted in lieu of any of these prereq classes. Download the CHEN 1203 syllabus.

CHEN 1300 (1). Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Meets for one lecture per week. Introduces chemical engineering emphasizing history of the profession, curriculum, chemical industry, and industrial chemistry. Includes industry visits, oral presentations, faculty and professional meetings, and development of a goals statement. Download the CHEN 1300 syllabus.

CHEN 1310 (3). Introduction to Computing for Engineers

Introduces the use of computers in engineering problem solving, including elementary numerical methods. Teaches programming fundamentals, including data and algorithm structure, and modular programming. Software vehicles include Excel/Vba and Matlab. Download the CHEN 1310 syllabus.

CHEN 2120 (3). Chemical Engineering Material and Energy Balances

Provides a basic understanding of chemical engineering calculations involving material and energy balances around simple chemical processes. Download the CHEN 2120 syllabus.

CHEN 2810 (3). Biology for Engineers

Develops a basic understanding of the science of biology, including an introduction to the disciplines of biochemistry, cell organization, metabolism, genetics, genomics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology and evolution. Provides a basic introduction to several key techniques used in biological engineering laboratories. Uses examples of complex and creative structures engineered by natural processes. Download the CHEN 2810 syllabus.

CHEN 2840 (1-4). Independent Study

Available to sophomores with approval of Department of Chemical Engineering. Subject arranged to fit needs of student.

CHEN 3010 (3). Applied Data Analysis

Teaches students to analyze and interpret data. Topics include engineering measurements, graphical presentation and numerical treatment of data, statistical inference, and regression analysis. Download the CHEN 3010 syllabus.

CHEN 3200 (3). Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics

Introduces fluid mechanics and momentum transfer, emphasizing the application of these principles to chemical engineering systems. Download the CHEN 3200 syllabus.

CHEN 3210 (4) Chemical Engineering Heat and Mass Transfer

Examines conservation and transfer of thermal energy. Focuses on conduction and convection of heat in the context of chemical processes, with a special focus on heat exchangers. Also studies thermal radiation. Download the CHEN 3210 syllabus.

CHEN 3211 (1) Chemical Engineering Mass Transfer

Study of mass-transfer rate processes, including diffusion, convection, microscopic material balances, and correlations for mass-transfer coefficients. Requires department approval and a department-approved heat transfer course.  Download the CHEN 3211 syllabus.

CHEN 3220 (3). Chemical Engineering Separations and Mass Transfer

Studies separation methods including distillation, absorption, and extraction, and graphical and computer-based solutions to separation problems. Also studies mass transfer rate processes, including diffusion, microscopic material balances, and correlations for mass transfer coefficients. Applies mass transfer rate theory to packed and tray columns. Download the CHEN 3220 syllabus.

CHEN 3320 (3). Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Applies thermodynamic principles to nonideal systems, phase equilibrium, chemical equilibrium, power generation, refrigeration, and chemical processes.  Download the CHEN 3320 syllabus.

CHEN 3660 (3). Energy Fundamentals

Explains the most important energy technologies and systems; provides tools to analyze performance using science and engineering principles. This course will investigate important energy concepts from sources and extraction to utilization, storage and efficiency. Topics include fossil fuels, hydropower, renewable energy, biofuels, carbon capture and waste disposal. 

CHEN 3838 (3). Special Topics

CHEN 3840 (1-4). Independent Study

Available to juniors with approval of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Subject arranged to fit needs of the student.

CHEN 4010 (2). Chemical Engineering Senior Thesis 1

Provides an opportunity for advanced students to conduct exploratory research in chemical engineering.

CHEN 4020 (2). Chemical Engineering Senior Thesis 2

Continuation of CHEN 4010. CHEN 4010 and 4020 can substitute for CHEN 4130 or CHEN 4810.

CHEN 4090 (1). Undergraduate Seminar

Provides chemical engineering career and professional information, facilitates contact with faculty and industry representatives, and improves communication and leadership skills. Consists of a series of seminars and field trips and requires a research project involving a written and oral report. Download the CHEN 4090 syllabus.

CHEN 4130 (3). Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Involves planning and execution of chemical engineering experiments on mass transfer operations, separations, and chemical reactors. Interprets experimental data with theoretical principles and statistical analysis. Emphasizes communication with written memos, full reports, and oral presentations. Download the CHEN 4130, section 1 syllabus; Download the CHEN 4130, section 2 syllabus.

CHEN 4330 (3). Chemical Engineering Reaction Kinetics

Introduces chemical kinetics and chemical reactor design. Involves mass and energy balances for steady-state and transient reactor systems. Also covers residence time distribution, mass transfer, catalytic reactions, and multiple steady states in reactors. Download the CHEN 4330 syllabus.

CHEN 4440 (3). Chemical Engineering Materials

Introduces materials engineering, including properties of polymers, metals, ceramics, and semiconductors, especially as related to chemical engineering processes. Download the CHEN 4440 syllabus.

CHEN 4450 (3). Polymer Chemistry

Lect. Introduces polymer science with a focus on polymer chemistry and polymerization reactions. Focuses on polymerization reaction engineering and how polymer properties depend on structure.

CHEN 4460 (3). Polymer Engineering

Introductory polymer engineering course reviewing basic terminology and definitions; the properties and synthetic routes of important industrial polymers; and processing of polymers and their applications. Download the CHEN 4460 syllabus.

