University Catalog 2024-2025

Paper Science and Engineering (BS)

The Paper Science and Engineering curriculum prepares students for careers in the paper industry, which ranks as the fifth-largest manufacturing industry in the United States. Science, engineering, and mathematics form the basis for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the fundamental aspects of materials science and engineering of these complex renewable materials. Students study the technology and engineering of wood pulping processes, chemical and energy recovery systems, and pulp bleaching. In addition, various papermaking operations, such as refining, sizing, coating, and drying are studied. These topics, along with the chemical and biological modification of wood, papermaking, and the physics of paper based materials form a fundamental set of core courses that all students in the curriculum take.

Two concentrations are available emphasizing the different engineering aspects of pulping and paper making. The Paper Science and Engineering concentration provides an extensive background in the pulp and paper manufacturing processes and elective credit hours for studies in chemistry, marketing, economics, management or other areas of interest to the student. Greater depth in general chemical engineering principles can be obtained from the Chemical Engineering Concentration. Students who have completed the Chemical Engineering Concentration in Paper Science and Engineering can, in cooperation with the College of Engineering and with an additional semester of study, earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering as a second degree.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years after graduation, alumni of the Paper Science & Engineering Program at NC State University will be:

  • Effective engineers and leaders in the paper, chemical process, and related industries.
  • Professionals who act in a safe and ethical manner.
  • Learners who acquire, analyze, and apply new knowledge effectively.

Summer Internship

All Paper Science and Engineering majors are required to work one summer in a pulp or paper manufacturing facility. One hour of academic credit is granted after completion of 12 weeks of this work and presentation of an engineering report of professional quality. In addition, students are urged to work in manufacturing facilities the other two summers, as the work provides valuable practical experience. Departmental advisers assist students in locating summer jobs, which are found throughout the US and abroad.

Many Paper Science & Engineering students work at least one co-op rotation, in which they leave school for one semester and work in the industry. The resulting experience adds significantly to a student’s desirability upon graduation.

Accredited Program

The Paper Science and Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

Regional Program

The Paper Science and Engineering curriculum is a regional program approved by the Southern Regional Education Board as the undergraduate program to serve the Southeast in this field.

Scholarships

Approximately 125 undergraduate academic scholarships worth approximately $380,000 are granted annually to new and continuing students by companies comprising the Pulp and Paper Advisory Board, and by alumni and supporters of the program.

Contact

Dr. M. V. Byrd
Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.515.5790
med_byrd@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
or
General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences
and General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
or
General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences
and General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences
MA 141 Calculus I 2 4
MA 241 Calculus II 2 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2
4
PSE 201 Pulping and Papermaking Technology 1 3
Acad Writing Research 1 4
Economics Elective 3
 Hours32
Second Year
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
4
or
Organic Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
or
Organic Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences
MA 242 Calculus III 4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles 4
PSE 212 Paper Properties 1 4
PSE 371 Pulping Process Analysis 1 3
Advised Electives 3
 Hours30
Third Year
MAE 201 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 3
PSE 322 Wet End and Polymer Chemistry 4
PSE 332 Wood and Pulping Chemistry 3
PSE 355 Pulp and Paper Unit Processes I 1 3
PSE 360 Pulp and Paper Unit Processes II 3
PSE 370 Pulp and Paper Products and Markets 3
PSE 211 Pulp and Paper Internship 1
Engineering Elective 3
 Hours23
Fourth Year
PSE 415 Paper Industry Strategic Project Analysis 3
PSE 416 Process Design and Analysis 3
PSE 417 Modeling & Simulation of Pulp & Paper Processes 3
PSE 465 Process Engineering 3
PSE 472 Paper Process Analysis 3
PSE 475 Process Control in Pulp and Paper 3
PSE 425 Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering 3
Advised Electives 3
 Hours24
 Total Hours109
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

2

A grade of C or better is required.

