Introduction

Chemical engineering was first taught at OU in 1912 and the first graduate degree was granted in 1918. Over the years that followed, the program has developed curricula with traditional strength in fundamentals, while tailoring electives for specializations suited to contemporary and future industrial need. In 1963, the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering were combined into the School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. The name was recently changed to the school of Chemical Biological and Materials Engineering (CBME). This was done to reflect the increasing activities in the bioengineering area.

Our dynamic faculty are dedicated to a program of the highest quality and to leadership at the forefront of the profession it serves. This dedication and the cooperative spirit of CBME faculty has fueled a superior level of productivity. The school has developed a very broad base of external research support. A listing of recent research projects shows support from 22 different sources, including the National Science Foundation, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, The Department of Defense, The National Institutes of Health, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, and 10 companies. Every faculty member has an active research program and is receiving external funding.

The Chemical Engineering program at the University of Oklahoma is one of the largest programs in the College of Engineering. Historically it has been closely aligned with the petroleum and petrochemicals industry, but has aggressively moved into the newest areas of materials science and biotechnology. There are currently about 250 students served by 16 faculty members, with a student-faculty ratio of 16:1.

Program Strengths

1. The CBME faculty is dedicated to both teaching and research and exhibits high morale and enthusiasm. There is good diversity with regard to specialization, age, and PhD institution.

2. An active research program is in place with good links to other departments, such as chemistry and medicine. Many undergraduates have the opportunity to do research via senior research and research honors programs.

3. The student body is a major strength of the OU chemical engineering department. They are bright and generally self confident and well spoken. There is close rapport with the faculty. Undergraduate diversity is outstanding with enrollments comprising about 40% female and 30% historically underrepresented minorities.

Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) through 2012.

CBME occupies 24,000 square feet of OU's Energy Center, which is the largest single facility constructed for higher education in Oklahoma. Purpose-built laboratory spaces provide safe and efficient accommodation of experimental needs. CBME also occupies significant laboratory space for bioengineering in the newly-completed Stephenson Research Technology Center.

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