MS in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Colorado State University

Program Overview

The MS in Chemical Engineering at Colorado State University is a research-focused graduate program in which students work alongside faculty experts to address global challenges through advanced chemical engineering principles, with opportunities spanning advanced polymeric materials, bioanalytical devices, biomedical engineering, systems biology, synthetic biology, and biomanufacturing. It suits students seeking advanced preparation for research and technical careers in academia or industry, combining core chemical engineering study with interdisciplinary electives, original research, collaboration, and a thesis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced foundations in chemical engineering through CBE 501 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CBE 502 Advanced Reactor Design, and CBE 503 Transport Phenomena Fundamentals, alongside CBE 693 Research Conduct and Practices. Depending on their academic direction, students can also take CBE 521 Mathematical Modeling for Chemical Engineers or explore chemical and biological engineering through CBE 500 Chem & Biological Engineering Fundamentals and CBE 504/BIOM 504 Fundamentals of Biochemical Engineering.

Year 2: The second stage emphasizes advanced electives and original research, allowing students to connect chemical engineering with areas such as CBE 522/BIOM 522 Bioseparation Processes, CBE 560 Engineering of Protein Expression Systems, CBE 570 Biomolecular Engineering/Synthetic Biology, or SYSE 541 Engineering Data Design and Visualization. Students on Plan A complete up to 11 credits of CBE 699 Thesis, submit their research for graduate-committee approval, and complete a final comprehensive examination that includes an oral thesis presentation.

Focus areas: Advanced polymeric materials, bioanalytical devices, biomedical science and engineering, systems biology, synthetic biology, biomanufacturing, biochemical engineering, bioseparation, bioremediation, protein expression systems, and biomolecular engineering.

Learning outcomes: Students develop technical mastery of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and chemical reaction engineering; conduct original research; apply engineering, science, and mathematics to complex problems; collaborate with scientists and engineers; and communicate research professionally in written and oral forms.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The program is designed for advanced chemical engineering research and professional practice, with curriculum built around core chemical engineering disciplines and interdisciplinary applications. The official graduate program page does not state a separate ABET accreditation for the MS degree; ABET accreditation should therefore not be inferred from the undergraduate engineering programs.

Reputation (employability rankings): The official CSU program materials reviewed do not publish a specific QS, Guardian, or program-level employability ranking for the MS in Chemical Engineering, so no ranking is stated here.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MS in Chemical Engineering at Colorado State University gives students practical experience through advanced laboratory work, research, computational methods, and access to specialized chemical engineering facilities. Students can pursue thesis-based research with faculty in areas such as catalysis, energy, materials, biotechnology, environmental engineering, and reaction engineering, gaining experience with the experimental and computational tools used in modern chemical engineering research. CSU’s research environment also connects chemical engineering students with interdisciplinary institutes and laboratories across campus:

Graduate research: Thesis-track MS students conduct original research with a faculty advisor and complete a written thesis, providing direct experience in designing experiments, analyzing results, and communicating research findings.
Chemical engineering laboratories: Students have access to specialized facilities supporting reaction engineering, catalysis, separations, polymers, biomaterials, energy, and environmental research.
Process engineering facilities: CSU’s chemical engineering research environment includes equipment for studying chemical reactions, transport processes, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process systems.
Computational tools: Graduate research incorporates computational modeling, numerical methods, and process simulation for analyzing and optimizing chemical engineering systems.
Materials research: Students can participate in research involving nanomaterials, polymers, advanced materials, and materials characterization, providing practical exposure to modern materials-engineering approaches.
Energy research: CSU faculty research includes renewable energy, energy conversion, batteries, fuel-related technologies, and sustainable chemical processes, allowing students to work on applications relevant to the energy industry.
Biochemical engineering: Research opportunities extend to bioprocessing, biotechnology, biological materials, and biochemical engineering, allowing students to apply chemical-engineering principles to biological systems.
Environmental applications: Students can engage in research addressing water treatment, environmental remediation, pollution control, and sustainable processing, connecting laboratory research with real-world environmental challenges.
Interdisciplinary research: Chemical engineering students can collaborate with researchers across CSU through facilities and institutes focused on energy, materials, biotechnology, environmental science, and advanced manufacturing.
Research communication: Thesis students gain practical experience presenting research findings and producing a substantial scientific thesis, strengthening their preparation for research and technical careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MS in Chemical Engineering at Colorado State University develops advanced technical and research capabilities for careers across chemical processing, biotechnology, energy, materials, environmental engineering, and related industries. The university specifically describes its M.S. as an interdisciplinary, research-focused degree that can prepare graduates for roles in research, industry, academia, and engineering leadership.

Typical career roles: R&D Engineer, Process Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Research Scientist

University career services: CSU Engineering provides career exploration, résumé and cover-letter support, mock interviews, internship and job-search guidance, and networking opportunities. Students can use Handshake to make advising appointments, research employers, and access jobs, internships, and co-ops; the Engineering Career Fair also connects students with employers from across industry, Colorado, and the wider country.
Employment statistics: CSU Engineering reports that 84% of engineering graduates obtain a job or graduate degree in their field within six months, with 180+ unique employers hiring CSU Engineering graduates. These figures are reported for CSU Engineering graduates generally and are not identified by the university as MS Chemical Engineering-specific.
Salary information: CSU Engineering reports an average starting salary of $70,802 for CSU Engineering graduates. The university does not identify this figure as specific to the MS in Chemical Engineering, so it should be treated as a broader CSU Engineering benchmark rather than a program-specific salary.
University–industry partnerships: CSU's School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering maintains strategic research partnerships through which faculty and graduate research can address business R&D priorities. The school also has an Industry Advisory Board, while CSU engineering's corporate engagement includes organizations such as AlloSource, Anheuser-Busch, Applied Medical, Broadcom, Medtronic, PhotonPharma, Terumo BCT, Texas Instruments, and Tolmar through engineering project sponsorship.
Research-to-industry opportunities: CSU's Laboratory for Air Quality Research involves Chemical Engineering students in laboratory, field, and modeling projects and reports collaborations with industry on instrumentation and air-pollution applications. The Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Laboratory also welcomes graduate researchers and explores industrial collaboration around renewable fuel production and resource recovery.
Accreditation value: CSU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, covering its academic and professional degrees. The School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering also states that its ABET accreditation applies to the relevant chemical, biological, and biomedical engineering program; however, CSU does not state on the cited page that the MS in Chemical Engineering itself is separately ABET-accredited, so the ABET status should not be interpreted as a specific accreditation of this master's degree.
Graduation outcomes: The School states that its graduate programs prepare students for careers as researchers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in engineering, academia, and industry. CSU's Chemical Engineering graduate pathway includes M.S., M.E., PSM, and Ph.D. options, allowing students to build toward either professional employment or further research education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MS in Chemical Engineering, students can continue into a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Colorado State University, where original research is guided by a faculty advisor and contributes to the scientific knowledge base. The university also offers related graduate pathways through biomedical engineering and the Professional Science Master's in Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology, allowing students to broaden their specialization toward biomedical, bioprocessing, biotechnology, or interdisciplinary research.