MS Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New Mexico

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico (UNM) provides advanced training in chemical engineering through thesis, non-thesis/project, or coursework-only options, making it suitable for students seeking careers in engineering, research, materials, energy, biotechnology, and related industries. Students develop advanced knowledge in areas such as transport phenomena, thermodynamics, chemical-process kinetics, engineering analysis, and research practices while gaining access to specialized chemical, biological, and materials engineering research facilities.

Curriculum Structure:

Core Graduate Study:
Students begin with the program's graduate Chemical Engineering core, developing a strong foundation through CBE 521: Advanced Transport Phenomena I, CBE 542: Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and CBE 561: Kinetics of Chemical Processes. They also complete CBE 502: Chemical & Biological Engineering Research Practices and CBE 525: Methods of Analysis in Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Engineering, building advanced analytical and research skills.

Advanced Study & Specialization:
Students then build their program around their selected M.S. pathway and research interests. The department's research areas include Nano- and Biomaterials Synthesis & Biomimetic, Catalysis, Electrochemistry, Fuel Cells, and Batteries, Tissue Engineering, Complex Fluids, Soft Matter, Colloids and Interfaces, and Materials & Interfaces with Energy Applications, allowing students to develop expertise aligned with their professional interests.

M.S. Completion Options:
For Plan I (Thesis), students complete 24 hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours before defending and submitting their thesis. Plan II (Non-thesis) requires 30 coursework hours plus a faculty-directed master's project and oral examination, while Plan III (Coursework Only) requires 30 coursework hours and provides a fully coursework-focused route.

Focus Areas:

Advanced transport phenomena, chemical engineering thermodynamics, chemical-process kinetics, engineering analysis, research practices, nanomaterials, biomaterials, microengineering, metamaterials, soft matter, colloids and interfaces, photonic materials, energy materials, tissue engineering, catalysis, electrochemistry, fuel cells, batteries, bioanalytical systems, energy transport.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering knowledge, quantitative and analytical problem-solving abilities, research and experimental skills, understanding of chemical processes and materials, expertise in specialized engineering areas, and the ability to apply chemical engineering principles to research and industrial challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

UNM's Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering states that its Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the applicable Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Program criteria. This accreditation specifically applies to the B.S. Chemical Engineering program; the university does not list a separate ABET accreditation for the M.S. program.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

UNM's School of Engineering was ranked No. 105 among Best Engineering Schools in the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, while its Chemical Engineering graduate specialty was ranked No. 78 nationally. The university also highlights career opportunities for Chemical Engineering graduates across nanotechnology, alternative energy, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental engineering, materials, manufacturing, and national laboratories, with employers including Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico gives students substantial opportunities to build practical research and engineering skills through faculty-guided projects, advanced laboratory work, and specialized research facilities. Depending on the M.S. plan, students can complete a thesis or faculty-directed research project, while the department's research environment spans nanomaterials, energy systems, catalysis, biomaterials, tissue engineering, electrochemistry, and advanced materials. Students working on computational projects can also access the UNM Center for Advanced Research Computing.

Key experiential opportunities and resources include:

Faculty-guided research: M.S. Plan I students work with a faculty research advisor to define and conduct an original research project, culminating in a thesis and defense. Plan II students also complete a faculty-directed research project and present their results in an oral examination.
Advanced chemical engineering facilities: Graduate students have access to chemical reactors including Berty and packed-bed reactors, a process control laboratory, and equipment for diffusion, absorption, solar research, phase-equilibrium studies, and biomedical research.
Materials characterization: Facilities include scanning and transmission electron microscopes, Autosorb-1 and ASAP2000 sorption analyzers, a Sedigraph particle sizer, mercury porosimetry, in-situ IR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and an Agilent 1100 HPLC system.
Computational resources: Students pursuing computational projects have access to the UNM Center for Advanced Research Computing, providing advanced computing facilities for research.
Nanotechnology and semiconductor research: The department provides plasma etching equipment, semiconductor fabrication and characterization equipment, and UHV chambers for surface-science experiments, supporting research in microengineering, nanomaterials, and advanced materials.
Research centers: Graduate students work within a collaborative network that includes the Advanced Materials Laboratory, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Center for High Technology Materials, and UNM/NSF Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, along with national-laboratory and medical-school collaborations.
Specialized research areas: Students can engage in research involving fuel cells, catalysis, colloidal science, ceramics, semiconductors, biomaterials, bioanalytical systems, tissue and protein engineering, and related areas.
Research publication opportunities: The Plan II M.S. project can produce results suitable for publication as a scientific research article, while Plan I thesis research provides an original research document that can also contribute to journal publications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico can prepare graduates for technical and research-oriented careers across chemical processing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, energy, materials, pharmaceuticals, environmental engineering, and manufacturing. UNM's Chemical & Biological Engineering department specifically identifies opportunities across private industry, government and national laboratories, with Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory among the leading employers of UNM graduates.

Typical career roles: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research & Development Engineer, Materials Engineer.

Career development and industry connections include:

Career Services: UNM provides career support through resume and cover-letter guidance, interview preparation, networking resources, job postings, internships and employer connections. The university's Handshake platform gives students access to internship, co-op and postgraduate opportunities and allows them to make their resumes available to employers.
Industry and employer connections: UNM's Chemical Engineering career resources identify Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Illumina, Apple, Community Power Corporation, Trinity Consultants and AECOM among its target/top employers.
Engineering employer network: UNM's Engineering Student Success Center lists organizations such as Abbott, AbbVie, AECOM, Aramco, Boeing, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chemours, Honeywell, Linde, Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories as companies providing engineering and computing job and internship opportunities.
National-laboratory opportunities: The department has strong connections with New Mexico's national laboratories, particularly Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, which are identified by UNM as leading employers for its graduates.
Employment and salary figures: UNM's official Chemical Engineering career material does not provide a specific employment rate or M.S.-specific salary figure, so a program-specific salary or placement percentage should not be presented as an official outcome.
Long-term accreditation value: UNM's Chemical Engineering B.S. is ABET-accredited, providing an established quality framework for the department. The M.S. itself is not separately listed as ABET-accredited, so the accreditation should not be represented as applying directly to the master's degree.
Graduation outcomes: The M.S. can support progression into private-sector engineering and R&D roles, government and national laboratories, and research-focused careers. UNM also identifies education and research as longer-term pathways, with faculty/academic careers generally requiring a Ph.D.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can continue into a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Chemical Engineering at UNM or pursue doctoral study in related engineering, materials, biotechnology, energy or other specialized research fields. The M.S. can therefore serve as preparation for more advanced research and academic careers, although continuing to a Ph.D. is optional.