Overview
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering combines the core chemical engineering undergraduate curriculum with courses from the biological sciences and bioengineering. These unique skills will allow graduates from this program to make significant contributions to the growing fields of biotechnology and bioengineering.
“After spending 3 years here at Mac Eng, I can say that it is the right place for me because the community, faculty and student body provide such a good learning and social experience for students.” – Ugonwa Echendu, Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
What makes this program unique?
- The opportunity to interact with professors who are dedicated teachers and are at the cutting edge of their research fields
- Access to the state of the art, newly updated laboratory facilities
- Gives students the core chemical engineering training and a specialized complement of courses in the biological sciences
Bioengineering – Co-op and Experiential Learning
Experiential learning provides students with hands-on opportunities beyond the traditional lecture-style format to gain valuable experience.
Engineering Co-op Program
The Engineering Co-op Program is an optional program which provides you with the opportunity to work in real engineering positions before you graduate. The Undergraduate Co-op Program is administered by the Engineering Co-op and Career Services Department (ECCS).
Example Employers:
- GE Water & Process Technologies
- Nova Chemicals
- 3M
- GSK Pharmaceuticals
- Procter & Gamble
- Kraft
- Xerox Canada
- Dow Chemical
Extracurricular Activities
McMaster Engineering has many engineering clubs, teams and societies you can join to enhance your practical knowledge and soft skills, provide support, or give you the chance to explore new activities. Clubs are an enjoyable way to enrich your student life and contribute to your social development and academic success.
- Chemical Engineering Club
- Engineering Without Borders
- McMaster Solar Car Team
- MAC Formula Electric
- BEAMS (Bioengineering at McMaster Society)
Bioengineering – Careers and Research
Career Paths
Graduates from this program are extremely versatile, pursuing opportunities in both traditional chemical engineering and in Canada’s growing biotechnology sector. Home to over 530 biotechnology companies, Canada currently has the second highest number in the world, following the United States.
Our graduates participate in the development of:
- pharmaceutical products with eco-friendly processes
- biocompatible biomedical devices
- efficient and better food and beverage production methods
Research Areas
- Biomaterials
- Tissue engineering
- Bioseparations
- Biopharmaceutical production
- Environmental biotechnology
- Regenerative medicine
- Biological wastewater treatment
- Biosensors
Bioengineering – Course Sequencing Information
Always refer to the undergraduate calendar as the most authoritative reference.
Level II: 40 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 2D04 Chemical Engineering Principles I |
Chem 1AA3 Introductory Chemistry II |
ChE 2E04 Numerical Methods and Computing for Chemical Engineers |
ChE 2F04 Chemical Engineering Principles II |
Math 2Z03 Engineering Mathematics II |
ChE 2O04 Fluid Mechanics |
Math 2ZZ3 Engineering Mathematics III |
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Biology 1A03 Cellular and Molecular Biology |
ENG 2PX3 Integrated Engineering Design Project 2 |
Hth Sci 2L03 Human Physiology and Anatomy I: Communication |
Hth Sci 2LL3 Human Physiology and Anatomy II: Homeostasis |
Complementary Studies (3 units) |
Notes for Terms 1 and 2:
Complementary Studies means one or two courses (6 units total) selected from the list of acceptable Complementary Study courses maintained by the Associate Dean of Engineering. These units have been equally divided between the terms in this analysis, but the student may choose to take all 6 units in either Term 1 or 2. Click here for the complete listing.
