Chemical Engineering (M.S.)

2 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Howard University

Program Overview

Howard University’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is designed for students who want advanced training in biochemical, environmental, materials, energy, and process engineering, with preparation for careers in research, government, and industry or further doctoral study. Students build a strong foundation in thermodynamics, material and energy balances, kinetics, fluid mechanics, process simulation, optimization, and experimental techniques while working closely with faculty on research in areas such as sustainability, nanotechnology, biomolecular engineering, and environmental engineering.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering fundamentals through core courses such as CHEG 501 Advanced Transport Phenomena, CHEG 502 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CHEG 504 Advanced Mathematics for Chemical Engineers, and CHEG 505 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering. They then begin developing a specialization through electives in areas such as nanoscience, biomolecular engineering, and environmental engineering.

Year 2:

Students deepen their chosen research area through advanced electives such as CHEG 610 Advanced Topics: Nanoscience, Engineering and Technology, CHEG 606 Introduction to Polymer Engineering, CHEG 624 Advanced Bioprocess Engineering, or CHEG 616 Advanced Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering. The second stage also includes the 6-credit Seminar Series and 6-credit Thesis, culminating in the required thesis defense/final oral examination.

Focus Areas:

Energy and design for sustainability, nanotechnology, biomolecular engineering, environmental engineering, chemical reaction engineering, transport phenomena, process control and design, applied mathematics, biochemical engineering, materials engineering, environmental remediation, bioenergy, water treatment, and computational science.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced knowledge of chemical engineering principles, theoretical and computational techniques, experimental research methods, process simulation and optimization, and specialized approaches to biochemical, environmental, materials, energy, and nanoscale engineering problems. The program also develops independent research, technical analysis, and problem-solving skills through seminars, research, and thesis work.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Howard University’s B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Howard’s official accreditation information specifically identifies the B.S. program as ABET-accredited; the M.S. is a graduate research degree and is not separately identified as ABET-accredited.

Reputation & Employability:

Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture reports that its engineering programs have a strong record of producing engineers, while the university reported that engineering was ranked No. 1 among HBCU undergraduate programs in the 2025 U.S. News rankings. The Chemical Engineering department also highlights graduates progressing into research, government, biotechnology, pharmaceutics, consumer products, manufacturing, renewable energy, and doctoral study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Howard University’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is strongly research-oriented, with students gaining practical experience through faculty-led research, experimental techniques, computational methods, and a required 6-credit thesis. The program’s research environment covers areas such as environmental remediation, bioseparations, nanotechnology, biomaterials, water treatment, bioenergy, and functional materials, giving students opportunities to work with specialized chemical engineering instrumentation and research laboratories. Graduate research and teaching assistantships may also be available, with research assistants typically supporting faculty research for up to 20 hours per week.

Students can develop hands-on and research skills through:

Biomolecular Assemblies and Nanomechanics (BAN) Laboratory: Students can engage with research on self-assembled nanoscale biopolymer structures, including DNA, aggrecan, and collagen, with applications in drug delivery and tissue regeneration.
Physical/Chemical Environmental Processes Laboratory: Research focuses on environmental contaminant remediation, including work involving hexavalent chromium and trichloroethylene.
Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory: Students can explore bio-separation technologies for recovering food and biofuel from plant-based materials, connecting chemical engineering with sustainable energy and environmental applications.
Bioenvironmental Engineering Laboratory: Research includes biological approaches to contaminated-environment remediation, waste management, resource recovery, water sanitation, and energy technologies. The department has also conducted related work in Senegal, Kenya, and El Salvador.
Chemical engineering instrumentation: Department research capabilities include Agilent gas chromatography, GC/MS, HPLC, atomic absorption spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, a TECAN microplate reader, Fluxion BioFlux automated system, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential analysis, centrifugation, and specialized fluidized-bed/electrostatic separation equipment.
Computational and simulation research: Faculty research includes multiscale simulations spanning quantum, atomistic, mesoscopic, and continuum scales, particularly for bio-nano interfaces and functional materials.
Thesis research: The M.S. requires 6 credits of thesis work, followed by a final oral examination/thesis defense, providing a substantial opportunity for independent research.
Industry and government-supported research: Chemical Engineering research has received support from organizations including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and ExxonMobil, with research addressing water treatment, renewable energy, waste management, and resource recovery.
Industry internship connections: Howard Chemical Engineering has partnerships with companies including ExxonMobil, Kraft, and Corning, as well as government agencies that offer internship opportunities; the department also points students toward university career fairs for internships and full-time recruitment.
CEA research ecosystem: The College of Engineering and Architecture houses 30+ research labs and centers, supporting interdisciplinary work with government and industry partners.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Howard University’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering prepares graduates for careers across research, government, and industry, with opportunities in biotechnology, pharmaceutics, consumer products, manufacturing, and renewable energy. The program also provides a strong foundation for students who want to continue into doctoral-level study in chemical engineering or related disciplines.

Typical job roles: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, R&D Engineer, Environmental Engineer

Students can build their professional pathway through:

Career and recruitment opportunities: Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture organizes career fairs specifically for disciplines including chemical engineering, where companies and government agencies recruit for internships and full-time positions.
Industry partnerships: The Chemical Engineering department reports partnerships with ExxonMobil, Kraft, and Corning, while government agencies also provide internship opportunities.
Research-to-industry exposure: Graduate students can collaborate with faculty on research supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and ExxonMobil, connecting their graduate research with real-world engineering challenges.
Graduate research opportunities: Research and teaching assistantships may provide tuition remission and/or a stipend, with research assistants typically supporting faculty research for up to 20 hours per week.
Graduation outcomes: Howard states that its Chemical Engineering graduates enter diverse areas of chemical engineering, research, government, and industry, while other graduates continue to doctoral-level study.
Employment and salary figures: The official M.S. Chemical Engineering pages do not provide a current program-specific employment rate or salary figure, so a specific salary or placement percentage should not be attributed to this M.S. program.
Accreditation value: Howard’s B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The university does not identify the M.S. itself as separately ABET-accredited; therefore, the ABET accreditation should be understood as applying to the undergraduate Chemical Engineering program rather than the M.S.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can pursue doctoral study in Chemical Engineering or related disciplines. Howard specifically identifies doctoral-level study as a progression route for its Chemical Engineering graduates, while related Howard doctoral programs can also provide pathways into advanced research areas.