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Chemical Engineering Co-operative Program

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
Administered by: Department of Chemical Engineering
Program Format: Full-time, five-year co-op program.

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U courses in: English, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Physics (SPH4U) and Chemistry (SCH4U).

Notes:

  1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
  2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
  3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

 

The Chemical Engineering BEng Co-operative degree program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.

The Department offers a mandatory co-operative (co-op) program, which provides the graduating chemical engineering student with up to 20 months (16 months for students starting Fall 2022 and after) of co-op work experience that helps enhance their organizational competence and technical abilities as well as oral and written communication skills. In addition, the co-op component enables students to earn competitive wages to partially offset their education costs. Students must successfully complete four work terms (three work terms for students admitted Fall 2022 and after). The Department and the Career, Co-op & Student Success Centre Office of Co-operative Education provide training and counseling to students in obtaining co-op positions.

The first two years of the program focus on basic sciences, and include introductory courses in chemical engineering.

The third and fourth years of the academic program give students the opportunity to study chemical engineering in depth and to apply this knowledge to process design applications. Computer applications in chemical engineering are emphasized throughout the curriculum. Students can take specialized elective courses to broaden their knowledge in the chemical and related engineering fields. These courses include Food Process Engineering, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Resource Recovery from Waste and Circular Economy, Air Pollution and Control, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, Pharmaceutical Technology and Processing, Artificial Intelligence in Chemical Engineering, and Plastics Technology.

The program fosters the development of soft skills, organizational competency, and effective communication. The laboratory courses offer practical learning experience on important chemical engineering topics. The co-op component of the program provides enhanced experiential learning experience to students in the chemical engineering profession. During co-op placements, students work under the supervision of trained engineers, or other skilled professionals to gain valuable work experience in diverse several settings. This experience gives them a cutting edge over students in other non-co-op programs when it comes to securing regular employment.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering Co-operative) program prepares students for careers in a variety of fields, including renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, pulp and paper, food processing, pharmaceuticals,  polymers and plastics, and government research and testing laboratories. Opportunities include plant operations, product development, research, quality control, and technical sales and service as well as work in the environmental field. After gaining experience, graduates may assume management responsibilities. Some graduates continue with post-graduate studies.

Transition Programs

First Year Transition Program: The objective of the first year transition program (opens in new window)  is to provide students, who may need more time to adapt to the demanding university curriculum, with an immediate opportunity to upgrade their Academic Standing. In the second semester, Phase I of the transition program offers all first semester core courses: CHY 102, MTH 140, MTH 141, and PCS 211 in parallel with the second semester regular program courses. Students who have failed and/or are missing any one of these courses at the end of the first semester are required to upgrade their Academic Standing through enrolling in the transition program. During the condensed Spring semester (May-July) Phase II of the transition program offers all second semester core courses: AER 222, BME 100, CHE 200, CHY 211, CPS 125, CPS 188, CVL 207, ELE 202, MEC 222, MTH 240, MTL 200, and PCS 125. These courses represent a repeat of the second semester regular program courses that were not taken by students enrolled in Phase I of the transition program. These courses will be offered subject to adequate enrolment.

Second and Third Year Transition Program: The second year transition program is intended to help students who have failed the second year course CHE 214 (provided that the student has passed the laboratory portion of CHE 214) to stay in-phase with their classmates and still have a chance to be promoted to third year in the following academic year. This is accomplished by allowing such students to enrol in CHE 214 in the Transition Program; this course will be offered subject to adequate enrolment. The third year transition program is intended to help students who have failed or dropped the third year courses CHE 308 and/or CHE 312 and/or CHE 319 and/or CHE 338 to continue their studies in the sixth and seventh semesters. This is accomplished by allowing such students to enrol in CHE 308 and/or CHE 312 and/or CHE 319 and/or CHE 338 in the Transition Program; these courses will be offered subject to adequate enrolment.

Early Intervention Program

Highly innovative and proactive retention strategies play an important role in helping students build the skills for success in a demanding engineering curriculum. Through the First-Year Engineering Office (opens in new window) , the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science has incorporated the Early Intervention Program into the first-year engineering experience. At the semester's mid-point, students who are failing courses in their core curriculum are identified and encouraged to attend an interview with a member of our academic support team (Program Director/Academic Advisor and/or the Student Counsellor). Together, they discuss options to help reduce the chances of academic failure.