Level III: 38-41 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 3D04 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics |
ChE 3G04 Chemical Process Synthesis and Simulation |
ChE 3I03 Data Acquisition and Analysis |
ChE 3K04 Introduction to Reactor Design |
ChE 3M04 Mass Transfer and Stagewise Operations |
ChE 3L03 Intermediate Laboratory Skills |
ChE 3A04 Heat Transfer |
ChE 4T03 Applications of Chemical Engineering in Medicine |
Biology 2EE3 Introduction to Microbiology and Biotechnology |
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6-9 units from: | |
3-6 units from:
Chem 2E03 – Introductory Organic Chemistry (term 1) |
3 units from:
Biochem 2EE3 – Metabolism and Physiological Chemistry (term 2) |
Level IV: 34-35 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 4L03 Advanced Laboratory Skills |
Che 3BM3 Bioseparations Engineering |
MATLS 3J03 Statistical Methods for Materials Engineers |
ChE 3P04 Process Control |
ChE 3BK3 Bio-Reaction Engineering |
Engineer 4A03 Ethics, Equity and Law in Engineering |
BIOCHEM 3G03 Proteins and Nucleic Acids |
IBEHS 2P03 Health Solutions Design Projects II: Introduction to Genetic Engineering |
3 units from Chem 3I03 – Industrial Chemistry (term 2) ChE 3Q03 – Introduction of Polymer Science (term 2) Chem Bio 2A03 – Introduction to Bio-Analytical Chemistry (term 1) Chem Bio 3BM3 – Implanted Biomaterials (term 2) |
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Complementary Studies (3 units) | |
3-4 units approved for technical electives from biosciences or bioengineering |
Level V: 35-37 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 4N04 Engineering Economics and Problem Solving |
Civ Eng 4V04 Biological Aspects of Wastewater Treatment |
ChE 4W06 A/B Chemical Plant Design and Capstone ProjectPrerequisite: Registration in ChE 4N04, Registration in the final level of any Chemical Engineering program. Information Sessions will be scheduled in September. There will be 3 projects available: Entrepreneurial Engineering Project |
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15-16 units from:
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3-4 units approved for technical electives from biosciences or bioengineering | |
Complementary Studies Electives (3 units) |
Bioengineering – FAQ
Expandable List
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering is a new and unique 5 year programme offered in the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University leading to the degree Bachelor of Engineering and Biosciences. It combines the core Chemical Engineering undergraduate curriculum with courses from the biological sciences as well as Chemical Engineering specific courses in areas related to bioengineering. Chemical Engineers use the basic principles of chemistry, mathematics, physics, biology and economics combined with skills in computers to design, operate and troubleshoot processes that are used in the manufacture of materials that are the building blocks of almost everything around us. Graduates from the Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering programme will have these basic chemical engineering skills coupled with unique qualifications in the biological sciences that will allow them make significant contributions to the growing fields of biotechnology and bioengineering.
The graduates from this new and unique programme will be qualified to make significant contributions to Canada’s expanding biotechnology industry. Canada current has the second highest number of biotechnology companies in the world, following the United States. This industry is currently concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia and is currently poised for significant expansion with our aging population, need for better pharmaceutical products and our growing awareness of the importance of the environment and our desire to minimize the impact of current processes on the environment. Graduates from the programme will participate in the development of better, more biocompatible biomedical devices, more efficacious pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects, more efficient and improved environmental processes and better methods for the production of food and beverages. Since graduates from the programme will also have all of the core courses in Chemical Engineering, they will also be able to do traditional chemical engineering jobs in fields such as petrochemicals, polymers, process control and pulp and paper.
Students in the regular Chemical Engineering programme develop a strong foundation in basic sciences and have the opportunity to participate in courses aimed at developing problem solving, team, self-assessment and lifelong learning skills. In addition to this, the Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering programme is structured to include courses in biology, human anatomy and physiology, biochemistry of macromolecules, cellular and molecular biology and the application of biological processes to Chemical Engineering through courses in bioseparations and bioreactors. The courses have been integrated to allow the students to make links between their Chemical Engineering knowledge and its application in the biotechnology industries. There will be a significant laboratory component related to biology and biochemistry that will give the students the skills to succeed in a biologically oriented environment. Similar to the core Chemical Engineering programme, the Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering programme will allow the students to select from a variety of focused technical electives in their fourth and fifth years of study based on the research interests of the various faculty involved in the programme, including courses in biomaterials and tissue engineering, biological wastewater treatment, biological membrane separations, biosensors and biological pharmaceutical production. The curriculum has been designed to cover a wide scope giving maximum flexibility to the students, allowing them to graduate with the degree Bachelor of Engineering and Bioscience and giving them maximum flexibility to pursue their interests in their careers.
It is anticipated that 25 students will be admitted to Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at McMaster. This will be in addition to our current class size of approximately 40 students, meaning that in some courses there will be as many as 65 students, but in others there will be as few as 25 students. Students in the Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering programme will also be taking a significant number of courses in other departments and it is anticipated that class sizes may be significantly higher in some of these courses. However, in these classes, there will also be the opportunity for interaction with students from other programmes, fostering the interdisciplinary nature of the programme.
In the second, third and fourth years of the programme, students will take the core Chemical Engineering courses in thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, fluid flow, separation and reactor design as well as courses in mathematics and chemistry. In addition to this, students will take courses in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry of macromolecules, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology as well as courses in bioreactors and bioseparations. In the fourth and fifth years of the programme, students will have the opportunity to select from a variety of technical electives (list A and list B) in both traditional areas of chemical engineering (such as process control, polymer reaction engineering and polymer processing) as well as technical electives offered by the faculty whose research areas are in bioengineering including courses in biomaterials, tissue engineering, biological water treatment, biosensors and others. Students in the fifth year of the programme also have the opportunity to do a focused undergraduate thesis with the supervisor of their choice.
