HISTORY

The founding of what was then the School of Chemical Sciences took place on February 18, 1974, with the launch of the Chemistry Program, which remained in operation for nine years. In 1983, as part of an effort to diversify its academic offerings, the Chemistry Program was replaced by the Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Programs.

In 1984, with the incorporation of the Master’s Program in Biopharmacy, the academic unit’s designation changed to the Faculty of Chemical Sciences. In 1986, the Pharmaceutical Chemist-Biologist Program was established.

In 1991, the academic offerings in the field of engineering were expanded with the Computer Engineering and Electronic Engineering programs. That same year, a curriculum flexibilization model was introduced, impacting all undergraduate programs.

In 1996, after a period of rapid growth in enrollment in engineering programs, the institution adopted its current name: the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering.

In 2002, the academic offerings grew once again with the establishment of the Industrial Engineering Program. A year later, the graduate division launched the Master’s and Doctoral Program in Science and Engineering (MyDCI), offered as a multi-campus institutional program in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada.

In 2004, a Common Core Curriculum was implemented for all engineering programs at UABC across its campuses, which allowed for the standardization of the first two semesters and promoted student mobility. In 2005, the Master’s and Doctoral Program in Health Sciences was established, offered in Tijuana and Mexicali, and operated until 2019, when its last student graduated. Similarly, in 2005, the Master’s Program in Information and Communication Technologies was launched in Ensenada and Tijuana, including a professional master’s program in the same field. Both programs operated until 2012.

In 2012, the Common Core Curriculum in Engineering began at the Rosarito Unit, starting with a cohort of 16 first-year students.

In August 2014, the Common Core Curriculum in Chemical Sciences was implemented, incorporating the Industrial Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemist-Biologist programs.

The first external evaluations of program quality received favorable results in 1997 under the CIEES Reference Framework. Subsequently, the undergraduate programs achieved accreditation, and in December 2014 the Industrial Engineering Program reached Level 1 within the CIEES system, thus granting all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the Faculty the status of “High Quality.”

In contrast, while in its beginnings in 1974 the School of Chemical Sciences had an enrollment of only 14 students, by the 2020-1 academic term enrollment had grown to 3,117 undergraduate students across six programs and 54 graduate students. This student population is served by 77 full-time faculty members, 1 half-time faculty member, 4 full-time academic technicians, 3 half-time academic technicians, and 132 adjunct instructors.

In 2024, a commemorative ceremony was held featuring a video celebrating the Faculty’s 50th Anniversary, as well as a historical profile. Finally, a Historical Archive of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering was established.