University of Balamand | Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering at UOB

The University of Balamand was the first university in Lebanon to establish a Chemical Engineering Department in 2007 and subsequently the first undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering in Lebanon in 2008.

The department is devoted to delivering superior standards of research led teaching allowing students hands-on experience and applied knowledge in the vast range of chemical engineering laboratories.

The petroleum laboratory is unique in the Middle East and the Gulf and includes more than 26 advanced equipment stations and a drilling simulator!

The Department offers 3 degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.

They prepare chemical engineers to tackle real-world problems with the BS degree ABET accredited. In these programs, you will acquire a myriad of academic, interpersonal skills, applied research experience which are complemented with great opportunities for training and internships.

WHAT DOES A CHEMICAL ENGINEER DO?

The University of Balamand was the first university in Lebanon to establish a Chemical Engineering Department in 2007 and subsequently the first undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering in Lebanon in 2008. The department is devoted to delivering superior standards of research led teaching allowing students hands-on experience and applied knowledge in the vast range of chemical engineering laboratories.

The petroleum laboratory is unique in the Middle East and the Gulf and includes more than 26 advanced equipment stations and a drilling simulator!

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

The journey to Chemical Engineering starts with foundational mathematics and chemistry as well as basic Chemical Engineering concepts.

During the second year, you will start digging deeper into the field through courses such as Mass Transfer, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II, Chemical Reactions and Reactor Design.

During the third year, basic steps in a process will be acquired in Unit Operations and Separation Processes. The program culminates in a design experience in the final year, where you will have to design a chemical plant. Throughout the curriculum, you will acquire hands-on experience to manipulate different chemical engineering equipment.

CAREER PROSPECTS

After acquiring your Chemical Engineering degree, you will earn one of the following roles:

Process Engineer: you will solve production problems, develop new products, and increase plant safety and efficiency.

Design Engineer: you will work in a consultancy designing new plants or extending existing plants for clients. You might design distillation columns, heat exchangers, or work on safety and environmental protections.

Oil/Gas Engineer: you will be in oil and gas plants ensuring proper drilling, transportation/distribution, and petroleum refining.

Research/Development Engineer: you will develop new products such as new catalysts to increase reaction efficiency in research centers

During your studies with us, you are in control:

“the more you put in, the more you get out”!

Chairperson’s Message

Rima Manneh, PhD
rima.manneh@balamand.edu.lb

Welcome to the Chemical Engineering Department! The University of Balamand was the first to initiate a chemical engineering program in Lebanon in 2008. The inauguration of the Maroun Semaan Chemical Engineering Department took place in 2013. A chemical engineer is often labeled a “universal engineer”, which gives him/her great work opportunities in a variety of fields (petroleum, food, environment, renewable energy, biochemical processes etc.). A chemical engineer design, oversee, and optimize processes that convert raw materials into valuable products through the application of mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Professors and staff members at our department are dynamic individuals who are committed to teaching and research excellence, as well as serving our community. You can look through our website to get an idea about our projects, research, and facilities! We provide hands on experience to students in the following state-of the-art laboratories occupying more than 800 m2: Petroleum, Drilling, Food Technology, Materials and Corrosion, Nanotechnology, Computer, Transport Phenomena, Chemical Reactions, Unit Operations, and Process Control. In particular, the petroleum lab includes more than 25 advanced equipment stations and our drilling lab has a one of its kind drilling simulator! We offer the following 3 degrees in Chemical Engineering that prepare engineers and scientists to tackle today’s real-world problems: Bachelor of Science (BS; 109 credits), Bachelor of Engineering (BE; 146 credits), Master of Science (MS; 46 credits). In all three programs, we ensure that students have great opportunities for trainings and internships. You are more than welcome to schedule a visit and we hope that you will be part of the UOB family!

Undergraduate Programs

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
The BS in Chemical Engineering Program is designed to prepare students for the professional job market through the pursuit of comprehensive studies in the field. It aims at equipping students with a solid knowledge of the engineering sciences and appropriate general and specialized skills, enabling them to develop into well-rounded chemical engineers. Our BS program includes 109 credits.

Program Flowchart

Courses

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
The BE in Chemical Engineering Program augments the BS Program through imparting to students in-depth knowledge in specific areas, thus adding to their practical and general skills. Students are exposed to applied-learning experiences in synergy, which meet the requirements for registration in the Lebanese Order of Engineers. Our BE program consists of 146 credits.

Program Flowchart

Courses

Graduate Programs

Graduates may apply to pursue advanced study leading to a Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering provided he/she has obtained the required averages in the undergraduate programs of study, either immediately following the BS degree or after completing the BE degree. The Faculty Admissions Committee makes the final decision about student entry into the Master of Science Program.

The graduate program at the department of Chemical Engineering offers the following tracks:

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineers are engaged in different aspects of oil exploration and development, from identifying and characterizing the reservoir through drilling and completion to production. Petroleum engineers also discover new ways to extract oil and gas from older wells. We offer courses that cover both upstream and downstream operations and will prepare graduates for careers in petroleum and energy-resource fields. Our Petroleum and Drilling Engineering labs feature state of the art units that enable students to determine different properties of oil and even to perform a full drilling simulation!

Industrial Processes Engineering

Industrial Processes Engineering integrates in-depth knowledge of core areas of process engineering, such as polymerization, separations, transport, and reaction processes. Courses in this track prepare graduates to play a vital role in designing and developing new materials, optimizing existing processes, and elaborating sustainable energy systems. This is a genuinely remarkable track that will enable students to work in a wide range of industries.

Food Processing

Food Processing equips students with a solid understanding of food process engineering, and transferable skills in massive demand in the market. Food process engineers are engaged in the development of food processes and products. Food Processing courses give students the theoretical and practical knowledge required in the food industry, which, combined with suitable industrial training and experience, can help launch graduates on the path towards becoming leading engineers in the food industry.

Program Flowchart

Courses

Facilities

The Maroun Semaan Chemical Engineering Building, inaugurated in 2020 is equipped with eleven modern multi-disciplinary laboratories, offering students a hands-on industrial experience and researchers an opportunity for scientific innovation.

Our facilities cover a wide range of Chemical Engineering applications, from petroleum to environmental water treatment, fluid mechanics, separation and transport processes, unit operations, chemical reactions, and food technology.

Safety awareness is integrated in all laboratories. The laboratories are also dedicated to innovative research in different chemical engineering domains.