Chemical Engineering Distance Education and Training Overview

Online chemical engineering education programs are available from a variety of colleges, usually as bachelor's or master's degrees. These degree programs are offered via education portal software that combines many online communication tools into a single interface for easy use.

Online Chemical Engineering Education Programs

Online chemical engineering degrees are available as both fully-online and hybrid programs and, depending on the program, have a varying degree of flexibility from institution to institution and even from class to class. Some classes function on a traditional class schedule, with regular assignment due dates and class participation requirements. This is especially true for hybrid programs, which require students to spend a certain number of class periods on campus each semester. Online-only chemical engineering programs are often more flexible, with fewer due dates, and may only have a single deadline at the end of the term to submit all assignments. A few courses may have no deadlines at all and allow students to work entirely at their own pace.
Online chemical engineering degree programs, like many other online programs, are usually presented via unified education software that combines e-mail, instant messenger and forums into a single interface to allow students to communicate both with teachers and other students. Automatic testing and assignment grading is also a standard feature of such software; voice or video conferencing may also be available.

Online Programs in Chemical Engineering

There are two main options for online education in chemical engineering. Both bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in chemical engineering are offered in online format by both traditional and online-only institutions.

Online Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's degree programs in chemical engineering are usually designed for students who have little or no background in chemical engineering and wish to begin a new career. These degrees take about four years to complete and often end with a Bachelor of Science degree, usually specifically in chemical engineering. Bachelor's degree programs in chemical engineering may include courses on subjects in stoichiometry, thermodynamics, process control, chemical engineering plant design and physics.

Online Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering

Master's degree programs in chemical engineering are typically designed for students who have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering; some programs make allowances for students with a degree in a similar subject who are willing to study as necessary during their master's degree program to make up the gaps in their education. Commonly offered courses include mass transfer, chemical engineering kinetics, thermodynamics and viscous flow.