MS Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Northeastern University

Program Overview

Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Chemical Engineering combines advanced chemical engineering principles with computational skills, research, and industry-focused experiential learning. It is designed for students seeking careers or further study in areas such as biosystems, sustainability, energy, materials, and advanced chemical engineering applications, with three concentrations to tailor the degree to their goals.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by building a strong computational and professional foundation through CHME 6310: Python for Chemical Engineers, CHME 6320: Numerical and Statistical Methods for Chemical Engineering, and CHME 6390: Professional Development and Communication Essentials. Depending on their concentration, they then move into subjects such as CHME 6430: Chemical Engineering for Biosystems and Biomaterials, CHME 6420: Engineering for Chemical Sustainability, or CHME 7330: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics.

Year 2:

Students deepen their specialization through advanced electives and, for the General Principles and Applications pathway, can undertake a substantial CHME 7945: Master’s Project or CHME 7990: Thesis. Sustainability students can explore areas such as CHME 5621: Electrochemical Engineering, CHME 5692: Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage, and CHME 5683: Introduction to Polymer Science, while Biosystems students can pursue subjects including CHME 5630: Biochemical Engineering and CHME 5631: Biomaterials Principles and Applications.

Focus Areas:

General Principles and Applications, Biosystems, Sustainability — with research opportunities spanning biomolecular and biomedical systems, complex and computational systems, energy and sustainability, materials and nanotechnology, and related chemical engineering applications.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering knowledge, computational and numerical problem-solving skills, research and experimental capabilities, data analysis skills, professional communication, and the ability to apply chemical engineering principles to areas such as biological systems, materials, energy, sustainability, and industrial processes.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. is designed around advanced chemical engineering education, research, and professional practice. Northeastern's program emphasizes experiential learning through research and cooperative education, while the university's graduate chemical engineering curriculum provides pathways for students interested in industry careers or progression to PhD study.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings);

Northeastern’s Department of Chemical Engineering states that its graduate chemical engineering program is ranked among the top 50 graduate chemical engineering programs in the U.S. The university also reports that it is No. 1 in internships/co-ops according to U.S. News & World Report, and graduate engineering students can participate in co-op placements of up to eight months.

The Chemical Engineering department also reports $16 million in external research awards from 2022–2024, providing students with opportunities to engage with active research in areas including energy, sustainability, biomolecular systems, and materials.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Northeastern’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is strongly connected to practical learning through co-op opportunities, faculty-led research, laboratory work, and industry collaborations. Full-time graduate students can participate in the university’s graduate co-op program and gain up to eight months of professional experience in their field, while thesis-track students can work directly with faculty on research across biomolecular and biomedical systems, computational systems, energy and sustainability, and materials and nanotechnology. The department’s Boston location also places students close to biotech, pharmaceutical, medical, and high-tech organizations, creating opportunities to connect classroom learning with real engineering applications.

Students can build practical and research experience through:

Graduate Co-op: Full-time M.S. students can participate in Northeastern’s graduate co-op program, typically during the second year, with opportunities for up to eight months of professional work experience. Chemical Engineering co-op employers have included Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, Biogen, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Waters Corporation, and Technip.
Faculty-led research: Students in the General Principles and Applications concentration can choose thesis topics from faculty research areas including Biomolecular and Biomedical Systems, Complex and Computational Systems, Energy and Sustainability, and Materials and Nanotechnology.
Research laboratories and equipment: Department research resources include atomic force microscopy (AFM), battery cyclers, flow cytometry, BET surface-area and pore-size measurement, confocal/Raman microscopy with electrochemical capability, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, and argon-environment gloveboxes.
Computational learning: The M.S. includes a computational-based core curriculum designed to develop practical mathematical and computational skills. The program specifically includes CHME 6310: Python for Chemical Engineers and CHME 6320: Numerical and Statistical Methods for Chemical Engineering, giving students direct experience with computational approaches used in chemical engineering.
Research seminars: Graduate student seminars provide an interactive setting where students present research findings and exchange ideas with faculty and other students.
Industry and research connections: The department works with neighboring universities, hospitals, medical centers, and industry in Boston, allowing research and experiential learning to connect with real-world chemical engineering challenges.
Global experiences: Northeastern Chemical Engineering also provides global experiential opportunities such as study abroad, research experiences, global co-op, and Dialogue of Civilizations. The department has highlighted a Chemical Engineering Dialogue of Civilizations focused on sustainable energy in Brazil.
Professional development: CHME 6390: Professional Development and Communication Essentials helps students translate the technical knowledge and skills developed during the degree into professional resumes and presentations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Northeastern’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering is designed to prepare graduates for technical and research-oriented careers across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, advanced materials, sustainability, and manufacturing. Students can combine advanced chemical engineering knowledge with experiential learning and co-op opportunities, helping them build experience relevant to roles such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, R&D Engineer, and Process Development Engineer.

The program connects academic preparation with professional development through:

Career and Co-op Support: Northeastern’s College of Engineering has a dedicated co-op team that helps students with resume building, interview preparation, professional development, and finding co-op opportunities. Full-time graduate students can gain up to eight months of professional work experience through co-op.
Industry Connections: Chemical Engineering co-op employers include Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Waters Corporation, and Technip. The department also highlights graduate placements with companies such as Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Waters, Pfizer, and Sanofi.
Employment & Salary: Northeastern reports that 95% of graduate students are employed or continuing their education within nine months of graduation across its graduate outcomes data. Northeastern also reports a $121,860 median annual wage for chemical engineers in May 2024, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data; this is an occupation-wide figure rather than an M.S.-specific Northeastern salary.
Career Development: Northeastern’s career resources support students with professional preparation and connect them with the university’s extensive employer network. The College of Engineering reports more than 3,000 co-op employer partners globally, providing a broad network for experiential career development.
Industry-Relevant Specialization: Students can specialize in General Principles and Applications, Biosystems, or Sustainability, aligning their graduate education with areas such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, biomaterials, energy, sustainability, and advanced materials.
Long-Term Professional Value: The M.S. provides advanced graduate-level preparation for chemical engineering practice and research. Northeastern also offers a PhD in Chemical Engineering, allowing students who want a research or academic career to continue into doctoral study.
Graduate Outcomes: Northeastern's university-wide graduate outcomes data reports that 95% of students are employed or continuing their education within nine months of graduation, with master's graduates working across professional, scientific and technical services, healthcare, information, finance, education, and other sectors.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates who want to deepen their research expertise can apply to Northeastern’s PhD in Chemical Engineering. The doctoral program includes advanced study in areas such as Chemical Engineering Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Transport Phenomena, and original research, culminating in a dissertation and defense; M.S. graduates may petition to transition into the PhD subject to departmental approval and PhD requirements.