Chemical Engineering + Business Degree

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Introducing the CoC/Haas Simultaneous Degree

Are you fascinated with the chemical sciences and passionate about innovation? Does your interest in energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, or biotechnology include a penchant for entrepreneurialism? Have you secretly wondered whether it's possible to study chemistry, chemical biology, or chemical engineering AND business? The answer is YES.

In partnership with UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, the College of Chemistry offers the possibility of completing a simultaneous degree in chemistry, chemical biology, or chemical engineering and business. A simultaneous degree involves the pursuit of two majors in two different colleges or schools at UC Berkeley. Students completing a simultaneous degree must satisfy all requirements for both majors.

Bridging the worlds of chemistry or chemical engineering and business provides a unique opportunity to develop multidimensional perspectives and to make interesting connections across fields and categories. Some advantages of pursuing the simultaneous degree may include:

  • Whether you start at the bench or as a business analyst, you'll be well-positioned for advancement in roles that blend science/tech and business
  • You'll be sought after by startups that involve chemistry, chemical biology, or chemical engineering
  • If you plan to go to graduate school, many programs will value the breadth and depth of your training and will know you're capable of doing rigorous, intensive work

Please note: Simultaneous degree candidates must apply to the Haas School of Business after completing the prerequisites. Admission to Haas is VERY competitive and NOT GUARANTEED.

Finally, simultaneous degrees demand a LOT of work! Most students are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices (e.g. limiting involvement in extra-curricular activities, study abroad, internships, etc.). Please review the simultaneous degree curriculum below and FAQ carefully; we also recommend you make an appointment with a Haas adviser.

Degree Paths

Chemical Engineering + Business Plan A  (with AP credits)

Chemical Engineering + Business Plan B  (without AP credits)

Chemical Engineering + Business Plan A

PLAN A —For students with extensive AP credits upon admission

Freshman Year FALL | 18-19 Units

  • MATH 53, Multivariable Calculus (4 units)
  • CHEM 4A, General/Quantitative Analysis (5 units)
  • ECON 1, Intro to Economics (4 units)
  • Phil & Values, Breadth/AC* (3-4 units)

Freshman Year SPRING | 20 Units

  • MATH 54, Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (4 units)
  • CHEM 4B, General/Quantitative Analysis (5 units)
  • PHYSICS 7A1, Physics for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • UGBA 10, Principles of Business (3 units)
  • STAT 21, Intro Probability Statistics for Business or STAT 134, Concepts of Probability (4 units)

Freshman Year SUMMER | 8 Units

  • R1B, Reading & Composition B (4 units)
  • Historical Studies Breadth/AC* (3-4 units)

Sophomore Year FALL | 20 Units

  • ENG 7, Intro to Computer Programming for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • CHEM 12A, Organic Chemistry (5 units)
  • CHM ENG 140, Process Analysis (4 units)
  • PHYSICS 7B, Physics for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • UGBA 101A2, Microeconomic Analysis (3 units)

Sophomore Year SPRING | 20-22 Units

  • CHM ENG 141, Thermodynamics (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 150A , Transport Processes (4 units)
  • Upper or Lower Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • BIOLOGY 1A3, General Biology Lecture (3 units)
  • UGBA 101B2, Macroeconomic Analysis (3 units)
  • Social & Behavioral Science Breadth/AC* (3-4 units)

Junior Year FALL | 20 Units

  • MAT SCI 45, Properties of Materials and MAT SCI 45L, Laboratory (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 142, Kinetics (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 150B, Transport Processes (4 units)
  • UGBA 100, Business Communication (2 units)
  • UGBA 102A, Intro to Financial Accounting (3 units)
  • UGBA 106, Marketing (3 units)

Junior Year SPRING | 20-21 Units

  • PHYSICS 137A or CHEM 120A, Quantum Mechanics (4 units)
  • Upper Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • CHM ENG 154, Laboratory (4 units)
  • UGBA 102B, Intro to Managerial Accounting (3 units)
  • UGBA 104, Spreadsheet Modeling (3 units)
  • UGBA 107, Social, Political, Ethical Env. (3 units)

Senior Year FALL | 20-22 Units

  • CHM ENG 162, Process Control (4 units)
  • Upper Division CHM ENG Elective* (3-4 units)
  • Upper Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • UGBA 103, Intro to Finance (4 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (3 units)
  • Int’l Studies Breadth4 * (3-4 units)

Senior Year SPRING | 18-21 Units

  • CHM ENG 160, Chemical Process Design (4 units)
  • Science Elective (CHM ENG) 5 * (3-4 units)
  • Arts & Lit/AC6* (3-4 units)
  • UGBA 105, Leading People (3 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (3 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (2-3 units)

High School Prerequisites for Plan A

  • Course work that fulfills the Foreign Language Requirement
  • Course work that fulfills the American History & Institutions Requirement
  • AP Exam score or prior course work that fulfills MATH 1A and MATH 1B. (For Haas, AP Calc fulfills only the 1st half of the Calc requirement, but MATH 53 fulfills the 2nd half.)
  • AP Exam score or prior course work that fulfills R&C 1A

Notes for Plan A

* Elective Choice, but may be conditional; see below.

