Science X Engineering Undergrads
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering
On one hand, a love for creation and building. On the other, an interest in the processes of life, chemistry, and biology. If this sounds like you — someone who wishes to pursue engineering, but also possesses an interest in biology and chemistry — then McMaster’s Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program is definitely one to consider.
About the program
Engineering I is the first year at McMaster Engineering, a year of learning in which students build rudimentary skills key to all engineering disciplines. To move onto Level II Engineering programs, you must have satisfied the following requirements: 1) you need to have completed the 31 units of the required Engineering I courses, and 2) you need to hold a 4.0 cumulative GPA. The courses that students take during their first year include:
- General Chemistry for Engineering I (CHEM 1E03)
- Integrated Cornerstone Design Projects in Engineering (ENGINEER 1P13)
- Engineering Mathematics (MATH 1ZA3, 1ZB3, 1ZC3)
- Introductory Mechanics (PHYSICS 1D03)
- Waves, Electricity, and Magnetic Fields (PHYSICS 1E03)
- Safety Training (WHMIS 1A00)
McMaster Engineering offers 12 engineering disciplines that you can specialize in after exploring the various engineering disciplines in Engineering I — today, we will be focusing on the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program.
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering provides students with an amalgamation of chemical engineering and biomedical science courses. This 5-year program leads to the Bachelor of Engineering and Biosciences degree. However, the degree is not the only thing you will gain; you will leave this program with so much more. You will learn about science — chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology — and you will build engineering skills — designing, operating, and troubleshooting. These skills will help you open the gate to countless opportunities in the vast field of bioengineering.
Pathways & Careers
With Canada’s extensive and growing biotechnology industry, graduates of the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program are faced with a diversity of career options. With the knowledge and skills that students gain from this program, they will be able to make significant contributions to the bioengineering industry. In this section, we will explore a few of the potential pathways for graduates.
Graduates of the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program will work to develop the scientific knowledge and the engineering skills required to drive key developments that work to better biomedical devices, pharmaceuticals, environmental processes, and food production processes. Additionally, there are numerous other fields that graduates can go into, like petrochemicals, polymers, and process control.
In terms of careers, graduates will have a diversity of options in front of them. For example, biotechnology companies like AstraPharma, Bodycote Ortech, and Zenon Environmental are hiring graduates from McMaster Chemical Engineering. With that said, McMaster expects that graduates from the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program, with their distinctive and interdisciplinary learning experiences, will be sought out by Canada’s biotechnology sector.
What if you wish to continue your education in school and pursue advanced degrees after completing the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program? This pathway is also possible, and graduates can work towards their Master of Applied Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy after completing the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program. In addition, McMaster observes that past Chemical Engineers from McMaster have also worked towards degrees in medicine, dentistry, law, business, or teaching, showing the range of pathways open to graduates of the Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program.
High school requirements
If you are an Ontario student who plans to apply to this program, you will need to have completed a High School Diploma and six Grade 12 U/M level courses. Additionally, 4 of these six courses must comprise:
- ENG4U
- MCV4U
- SCH4U
- SPH4U
It is important to note that admissions may differ for you depending on individual details such as your province. For further details on admissions that are more specific to you, you can use McMaster’s Admission Requirements tool.
This article covers some of the benefits, requirements, and details about McMaster’s Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering program. If you plan on applying and wish to read more about this program, you can visit McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering website. Good luck with your applications!
About the Author
Selina Liu is a grade 10 student based in Ontario. She is passionate about the sciences and wants to pursue a career in the medical field. In her spare time, you can find her playing the violin, drawing, or reading.
Sources
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/chemeng/programs/degree-options/bengbiosci/bioengineering#tab-3
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/chemeng/programs/degree-options/bengbiosci/bioengineering#overview
https://future.mcmaster.ca/programs/engineering/#tab-00
https://future.mcmaster.ca/admission/?p1=10121&ib=no&frb=no&ss=attending-canada&p=ontario&cbe=no
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/programs/engineering-i#Moving-to-Level-II
