MS / MEng Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Oregon State University

Program Overview

The Chemical Engineering Graduate Program at Oregon State University offers both an M.S. and Master of Engineering (MEng), allowing students to choose between a research-focused pathway and a coursework-focused professional degree. Students build advanced expertise in areas such as surface chemistry and catalysis, reaction engineering, computational modeling and simulation, renewable energy, microreactors, advanced sensors, nanoparticles, semiconductors, and smart surfaces.

Curriculum Structure

MEng — 45 credits:
The MEng is a coursework-only degree designed for students seeking advanced professional skills and the flexibility to tailor their studies toward their career objectives. Core study includes CHE 514 Fluid Flow, CHE 520 Mass Transfer I, CHE 525 Chemical Engineering Analysis, CHE 537 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I, and CHE 540 Chemical Reactors I, complemented by engineering electives, technical writing, ethics, and additional approved electives.

M.S. — 45 credits:
The M.S. combines advanced coursework with substantial research, making it particularly suitable for students interested in R&D or future doctoral study. Students take the same core areas—including CHE 514 Fluid Flow, CHE 520 Mass Transfer I, and CHE 540 Chemical Reactors I—along with approved electives and CHE 503 Thesis, which accounts for 9 credits of the degree.

Rather than following a fixed year-by-year sequence, Oregon State allows students to develop an individualized program of study around their professional or research goals. Students without an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering or a related engineering discipline may also need prerequisite coursework in Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena I and II, and Chemical Reaction Engineering.

Focus Areas:

Biochemical Reactors, Biotechnology, Electrochemical Deposition, Environmentally Benign Manufacturing, Fluidization Engineering, Materials Synthesis and Processing, Micro Energy and Chemical Systems, Polymer Rheology and Processing, Process Control/Optimization, Thin Film Processing, Waste Minimization and Sustainable Processing.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop mastery of advanced chemical engineering subject matter, conduct research or other creative work, and apply their knowledge through ethical scholarly or professional activities. M.S. students additionally develop substantial research capability through thesis work, while MEng students build advanced professional expertise through coursework.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. and MEng are graduate degrees within Oregon State's School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering. The university's Chemical Engineering program is supported by the College of Engineering's professional engineering education and research environment; the graduate program page does not identify the M.S. or MEng themselves as separately ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

Oregon State provides a strong research and industry-oriented environment, with the College of Engineering reporting that companies including Boeing, Lam Research, and Garmin, along with more than 550 other employers, recruit OSU engineering students. In the university's 2024–25 First Destination Survey, the College of Engineering reported a 65.9% career outcomes rate; this is a college-wide figure rather than a Chemical Engineering graduate-program-specific rate

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Chemical Engineering Graduate Program at Oregon State University combines advanced coursework with research and applied engineering opportunities, particularly for M.S. students who complete a thesis. Students can develop practical expertise through specialized laboratories and research groups working in areas such as reaction engineering, materials processing, micro energy and chemical systems, process control, biotechnology, and sustainable processing. The School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering also provides access to specialized facilities and instrumentation that support graduate research and experimentation.

Students can build hands-on and research experience through:

Thesis research: M.S. students complete 9 credits of CHE 503 Thesis, allowing them to conduct substantial supervised research within chemical engineering.
Research areas: Graduate research includes surface chemistry and catalysis, reaction engineering, computational modeling and simulation, renewable energy, microreactors, advanced sensors, nanoparticles, semiconductors, and smart surfaces.
Biochemical engineering and biotechnology: Research facilities support work involving biochemical reactors, biotechnology, and biological processing, providing opportunities for students to apply chemical engineering principles to biological systems.
Materials and thin-film research: Students can work in areas including materials synthesis and processing, electrochemical deposition, thin-film processing, polymer rheology and processing, and semiconductor-related research.
Micro Energy and Chemical Systems: The program's research portfolio includes micro energy and chemical systems, giving students opportunities to work with small-scale chemical and energy technologies.
Process control and optimization: Graduate research includes process control and optimization, providing experience relevant to the modeling, monitoring, and improvement of chemical processes.
Computational modeling: Computational modeling and simulation is a specific research area within the program, allowing students to develop computational approaches for chemical engineering problems.
Sustainable processing: Students can engage with research in environmentally benign manufacturing and waste minimization and sustainable processing, connecting chemical engineering with sustainability challenges.
Professional MEng projects: The MEng is coursework-focused rather than thesis-based, allowing students to build advanced professional expertise through graduate chemical engineering coursework and approved engineering electives.
Specialized research environment: Graduate students are part of OSU's School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, which brings together chemical, biological, and environmental engineering research and provides an interdisciplinary setting for graduate work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemical Engineering graduate program at Oregon State University prepares students for industry-focused engineering careers, research roles, and continued academic study. The M.S. is particularly suited to students interested in research and advanced technical work, while the MEng provides a coursework-based pathway for applying advanced engineering knowledge in industry.

Typical career paths: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research & Development Engineer, Process/Manufacturing Engineer.

Key career and progression opportunities include:

Career services: OSU's Career Development Center provides engineering students with resume, CV and cover-letter reviews, networking and interview preparation, salary negotiation support, and career guidance.
Employer connections: Oregon State reports that companies including Boeing, Lam Research, and Garmin, along with 550+ other employers, recruit from the College of Engineering. The college also hosts career fairs connecting students with employers for internships and full-time opportunities.
Chemical engineering industry links: The School's industry advisory network includes professionals from organizations such as Corning, Nike, LSI Logic, and other engineering and technology companies.
Specific industry example: OSU highlights a chemical engineering alumnus who worked at HP following an internship and later became a metal deposition engineer. HP has also collaborated with the College of Engineering on research and has hired OSU graduates and interns.
Employment and salary context: OSU's Chemical Engineering career information reports approximately $75,650 starting salary, $112,100 median salary, and $176,420 for highly experienced chemical engineers. These figures describe the chemical-engineering occupation rather than salaries specifically reported by OSU M.S./MEng graduates.
Graduate engineering salary context: OSU cites the NACE Winter 2025 Salary Survey, which projects an average starting salary of $94,086 for engineering graduates with a master's degree. This is a national engineering figure, not a Chemical Engineering-specific OSU graduate salary.
Graduation outcomes: OSU's College of Engineering reported a 65.9% career outcomes rate in its 2024–25 First Destination Survey; this is a college-wide figure rather than an M.S./MEng Chemical Engineering-specific outcome.
Accreditation value: OSU's B.S. and Honors B.S. in Chemical Engineering are ABET-accredited. The graduate M.S. and MEng are not separately identified as ABET-accredited, so the graduate degrees should not be presented as independently ABET-accredited.
Long-term professional development: OSU's Chemical Engineering program emphasizes continued professional development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and application of modern engineering tools, supporting graduates as they progress into professional engineering and advanced technical roles.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S. in Chemical Engineering, students can continue into Oregon State University's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, particularly if they want to pursue advanced research, university-level careers, or R&D. The M.S. provides research and thesis experience, whereas OSU notes that the coursework-only MEng generally does not provide the same research preparation normally gained before entering a Ph.D.; progression from an MEng therefore depends on the requirements of the doctoral program.