Many countries throughout the world have or are developing a strong manufacturing base, producing a range of products including household goods, electrical, do-it yourself, and automobile components. They are considered as the most rapidly growing sector of the materials industry consequently increasing the number of people who work in this field. Plastic and rubber, together with adhesives, resin and fibres, from a group material called polymers. Polymers have special properties which make them very useful in the modern world.

The majority of polymers are derived from oil chemicals, although there are some naturally occurring polymers such as natural rubber and cellulose. The manufacture of products from polymers requires a knowledge and understanding of a broad range of principles and technologies.

These engineers need to apply the traditional skills of chemical engineers, such as plant design, process design, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena, to various problem involving the production and use of polymers. Many of the engineers currently working in industry trying to solve these problems have background in either chemical engineering or polymers. The Polymer Engineering Option in Chemical Engineering is designed to produce engineers with booth sets of skills.