The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

The course project requires major consideration of process economics and environmental acceptability. Process safety concerns are considered at a basic level.

This course serves two major functions. First, it provides an introduction to rigorous process design, to be distinguished from equipment design, or process analysis at a simplified level.

Second, it provides the experience of solving a complex engineering design problem. This requires that a large palette of the specific subjects studied in earlier courses be applied in concert, in a scenario where a range of simultaneous issues must be considered. This experience solidifies competence in the specific subjects, while helping to develop a perspective on the role these subjects serve in the practice of engineering. Further, students discover that answers to process design questions are not facts to be learned apriori, but instead must be determined for each case. They learn that the methods of chemical engineering analysis learned in prior courses enable them to determine the answers.

An attempt is also made to bolster elements of professionalism: Individual responsibility for the quality and correctness of engineering results reported; the obligation to provide needed results within the required time frame; effective functioning as a member of a project team; and adherence to professional standards and conventions for representing and transmitting engineering information.