MS Biochemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Georgia

Program Overview

The M.S. in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Georgia is a research-focused graduate program designed for students who want to combine engineering, chemical, and biological sciences to help translate discoveries such as new drug products and biomaterials into manufacturing processes. Students develop advanced engineering knowledge, computational and data-analysis skills, and the ability to conduct and communicate original research through coursework, research, and a master's thesis.

Curriculum Structure:

Graduate Coursework:

Students begin by building their research and computational foundation through ENGR 8910: Foundations for Engineering Research and ENGR 8103: Computational Engineering, alongside BCHE/BIOE 8970: Bioengineering Seminar. They then select advanced engineering subjects such as BCHE 8150: Heterogeneous Reactor Design and Bio/Catalysis, CVLE/MCHE 8160: Advanced Fluid Mechanics, CVLE/MCHE 8170: Advanced Heat Transfer, or ENGR 8180: Advanced Mass Transport, supported by graduate electives.

Research & Thesis:

As students progress, they undertake at least 6 credits of Master's Research or Project-based Research through BCHE 7000/BCHE 7010, applying advanced engineering and analytical techniques to an original research problem. The program culminates in BCHE 7300: Thesis, with students expected to produce significant scholarship such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, or conference proceedings and defend their research.

Focus Areas:

Biochemical engineering, bioengineering, biocatalysis, heterogeneous reactor design, advanced mass transport, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, computational engineering, biomaterials, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, advanced data analysis, biochemical processing, research and process development.

Learning Outcomes:

Integrate engineering, chemical and biological sciences, define and solve complex biochemical engineering problems, apply computational and advanced data-analysis techniques, conduct original research, analyze and communicate research results, develop advanced technical expertise, and produce scholarly research through publications, patents, conference proceedings or a master's thesis.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Biochemical Engineering is not separately listed as ABET-accredited. UGA's B.S. in Biochemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and similarly named engineering programs; the ABET accreditation therefore applies to the undergraduate degree rather than the M.S.

Reputation (Employability):

UGA's College of Engineering reported a 95% career outcomes rate for the Class of 2025, based on graduates with known outcomes who were working or continuing their education within six months. Among the College's reported master's-degree graduates, the median salary was $80,504, although this figure covers the College of Engineering's master's graduates collectively and is not specific to the M.S. in Biochemical Engineering.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Georgia is built around hands-on research, with students completing master's research and a thesis while working on problems at the intersection of engineering, biology, and biotechnology. Students can develop practical experience in areas such as biopharmaceutical manufacturing, biomaterials, biocatalysis, computational engineering, and biochemical processing, supported by UGA's research laboratories and specialized facilities. The program also encourages students to communicate their research through publications, patents, and conference proceedings, giving the degree a strong research-to-industry orientation.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Master's research and thesis: Students complete at least 6 hours of master's research or project-based research and 3 hours of thesis, culminating in BCHE 7300: Thesis and a formal thesis defense.
Computational engineering: ENGR 8103: Computational Engineering gives students experience using computational approaches to solve engineering problems and analyze complex systems.
Advanced biochemical processing: Courses such as BCHE 8150: Heterogeneous Reactor Design and Bio/Catalysis provide direct exposure to reactor design, catalysis, and biochemical engineering applications.
Bioengineering research laboratories: UGA's College of Engineering supports research across biochemical engineering, bioengineering, biomaterials, bioprocessing, biosensors, and related areas through faculty-led laboratories.
Biopharmaceutical research: The program's research connects biochemical engineering with the development and manufacturing of drug products and biomaterials, allowing students to work on engineering approaches for translating biological discoveries into scalable processes.
Research outputs: Students are expected to produce significant scholarly work, which can include peer-reviewed publications, patents, conference proceedings, or other research contributions.
Bioengineering Seminar: BCHE/BIOE 8970: Bioengineering Seminar exposes students to current research and developments in the field while strengthening scientific communication and research awareness.
Advanced engineering tools: Students can develop analytical and computational skills through coursework in computational engineering, advanced mass transport, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and reactor design.
Interdisciplinary research: The program connects chemical/biochemical engineering with biological sciences, materials, bioengineering, and biotechnology, creating opportunities for multidisciplinary research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Georgia prepares graduates for advanced roles that connect engineering with biotechnology, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, biomaterials, and biochemical processing. Its research-focused structure also provides a strong foundation for students who want to continue into doctoral research or pursue technical careers in industry. Typical roles include Bioprocess Engineer, Biochemical Engineer, Pharmaceutical Engineer, Research & Development Engineer.

Career support: UGA College of Engineering provides employer engagement and recruiting opportunities through its Corporate Engagement program, which connects engineering students with companies seeking engineering talent. The College also hosts employer-focused events such as Employer of the Day and engineering résumé review activities.
Employment outcomes: For the UGA College of Engineering Class of 2025, the overall career outcomes rate was 95% among graduates with known outcomes. Of respondents, 69% were employed full-time and 19% were attending graduate school.
Salary: UGA reported a $80,504 median salary for master's-degree graduates in the College of Engineering Class of 2025. This figure covers master's graduates across the College and is not specific to Biochemical Engineering.
University–industry connections: UGA Engineering's Corporate Partnership Program creates opportunities for companies to engage with students and support experiential learning. The School's biochemical-engineering research also has industry relevance in biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical products, biofuels and bio-based materials, with companies partnering with researchers through the New Materials Institute.
Biotechnology industry exposure: UGA identifies applications of biochemical engineering across pharmaceutical production, fermentation, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, bio-based materials, food science and bioenergy, giving graduates a broad range of potential sectors to pursue.
Accreditation value: The M.S. itself is not separately ABET-accredited. UGA's B.S. in Biochemical Engineering is ABET-accredited, while the M.S. provides advanced graduate-level research and engineering expertise beyond the undergraduate foundation.
Graduation outcomes: The M.S. requires substantial research and thesis work, helping graduates demonstrate advanced problem-solving, data analysis, research and technical communication skills. These capabilities can support progression into industry research and development, bioprocessing, pharmaceutical manufacturing and further academic research.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students can pursue the Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering at UGA, which focuses on advanced research in areas including fermentation, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, pharmaceutical production, bio-based materials, tissue engineering, food science and bioenergy. The Ph.D. provides a pathway toward advanced research, academic and biotechnology-industry careers.