Master of Science in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Miami University Oxford

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Miami University is a research-focused master's degree designed for students who want to pursue doctoral study or research-driven careers in chemical and biomedical engineering. Students build advanced expertise through chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and interdisciplinary coursework while completing a research thesis in areas such as tissue engineering, biomaterials, molecular simulation, biomechanics, biophotonics, electrochemistry, solar cells and environmental engineering.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish their advanced engineering foundation through courses such as CPB 611 Transport Phenomena in Engineering, CPB 512 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and CPB 517 Quantitative Physiology or CPB 526 Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering. They can then build their specialization with electives such as CPB 519 Biomaterials, CPB 523 Biomechanics, CPB 515 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design, or CPB 516 Biochemical Engineering, depending on their chemical or biomedical engineering interests.

Year 2:

Students move further into independent research through CPB 700 Research for Master's Thesis, completing a minimum of 6–12 thesis credits and defending their research before completing the degree. Advanced electives can broaden their expertise into areas such as CPB 528 Engineering Principles in Medical Device Design, CPB 582 Process Control, CPB 583 Chemical Process Safety, CSE 532 Machine Learning, CSE 556 Bioinformatic Principles, or ECE 526 Biomedical Signal Analysis and Machine Learning.

Focus Areas:

Tissue engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical devices, biomedical imaging and sensing, biophotonics, biochemical engineering, molecular simulation, solar cells, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, reactor design, transport phenomena, mass transfer, process control, chemical process safety, environmental engineering, separation processes, bioinformatics and machine learning.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will be able to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics principles; communicate effectively with different audiences; design and conduct experiments, analyze data and apply engineering judgment; acquire and apply new knowledge; and define research or industrial problems, conduct background research, develop appropriate methodologies and contribute to solutions through a thesis, research project or industrial practicum.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering is a graduate research program and is not separately listed as an ABET-accredited degree. Miami University's College of Engineering & Computing does have ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs, while this M.S. emphasizes graduate research, experimentation, engineering analysis and preparation for advanced research or doctoral study.

Reputation (Employability):

Miami University highlights strong career-oriented outcomes at the university level. The university reports that it is a Top 15 public university for producing Fortune 500 CEOs according to Academic Influence, No. 19 among Best Public Colleges for Future Leaders according to TIME, and a Top 10 public university in the U.S. for long-term career success in LinkedIn's 2025 Best Colleges ranking. These are university-wide indicators rather than rankings specific to the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering M.S.

Program duration: The M.S. normally takes two calendar years to complete and must be completed within five years unless an extension is approved.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Miami University is strongly research-driven, with the degree culminating in a master's thesis and oral defense. Students can develop practical research skills through faculty-led projects in areas including tissue engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, electrochemistry, solar cells, environmental engineering, molecular simulation and biochemical engineering. The department provides dedicated chemical and biomedical laboratories, specialized research equipment, and opportunities to connect research with industry through an Industrial Practicum.

Students can build this practical experience through the program's research and professional resources:

