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2025-2026

Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science in Engineering (Brightpoint Community College)
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Engineering

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

Chemical and life science engineering represents the formal interaction of chemical engineering with the life sciences.


Life science engineering — with interest areas including pharmaceutical engineering, stem cell and stem cell-derived tissue engineering, biosciences/biotechnology, cellular engineering, biochips and biosensors, bioinformatics and molecular biocomputing, genetic and protein molecular engineering, environmental life science engineering, and molecular- and cellular-based therapeutics — is the fastest growing of all industries that currently employ engineers.


Chemical engineering and life science engineering share a broad range of common foundational knowledge bases, including the principles of mass and energy balances, transport phenomena and thermodynamics, surface and interfacial science, and reaction science and engineering. Strong academic and research programs in chemical and life science engineering will provide a wealth of exciting professional opportunities for successful graduates of the VCU program.

Career opportunities

Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, polymers, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others.  Within these industries, chemical engineers rely on their knowledge of mathematics and science, particularly chemistry, to overcome technical problems safely and economically. And, of course, they draw upon and apply their engineering knowledge to solve any technical challenges they encounter.


Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper. Chemical engineers apply principles of physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as chemistry. Some may specialize in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization. Others specialize in a particular field, such as nanomaterials, or in the development of specific products.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Biochemical engineer
  • Biofuels engineer
  • Business consultant
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Patent examiner
  • Process engineer
  • Product development engineer
  • Project engineer
  • Research chemical engineer
  • Sales engineer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • College Professor
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Manufacturing/Product Development Engineer
  • Process & Quality Engineer
  • Research & Development Engineer
  • Research Scientist
  • Senior Product Development Engineer
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:

  • Completion of associate degree (A.S. in Engineering)
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
  • Earn a minimum grade of "B" in all your math, science and engineering classes
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 307
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Chemical and Life Science Engineering with concentration in Chemical Engineering, Life Science Engineering

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU College of Engineering, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering)

Brightpoint Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition I I UNIV 200 3 General education
EGR 121 + EGR 122 Foundations of Engineering + Engineering Design (both must be completed to receive credit for VCU equivalent) CLSE 101 5 Major
MTH 263 Calculus I (consult with your Brightpoint advisor about prerequisites for this class) MATH 200 4 Major
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
MTH 265 Calculus lll MATH 307 4 Major
MTH 267 Differential Equations MATH 301 3 Major
Arts Select one: ART 101, ART 102, CST 151, CST 130, MUS 121, MUS 226 VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select one: HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities PHI 220 Ethics and Society PHIL 201 3 Major
Social/Behavioral ECO 202 Microeconomics (this course substitutes for the ECON 205 requirement at VCU) ECON 210 3 Major
EGR 231 Mass and Energy Balances CLSE 201 3 Major
EGR 232 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics CLSE 202 3 Major
PHY 241 University Physics I PHYS 207 4 Major
PHY 242 University Physics II PHYS 208 4 Major
EGR 125 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers CLSE 115 4 Major
Brightpoint credits transferred to VCU 65
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Concentration in chemical engineering
ENGR 395 Professional Development (consider taking this class over the summer prior to your enrollment at VCU) 1 Major
CLSE 301 Transport Phenomena I 3 Major
CLSE 302 Transport Phenomena I 4 Major
CLSE 305 Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria and Chemical Reactions 3 Major
CLSE 312 Chemical Reaction Engineering 3 Major
CLSE 320 Instrumentation Laboratory 3 Major
CLSE 402 Senior Design Studio I (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
CLSE 403 Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) 2 Major
CLSE 409 Process Control in Chemical and Life Science Engineering 3 Major
CLSE 440 Unit Operations Laboratory 3 Major
ENGR 402 Senior Design Studio (Seminar) 1 Major
ENGR 403 Senior Design Studio (Seminar) 1 Major
Summer internship ENGR 296 Part-time Internship Experience or ENGR 396 Internship Experience or ENGR 398 Cooperative Education Experience 0 Major
ENGR 496 or ENGR 498 Internship Review or Review of Cooperative Education Experience 0 Major
Engineering electives 7 Major
BIOL 151 Introduction to Biological Sciences I 3 Major
CHEM/Z 301 Organic Chemistry and Laboratory 5 Major
CHEM/Z 302 Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory 5 Major
STAT 441 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 3 Major
Technical electives (300+ level science, math, business or management course) 9 Major
Credits completed at VCU 61
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 126
VCU offers students four options for accelerated B.S. and M.S. programs: B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, and B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. These accelerated programs allow academically talented students to earn both the B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. degree in a minimum of five and a half years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Please consult with a VCU advisor for information about minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated programs