Writing Skills Resource Path

All new engineering students are automatically enrolled in CEN 199: Writing Skills.

CEN 199 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and is used to track the results of the Writing Skills Test (WST).

All students admitted into engineering are required to write the mandatory Writing Skills Test (WST) during Orientation Week. Students who pass the WST (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) will receive a PASS in CEN 199 and therefore may enrol in the lower level liberal studies course of their choice (subject to availability).

Students who do not pass the WST will receive an INP (In Progress Grade) in CEN 199 and will be required to enrol in one of LNG 111, LNG 112, LNG 113, or LNG 121 as their first-year lower level liberal studies course. These courses, which count toward lower level liberal studies requirements, are writing-intensive humanities and social science courses designed to give students the opportunity to strengthen their foundations in communication. These students will then have three additional opportunities to write and pass the WST:

  • In May, following 2nd Semester.
  • During Orientation Week before 3rd Semester.
  • In May, following 4th Semester.

A PASS in CEN 199: Writing Skills is required to enrol in all third-year engineering courses. Students with a grade of INP in CEN 199 will not be allowed to enrol in any third-year engineering course.

Detailed information is available from the First-Year Engineering Office (opens in new window) . Room ENG 340-A Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 554502.

Optional Specialization in Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OS EIE)

This option provides students with a solid foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship theory as well as the immersive experience of advancing and shaping an idea into a business. The lecture courses cover principles of engineering economics, entrepreneurship and innovation management, and technology based new venture creation. The practicum will guide students through the process of identifying a new business concept, developing their technology, and preparing their business for market readiness. For eligibility, registration and course information see Optional Specialization in Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OS EIE).

Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS)

Students can enrich their studies and hone their management skills with the Optional Specialization in Management Sciences. Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management sciences: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Finance, and Organizational Behaviour. For eligibility, registration, and course information see Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS).

Engineering Transfer Credits

Applicants approved into an Engineering program cannot expect to receive any transfer credits in Engineering discipline or Engineering related discipline courses if their applicable post-secondary education was not completed at a program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (external link, opens in new window)  (CEAB).

Core and professional engineering course transfer credits will ONLY be granted at the time of admission. An Offer of Admission will notify the applicant of transfer credit decision(s) subject to acceptance of their Offer.

Liberal studies discipline courses taken at CEAB accredited or non-accredited schools will be considered for either lower- or upper-level liberal studies transfer credit. College courses, in general, are not eligible for transfer credit except in the case of lower-level liberal studies courses.

Liberal Studies

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and two upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Undeclared Engineering

AER 150, ASC 120, BLG 181, BMS 150, CHY 182, CHY 183, MEC 110, PCS 111, PCS 181, PCS 182 and SCI courses are not available for credit.

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

BLG 599, BLG 699, BLG 850, CHY 583, CHY 599, CPS 650, ELE 900, MTH 511, MTH 599 and PCS 581 are not available for credit.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

Accelerated Master of Applied Science (MASc) Pathway

The Accelerated Master of Applied Science (MASc) Pathway is open to undergraduate engineering students who have demonstrated academic excellence and/or research potential by the end of the third year of their undergraduate program. Students can enrol in a maximum of two graduate level courses in addition to their regular undergraduate course requirements in the final year of their undergraduate program and commence their Master’s research such that the MASc program can be completed in approximately one year. The Accelerated MASc Pathway does not change the degree requirements for the existing BEng or MASc programs. For more information about and application to this pathway, please contact the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science.  

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

Common to Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, and Mechatronics Engineering programs.

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CHE 200 Chemical Engineering Fundamentals
  • CHY 211 General Chemistry Laboratory
  • CPS 125 Digital Computation and Programming
  • ECN 801 Principles of Engineering Economics
  • MTH 240 Calculus II
  • PCS 125 Physics: Waves and Fields

* CEN 199 is graded on a pass/fail basis.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

Last offered 2024-2025 to students admitted Fall 2021 and before. Students admitted Fall 2022 and after see revised curriculum below.

5th Semester

Last offered Winter 2024.

