Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Colorado State University

Program Overview

Colorado State University’s Master of Science in Chemical Engineering is a research-focused graduate degree designed for students who want to deepen their chemical engineering expertise while developing skills for research, industry, or further doctoral study. Students build advanced knowledge through coursework and original research, with opportunities to specialize in areas such as biochemical engineering, biofuels, advanced materials, environmental engineering, membrane separations, nanostructured materials, and synthetic biology.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish a strong technical foundation through courses such as CBE 501: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CBE 502: Advanced Reactor Design, CBE 503: Transport Phenomena Fundamentals, and CBE 521: Mathematical Modeling for Chemical Engineers. Students can also pursue interdisciplinary subjects such as CBE 504/BIOM 504: Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering, along with advanced statistics, data science, and biomolecular engineering electives.

Year 2:

Students increasingly focus on their chosen research area and complete advanced electives alongside substantial research activity. The M.S. Plan A includes CBE 699: Thesis, while students can select specialized subjects such as CBE 522/BIOM 522: Bioseparation Processes, CBE 560: Engineering of Protein Expression Systems, or CBE 570: Biomolecular Engineering/Synthetic Biology, depending on their research interests.

Focus Areas:

Biochemical engineering, biomedical engineering, biofuels and biorefining, biosensors and bioanalytical devices, cell and tissue engineering, advanced materials and semiconductor processing, environmental biotechnology, environmental engineering, genomics/proteomics/metabolomics, membrane separations, metabolic engineering, molecular simulation, nanostructured materials, protein engineering, synthetic and systems biology, thin films.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced mastery of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and chemical reaction engineering, conduct original chemical engineering research, apply responsible research practices, communicate research professionally, and collaborate effectively with scientists and engineers across related disciplines.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. is a research-based graduate degree that combines advanced coursework with a research project and thesis, making it particularly relevant for students targeting research-intensive industry roles or Ph.D. study. CSU’s School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under its chemical, biological, and biomedical engineering criteria; the accreditation information applies to the school’s accredited engineering programs rather than being presented as a separate accreditation of the M.S. itself.

Reputation (Employability & Research):

Colorado State University describes its Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering as having top-rated faculty and distinguished research programs, with research collaborations involving industry and government agencies in areas including environmental issues and biofuels. The School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering also highlights research-based graduate education designed to prepare students for careers as researchers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in engineering, academia, and industry

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Colorado State University’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering gives students a strong research-oriented experience, with the opportunity to apply advanced chemical engineering concepts through faculty-led research, laboratory work, thesis research, and interdisciplinary projects. The program’s research environment spans areas such as biochemical engineering, biofuels and biorefining, advanced materials, environmental engineering, membrane separations, nanomaterials, protein engineering, and synthetic biology. Students also have access to engineering research infrastructure and university-wide resources that support experimentation, data analysis, prototyping, and scholarly research.

Students can gain practical and research experience through:

Thesis Research: Students following the research-based M.S. pathway complete CBE 699: Thesis, allowing them to conduct original research under faculty supervision.
Chemical & Biological Engineering Research: Research opportunities cover biochemical engineering, biofuels and biorefining, biosensors, cell and tissue engineering, environmental biotechnology, membrane separations, molecular simulation, nanostructured materials, protein engineering, and synthetic biology.
Engineering Research Facilities: The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is based in the Glover/Engineering South complex, which houses department facilities and research spaces.
I2P 3D Printing Lab: Graduate students can access CSU's I2P 3D Printing Lab as part of the university's research and prototyping resources, supporting the development of physical research prototypes and experimental components.
Computational & Data Skills: The curriculum includes CBE 521: Mathematical Modeling for Chemical Engineers, giving students experience applying mathematical and computational approaches to chemical engineering problems.
Research & Data Support: CSU provides access to the Statistics Success Center and the Office of the Vice President for Research, supporting graduate students with research methodology and scholarly work.
Morgan Library: Graduate students have access to Morgan Library's research assistance, theses and dissertations collections, and technology support, supporting literature reviews and thesis preparation.
Interdisciplinary Research: The program's research environment connects chemical engineering with biotechnology, materials science, environmental engineering, biomedical applications, and other engineering disciplines, allowing students to work on multidisciplinary research problems.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Colorado State University’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering prepares graduates for research and technical careers across chemical processing, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, advanced materials, environmental engineering, biofuels, and pharmaceutical industries. The program’s research emphasis can support roles such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Engineer, Biochemical Engineer, and Pharmaceutical Engineer, while also providing preparation for doctoral study.

Students can build their career pathway through:

Career Services: The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering’s Engineering Success Center provides career exploration, résumé and cover-letter support, mock interviews, employer networking, and access to Handshake for career opportunities. Students can also attend engineering career fairs and employer events.
Industry Connections: CSU’s School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering works with industry and government agencies on research projects, and its partnerships support internships, research projects, seminars, career fairs, and interactions between students, faculty, and industry professionals.
Employment & Salary: CSU Engineering reports that 84% of engineering graduates go on to a job or graduate degree in their field within six months, with 180+ unique employers hiring CSU Engineering graduates and an average starting salary of $70,802. These figures are College of Engineering-wide and are not specific to M.S. Chemical Engineering graduates.
Professional Development: Engineering students can connect with employers through career fairs, employer chats, networking opportunities, résumé reviews, mock interviews, and other career-development activities.
Research-to-Industry Preparation: The M.S. involves original research addressing global challenges and offers collaboration across Engineering, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, giving students opportunities to develop research expertise applicable to both industry and academic careers.
Accreditation: CSU’s Chemical and Biological Engineering undergraduate program is ABET-accredited. The university does not identify the M.S. in Chemical Engineering itself as separately ABET-accredited, so the graduate degree should not be presented as an individually ABET-accredited program.
Graduate Outcomes: The university identifies chemical and biological engineering career destinations across biotechnology, biomedical, microelectronics, environmental, alternative energy, petroleum, chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and government sectors.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can continue into a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a related field, particularly if they want to pursue advanced research or academic careers. CSU’s M.S. research experience provides a foundation for doctoral-level work, and the School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering offers both M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Chemical Engineering.