University Catalog 2024-2025

Paper Science and Engineering (BS): Dual Major

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.

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
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
Acad Writing Research 2 4
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
PSE 201 Pulping and Papermaking Technology 1 3
Economics Elective 3
 Hours32
Second Year
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles 2 4
CHE 225 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis 2 3
MA 242 Calculus III 2 4
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 2 3
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
PSE 212 Paper Properties 2 4
PSE 371 Pulping Process Analysis 2 3
 Hours33
Third Year
CHE 315 Chemical Process Thermodynamics 1 3
CHE 311 Transport Processes I 2 3
CHE 312 Transport Processes II 3
CHE 316 Thermodynamics of Chemical and Phase Equilibria 2 3
Chemistry Elective 4
PSE 211 Pulp and Paper Internship 1
PSE 322 Wet End and Polymer Chemistry 4
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
 Hours30
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 425 Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering 3
PSE 465 Process Engineering 3
PSE 472 Paper Process Analysis 3
PSE 475 Process Control in Pulp and Paper 3
 Hours21
Fifth Year
CHE 330 Chemical Engineering Lab I 4
CHE 446 Design and Analysis of Chemical Reactors 3
ECE 331
Principles of Electrical Engineering
or Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials
3
 Hours10
 Total Hours126
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 1GEP3
ENG 202Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing3

Economics Electives 

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

Chemistry Electives

BCH 351General Biochemistry3
BCH 451Principles of Biochemistry4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CH 315Quantitative Analysis3
CH 316Quantitative Analysis Laboratory1
CH 331Introductory Physical Chemistry4
CH 335Principles of Green Chemistry4
CH 437Physical Chemistry for Engineers4
FS 402Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials4
FS 403Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science4
FS 502Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials4
PCC 461Chemistry of Polymeric Materials3
PCC 464Chemistry of Polymeric Materials Laboratory1
PSE 335Principles of Green Chemistry4

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 2 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 2 4
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 2 3
CH 202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
Select one of the following: 3
Fundamentals of Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
PSE 201 Pulping and Papermaking Technology 2 3
 Hours18
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 2 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
CHE 205 Chemical Process Principles 2 4
MA 242 Calculus III 2 4
PSE 212 Paper Properties 2 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
CHE 225 Introduction to Chemical Engineering Analysis 2 3
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 2 3
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
PSE 371 Pulping Process Analysis 2 3
 Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
Chemistry Elective 4
CHE 311 Transport Processes I 2 3
CHE 315 Chemical Process Thermodynamics 2 3
PSE 211 Pulp and Paper Internship 1
PSE 322 Wet End and Polymer Chemistry 4
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours18
Spring Semester
CHE 312 Transport Processes II 3
CHE 316 Thermodynamics of Chemical and Phase Equilibria 2 3
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
 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
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours18
Spring Semester
PSE 416 Process Design and Analysis 3
PSE 465 Process Engineering 3
PSE 472 Paper Process Analysis 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2-3
 Hours14
Fifth Year
Fall Semester
CHE 330 Chemical Engineering Lab I 4
CHE 446 Design and Analysis of Chemical Reactors 3
GEP Requirement 3
ECE 331
Principles of Electrical Engineering
or Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials
3
 Hours13
 Total Hours145
1

Grade of C (2.0) or higher required.

2

Minimum grade of C- 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.

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