is biochem and physical chem double major a wise choice for someone who wants to become a chemical engineer?

Question

if I wanted to engineer chemicals, (example: polymers and industrial chemicals and such, other things somewhat relevant to biology), would a biochem and chem double major help alot or would it be overkill?

Answer 1

The curricula for a major in Chemistry (Biochem or P-Chem) is dramatically different from that of a Chemical Engineer. Look at your college course book to see the different courses required for a major in chemistry versus those required for a major in chem E.

My college roommate was a Chem E, I got my degree in Analytical/P-Chem, and we were in only a half-dozen courses together over four years (our polymer chem class was one of them, but only because it was the **only** polymer chemistry class offered at the college!).

Answer 2

You would be better off majoring in, oo i dont know, chem engineering.

I am a biochemist and what I do and know has very little to do with a chem engineer job at the company I work for (1 of the top 3 chem co's in the world). Biochem isnt really going to aid a chem engineer in the plant operations or setups or designs. Physical chem would be the best there as you will learn more about properties and such of chemicals. Biochem will teach you more about how chemistry occurs in our bodies.

If you want to be a chem engineer though, you need to major in chem engineering and focus on some math as well.

Maybe it would help you to find out more about what a chem eng does.

Answer 3

It depends on your stamina as a student. Putting yourself through a rigorous double-major curriculum might be detrimental in the long run. If you spread yourself too thin, you may not have the ability to really excell. If you truly want to pursue the engineering degree, I'd say that's what the (single)major should be, and then supplement your schedule with some biochem, etc.

Answer 4

why not major in chemical engineering?