GEP Courses
GEP Humanities 6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours19

Acad Writing Research 

Acad Writing Research
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
FLE 101Academic Writing and Research4
Transfer Sequence
ENG 202Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing3
ENG 1GEP3

Economics Electives 

ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
ARE 201AIntroduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
EC 201Principles of Microeconomics3
EC 205Fundamentals of Economics3

Engineering Electives

BAET 411Agricultural Machinery and Power Units4
CE 214Engineering Mechanics-Statics3
CHE 225Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis3
ECE 331Principles of Electrical Engineering3
MAE 206Engineering Statics3
MSE 201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
TE 200Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering3

Advised Electives

ACC 200Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ACC 210Concepts of Financial Reporting3
ACC 220Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ACC 310Intermediate Financial Accounting I3
ACC 311Intermediate Financial Accounting II3
ACC 340Accounting Information Systems3
ACC 411Business Valuation3
ARE 301Intermediate Microeconomics3
ARE 336Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics3
BAE 425Industrial Microbiology and Bioprocessing3
BAE 525Industrial Microbiology and Bioprocessing3
BCH 451Principles of Biochemistry4
BUS 320Financial Management3
CH 315Quantitative Analysis3
CH 331Introductory Physical Chemistry4
CH 401Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I3
CH 431Physical Chemistry I3
CH 437Physical Chemistry for Engineers4
CHE 225Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis3
CHE 311Transport Processes I3
CHE 312Transport Processes II3
CHE 315Chemical Process Thermodynamics3
CHE 316Thermodynamics of Chemical and Phase Equilibria3
EC 301Intermediate Microeconomics3
EC 302Intermediate Macroeconomics3
EC 336Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics3
ET 310Environmental Monitoring and Analysis3
ISE 311Engineering Economic Analysis3
MA 225Foundations of Advanced Mathematics3
MA 303Linear Analysis3
MA 305Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices3
MA 325Introduction to Applied Mathematics3
MA 351Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models3
MA 401Applied Differential Equations II3
MA 402Mathematics of Scientific Computing3
MA 403Introduction to Modern Algebra3
MA 407Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors3
MA 408Foundations of Euclidean Geometry3
MA 410Theory of Numbers3
MA 421Introduction to Probability3
MA 425Mathematical Analysis I3
MA 426Mathematical Analysis II3
MA 430Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences3
MIE 201Introduction to Business Processes3
MIE 305Legal and Regulatory Environment3
MIE 330Human Resource Management3
MIE 335Organizational Behavior3
MSE 201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
ST 371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
ST 431Introduction to Experimental Design3
ST 435Statistical Methods for Quality and Productivity Improvement3
ST 535Statistical Methods for Quality and Productivity Improvement3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1 1
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 3
CH 202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
EC 205
Fundamentals of Economics
or Principles of Microeconomics
or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
3
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 3
PY 206 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 1
PSE 201 Pulping and Papermaking Technology 3
 Hours18
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles 4
MA 242 Calculus III 4
PSE 212 Paper Properties 4
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
PY 208 Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3
PY 209 Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 1
PSE 371 Pulping Process Analysis 3
Advised Elective 1 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MAE 201 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 3
Engineering Elective 3
PSE 211 Pulp and Paper Internship 1
PSE 322 Wet End and Polymer Chemistry 4
PSE 355 Pulp and Paper Unit Processes I 2 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
PSE 332 Wood and Pulping Chemistry 3
PSE 360 Pulp and Paper Unit Processes II 3
PSE 370 Pulp and Paper Products and Markets 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PSE 415 Paper Industry Strategic Project Analysis 3
PSE 417 Modeling & Simulation of Pulp & Paper Processes 3
PSE 425 Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering 3
PSE 475 Process Control in Pulp and Paper 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
PSE 416 Process Design and Analysis 3
PSE 465 Process Engineering 3
PSE 472 Paper Process Analysis 3
Advised Elective 1 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2-3
 Hours17
 Total Hours128
1

A grade of C- or better is required.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this curriculum find opportunities for challenging careers as process engineers, product development engineers, process control engineers, chemists, technical service engineers, quality control supervisors, and production supervisors. Design and construction engineering companies employ graduates as project engineers, and pulp and paper machinery/chemical companies use their education and skills for technical service and sales positions. Opportunities for managerial and executive positions are available to graduates as they gain experience.

The broad and intensive nature of this curriculum makes graduates attractive not only to the pulp and paper industry, but also to a variety of other major chemical process and bio-energy industries. This appeal is especially true for the dual degree in Paper Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering.

Career Titles

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