MS Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Cornell University

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University is a research-focused graduate degree designed for students who want to deepen their chemical engineering knowledge, develop independent research skills, and prepare for research careers or further doctoral study. Students build an individualized program through graduate-level coursework and original research, with opportunities to explore areas ranging from advanced materials and biotechnology to computational methods, kinetics, polymers, and energy-related applications.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin developing their research direction while taking graduate-level Chemical Engineering courses selected in consultation with their advisor and Special Committee. Depending on their interests, coursework can include areas represented by CHEME 6420 – Chemical Kinetics and Transport, CHEME 6400 – Polymeric Materials, and CHEME 6430 – Kinetics and Dynamics in Molecular and Cellular Systems, while research activity begins early in the program.

Year 2: The second year places greater emphasis on original research, analysis, communication of findings, and completion of the thesis or special project. Students continue advanced coursework where appropriate while developing the ability to formulate and solve engineering problems, critically evaluate results, and communicate the technological significance of their work.

Focus Areas:

Advanced materials processing, applied mathematics and computational methods, biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, classical and statistical thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and rheology, heat and mass transfer, kinetics and catalysis, polymers, surface science.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop mastery and application of core chemical engineering knowledge; learn to formulate, analyze and solve broadly defined engineering problems using appropriate techniques and tools; critically evaluate and communicate research results; collaborate effectively; understand professional roles in chemical engineering; and develop the self-directed learning skills needed for continued professional growth.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Cornell’s official M.S. information describes the degree as a research-based program preparing students for non-academic research careers and as a pathway to Ph.D. study. The official M.S. pages do not state a separate program-specific accreditation for the M.S. in Chemical Engineering; therefore, no specific accreditation should be attributed to this degree without further official confirmation.

Reputation & Employability:

Cornell’s official M.S. program reports that recent graduates have progressed to Ph.D. programs at institutions including Cornell University, Columbia University, Penn State, UC Riverside, the University of Washington, and The Ohio State University. Recent industry employers listed by Cornell include Samsung, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, Corning, Saudi Aramco, Sinopec, and Axium Nano, demonstrating the range of research and industry pathways associated with the program.

Program Location: Chemical Engineering (M.S.) — Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. The program is delivered in person.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Cornell’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is strongly research-driven, with students joining a research group during the first fall semester and developing original research that culminates in a thesis or special project. The program gives students access to specialized chemical engineering laboratories and shared research equipment, allowing them to develop practical skills in areas such as materials processing, biomolecular engineering, computational science, energy systems, polymers, and nanomaterials. Students can also work with faculty research groups and use Cornell’s broader interdisciplinary research infrastructure for advanced experimentation and analysis.

Key opportunities and resources include:

Original research: Students begin research in a faculty research group during their first fall semester and complete a research thesis or special project.
Olin Hall Unit Operations Lab: Provides access to chemical engineering equipment including shell-and-tube heat exchangers, a gas membrane separator, fluidized bed, process-control equipment, fermenters, and a large continuous distillation apparatus.
Energy Lab: Offers specialized equipment such as an Argon Glovebox, MACCOR and Solatron battery-testing systems, Anton Paar MCR 501 Rheometer, Plasma Etch, Tecan Spark Plate Reader, Vacuum Oven, Nano ITC, and Beckman Coulter Ultracentrifuge.
Computational research: Cornell identifies computational and systems biology, energy materials, energy systems engineering, complex-fluid modeling, nanoparticle flows, electrospinning fibers, and electronic-materials design as applications within its computational science and engineering research.
Faculty research groups: Students can engage with research groups working in areas such as complex fluids and polymers, biomolecular engineering, therapeutics, materials, energy, and interfacial phenomena.
Interdisciplinary research facilities: Cornell Engineering provides access to facilities and centers including the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), Center for Applied Mathematics, Center for Advanced Computing, and Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS).
Research and analysis facilities: Cornell also lists facilities such as Mass Spectrometry, NMR, Polymer Characterization, X-Ray Diffraction, and the Catalyst Development and Discovery Laboratory, which are relevant to chemical and materials research.
Team-based development: The M.S. learning outcomes specifically include the ability to work with fellow students in individual and team environments, supporting collaborative research development.
Professional research preparation: The program emphasizes independent inquiry, critical evaluation of results, research communication, and preparation for non-academic research careers or doctoral study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Cornell’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a research-based degree, typically completed in two years, designed to prepare graduates for non-academic research careers and as a pathway toward Ph.D. study. Recent graduates have moved into research and technical positions with organizations including Samsung, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, Corning, Saudi Aramco, Sinopec, Axium Nano, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Typical career directions include:

Chemical Engineer
Process Engineer
Research Scientist
Materials/Process Development Engineer

Here are some of the resources and progression opportunities available to students:

Career advising and job-search support: Cornell’s Engineering Career resources provide M.S. and Ph.D. students with career advising appointments, a Career Development Toolkit, campus recruiting opportunities, Handshake job listings, networking resources, and guidance for industry and government careers.
Employer connections: Cornell Engineering students can participate in campus recruiting, apply through Handshake, and network with employers and alumni.
Recent employers: Cornell’s Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering school specifically lists Samsung, Inspire Energy, Gilead Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Genentech, Home Depot, Axium Nano, Corning, Saudi Aramco, SF Motors, and Sinopec among companies that recently employed M.S. graduates.
Employment statistics and salaries: Cornell’s Career Network maintains graduate-outcomes data covering employer, job title, location, and salary information. However, Cornell’s publicly available Chemical Engineering M.S. page does not provide a program-specific salary figure, so a salary number should not be attributed to this M.S. without additional official data.
Industry-facing research: The program’s research orientation connects students with faculty research groups spanning advanced materials, biochemical engineering, reaction engineering, polymers, kinetics and catalysis, computational methods, and other chemical-engineering areas. The program identifies recent industry destinations including pharmaceutical, materials, energy, and technology organizations.
Long-term academic value: Cornell explicitly identifies the M.S. as a steppingstone to Ph.D. programs, making it suitable for students who want to continue into advanced research and academic careers.
Graduate outcomes: Cornell reports that M.S. graduates have pursued both non-academic research careers and doctoral study, reflecting the program's two principal progression routes.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can apply to Chemical Engineering Ph.D. programs, including Cornell’s own Chemical Engineering Ph.D. field. Cornell’s Ph.D. program focuses on deeper study and research in areas such as advanced materials processing, biochemical engineering, chemical reaction engineering, computational methods, polymers, kinetics and catalysis, and surface science.