Chemical Engineering Degree, AS

Why Study Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineers are at the forefront of discovering and improving the products around us. Working in laboratories and factories, they help:

• Design and manufacture computer chips
• Develop new medicines and medical equipment
• Improve recycling and restoration processes
• Investigate new energy resources
• Refine water purification processes

Earning an associate degree in chemical engineering will give you the knowledge to work in this high-demand field. You'll understand the properties of materials from atoms to plastics. Study their chemical composition and how they fuse and interact. Practice using advanced tools that are used in labs and factories. With a Chemical Engineering AS, you'll be well on your way to a career in this important industry.

Why Earn an Associate Degree in Chemical Engineering at San Juan College?

Transfer Partnership With NMSU

Study with chemical engineering faculty from New Mexico State University while attending SJC. We have collaborated with NMSU so you can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemical Engineering in four years.

You will spend the first two years of your educational journey at SJC. Earn your Chemical Engineering AS by taking math, English, physics, and chemistry courses. You will also enroll in at least one chemical engineering course each semester. NMSU will teach these courses through synchronous distance education. That means you will watch lectures live on your computer and interact with your instructor and fellow students in real time.

Upon completion of your Chemical Engineering AS, you will transfer to the NMSU campus in Las Cruces. You will finish the last four semesters of the Chemical Engineering BS degree program there.

With this program, you'll get to study close to home for two years while paying our affordable tuition rates. Our small classes and experienced teachers will give you the attention you need to prepare for your advanced classes. Take care of your future with SJC's chemical engineering partnership with NMSU.

Flexible Course Options

Take classes on a schedule that works for you. SJC offers many learning options for our chemical engineering students. Some courses meet in person, while others are offered completely online. We also have hybrid classes that meet online and in person, depending on the course schedule. Find a flexible option that works for you at SJC.

Chemistry Research Opportunities

Become an experienced student and job applicant by completing undergraduate research. At SJC, you can join chemistry and chemical engineering research projects. You'll experiment in our laboratory and use advanced instrumentation to find solutions. Work closely with our professors to build your quantitative and qualitative skills.

Past student projects include:

• Addressing environmental concerns
• Creation of artificial retina materials
• Synthesis of electronic materials

Affordable Associate Degree and Pathway to Bachelor's Degree

With SJC's low tuition rates, earning our Chemical Engineering AS can save you thousands of dollars. You'll pay our affordable rates for two years while taking the same rigorous courses as a four-year school. You may also qualify to get your degree tuition-free through the NM Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships.

What You'll Learn With a Chemical Engineering Associate Degree

With a Chemical Engineering AS, you'll explore advanced chemistry and math concepts that will prepare you for your future career. Learn about atomic and molecular structure and reaction dynamics in your lectures. Practice how to handle materials and perform chemical analysis in labs. You'll become a confident student—ready to transfer your Associate of Science degree to a four-year school.

In your SJC courses, you will take:

• Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
• Calculus I, II, and III
• Calculus-based Physics
• General Chemistry I and II
• Introduction to Engineering
• Organic Chemistry I and II

You will also take live online courses with NMSU professors. You will take:

• Energy Balances
• Engineering Data Analysis
• Fluid Flow
• Introduction to CHEM Calculations
• Material Balance
• Thermodynamics

Chemical Engineering AS Curriculum

Transfer Options

SJC's associate degree in chemical engineering is a transfer degree. Once you have completed your associate degree, you can enroll in a four-year university to complete your bachelor's degree in just two more years. Many chemical engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree, so you'll be qualified to begin your career.

San Juan College has a partnership with NMSU's Chemical Engineering program. Many of our chemical engineering students transfer to NMSU to complete their degrees. NMSU is accredited through the ABET, making it a top school for engineering programs.

With our Chemistry AS, you can also enter as a junior majoring in chemistry at the following schools:

• Fort Lewis College
• New Mexico Tech
• University of New Mexico

Meet with your advisor if you wish to transfer to pursue your bachelor's degree in chemistry. You will need to coordinate your coursework at San Juan College with the transfer institution's requirements.

Learn More About the Transfer Process

Careers and Outcomes

Most of our graduates transfer to New Mexico State University to earn their Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Once you graduate, you can find employment as a chemical engineer in New Mexico and around the country.

There is currently a great demand for chemical engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of chemical engineers to grow 14% from 2021 to 2031. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS also reports that the median annual wage for chemical engineers was $112,100, in 2024, making this a high-paying career.

Companies in New Mexico that hire chemical engineers include:

• Ensign Energy Services
• HF Sinclair Corporation
• Ideal Spectroscopy
• Intel
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Occidental Petroleum
• Sandia National Laboratories
• SolAero Technologies, Inc

Chemical Engineering Degree Prerequisites

To take courses for the Chemical Engineering AS, you must have completed certain math and chemistry courses:

• High school chemistry
• Intermediate algebra
• Precalculus
• Trigonometry

You may also complete these courses at SJC before enrolling in the Chemical Engineering AS courses. Contact your advisor or visit the Chemical Engineering AS Curriculum page for more information.