MS in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Louisiana Tech University

Program Overview

Louisiana Tech University’s Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed for students who want to deepen their technical expertise while tailoring their studies to a specific engineering field, including Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, and Microsystems Engineering. With a strong research focus, students build advanced engineering, mathematical, computational, and problem-solving skills while working toward careers in industry, research, engineering leadership, or further doctoral study.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by developing the research and quantitative foundation needed for advanced engineering study. Core coursework includes ENGR 510 – Introduction to Engineering and Science Research Methods and either ENGR 541 – Advanced Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics or ENGR 592 – Engineering Computational Methods, giving students preparation in research methodology, advanced mathematics, and computational engineering.

Students then move into courses specific to their selected concentration, allowing them to develop deeper technical expertise. For example, the Chemical Engineering concentration includes CMEN 504 – Advanced Chemical Engineering Kinetics, CMEN 513 – Transport Phenomena, and CMEN 522 – Advanced Thermodynamics, while other concentrations offer specialized courses in areas such as mechanics, materials, controls, communications, microelectronics, and power systems.

Year 2:

The second stage allows students to build on their concentration coursework through approved electives and research or practical experience. Depending on the selected pathway, students can complete ENGR 511 – Engineering and Science Research Proposal Development followed by Research & Thesis, or pursue a practicum option; current Louisiana Tech course listings also include ENGR 5563 – Engineering & Science Internship, providing an opportunity for practical professional experience.

Focus Areas:

Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems Engineering, engineering research, computational engineering, advanced mathematics, interdisciplinary engineering, engineering design, research and development, professional engineering practice.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced engineering knowledge, quantitative and computational problem-solving, engineering research methods, specialized technical expertise, independent research, research proposal development, interdisciplinary thinking, practical engineering experience, technical communication, and preparation for professional engineering or doctoral-level study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Louisiana Tech University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master's degrees. The university also has ABET accreditation across specific engineering programs; importantly, accreditation is program-specific, so the MSE should not be described as universally ABET-accredited across all of its concentrations.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

Louisiana Tech reported that its engineering programs were included among the Top 200 Engineering Schools in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The university also retained its R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production Carnegie research classification, supporting the research-oriented environment available to graduate engineering students.

Louisiana Tech also highlights experiential learning within its engineering education and reports that its engineering and computer science graduates are prepared to make an immediate impact in the companies they serve.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Engineering (MSE) at Louisiana Tech University gives students opportunities to apply advanced engineering concepts through research, interdisciplinary projects, internships, and specialized laboratory work. Because the MSE spans multiple engineering concentrations, students can connect their graduate coursework with research centers and facilities relevant to their chosen area, gaining experience with advanced characterization, computational modeling, prototyping, and applied engineering research. Louisiana Tech also emphasizes collaboration with industry and provides opportunities for students to participate in faculty-led, independent, and collaborative research projects.

Students can build practical and research experience through the following Louisiana Tech resources:

Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM): A major resource for the MSE’s microsystems, materials, manufacturing, and nanotechnology-related work. The facility includes environmentally controlled laboratories, modular clean rooms, micro- and nanomanufacturing capabilities, measurement and characterization equipment, and modeling and simulation software.
Center for Applied Physics Studies (CAPS): Provides approximately 20,000 square feet of office and laboratory space and supports interdisciplinary engineering and physics research. Its computational research includes modeling of polymers, heterostructures, chemical systems, DNA and chromatin, and other complex physical and chemical processes.
Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences (CBERS): Students pursuing biomedical-related MSE work can access a 22,000-square-foot facility containing classrooms, research and service laboratories, offices, and support facilities, with research spanning areas such as micro-biomedical devices and technology-based rehabilitation.
Louisiana Tech Research Institute (LTRI): Located in the National Cyber Research Park, LTRI provides Applied Research Labs, secure research areas, large classrooms, and a cyber range for computer simulation activities. The institute specifically connects students with hands-on research and industry partnerships addressing real-world challenges.
Trenchless Technology Center: This cooperative research center brings together academics, government, and industry to work on underground infrastructure installation, rehabilitation, inspection, and remediation—particularly relevant to students following civil/infrastructure-related engineering interests.
Forest Products Innovation Center: Provides access to wood processing, testing, and chemical engineering laboratories, supporting interdisciplinary engineering research connected to materials, forestry, chemical processing, and manufacturing.
Research projects and internships: Louisiana Tech explicitly offers students opportunities to participate in faculty-led research, independent or collaborative studies, internships, and field experiences, allowing graduate students to apply research skills in real-world settings.
Industry-connected experiential learning: The university's Innovation Enterprise connects students with tenant companies and partners for internships and part-time employment, allowing students to gain applied experience while remaining on campus.
Interdisciplinary project environment: The College of Engineering and Science emphasizes hands-on education through labs and real-world projects, with research spanning engineering, science, technology, and interdisciplinary applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Louisiana Tech University’s M.S. in Engineering (MSE) prepares graduates for a range of engineering careers by allowing them to specialize in areas such as biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, and microsystems engineering. The university specifically identifies career opportunities including engineering project management, R&D, systems engineering, process engineering, electrical design, industrial engineering, manufacturing, and product development.

Typical career roles: Engineering Project Manager, Research and Development Engineer, Systems Engineer, Process Engineer.

Students can strengthen their transition from graduate study into professional engineering through:

Career support: Louisiana Tech’s Career Center provides individualized career support, including career coaching, résumé reviews, professional-development guidance, internship and job-search support, networking opportunities, and employer connections. Graduate students can also attend career fairs and work with career coaches to develop a post-graduation career plan.
Handshake and recruiting: Students have access to Handshake, Louisiana Tech’s career-management platform, where they can find internships, part-time positions, and full-time jobs and connect with employers recruiting Louisiana Tech students and alumni. The Career Center also organizes recruiting events, career fairs, employer information sessions, and on-campus interviews.
University–industry partnerships: The College of Engineering and Science operates an Industrial Partnership Program that creates opportunities for companies to engage with students, educators, and researchers while supporting recruiting, career fairs, professional development, and applied educational opportunities. Louisiana Tech’s Innovation Enterprise also connects students with tenant companies and partners for internships and part-time employment, including opportunities to gain experience without leaving campus.
Employment statistics and salary: Louisiana Tech’s Career Center collects post-graduation information through its First Destination Survey and provides resources for researching compensation and employment expectations. However, the university does not currently publish a program-specific employment rate or median salary for the MSE, so a specific salary figure would not be reliable to attribute to this degree.
Accreditation value: The MSE is an interdisciplinary graduate degree, so ABET accreditation does not apply universally to the MSE itself. However, Louisiana Tech has ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs in disciplines represented within the MSE, including Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, and Biomedical Engineering. This can provide valuable continuity for students whose undergraduate engineering education came from an ABET-accredited program.
Graduation outcomes: The MSE offers 30–36 credit hours depending on the selected track and can prepare graduates for professional engineering positions as well as further graduate research. Louisiana Tech specifically lists roles such as Manufacturing Engineer, Product Development Specialist, Mechanical Systems Analyst, Civil Engineering Consultant, Electrical Design Engineer, and Biomedical Engineer among potential career opportunities.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MSE, students interested in advanced research can continue into a Ph.D. in Engineering at Louisiana Tech. The doctoral program offers research pathways including Engineering Physics, Materials, Systems and Infrastructure, and Micro/Nanoscale Systems, allowing MSE graduates to build on their master's-level specialization and pursue careers in advanced R&D, academia, industry, or government research.