Master of Chemical Engineering Degree

2 Years Online Bachelors Program

University of Houston

Program Overview

The Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE) at the University of Houston is a non-thesis, practice-focused graduate degree designed for engineers and scientists who want to advance their careers in the chemical process industries, particularly in process design, plant operations, systems analysis, process economics, and technical leadership. The 30-credit program allows students to build a strong technical foundation while tailoring coursework to their background and professional goals, with an Energy Transition concentration also available.

Curriculum Structure:

Program Structure: Rather than following a fixed Year 1/Year 2 sequence, the MChE requires 30 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, with course selection made in consultation with the MChE program director. Students with a Chemical Engineering bachelor's degree and those entering from related disciplines follow different course combinations.

Students can develop advanced expertise through courses such as CHEE 6333 – Transport Processes, which covers advanced fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer; CHEE 6335 – Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics, which explores advanced thermodynamics and molecular/statistical methods; and CHEE 6337 – Advanced Reactor Engineering, focused on modern reactor analysis and design.

The curriculum also offers specialized options including CHEE 6365 – Fundamentals of Catalysis, CHEE 6367 – Advanced Process Control, CHEE 6377 – Introduction to Polymer Science, CHEE 6390 – Energy and the Environment, and CHEE 7397 – Machine Learning for Chemical Engineers. Students pursuing Energy Transition can study areas such as CO₂ capture and sequestration, carbon storage, hydrogen, renewable energy, and CO₂-free manufacturing, with approved graduate electives available either face-to-face or online.

Focus Areas:

Process Design, Plant Operations, Process Control, Process Economics, Technical Management, Transport Processes, Thermodynamics, Reactor Engineering, Catalysis, Polymer Science, Energy and Environment, Machine Learning for Chemical Engineers, CO₂-Free Manufacturing, Energy Transition.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced capabilities in chemical engineering analysis, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, reactor design, process control, catalysis, energy systems, process economics, data-driven engineering and technical decision-making, preparing them for technical and leadership responsibilities in the chemical process industry.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The MChE is a non-thesis professional graduate degree focused on advanced technical and industrial practice. ABET accreditation applies to eligible undergraduate engineering programs; the University of Houston does not present the MChE itself as a separately ABET-accredited degree.

Reputation (Employability/Rankings):

The University of Houston's Chemical Engineering graduate program is ranked No. 34 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings. The Cullen College of Engineering is also ranked No. 71 among engineering schools, while UH reports more than 20,000 Cullen College alumni and more than $58 million in research expenditures.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE) at the University of Houston is a practice-focused, non-thesis program that connects advanced chemical engineering theory with applications in process design, plant operations, process control, energy, and technical management. Students can strengthen their practical capabilities through specialized coursework, computational and data-driven methods, and access to the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering's research infrastructure. The program also offers an Energy Transition concentration, allowing students to develop expertise in areas such as carbon capture, hydrogen, renewable energy, and CO₂-free manufacturing.

Students can build practical and technical experience through:

Process and engineering analysis: Advanced coursework such as CHEE 6333 – Transport Processes, CHEE 6335 – Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics, and CHEE 6337 – Advanced Reactor Engineering develops skills applicable to real chemical-processing systems.
Process control: CHEE 6367 – Advanced Process Control provides graduate-level preparation in controlling and optimizing chemical processes.
Catalysis and materials: Students can take CHEE 6365 – Fundamentals of Catalysis and CHEE 6377 – Introduction to Polymer Science, developing knowledge relevant to catalysts, polymers and advanced chemical-processing applications.
Machine learning: CHEE 7397 – Machine Learning for Chemical Engineers introduces data-driven approaches specifically applied to chemical engineering problems.
Energy-transition applications: The Energy Transition concentration covers areas including CO₂ capture and sequestration, carbon storage, hydrogen, renewable energy and CO₂-free manufacturing, giving students exposure to technologies shaping the future of chemical processing.
Research facilities: The department supports research through facilities and laboratories covering areas such as advanced materials, energy, catalysis, polymers, biochemical engineering, process systems engineering and computational chemical engineering.
Interdisciplinary research: Students are part of a wider UH research environment that connects chemical engineering with energy, materials, biotechnology, environmental engineering and computational science.
Houston industry environment: Studying chemical engineering in Houston provides access to a major industrial ecosystem, particularly in energy, petrochemicals, refining, chemicals and emerging energy technologies, which complements the program's practice-oriented focus.
Online learning option: The MChE is also offered through UH Extend as a fully online program, allowing students to complete the degree without a required on-campus or face-to-face component.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE) at the University of Houston is designed to prepare graduates for advanced technical and professional roles in chemical processing, energy, process design, plant operations, and technical management. Its practice-focused curriculum is particularly relevant to Houston’s large energy and petrochemical industry, while areas such as machine learning, catalysis and energy transition can support careers across emerging engineering sectors.

Typical career roles: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Process Design Engineer, Process Development Engineer.

Students can strengthen their transition into professional careers through:

Engineering Career Center: UH’s Cullen College Engineering Career Center provides career counseling, résumé and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, career planning, workshops, career fairs and employer connections. Students also have access to eCONNECTION, where employers post engineering jobs, arrange interviews and participate in career events.
Major employers: During the 2025–26 academic year, Cullen College engineering students were recruited by companies including Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Baker Hughes, Linde Engineering, TechnipFMC, OxyChem, Fluor, Halliburton, Siemens Energy and SLB. These are college-wide recruiting outcomes, not MChE-specific placements.
University–industry connection: UH reports a long-standing relationship with INEOS; the company states that it has hired 21 UH engineers since 2008 and has participated in Cullen career fairs and networking events for more than a decade. INEOS also offers summer internship opportunities at its Houston-area sites.
Employment and salary figures: UH's Engineering Career Center reports an average starting salary of $88,400 for Chemical Engineering B.S. graduates based on voluntarily reported May 2026 outcomes. For M.S. students, the current published figure is an average $22.50/hour internship wage for Chemical Engineering M.S. students; UH does not publish an MChE-specific full-time graduate salary figure on this page.
Career preparation and internships: The Engineering Career Center explicitly works to help Cullen students transition into the workplace through professional preparation, interviews, internships and full-time employment opportunities.
Graduation outcomes: Cullen College awarded 704 M.S. degrees in FY2025, alongside 1,765 B.S. and 87 Ph.D. degrees, reflecting a substantial graduate engineering community.
Reputation: The University of Houston's Chemical Engineering graduate program is ranked No. 34 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Professional accreditation value: The MChE is a professional graduate degree, and the program should not be described as separately ABET-accredited. ABET accreditation is relevant to eligible undergraduate engineering programs; the MChE adds advanced technical preparation that can complement an existing engineering degree and professional career.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MChE, students who want to move toward research-intensive careers or academia can continue into doctoral study in Chemical Engineering or a closely related engineering field. At UH, the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering department offers graduate research opportunities spanning areas such as chemical engineering processes, energy, catalysis, materials, biotechnology, computational engineering and emerging technologies.