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Practically all salary surveys performed in the past fifteen years show Chemical Engineering at the top of the list of entry level salaries. Chemical Engineering salaries are higher than all other traditional science and engineering fields. In 2003, the average starting salary for Chemical Engineers B.S. graduates was $52,200. (Source: NACE National Association of Colleges and Employers). According to the 2005 February Issue of Engineering Times, the national mean starting salary for Chemical Engineers with a bachelors degree earned $75,579.
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In a survey study performed by sociology researchers from the University of Southern California and the University of California at Irvine, Chemical Engineering was the only Engineering field to make the top 10 list of most prestigious occupations. According to Dr. Keiko Makao, a USC sociology professor and one of the study's authors, "The most highly rated occupations are generally those that require a large amount of education and specialized training and that command large incomes."
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A degree in Chemical Engineering offers the broadest spectrum of employment opportunities among all traditional scientific and engineering professions. This creates also the high demand that provides Chemical Engineers with the highest starting salaries among all such fields.
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Chemical Engineers achieved the highest pass rate among all engineers that took the FE/EIT (Fundamentals of Engineering/Engineer in Training) exam in 1996,1997,1998, and 1999, with an average pass rate of 86%. This exam is the first step in obtaining a professional engineering license.
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As part of the 2000 National Engineer's Week, and to recognize engineers' contributions to humanity at the turn of the 20th Century, the National Academy of Engineering announced the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th Century.
More than 60 professional societies, including AIChE (The American Institute of Chemical Engineers), were asked to nominate achievments from their respective area of expertise. AIChE nominated five different areas of achievement for the project, all of which were represented in the final 20. Neil Armstrong anounced the twenty achievements that were ultimately chosen in a speech entitled "The Engineering Century," which was given in Washington D.C. on February 22nd. Armstrong said that "We know that a century ago, the world definitely needed improvement in quality of life. Engineers are dedicated to solving problems. Engineering is a profession which leaves an imprint on our society in countless ways."
Some of the top-20 achievements where Chemical Engineers have left their imprint are:
- The automobile, the airplane, petroleum, and petrochemcial technologies. These were listed as four separate achievements, but are inextricably related. Advances in the refining of fuel have allowed for cleaner-burning gasoline that has greatly reduced the impact these new modes of travel have on the environment.
- Water supply and distribution. Chemical engineers have been instrumental in purifying water supplies.
- High-performance materials.
- Laser and fiber optics.
- Health technologies. These include the harnessing of chemicals and radionuclides for the creation of contrasts agents in radiology as well as new methods of regulating drug delivery.
- Nuclear technologies. Nuclear energy is expected to continue to grow in importance as a primary source of energy.
- Space exploration and spacecraft technology. Chemical Engineering plays a big role in the advances of space technologies with the development of high-performance materials and fuel propellants.
- Computers and electronics. This includes the developments in microchip manufacturing, where Chemical Engineering plays an integral role.
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Jason Conrad ('05), has been
the president of several Florida Tech orgainzations including the
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the American
Chemical Society (ACS), and an active member in Student Government
and community service organizations. Other active members in AIChE
and ACS include Scott Gibb ('05), Kenneth
Bukowski ('05) and Nathan Miller ('06).
Chinping Chng ('02), Anne-Marie
Johnston ('01), Andrea King ('01), Bruce
Locuson ('01), and Frank Trevino('02)
were honored with Outstanding Student Leaders Awards at the 2001
Florida Tech Student Leadership Celebration. These Chemical Engineering
Students earned 5 of the 15 Leadership Awards given to Florida
Tech Juniors and Seniors (33%), although the Chemical Engineering
Student body represents a mere 2 to 3% of all undergraduate students
at Florida Tech!!!
Rich Cannyn ('00) was elected
President of the student government for the 2000-2001 academic
year.
To view the achievements of past Florida Tech
Chemical Engineering students, click here.
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After his interaction with the program faculty and students, and his review of the curriculum, course material, and student project reports, the 1997 ABET Accreditation visitor stated that his visit to the Florida Tech Chemical Engineering Program was for him "A breath of fresh air", after many visits to Chemical Engineering Programs of other schools. (ABET, The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, is the organization responsible for inspecting, accrediting and de-accrediting engineering programs in the United States). He later stated in his report that the Florida Tech Chemical Engineering Program "Presents a refreshing initiative in the national engineering education scene". The Chemical Engineering program was reacredited in 2004.
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Florida Institute of Technology is the only private university south of Vanderbilt and east of Tulane with and undergraduate Chemical Engineering degree. No other traditional Engineering Program in Florida Tech can claim such an "exclusive territory"and the university is in close proximity to the most populated areas of Florida. The average starting salary in the Melbourne area for a Chemcial Engineer with a bachelors degree is $52,819.
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The Florida Tech Chemical Engineering Department has maintained the highest percentage of female students (50% in the 2005 graduation class and 55% in the 2005 incoming class) among all Florida Tech Engineering Programs. The corresponding average for all Chemical Engineering Programs in the United States is 30 - 40%; making our field the most diversified among all Engineering professions.
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A survey of Florida Tech Chemical Engineering Alumni, 95% agreed with the statement that "Chemical Engineering graduates from Florida Tech are as well or better prepared for industrial employment as graduates from other Univeristies". This is one of the highest rates of alumni satisfaction achieved in surveys of this type.
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Four Chemical Engineering students were named Distinguished Student Scholars in each of the 1997, 1998, and 1999 Florida Tech Honors Convocations. This made Chemical Engineering the most honored Program in all these Ceremonies, among all Florida Tech Programs with high enrollment, having one scholar in every 19-23 students. This accomplishment was repeated triumphantly in 2001, with five Distinguished Student Scholars. Also, Chemical Engineering Graduates earned three Distinguished Graduate Awards in the four Spring Commencements from 1998 to 2001, i.e., about half of all such Florida Tech Awards! For more details, you may visit our Student Accomplishments and Awards page.
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We have a lot of fun, too! Click here to
see photos of some of our picinics, volleyball games, graduation
celebrations, conference dinners and nights, with more to come!
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On April
10, 2001, AIChE member and chemical engineer Kevin Olmstead won
$2.18 million on the television game
show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" That night, he
became the highest winning contestant in the history of game shows.
He soon appeared on "Good Morning America" and "Live!
with Regis and Kelly!" and was mentioned in Jay Leno's monologue
on "The Tonight Show." Engineering is essential, according
to Olmstead. He is using his new fame to help bolster the image
of engineers in society. Olmstead is most interested in reaching
students who may not know what engineers do, or how engineering
impacts their lives. "People don't know that chemical engineers
have a profound effect on daily life, and that needs to get out
there," said Olmstead. "We need to make sure that kids
are introduced to engineering in action and the possibility of
engineering as a career path." (AIChExtra, July 2001)
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