CHE 100Chemical Engineering Concepts 1
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Chemical Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Introduction to basic methods and principles in chemical engineering. The fundamentals of engineering calculations (units and dimensions), behaviour of fluids, mass balances, processes, and process variables.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1A
- Enrolled in H-Chemical Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4528 | 113 / 120 | TTh 14:30–15:50 TTh 14:30–15:50 Sep 25 12:30–13:20 Oct 9 12:30–13:20 Nov 20 12:30–13:20 |
| LEC 002 | 8825 | 117 / 120 | TTh 13:00–14:20 TTh 13:00–14:20 Sep 18 15:30–16:20 Oct 9 15:30–16:20 Nov 27 15:30–16:20 |
| TUT 101 | 4529 | 80 / 80 | M 10:30–11:20 M 10:30–11:20 |
| TUT 102 | 4576 | 75 / 80 | T 10:30–11:20 T 10:30–11:20 |
| TUT 103 | 8826 | 75 / 80 | Th 10:30–11:20 Th 10:30–11:20 |
| TST 201 | 5359 | 230 / 240 | Oct 22 16:30–18:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
86% liked it60% easy92% useful
From 90 ratings and 20 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
We had two different profs teaching us this course, which I think is why I did not enjoy it as much as I could of. There was a lot of information stated that would then be questioned by the other prof, and we as students would end up in a cycle of not actually knowing what was right, and which source of information to trust. The content was dry, but fairly easy to understand, as long as you practiced it. The midterm and final were only about 5 questions each, and there are a lot of tutorials for this course, which each had a quiz every time.
Mar 2017 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Go to lectures; do some practices; maybe take some notes. Do the things you should do in an high school class and boom, you have a pass with this very introductory course to the major. The course is divided into two halves, first part feels like basic common sense and equation manipulation, while the second part builds fundamental chemical engineering equations and calculations base on high-school knowledge and simple scenarios. If you spend some effort to systematically study for this course, you will find it a decently smooth ride.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I wanted to like this course so bad :( . Pre and post midterm content are completely separate and are essentially different courses. I think this was my biggest gripe with the course; it spends an entire half of a semester teaching concepts (in poor detail) that feel kind of useless and paint a disconnected image of what chem eng is. Like was it really necessary to spend so much time on unit conversions, or the least square method, or pressure/manometer questions????? I can see the importance of these concepts, but they feel misplaced in this course. There are concepts pre-midterm, such as flowrates, chemical composition etc, that I completely understand being taught. BUt this stuff could…
Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
ok course
Nov 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
not that easy but really useful. The foundation of che101
May 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
20 posts and comments in 18 threads mention CHE 100, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
how easy is it to switch between eng programs 1 point, 8 comments
“i’m an incoming 1st year for chem eng (stream 4) and i’m wondering how difficult it is to switch to a different eng program such as mechanical eng (maybe even mechatronics)… i didn’t apply to those …”
u/Quiinzy: “… Content wise, it's very general, the only specialized course is CHE 100 and CHE 180. …”
u/Quiinzy: “… CHE 100 is pretty general but not relevant to a mech eng other than maybe the second half of the course I have no clue tbh. …”
Fall 2023
How much power do academic advisors hold over academic standing? 2 points, 3 comments
“Like if I'm close to having to repeat the term, does my academic advisor have the power to just push me along? …”
u/Quiinzy: “… Was it like 0.5% or 5% I’m in chem eng for reference Your che100 prof is brand new, maybe depending on your mark for that course u can ask to review the final As for the rest… idk… pendar is nice but she’s an advisor so she probably wouldn’t change anything or revise ur final to …”
Spring 2023
shitty 1A chem eng advice from an upper yr 1 point, 5 comments
u/Quiinzy: “… you just threw a dart at all eng programs and said fuck it Courses: \- You have 6 courses, CHE 100, 102, 120, 180, MATH 115, 116 CHE 100: You learn chem eng stuff here, first half is probably gonna suck and be boring as hell (unit conversions, pressure in manometers, least …”
u/rookszn: “Thank you! also did you use a lot of textbooks in 1A, and if so can you find them online?”