1 PHYSICS 7A satisfies the Seven-Course Breadth: Physical Science requirement for the Haas School of Business.

2 UGBA 101A and 101B are open to Sophomores, but Sophomores have last priority after Juniors and Seniors. Thus UGBA 101A and 101B may need to be moved to the Junior or Senior year.

3 BIO 1A satisfies the Seven-Course Breadth: Biological Science requirement for the Haas School of Business.

4 This course must be minimum 3 Units, AND be Upper Division; AND must satisfy the Seven-Course Breadth: International Studies requirement for the Haas School of Business.

5 This course must appear on the CBE list of approved Physical and Biological Science Electives.

6 There are several breadth courses that also satisfy the American Cultures (AC) requirement (e.g. Historical Studies, Philosophy & Values, and Social & Behavioral Science).

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Chemical Engineering + Business Plan B

PLAN B —For students without extensive AP credits upon admission

Freshman Year FALL | 19 Units

  • MATH 1A, Calculus (4 units)
  • CHEM 4A or 1A/L1, General/Quantitative Analysis (5 units)
  • R1A, Reading & Composition A (4 units)
  • ECON 1, Intro to Economics (4 units)

Freshman Year SPRING | 19-21 Units

  • MATH 1B, Calculus (4 units)
  • CHEM 4B, General/Quantitative Analysis (5 units)
  • PHYSICS 7A2, Physics for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • UGBA 10, Principles of Business (4 units)
  • STAT 21, Intro Probability Statistics for Business or STAT 134,  Concepts of Probability (4 units)

Freshman Year SUMMER | 8 Units

  • R1B, Reading & Composition B (4 units)
  • MATH 53, Multivariable Calculus (4 units)

Sophomore Year FALL | 23-24 Units

  • ENG 7, Intro to Computer Programming for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • CHEM 12A, Organic Chemistry (5 units)
  • CHM ENG 140, Process Analysis (4 units)
  • PHYSICS 7B, Physics for Scientists & Engineers (4 units)
  • UGBA 101A3, Microeconomic Analysis (3 units)
  • Historical Studies Breadth/AC* (3-4 units)

Sophomore Year SPRING | 21-22 Units

  • MATH 54, Linear Algebra & Differential Equations (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 141, Thermodynamics (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 150A, Transport Processes (4 units)
  • BIOLOGY 1A4, General Biology Lecture (3 units)
  • Lower Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • UGBA 101B3, Macroeconomic Analysis (3 units)

Junior Year FALL | 23-24 Units

  • MAT SCI 45 and MAT SCI 45L, Properties of Materials and Laboratory (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 142, Kinetics (4 units)
  • CHM ENG 150B, Transport Processes (4 units)
  • UGBA 100, Business Communication (2 units)
  • UGBA 102A, Intro to Financial Accounting (3 units)
  • UGBA 106, Marketing (3 units)
  • Phil & Values Breadth/AC* (3-4 units)

Junior Year SPRING | 20-21 Units

  • PHYSICS 137A or CHEM 120A, Quantum Mechanics (4 units)
  • Upper Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • CHM ENG 154, Laboratory (4 units)
  • UGBA 102B, Intro to Managerial Accounting (3 units)
  • UGBA 104, Spreadsheet Modeling (3 units)
  • UGBA 107, Social, Political, Ethical Env. (3 units)

Senior Year FALL | 20-22 Units

  • CHM ENG 162, Process Control (4 units)
  • Upper Division CHM ENG Elective* (3-4 units)
  • Upper Division Engineering Elective* (3-4 units)
  • UGBA 103, Intro to Finance (4 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (3 units)
  • Int’l Studies Breadth5* (3-4 units)

Senior Year SPRING | 21-25 Units

  • CHM ENG 160, Chemical Process Design (4 units)
  • Science Elective (CHM ENG)6* (3-4 units)
  • Arts & Lit/AC7* (3-4 units)
  • UGBA 105, Leading People (3 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (3 units)
  • Upper Division UGBA Elective* (2-3 units)
  • Social & Behavioral Science Breadth/AC * (3-4 units)

High School Prerequisites for Plan B

  • Course work that fulfills the Foreign Language Requirement
  • Course work that fulfills the American History & Institutions Requirement

Notes for Plan B

*Elective Choice, but may be conditional; see below.

1 CHEM 1A (3 units) + 1AL (1 unit, lab) is recommended for students who did not take AP Chemistry in high school.

2 PHYSICS 7A satisfies the Seven-Course Breadth: Physical Science requirement for the Haas School of Business.

3 UGBA 101A and 101B are open to Sophomores, but Sophomores have last priority after Juniors and Seniors. Thus UGBA 101A and 101B may need to be moved to the Junior or Senior year.

4 BIO 1A satisfies the Seven-Course Breadth: Biological Science requirement for the Haas School of Business.

5 This course must be minimum 3 Units, AND be Upper Division; AND must satisfy the Seven-Course Breadth: International Studies requirement for the Haas School of Business.  

6 This course must appear on the CBE list of approved Physical and Biological Science Electives.

7 There are several breadth courses that also satisfy the American Cultures (AC) requirement (e.g. Historical Studies, Philosophy & Values, and Social & Behavioral Science).

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