Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Kansas State University

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University builds advanced expertise in chemical engineering fundamentals while giving students opportunities to explore research and practical applications in areas such as sustainable energy and advanced materials. It is well suited to graduates and working professionals seeking deeper technical knowledge through advanced coursework, electives, and research or a master's report.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by strengthening their advanced chemical engineering foundation through courses such as CHE 735 Chemical Engineering Analysis I, CHE 815 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and CHE 822 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering. They also develop deeper understanding of transport processes through CHE 862 Advanced Transport Phenomena I, while beginning to shape their specialization through graduate electives.

Year 2:

The second year provides greater scope for specialization, research, and independent work through elective graduate courses and the program's research component. Thesis-track students complete a minimum of 6 thesis credits and present an oral defense based on their research, while the program also offers a report option involving coursework and a master's report.

Focus Areas:

Sustainable energy, advanced materials, catalysis, solar thermal ammonia synthesis, biomass-based fuels and specialty chemicals, liquid and gas separations, catalytic membrane reactors, Fischer-Tropsch processes, heterogeneous catalysis, nanocarbons, chemical and biological sensors, semiconductor materials, ionic liquids, pharmaceutical applications, polymeric nanomaterials, process systems and molecular modeling.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced knowledge of chemical engineering theory, analytical and experimental skills, research and problem-solving abilities, independent and collaborative working skills, and the ability to apply chemical engineering principles to emerging technologies and practical challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

K-State's M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a graduate program designed to advance students' technical and research capabilities; the official program information does not identify a separate ABET accreditation for the M.S. degree. The program builds on advanced chemical engineering knowledge and prepares students for professional work across industry, academia, and government.

Reputation & Employability:

K-State's Carl R. Ice College of Engineering reports 99% career placement and an average starting salary of $95,016 across its reported engineering outcomes. K-State also identifies itself as a Carnegie R1 Doctoral University, highlighting its strong research environment for graduate engineering students.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University combines advanced chemical engineering coursework with research and practical implementation, giving students opportunities to develop hands-on research skills. Graduate students work with state-of-the-art instruments for materials synthesis and characterization and use molecular modeling tools supported by high-performance computing clusters. Research spans sustainable energy and advanced materials, with projects involving areas such as catalytic membrane reactors, liquid and gas separations, nanocarbons, sensors, semiconductor materials, and polymeric nanomaterials.

Students can build practical and research experience through:

Materials synthesis and characterization: Students gain experience with advanced instrumentation used to develop and characterize materials, supporting research in advanced materials and energy applications.
Molecular modeling & high-performance computing: The program uses molecular modeling tools supported by K-State's high-performance computing clusters for computational chemical engineering research.
Sustainable energy research: Students can engage with research involving solar thermal ammonia synthesis, biomass-derived fuels and specialty chemicals, catalytic membrane reactors, Fischer-Tropsch processes, heterogeneous catalysis, and liquid/gas separations.
Advanced materials research: Research opportunities include nanocarbons for lithium-ion batteries, chemical/biological/radiation sensors, wide-bandgap semiconductor crystal growth, ionic liquids, biological interfaces, and polymeric nanomaterials.
Departmental research laboratories: Chemical Engineering research is housed in facilities including Durland Hall, which contains Chemical Engineering classrooms and laboratories.
Computing resources: Graduate students have access to computer facilities, with additional computers and printers available within individual research groups.
Interdisciplinary research: Chemical Engineering research involves collaborations with other universities and national laboratories, giving students exposure to multidisciplinary research environments.
Research safety training: Students conducting research in departmental laboratories must complete required safety training and follow university and departmental laboratory safety procedures.
University research facilities: K-State also provides access to specialized research infrastructure such as the Nanotechnology Core, NMR Laboratories, Characterization and Testing Lab, Biomanufacturing Laboratory and Training Facility, and Beocat for research and computational work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University prepares graduates for opportunities across private industry, government agencies, and academia, with research strengths in sustainable energy, advanced materials, environmental applications, and other emerging areas. K-State reports a 100% placement rate and $98,000 average starting salary for its chemical engineering graduate students, where placement includes graduates employed or enrolled in graduate/professional education within six months.

Typical career roles: Process Engineer, Chemical Engineer, R&D Engineer, Environmental Engineer.

Students can further strengthen their career prospects through K-State's career and industry connections:

Career support: K-State's Career Center provides career advising, job listings, internships, career training, employer connections, and career fairs.
Employment outcomes: Chemical engineering graduate students have a reported 100% placement rate and $98,000 average starting salary; K-State defines placement as employment or enrollment in further education within six months of graduation.
Industry partnerships: The Carl R. Ice College of Engineering works directly with industry through collaborative research, interdisciplinary projects, applied learning and workforce-development initiatives. K-State reports 80 industry master agreements and $28 million in industry-funded research university-wide.
Industry networking: The Engineering Engagement Network connects students with industry professionals, while corporate partners contribute to applied learning experiences, professional development and real-world challenges.
Professional value: The graduate program develops advanced analytical and experimental skills, independent research capability and collaborative problem-solving skills, supporting progression into technical and research-oriented engineering careers.
Graduation outcomes: K-State's latest university-wide report found 97% of 2025 graduates were employed or continuing their education, based on an 80% knowledge rate.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the M.S., students can continue into a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at K-State or pursue doctoral programs at other universities. K-State's Chemical Engineering Ph.D. is designed for advanced research careers in industry, academia and government laboratories, allowing students to build on their master's-level research and develop greater specialization.