MS Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Colorado Boulder

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder is a 30-credit graduate program designed to prepare students for careers in research and academia while developing advanced expertise in chemical engineering. Students can choose a thesis or non-thesis pathway and explore areas ranging from energy and sustainability to biotechnology, advanced materials, computational engineering, and nanotechnology.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build their advanced chemical engineering foundation through the required CHEN 5210: Transport Phenomena, CHEN 5370: Intermediate Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and CHEN 5390: Chemical Reactor Engineering. These courses develop expertise in fluid and heat transfer, thermodynamics of fluids and mixtures, and the design and behavior of ideal and non-ideal chemical reactors.

Year 2:

Students deepen their expertise through department-approved technical electives and research, with options such as CHEN 5836: Nanomaterials, CHEN 5900: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, CHEN 6820: Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, and CHEN 6210: Microhydrodynamics of Suspensions and Colloids. Thesis students complete their research and an oral thesis defense, while non-thesis students complete the required comprehensive final examination.

Focus Areas:

Biological engineering, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, computational engineering, energy, interfaces and catalysis, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymers and soft materials, protein engineering and synthetic biology, transport and separations.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced capabilities in transport phenomena, thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, research methods, computational engineering, materials, biotechnology, energy systems, and chemical process analysis, while gaining the ability to conduct and communicate graduate-level research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. is structured as an advanced graduate research degree with thesis and non-thesis options, supporting preparation for research and academic careers. ABET accreditation applies to CU Boulder’s accredited undergraduate engineering programs; the university does not identify the M.S. in Chemical Engineering itself as separately ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

CU Boulder reports that its Chemical Engineering graduate program ranked No. 11 among public universities in the U.S. for 2024–25 according to U.S. News & World Report. The department also has a broad research portfolio spanning renewable energy, therapeutics and pharmaceuticals, functional materials, nanotechnology, sustainable biorefining, and advanced computational engineering.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a research-focused learning environment where students can apply advanced chemical engineering concepts through faculty-led research, computational work, laboratory experimentation, and thesis projects. The department’s research spans biomaterials, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, computational engineering, renewable energy, nanomaterials, polymers, catalysis, membranes and separations, giving students opportunities to work on current engineering challenges. Graduate students can also pursue research-assistant positions involving experimental or numerical research, data analysis, and presentation of results.

Students can gain practical and research experience through:

Graduate research assistantships: ChBE research laboratories periodically offer graduate hourly research positions. Students may conduct experimental or numerical research, analyze data, and present findings to laboratory personnel, faculty and the scientific community.
Computational tools: Department research uses computational tools including Python, Gaussian, ChemDraw, VMD and GROMACS. CU Boulder research examples specifically describe molecular-dynamics simulations and computational frameworks using these tools.
Thesis research: Students choosing the thesis pathway can work closely with faculty on original research connected to areas such as energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, computational engineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Research laboratories: ChBE research covers biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, biosensing, therapeutic proteins, sustainable biorefining, computational materials, energy conversion and storage, catalysis, membranes and separations, and polymer engineering.
Interdisciplinary research centers: Graduate students benefit from access to three interdisciplinary research centers, while department partnerships include the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, BioFrontiers Institute, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, and Soft Materials Research Center.
Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building: The department is housed in the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building (JSCBB), an interdisciplinary research and education center on CU Boulder’s East Campus.
Internships and career experience: CU Boulder’s Engineering Career Hub supports students with resume and cover-letter development, interview preparation, career guidance and Handshake access for internships and jobs. Students can also participate in virtual career fairs, employer information sessions and interviews.
Professional and research seminars: The department highlights weekly research seminars and professional-development events, allowing graduate students to engage with researchers and the broader engineering community.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder can prepare graduates for technical and research careers across renewable and sustainable energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical devices, and semiconductor-related fields. Potential roles include Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Engineer, Process Development Engineer, and Materials Engineer, depending on the student’s specialization and experience.

Students can strengthen their career pathway through:

Engineering Career Hub: CU Boulder’s Engineering Career Hub provides career-readiness support, including career advising, résumé/CV development, Handshake job resources, career fairs, employer events, and interview preparation.
Employment outcomes: A CU Boulder ChBE informal LinkedIn survey of 2020 alumni across BS, MS and PhD programs found that 61% were employed full-time, 7% were participating in internships, and 14% were continuing their education. Because these figures combine degree levels, they should not be treated as M.S.-specific outcomes.
Salary information: CU Boulder reports a $82,900 median salary for Chemical Engineering students 1–5 years after graduation. This is a CU Boulder chemical-engineering figure and is not identified on the page as M.S.-specific.
Industry connections: CU Boulder Chemical Engineering graduates and alumni work with organizations including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Honeywell, CordenPharma Colorado, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Jacobs Engineering, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Industry networking: The department organizes a Chemical and Biological Engineering Industry Expo, where students can meet engineering employers and industry professionals and explore job and internship opportunities.
Research-to-career preparation: The department's graduate programs emphasize research in areas including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, functional materials, catalysis, computational science, membranes and separations, and tissue engineering, helping students build expertise applicable to research and industry careers.
Accreditation value: CU Boulder’s Chemical Engineering B.S. is ABET-accredited; the university does not identify the M.S. in Chemical Engineering as separately ABET-accredited. Therefore, the graduate degree should not be marketed as an individually ABET-accredited M.S.
Graduate outcomes and sectors: CU Boulder reports alumni working across biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, materials and nanomaterials, medical devices, renewable energy, oil and gas, software/systems engineering, healthcare, and aerospace, demonstrating the breadth of sectors connected to Chemical Engineering.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students interested in advanced research can pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Biological Engineering at CU Boulder or apply to doctoral programs at other universities. CU Boulder’s Chemical Engineering Ph.D. provides research-intensive preparation in areas such as catalysis, surface science, computational science, energy and environmental applications, membranes and separations, and tissue engineering.