It seems like if you already have a chemistry degree ( which I also had, but I went back to school decades later and switched to mechanical engineering, which took two more years) and go into chemical engineering, it might take a year extra, depending on the sequences you have and how many computer or autocad design classes you might have.
In any event, to get two degrees, you have to meet the requirements of both degrees. So it is best to get out a college catalog of the curriculum and add up the hours in chemistry and compare them to the courses required in the chem engineering program. The more overlaps in courses....the shorter time you will have to get the extra degree.
The one big problem with engineering courses is sometime they only offer them once a year, and if you don't catch it when it is offered, you have to wait the next year.
You can easily check the curriculum for a particular school on their website, but generally speaking:
You just re-enroll in the major you intend to pursue. For what you've described, it should work just like your teacher says, much of what you've done would satisfy the requirements for the 2nd degree - not just chemistry, but your core classes like English and History. I suspect it would take about 3 semesters to get a chemical engineering degree after finishing a chemistry degree.
For some majors, you'd need to do a lot of work to catch up. For example, moving from a liberal arts major like political science, into a second degree in an engineering field, you'd have to start over with all of the math and science classes. You'd still have all of the core classes done though, saving some time.
I worked with a woman who's first degree was physical therapy. She then went back and earned a civil engineering degree in about 2 1/2 years.
I majored in chemical engineering and there were several chemistry majors that came over to major in ChemE either after they had completed their degrees or when they were in their senior years. Our program required that the Chem majors take the junior and senior level courses in Chemical engineering to graduate. As long as your gpa meets the programs requirements you should be able to apply and get into the engineering program.
It depends on the schools, some schools' credits will transfer from one to the other . You will need to inquire within at the colleges in question.
This is purely hypothetical because a teacher told me about this and I would like to know the truth in it or just more info on it.
Let's say I'm just out of high school and I major in Chemistry. I take all my classes. I'm an excellent student and graduate with a bachelors in about the standard time. However, maybe over the summer or last semester in school, I decide I want to major in Chemical engineering. I notice, except for the actual engineering classes, I have taken all the other required Chem classes for this new major. Pretty much everything matches exactly; even university courses and math and physics courses.
Now, my teacher says that a person should just be able to apply to an engineering school without having to backtrack much. She says you would only take engineering classes or classes that weren't on the original Chem track; and maybe retake some classes if your original classes didn't meet the same requirements as the new classes. Despite, the fact you have already graduated.
Is that possible or any better clarification on this?
Also, it just not specific to this major. Just anything that may match up like this. It's the best example I could come up with.
