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 needs. In 1963, the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering were combined into the School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. The name was changed in 2008 to the School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering (SCBME) in recognition of our growing emphasis on bioengineering.
Our dynamic faculty is 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 SCBME faculty have fueled a superior level of productivity. The school has developed an extensive base of external research support, including both government agencies and private companies. We have two members of the National Academy of Engineering on our faculty.
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 biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing. There are currently about 200 students served by 20 faculty members, with a student-faculty ratio of ~10:1. Having such a low number means that individual attention to the student is standard at OU.
Our SCBME faculty are dedicated to teaching and research and exhibit high morale and enthusiasm.
An active research program is in place with good links outside the department, such as with the other Engineering departments, chemistry, and the medical school. Our graduate students come from all over the world; about 25% OF undergraduates do research in a SCBME professor’s lab.
The student body is a major strength of the OU Chemical Engineering Department. They are bright, self-confident, and well-spoken. There is close rapport with the faculty for both graduate and undergraduate students. Undergraduate diversity is outstanding with enrollments comprising about 40% female and 20% historically underrepresented minorities.
