The Introductory Sequence For Chemical Engineering Students And Retention At Tri State University

The introductory sequence for first-year chemical engineering students at Tri-State University consists of a series of two courses. These courses are designed to introduce the student to their chosen field of study. Computer packages such as MSWord and Excel, which are used throughout the curriculum, are utilized extensively. Most importantly, the student is introduced to the design process used to solve open-ended problems through a variety of “hands-on” and cooperative learning activities. Introduction to Engineering is the first course in the sequence and is common for all first-year engineers, while Introduction to Chemical Engineering, the second course in this series, is directed toward students in this discipline. This paper presents a synopsis of these two courses, focusing on the latter. It specifically documents the content of these two courses and the positive impact these two courses have had on subsequent retention of students in the chemical engineering program.