MS Chemical Engineering

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

Pennsylvania State University University Park

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Penn State is designed for engineers seeking advanced expertise in core chemical engineering while exploring areas such as energy, bioprocessing, catalysis, nanotechnology, polymers, process control, and molecular simulation. Students can choose a thesis or non-thesis pathway, making the program suitable for those targeting industry careers as well as students who want to strengthen their preparation for doctoral study.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Penn State’s M.S. can be completed in one year through its non-thesis pathway, with the curriculum building strong foundations in advanced chemical engineering. The first semester includes CHE 524: Chemical Engineering Application of Thermodynamics, CHE 535: Chemical Reaction Engineering, and CHE 544: General Transport Phenomena, giving students advanced preparation in thermodynamics, reactor design, reaction engineering, and heat, mass, and momentum transfer.

In the second semester, students take graduate electives alongside CHE 590: Colloquium and CHE 596: Individual Studies, allowing them to develop expertise related to their interests and engage in independent academic work. The summer semester continues with CHE 596: Individual Studies, completing the one-year, 30-credit pathway.

For students pursuing the thesis track, the 30-credit M.S. includes at least 18 course credits followed by research, a thesis, and an oral defense. Students across both tracks develop core competency in thermodynamics, reaction and reactor kinetics, and transport.

Focus Areas:

Bioprocessing, Protein Engineering, Energy and Alternative Energy, Catalysis and Kinetics, Fluid Mechanics, Nanotechnology, Polymer Science and Engineering, Process Control, Molecular Simulation, Systems Biology, Optimization.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals, thermodynamics, reaction and reactor kinetics, transport phenomena, independent research, technical problem-solving, specialized chemical engineering applications, scientific communication, and preparation for industry or further doctoral study.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Penn State Chemical Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular Engineering Program Criteria. Penn State's official accreditation page specifically identifies the undergraduate program; it does not list the M.S. as separately ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Penn State's official Facts and Rankings page lists Chemical Engineering at #26 nationally among U.S. chemical engineering graduate programs. The department also highlights access to Penn State Career Services, Engineering Career Resources, Fall and Spring Career Days, and its Chemical Engineering Career Network to support students pursuing employment.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Penn State gives students opportunities to develop practical research and problem-solving skills through laboratory research, computational modeling, independent research projects, and collaboration with faculty working across areas such as catalysis, energy, bioprocessing, nanotechnology, polymers, process control, and molecular simulation. Thesis students complete original research and an oral defense, while non-thesis students undertake a 7-credit research project culminating in a written paper and presentation, providing a direct opportunity to apply advanced chemical engineering concepts to a research problem.

Students can work with faculty research groups using experimental and computational approaches, including catalyst synthesis and spectroscopy, electrochemical systems, membrane separations, computational chemistry, machine learning, multiscale modeling, and reactive-force-field simulations. The department's Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building provides 13 research laboratory neighborhoods, computer labs, collaboration spaces, and the Dow Chemical Knowledge Commons, while interdisciplinary research centers expand opportunities across materials, energy, life sciences, and computational research.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Research thesis: Thesis-track M.S. students conduct original Chemical Engineering research, complete a thesis, and defend their work orally.
7-credit research project: Non-thesis students complete a spring-and-summer research project with a final written paper and presentation.
Computational research: Faculty groups use computational chemistry, machine learning, multiscale modeling, molecular simulation, and reactive-force-field methods to study molecules, materials, catalysis, and chemical processes.
Catalysis and spectroscopy: The Rioux Research Lab provides research opportunities involving catalyst design and synthesis, time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS/XANES), nanoscale reaction mechanisms, and photocatalysis.
Electrochemical research: Penn State's Chemical Engineering research groups investigate heterogeneous electrocatalysis, electrochemical reaction mechanisms and kinetics, CO₂ utilization, organic electrosynthesis, and operando electrochemical spectroscopy.
Bioprocessing and membrane systems: Research includes membrane separation systems for bioprocessing and medical devices, including purification of recombinant proteins, gene-therapy agents, and vaccines.
Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building: The facility provides 13 research lab neighborhoods, computer labs, classrooms, conference rooms, collaboration areas, and the Dow Chemical Knowledge Commons.
Interdisciplinary research centers: Students can access research and collaboration opportunities associated with the Materials Research Institute, Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Institute of Energy and the Environment, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Applied Research Laboratory, and other Penn State centers.
Research collaboration: Graduate students work with faculty who have academic and industry backgrounds, with research funded by both industry and federal sources and focused on areas including human health, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, and food supply.
Collaborative learning spaces: The Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building's student collaboration areas provide technology-equipped spaces designed to support interaction and teamwork.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Penn State can prepare graduates for technical and research-oriented careers across chemical, energy, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, materials, and environmental industries. The program also provides a strong foundation for students who want to move into advanced research or doctoral study, with Penn State specifically positioning the M.S. as a pathway toward Chemical Engineering Ph.D. programs.

Potential career roles: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research & Development Engineer, Process Development Engineer.

Students can build their career prospects through:

Career support: Penn State Chemical Engineering directs students to Engineering Career Resources, Penn State Career Services, Fall Career Days, Spring Career Days, and the AfterCollege–Penn State Waltemyer Department of Chemical Engineering Career Network.
Salary outcomes: Penn State Engineering's 2024–25 survey reports an average starting salary of $83,814 for Chemical Engineering, based on 29 respondents. The same survey reports an average Chemical Engineering internship/co-op salary of $25.92 per hour, based on 78 respondents. These figures are for Chemical Engineering students broadly and are not limited to M.S. graduates.
Industry partnerships: Penn State Chemical Engineering works with companies that support education and research through internships, co-op opportunities, design projects, research programs, equipment, and scholarships. Current corporate partners listed by the department include 3M and Air Products Foundation, among others.
Industry connection and mentoring: The department's Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC) connects the program with industry, government, academia, and the engineering profession. Current members include representatives from ExxonMobil, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, PPG Industries, Campbell Soup, Genomatica, and W.R. Grace.
Research-industry collaboration: Penn State's membrane research center has involved industry representatives directly in graduate research projects, with students participating in regular interactions with industry representatives who serve as research mentors.
Accreditation value: Penn State's undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is ABET-accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission. The official accreditation page does not identify the M.S. as separately ABET-accredited, so the M.S. should not be presented as an ABET-accredited graduate degree.
Graduate outcomes: Penn State identifies career opportunities for Chemical Engineering graduates across pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, specialty chemicals, oil and gas, environmental engineering, biotechnology, and materials, while also highlighting progression into Ph.D. study.
Department network: The Waltemyer Department has more than 120 graduate students across its M.S. and Ph.D. programs and emphasizes interdisciplinary research involving human health, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, and food supply.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students interested in advanced research can progress to Penn State's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, where they can specialize in areas such as fuel and energy production, sustainability, biomolecular engineering, materials, and nanotechnology. Penn State describes its Ph.D. as a pathway for students seeking to become independent researchers and develop expert-level knowledge in their chosen research area.