Master's thesis research: Students complete 6–12 credits of CPB 700 Research for Master's Thesis, culminating in an oral thesis presentation and approved written thesis.
Industrial Practicum: CPB 710 Industrial Practicum can be used within the graduate program, giving students an opportunity to apply their engineering knowledge in an industrial setting.
Biomedical Research Laboratory: The department has a dedicated Biomedical Research Lab supporting research in biomedical engineering and related applications.
Tissue Engineering & Biomaterials Laboratory: Students can conduct research involving tissue engineering, biomaterials and biomedical applications in a dedicated research laboratory.
Biomedical Optical Imaging and Sensing Laboratory: Specialized facilities support research in biomedical optical imaging and sensing, including work connected to medical diagnostics and biomedical applications.
Electrochemical Laboratory: The department provides dedicated electrochemical research facilities for work involving electrochemistry and related energy and materials applications.
Solar Cell Research Laboratory: Students can participate in research involving solar cells and energy-related materials through a dedicated solar-cell research laboratory.
Molecular simulation and computational research: Faculty research includes thermodynamic modeling, kinetic modeling, computational fluid dynamics, topology optimization and molecular simulation, allowing students to develop computational approaches alongside experimental research.
AI and machine learning: Current departmental research includes AI for healthcare and biomedical imaging, while graduate electives include Machine Learning, Bioinformatic Principles, Bioinformatics Computing Skills, Image Processing & Computer Vision, and Biomedical Signal Analysis and Machine Learning.
Process Control Laboratory: The department maintains a dedicated process-control laboratory, supporting practical work in chemical engineering automation and control.
Biochemical Engineering Laboratory: Students have access to a specialized biochemical engineering laboratory for research and experimental work related to biochemical processes.
Environmental Laboratory: Dedicated environmental engineering facilities support research into environmental applications of chemical and biomedical engineering.
Chemical Engineering Laboratory: The department maintains a dedicated chemical engineering laboratory alongside its specialized biomedical and research facilities.
Electron microscopy and nanotechnology: Graduate students also have access to the university's Electron Microscopy Facility and Nanotechnology Center, providing additional capabilities for advanced materials and biomedical research.
Contract Research Lab: Miami's CPB department operates a Contract Research Lab where companies work with faculty, staff and students on process and product development and assessment, creating an additional connection between academic research and industry.
Faculty-led research: Students can work with faculty researching biocatalysis, protein engineering, synthetic biology, nanoparticles, drug-delivery biomaterials, 3D-printed biomedical materials, biomedical imaging, biosensors, solar energy, catalysis, environmental applications and electrochemical processes.
Graduate seminar: CPB 600 Graduate Seminar develops students' exposure to current research and professional communication while they progress through the research-based program.
Collaborative research environment: Department research is funded by government agencies including DOD, DOE and NIH, as well as private industry and Miami University, giving graduate students opportunities to participate in externally supported research projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Miami University prepares graduates for advanced engineering, research and technology-focused careers by combining chemical engineering fundamentals with biomedical applications and research experience. The program's thesis, research-project and industrial-practicum pathways give students opportunities to demonstrate engineering problem-solving, experimentation and applied research skills that can transfer into industry or further academic study.

Typical career roles: Chemical Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer, R&D Engineer

Students can build their transition into professional careers through Miami University's dedicated career infrastructure and industry connections:

Career advising and employment support: The Center for Career Exploration and Success provides career advising, professional development, experiential education and employer networking. Students can also use Handshake to schedule career-advisor appointments and search and apply for jobs and internships with 200,000+ vetted employers.
Career and internship fairs: Miami hosts career and internship fairs throughout the year, including a dedicated STEM Career and Internship Fair for students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics backgrounds.
Employment outcomes: Miami University reports that 99% of graduates were employed or furthering their education by fall 2024. This is a university-wide figure and is not specific to the M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Internship and research support: The university's Career Center reports $1,119,570 in internship/research awards from FY24 through March 2024, providing evidence of institutional investment in experiential opportunities.
Industry connections: Miami's employer-relations team works specifically with the College of Engineering and Computing to develop recruiting relationships. Employers can recruit through campus interviews, Handshake postings, employer presentations, networking events and career fairs.
Relevant employers: Miami's College of Engineering and Computing identifies organizations that hire its graduates, including Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, Cardinal Health, Eli Lilly, Ethicon, Forge Biologics, GE Aerospace, Honda and Medtronic. These are college-level employer examples rather than a guarantee of employment for this particular M.S.
Industry collaboration within the department: The Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering department conducts research supported by external organizations and provides an Industrial Practicum option, allowing M.S. students to connect academic engineering work with industrial applications.
Salary context: Miami's official College of Engineering and Computing information does not publish a program-specific salary figure for the M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. For broader context, Miami cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing a $112,100 median wage for chemical engineers in 2023; this figure covers the occupation nationally, not Miami M.S. graduates specifically.
Accreditation value: The M.S. in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering is not separately listed as an ABET-accredited graduate program. Miami's Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering department does maintain ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering curricula, while the M.S. emphasizes graduate-level research, experimentation and professional engineering skills.
Graduation pathways: Miami states that graduates from the Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering department are prepared to enter public and private-sector industries or continue into advanced education in engineering and other professional programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students interested in deeper research can pursue a Ph.D. in a related engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering or interdisciplinary field at Miami or another university. The M.S. also provides a foundation for continued professional education, with Miami specifically identifying advanced graduate and professional study as a pathway for graduates of its Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering programs.