u/Quiinzy: “the only book you may use is for che 100, you don't need it, and yes you can find it online richard m felder elementary principles of chemical processes is the book (4th edition) is good enough”
Fall 2022
1A chem eng vs 1B chem eng 27 points, 5 comments
u/Quiinzy: “I keep seeing these posts from u dirty first years so if anyone is in chem eng here it is: CHE 101 —> easier than che100 imo, if you had trouble with unit 4 of che102 then you’re in for a ride cause phase equilibrium (raoults law) comes right back up (and comes back in 2A) so …”
Winter 2021
Math to engineering 4 points, 19 comments
“Hey , so I recently have been thinking about engineering , I originally applied to all schools for engineering and then Waterloo for math, and I really love math honestly , but the major isn’t as …”
u/Quiinzy: “coming from math you would most likely need to go back to 1A since you would be missing the core courses needed to proceed (CHE 100 which leads to CHE 101 then CHE 200 etc...) Since you already took chem 120, I don't think that is officially an antireq for CHE 102 but I could be …”
Fall 2019
Math 136 midterm stats 26 points, 14 comments
u/Whats-Sugondese: “For CHE 100 they gave us the wrong answer key for practice exams and that’s literally all we had to study, then the prof said it won’t be curved unless the entire class gets below 50”
Winter 2019
How is chemical engineering at Waterloo? 10 points, 9 comments
“Hello, I recently got accepted into Waterloo for chemical engineering. I’m wondering how it’s like in terms of workload, co-op opportunities and so on.”
u/Dragois: “Okay here goes. Rn I am in 1B mech, but I was in chem eng for 1A. My opinions may be quite limited in perspective, so take it with a grain of salt. …”
u/Dragois: “… For chem it is ChE100, about processes (batch, continuous flow etc), whereas for mech it is ME100(EGAD etc)”
Winter 2018
Admissions Megathread (Fall 2018 Incoming Students) 57 points, 466 comments
“Hello UW applicants, This thread is specifically for those who are applying/applied to UW to discuss different admission issues and ask current UW students for help and advice. …”
u/UnDeRmYmErCy: “Got into Chem Eng with 4 completed prereqs Physics 100 Chem 99 Adv Functions 99 English 94 Which adds up to a 98% overall for top 4 or a 98.2% for top 5 if they counted adv functions twice. …”
u/ThePinkerBean: “GL with CHE 100 in the fall, a sporadic course with an even more sporadic exams Source - unfortunate current chem eng student”
Fall 2017
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… 481W BUS 482W BUS 486W BUS 487W BUS 490AW BUS 490W BUS 491W BUS 492MW BUS 492W BUS 493UW CHE 100 CHE 102 CHE 200 CHE 201 CHE 202 CHE 211 CHE 220 CHE 230 CHE 231 CHE 241 CHE 290 CHE 291 CHE 298 CHE 299 CHE 302 CHE 313 CHE 331 CHE 361 CHE 391 CHE 399 CHE 401 CHE 420 CHE 425 CHE …”
Why does it seem like no one cares about making friends? 46 points, 56 comments
“In my Math135, 137, CS 135 classes, most people put no effort into making friends. Like everyone is just staring blankly forward or on their phone waiting for class to start. …”
u/condescendingcupcake: “… I just end up asking people around me stuff about school like all the time (hey do you understand this cuz i don't, did you finish che100 assignment? how are you finding the courses?) and we exchange names and talk more when we see eachother. …”
Fall 2016
Thought I was at UofT for a second 63 points, 25 comments
u/sweeterman420: “WAIT this is the lab for ChE100... Who are you u/Nestemitta ?????????”
Switching from science to engineering 3 points, 5 comments
“I am currently in 1A science, how can I go about switching into chem or systems eng”
u/aLamOfGod: “… Youll have to make up CHE 100 but i believe you don't have to take it afaik. It shouldn't be hard to get in as it is not competitive as, say Software. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them