CHEN 4520 (3). Chemical Process Synthesis

Studies applied chemical process design including equipment specification and economic evaluation. Download the CHEN 4520 syllabus.

CHEN 4521 (3). Physical Chemistry for Engineers

Examines the laws of classical thermodynamics followed by physical transformations of pure substances, the thermodynamics of simple mixtures and chemical equilibrium. Applies quantum theory to atomic and molecular structure. Presents the concepts and applications of statistical thermodynamics. Introduces rates of chemical reactions, reaction dynamics and catalysis. Download the CHEN 4521 syllabus.

CHEN 4530 (2). Chemical Engineering Design Project

Provides a team-based capstone design experience for chemical engineering students. Projects are sponsored by industry and design teams collaborate with industrial consultants. Projects consider chemical process and product design with emphasis on economics analysis. Deliverables include an oral mid-project design review, a final oral presentation, and final written report. Download the CHEN 4530 syllabus.

CHEN 4570 (4). Instrumentation and Process Control

Examines principles of control theory and their application to chemical processes. Focuses on single-loop feedback and feedforward control. Laboratory sessions cover measurement fundamentals, signal transmission, dynamic testing, control system synthesis, and implementation and adjustment. Download the CHEN 4570 syllabus.

CHEN 4630 (1). Intellectual Property Law and Engineering

Learn the fundamentals of various types of intellectual property, obtain the ability to search the USPTO database for patents, learn the difference between provisional patents, utility patents and foreign patents, and learn the timing requirements related to the filing of patents and public disclosure, use and/or sale of an invention. Download the CHEN 4630 syllabus.

CHEN 4650 (3). Particle Technology

Aims to identify the important physical mechanisms occurring in processes involving particles, formulate and solve mathematical descriptions of such processes, and analyze experimental and theoretical results in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. Teaches students to apply this knowledge to the design of particulate systems. Conveys the breadth and depth of natural and industrial applications involving particulates.

CHEN 4801 (3). Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Focuses on the engineering needed to bring therapeutic products derived from living organisms (e.g., proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA) from the production plant to the patient. Covers the challenges of keeping these products "active" as they are stored, shipped, and administered to patients.

CHEN 4802 (3). Tissue Engineering and Medical Devices

The purpose of this course is to develop a basic understanding of quantitative and qualitative aspects of tissue engineering and medical devices. Particular emphasis will be placed on topics of potential importance and significance to chemical and biological engineers. Students will be introduced to important professional, societal and entrepreneurial issues in the field by examining case studies in which drugs and medical products have been developed or are being considered for FDA approval and clinical use. Download the CHEN 4802 syllabus.

CHEN 4803 (3). Metabolic Engineering

Metabolic engineering involves the application of molecular biological tools along with biological and engineering theory for the purposes of engineering cell metabolism. Metabolism is defined as the totality of chemical reactions that take place in an organism. As such, metabolism describes a wide range of different cellular functions covering a range of applications relevant to chemical and biological engineers (strain engineering, enzyme engineering, tissue engineering) as well as basic biologists (biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology). This upper level undergraduate course will introduce basic concepts in metabolic engineering and explore modern approaches in metabolic and strain engineering. Application areas that will be discussed will include the use of metabolic engineering approaches in biofuels and biorefining as well as biopharmaceutical production.

CHEN 4805 (3). Biomaterials

Provides an overview of biomaterials. Covers major classes of materials used in medical applications, properties, degradation mechanisms, and characterizations methods, foreign body response, methods to control physiological response to biomaterial surfaces, biocompatibility, biomaterials used in soft and hard tissue replacements, drug delivery devices and tissue engineering, and design criteria for developing a material for a given biological application. Download the CHEN 4805 syllabus.

CHEN 4810 (3). Biological Engineering Laboratory

Involves planning and execution of chemical engineering experiments on mass transfer operations, bioseparations, and biological reactors. Interprets experimental data with theoretical principles and statistical analysis. Emphasizes communication with written memos, full reports and oral presentations. Download the CHEN 4810 syllabus.

CHEN 4820 (3). Biochemical Separations

Lect. and lab. Presents purification methods, mass transfer coefficients, problems specific to biologicals, and scale-up of processes. Also covers chromatography, phase extraction, supercritical fluids, sedimentation, precipitation, electrophoresis, dialysis, affinity techniques, cell separation, application of separations to bioreactors, and comparison of batch and continuous processes. Download the CHEN 4820 syllabus.

CHEN 4830 (3). Chemical Engineering Biokinetics

Introduces chemical kinetics, chemical reactor design, and biological kinetics. Involves mass and energy balances for steady-state and transient reactor systems. Also covers residence time distribution, mass transfer, catalytic reactions, multiple steady states in reactors, enzyme kinetics, metabolic networks, and cell growth kinetics. Download the CHEN 4830 syllabus.

CHEN 4836 (3). Nanomaterials

Presents fundamental chemical and physical concepts that give rise to the unique optical, electronic and magnetic properties of nanoscale materials. Introduces important synthetic routes for producing nanomaterials, and interparticle forces governing colloidal behavior and self-assembly. Discusses current and potential applications in catalysis, biomedicine, renewable energy, and other fields. Download the CHEN 4836 syllabus.

CHEN 4838 (1-4). Special Topics in Chemical Engineering

Senior topics courses offered upon demand. 

CHEN 4840 (1-4). Independent Study

Available to seniors with approval of chemical engineering department. Subject arranged to fit needs of student.

This page was updated on June 2, 2025.