It is anticipated that admission to this programme will be competitive, as the level of interest is very high.
The addition of courses in the biological sciences to the regular chemical engineering curriculum means that this programme will be demanding. However, this course load is spread over a five year period which should alleviate some problems with the course load. The programme is similar to the Chemical Engineering and Management programme, so it is expected that the course loads will be similar.
No. The course load and the demand will mean that a dual degree in these different areas will not be allowed. However, it should be noted that many of our students who are currently registered in Chemical Engineering and Society have opted for their minor to be focused in the biological sciences. This degree will give another option to those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the biotech sector with the benefit of permitting them to take a wide variety of courses from different departments.
The prerequisites for some of the courses in biology or biochemistry require a senior high school biology course.
Because all of the courses in the core Chemical Engineering curriculum will be taken, students graduating with the degree Bachelor of Engineering and Biosciences will have all of the qualifications necessary for them to obtain employment in more traditional chemical engineering fields.
Graduates from McMaster Chemical Engineering are currently working at a variety of jobs in the biotechnology sector. Biotechnology companies currently employing McMaster Chemical Engineering graduates include AstraPharma, Bodycote Ortech, and Zenon Environmental for example. Therefore we anticipate that graduates from this programme will be in demand in Canada’s growing biotechnology sector due to their unique training in both engineering and biology. Other students may opt to proceed to advanced degrees including Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.), Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Chemical Engineers from McMaster have also in the past pursued further degrees in medicine, dentistry, law, business or teaching.
Our Faculty and Staff
Students in this programme will have the opportunity to interact with professors who are dedicated and accomplished teachers and who are at the cutting edge of their respective research fields. There are currently a number of faculty doing research in the area of biological and biomedical engineering and McMaster’s research in this area is gaining a worldwide reputation. These faculty members will be responsible for teaching the bioengineering portion of the curriculum.
Our Facilities
We can boast state of the art, newly updated laboratory facilities that include a growing number of laboratories in the bioengineering field. Our students have access to a new and expanding department computer facility and training on the programmes that are the current industry standard.
Our programme
The Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering programme is unique in that it gives the students the core undergraduate chemical engineering training required for a career in traditional chemical engineering industry and a specialized complement of courses in the biological sciences that will permit students access to all areas of biotechnology.
Bioengineering – Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
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CHEM ENG 2D04 Undergraduate | Chemical Engineering Principles I |
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CHEM ENG 2E04 Undergraduate | Numerical Methods and Computing for Chemical Engineers |
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CHEM ENG 2F04 Undergraduate | Chemical Engineering Principles II |
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CHEM ENG 2G03 | Problem Solving and Technical Communication |
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CHEM ENG 2O04 Undergraduate | Fluid Mechanics |
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CHEM ENG 3A04 Undergraduate | Heat Transfer |
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CHEM ENG 3BM3 Undergraduate | Bioseparations Engineering |
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CHEM ENG 3D04 Undergraduate | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics |
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CHEM ENG 3G04 Undergraduate | Chemical Process Synthesis and Simulation |
Sessional Instructor: Dalle Ave, Giancarlo
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CHEM ENG 3I03 Undergraduate | Data Acquisition and Analysis |
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CHEM ENG 3K04 Undergraduate | Introduction to Reactor Design |
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CHEM ENG 3L03 Undergraduate | Intermediate Laboratory Skills |
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CHEM ENG 3M04 Undergraduate | Mass Transfer and Stagewise Operations |
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CHEM ENG 3P04 Undergraduate | Process Control |
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CHEM ENG 3Q03 Undergraduate | Introduction to Polymer Science |
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CHEM ENG 3Q03 Technical Elective | Introduction to Polymer Science |
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CHEM ENG 4B03/6B03 Graduate | Polymer Reaction Engineering |
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CHEM ENG 4EC3 Undergraduate | Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering |
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CHEM ENG 4H03 Undergraduate | Big Data Methods and Modeling in Chemical and Materials Engineering |
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CHEM ENG 4L03 Undergraduate | Advanced Laboratory Skills |
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CHEM ENG 4T03/6T03 Graduate | Applications of Chemical Engineering in Medicine |
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CHEM ENG 4TA3 Undergraduate | Teaching Practicum |
Sessional Instructor: TBD
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CHEM ENG 4W06 A/B Undergraduate | Chemical Plant Design and Simulation |
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CHEM ENG 4X03/6X03 Graduate | Polymer Processing |
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ENGINEER 2IW3 Undergraduate | Inclusion in the Engineering Workplace |
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