MS Chemical Engineering

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

Brown University

Program Overview

Brown University’s Master of Science (Sc.M.) in Chemical Engineering is an on-campus, flexible master’s program designed for students who want to apply chemical engineering principles to emerging technologies and real-world challenges. Students build advanced expertise through interdisciplinary coursework, research, and experiential learning, with opportunities to explore areas such as renewable energy, nanoscience, biotechnology, electrochemistry, reaction engineering, and carbon-based materials.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin with the mathematical and engineering foundations needed for advanced chemical engineering study, including ENGN 2010 Mathematical Models in Engineering and Physics I, CHEM 2010 Advanced Thermodynamics, and ENGN 2750 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Engineering. The curriculum then develops expertise in transport and mathematical modeling through courses such as ENGN 2020 Mathematical Models in Engineering and Physics II and ENGN 2760 Heat and Mass Transfer.

Year 2:

Students pursuing the thesis option can deepen their specialization through advanced electives and research, including ENGN 2980 Special Projects: Reading, Research, Design, while developing a coherent program with their faculty advisor. Students following the professional option can also gain practical industry experience through a three-to-six-month internship or ENGN 2960 Experiential Learning in Industry (ELI).

Focus Areas:

Catalyst Design, Reaction Engineering, Nanoscience, Electrochemistry, Renewable Energy Technology, Biotechnology, Transport Processes, Carbon-Based Materials.

Learning Outcomes:

Apply engineering, science, mathematics, and liberal arts knowledge to complex problems; develop independent, critical, and integrative thinking; communicate solutions effectively across multidisciplinary settings; and develop technical approaches that address societal needs in an ethical, safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible manner.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Brown’s Chemical Engineering Sc.B. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular, and similarly named engineering programs. The Sc.M. is a graduate program and is not itself presented by Brown as an ABET-accredited degree; its curriculum is instead structured around advanced chemical engineering coursework, research, and professional experiential learning.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Brown reported No. 47 globally for graduate employability in the QS World University Rankings 2022, based on measures including alumni outcomes and employer partnerships. Brown’s Career Exploration Center also reports that nearly 10% of Brown graduates immediately pursue careers in science and engineering, with alumni entering roles including engineers, analysts, research assistants, and computational biologists.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Brown’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory through research, independent study, and industry-based experience. Students can choose a thesis pathway involving independent reading and research, while the professional option requires a three-to-six-month paid or unpaid experiential learning experience, which can be completed through a summer internship or ENGN 2960: Experiential Learning in Industry (ELI). The program also connects students with Brown Engineering’s research infrastructure, including specialized laboratories, computational facilities, and shared research spaces that support work in areas such as nanoscience, biotechnology, transport processes, carbon-based materials, and electrochemical energy conversion.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Industry internships: The professional option includes a required three-to-six-month experiential learning experience, with internship assistance provided by Brown’s School of Engineering and the Center for Master’s Student Excellence.
ENGN 2960 – Experiential Learning in Industry (ELI): Students can complete this course as an alternative experiential-learning pathway within the professional option.
Research and thesis work: The thesis option incorporates independent reading and research courses, allowing students to work with a faculty advisor and develop specialized research experience.
Engineering Research Center (ERC): Brown’s 80,000-square-foot shared research facility provides graduate researchers with dedicated workstations, laboratory modules, lab clusters, cleanroom space, and imaging capabilities.
Chemical and Environmental Engineering research: Brown researchers work on groundwater remediation, biotechnology, transport processes, nanoscience, carbon-based materials, environmental pollutants, and thermal and electrochemical energy conversion.
Virtual Materials Laboratory: The lab develops atomic-level simulation methods for predicting thermodynamic and kinetic properties of materials and develops software used by research groups worldwide for large-scale computational work.
Electron Microscope Facility: Brown Engineering provides access to specialized electron-based imaging capabilities for exploring materials at the atomic scale, supporting research involving advanced materials and nanoscience.
Engineering Instructional Computer Facility: The engineering computer facility provides a dedicated computing environment for engineering students, with software availability managed for each academic term.
Specialized core facilities: Students conducting relevant research can benefit from facilities including the Nanoelectronics Central Facility, Fluid Dynamics Testing Facilities, Joint Engineering Physics Instrument Shop, Electron Microscope Facility, and Brown Design Workshop.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Brown University can prepare graduates for advanced roles across chemical processing, energy, biotechnology, materials, and research-oriented industries. Depending on their specialization and experience, graduates can pursue roles such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research & Development Engineer, and Materials Engineer. The program also provides pathways into industry through experiential learning and into further academic research through the thesis option.

Students can build their career prospects through:

Career support: Brown’s Center for Master’s Student Excellence supports master’s students with professional development, career preparation, networking, and experiential-learning opportunities.
Industry experience: The professional pathway includes a three-to-six-month internship or ENGN 2960: Experiential Learning in Industry (ELI), giving students an opportunity to apply their graduate-level engineering knowledge in a professional setting.
Research experience: The thesis pathway allows students to undertake independent research with a faculty advisor, providing preparation for research-intensive engineering careers and doctoral study.
Industry connections: Brown Engineering’s graduate programs provide opportunities for students to connect their studies with industry through experiential learning and the School of Engineering’s relationships with external organizations.
Employment and salary data: Brown does not publish a program-specific employment rate or median salary for graduates of the Chemical Engineering Sc.M. on the official program page, so a program-specific figure should not be assumed.
Accreditation value: Brown’s undergraduate Chemical Engineering Sc.B. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The graduate Sc.M. itself is not identified by Brown as an ABET-accredited degree; therefore, students should distinguish the accreditation status of the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Career-relevant facilities: Access to Brown Engineering’s research infrastructure, including the Engineering Research Center, specialized laboratories, computational resources, and core facilities, can strengthen students’ technical and research portfolios.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Sc.M., students interested in research and academia can pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely related engineering/science field. Brown’s Chemical Engineering graduate environment also supports advanced research in areas such as energy, biotechnology, nanoscience, reaction engineering, electrochemistry, and carbon-based materials, providing a strong foundation for students who want to continue into doctoral-level research.