2025-2026
Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science in Engineering, Chemical Major (Reynolds Community College)
Associate degree
Associate of Science in Engineering, Chemical Major
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
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
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 3.0
- 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
Transfer major map
2025-2026
Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering, Chemical Major)
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Experience | Year 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
- Schedule an advising appointment with your Reynolds advisor and review your Reynolds advising workbook.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Explore the College of Engineering and CLSE department websites.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Find out if you are eligible for the NEXT STEP VCU program.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
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
- Familiarize yourself with Handshake and explore Career Pathways on the VCU Career Services’ Website.
- Browse careers and occupations related to chemical engineering.
- Explore iGrad to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Take a career assessment to explore job options.
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
- Schedule an advising appointment with your Reynolds advisor.
- Meet with your NEXT STEP advisor or submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Submit the FAFSA on time.
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
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
- Use Handshake to explore jobs and internships that match your interests and skills.
- If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
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
2025-2026
Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)
Reynolds Community College (Associate of Science in Engineering, Chemical Major)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||||
| SDV 101 (or SDV 100) | Orientation to STEM Disciplines | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | UNIV 111 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 263 | Calculus I (consult with your Reynolds advisor about prerequisites for this class) | MATH 200 | 4 | Major |
| CHM 111 | General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | Major |
| EGR 121 + EGR 122 | Foundations of Engineering and Engineering Design (both EGR 121 and EGR 122 must be completed to receive credit for VCU equivalents) | CLSE 101 | 5 | Major |
| PHI 220 | Ethics | PHIL 201 | 3 | Major |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 264 | Calculus II | MATH 201 | 4 | Major |
| CHM 112 | General Chemistry II | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Major |
| UCGS Fine Arts or Literature Elective | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education | |
| Year 2 | ||||
| PHY 241 | University Physics I | PHYS 207 | 4 | Major |
| MTH 265 | Calculus III | MATH 307 | 4 | Major |
| History | UCGS History elective | HIST | 3 | General education |
| EGR 231 | Mass and Energy Balances | CLSE 201 | 3 | Major |
| ECO 202 | UCGS Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective: ECO 202 Note: ECO 202 will substitute for the ECON 205 requirement at VCU. | ECON 210 | 3 | Major |
| PHY 242 | University Physics II | PHYS 208 | 4 | Major |
| EGR 232 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | CLSE 202 | 3 | Major |
| MTH 267 | Differential Equations | MATH 301 | 3 | Major |
| EGR 125 | Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers | CLSE 115 | 4 | Major |
| Reynolds credits transferred to VCU | 65 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | |||
| ENGR 395 | Professional Development(consider taking this class over the summer prior to your enrollment at VCU) | 1 | Major |
| CHEM/Z 301 | Organic Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 | Major |
| BIOL 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I | 3 | Major |
| CLSE 301 | Transport Phenomena I | 3 | Major |
| CLSE 305 | Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria and Chemical Reactions | 3 | Major |
| Engineering elective (300+ level) | 3 | Major | |
| CHEM/Z 302 | Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory | 5 | Major |
| CLSE 302 | Engineering elective (300+ level) | 4 | Major |
| CLSE 312 | Chemical Reaction Engineering | 3 | Major |
| CLSE 320 | Instrumentation Laboratory | 3 | Major |
| STAT 441 | Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists | 3 | Major |
| Summer internship | ENGR 396 Internship Experience or ENGR 398 Cooperative Education Experience | 0 | Major |
| Year 4 | |||
| CLSE 402 | Senior Design Studio I (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 496 or ENGR 498 | Internship Review or Review of Cooperative Education Experience | 0 | Major |
| Technical elective (300+ level science, math, business or management course) | 3 | Major | |
| CLSE 403 | Senior Design Studio II (Laboratory/Project Time) | 2 | Major |
| ENGR 403 | Senior Design Studio (Seminar) | 1 | Major |
| Select two technical electives (300+ level science, math, business or management course) | 6 | Major | |
| Engineering elective (300+ level) | 3 | 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 | |||