Beginning this semester, the University is offering a dual degree program with Campbell University which allows students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences within five years.

The fall 2009 Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Student Handbook states “the proposed dual-degree curriculum is designed to educate and train a highly skilled individual who is competent to support and to lead a team for the development of new pharmaceutical products and delivery systems.”   

Henry Lamb, a professor in chemical and bimolecular engineering, will serve as an academic adviser to the chemical engineering students with a bimolecular or biochemical concentration in the new cooperative program.  

The program started taking applications last year for this semester, but only a few students are enrolled. The University and staff in the chemical engineering department, however, expect enrollment to increase as students become more aware of the advantages offered by the program.

“This is the first semester the program is being offered. There really is not a whole lot of information out about it yet to the public,” Lamb said.  “The organizational meeting just took place last Monday so the enrollment numbers are still very small. But people have just started signing up recently as they learn about it.”

According to the University’s Memorandum of Agreement, “interested students will be benefited by their ability to earn the two degrees in a total of five years, which includes one summer term at N.C. State, instead of the usual six years.”

The University’s handbook explains students will be required to fulfill all chemical engineering degree requirements with the University if pursing a masters in pharmaceutical sciences through Campbell “to provide undergraduates with an educational background that is a strong preparation to pursue graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences.”

“The program is an excellent opportunity for chemical engineering majors interested in pharmaceutical sciences to get the benefits of an education from experienced instructors in chemical engineering here at the University as well as pharmaceutical scientists at Campbell University. I think it will provide a unique set of of qualifications to students that will be very attractive to related companies and future employers,” Lamb said.