REQUIRED:

  • CHE 307 Chemical Engineering Materials
  • CHE 308 Mass Transfer
  • CHE 309 Introductory Bioengineering
  • CHE 331 Engineering Statistics and Probabilities
  • CHE 338 Chemical Engineering Computations

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

6th Semester

Last offered Fall  2024.

REQUIRED:

  • CHE 312 Chemical Reaction Engineering
  • CHE 315 Unit Operations Laboratory I
  • CHE 318 Separation Processes
  • CHE 319 Process Modeling and Simulation
  • CHE 617 Chemical Process Safety Loss Prevention

LIBERAL STUDIES: One course from the following:

  • ENG 503 Science Fiction
  • GEO 702 Technology and the Contemporary Environment
  • HST 701 Scientific Technology and Modern Society
  • PHL 709 Religion, Science and Philosophy
  • POL 507 Power, Change and Technology

  

5th & 6th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2022 and after.

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CHE 307 Chemical Engineering Materials
  • CHE 308 Mass Transfer
  • CHE 318 Separation Processes
  • CHE 331 Engineering Statistics and Probabilities
  • CHE 338 Chemical Engineering Computations

LIBERAL STUDIES: One course from the following:

  • ENG 503 Science Fiction
  • GEO 702 Technology and the Contemporary Environment
  • HST 701 Scientific Technology and Modern Society
  • PHL 709 Religion, Science and Philosophy
  • POL 507 Power, Change and Technology

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CHE 309 Introductory Bioengineering
  • CHE 312 Chemical Reaction Engineering
  • CHE 315 Unit Operations Laboratory I
  • CHE 319 Process Modeling and Simulation
  • CHE 617 Chemical Process Safety Loss Prevention

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

Note:  All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year required courses must be successfully completed in order to be eligible to begin the co-op placements.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2025-2026 to students admitted Fall 2021 and before. Students admitted Fall 2022 and after see revised curriculum below.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Three courses from Table I.

* A multi-term course.

  

7th & 8th Semester

First offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2022 and after.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I.

* A multi-term course.

Academic and Work terms

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

The following work term sequence and requirements are for students admitted Fall 2021 and before. Students admitted Fall 2022 and after see revised curriculum below.

  Fall Winter Spring/Summer
Year 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester --
Year 2 3rd Semester 4th Semester WKT 401  
Year 3 WKT 500
5th Semester WKT 501
Year 4 6th Semester WKT 601 WKT 602
Year 5 7th Semester 8th Semester --

Students must successfully complete four work terms in order to graduate from the Chemical Engineering co-op program.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Chemical Engineering.

Further information about the program is available on the Department's website.

The following work term sequence and requirements are for students admitted Fall 2022 and after.

  Fall Winter Spring/Summer
Year 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester --
Year 2 3rd Semester 4th Semester --
Year 3 5th Semester 6th Semester WKT 500
Year 4 WKT 501 WKT 601 WKT 602
Year 5 7th Semester 8th Semester --

Students must successfully complete three work terms in order to graduate from the Chemical Engineering co-op program.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Chemical Engineering.

Further information about the program is available on the Department's website.

In addition to the general criteria used to determine Academic Standing, students in this
program must also meet the following conditions:

All students in undergraduate Engineering programs have an additional condition for Clear academic standing. In addition to students needing a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 1.67 or higher, students also need to have a term grade point average (TGPA) of 1.33 or higher, based on at least two reported grades for that term (not including Pass, DEF, INP or AEG grades). Students who have a TGPA less than 1.33 will be given PROBATIONARY Academic Standing. Students with only one reported grade for that term will be evaluated based on CGPA only.

Students with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) less than 1.67 will be assigned a
Probationary or Required to Withdraw (RTW) standing. See Academic Standings (opens in new window)  for
information about the process and consequences.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Marzieh Baghi, PEng
Director, Engineering and Technical Services
Sofina Foods Inc.

Joseph Fida
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer
Blade Air

Timothy Muttoo, PEng
Co-founder, Chief Technology and Public Health Officer
H2O4All

Zack Sayevich, PMP, PEng
Manager, Process Control Systems Unit, Toronto Water
City of Toronto

Ibrahim Melih Tamer, PEng
Knowledge Management and Innovation Lead, Manufacturing Technology
Sanofi Pasteur

Mark Willis, PEng
Production Engineer
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.