Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers both a research-intensive thesis track and a coursework-only track, making it suitable for students who want to strengthen advanced chemical engineering expertise, gain independent research experience, or prepare for industry. Students build a strong foundation in thermodynamics, kinetics, transport and analysis, then tailor their studies through electives in areas such as energy, materials, bioengineering and biotechnology.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin with the graduate Chemical Engineering core, developing advanced knowledge through ChE 621 Thermodynamics, ChE 625 Kinetics/Chemical Reactor Design, ChE 633 Transport Processes, and ChE 661 Analysis. Coursework-only students then select specialized electives, while thesis-track students begin developing their research direction with faculty guidance and participate in departmental and group seminars.

Year 2:

Students on the thesis track deepen their specialization through research and thesis credits while continuing advanced coursework and group seminars; the program offers optional specialization in energy/reaction engineering, biochemical/bioengineering and materials. Coursework-only students can complete the degree in 2–3 semesters, using electives such as Green Chemical Engineering, Tissue Engineering, Atomistic Simulations for Heterogeneous Catalysis, Electrochemical and Electronic Materials and Devices, Nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering, Carbon Capture and Utilization, and Catalysis: Fundamentals, Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization to align their studies with their career interests.

Focus Areas:

Energy and reaction engineering, biochemical engineering, bioengineering, materials science, nanotechnology, catalysis, biotechnology, tissue engineering, microfluidics, electrochemical materials and devices, polymer processing and sustainability, carbon capture and utilization, drug delivery, biomaterials, computational modeling.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals, independent research capability, chemical process and reactor analysis, transport and thermodynamic analysis, advanced mathematical analysis, specialized knowledge in energy/materials/bioengineering, experimental and analytical skills, technical communication, interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering itself is a graduate program and is not separately listed as ABET-accredited. However, UMass Amherst's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and the department's graduate program combines chemical engineering fundamentals with industrial technology and research.

Reputation (Employability/Ranking):

UMass Amherst's Riccio College of Engineering was ranked No. 55 nationally and No. 30 among public graduate engineering programs in the 2026/27 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings. Within the engineering specialties, Chemical Engineering was ranked No. 41 nationally and No. 22 among public programs, providing a strong indicator of the department's graduate-level research and academic standing.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at UMass Amherst provides strong hands-on and research opportunities, particularly through its thesis-based option. Students work with departmental and interdisciplinary faculty on research in areas such as bioengineering, catalysis and renewable energy, materials science, nanotechnology, fluid mechanics, transport phenomena and computational modeling, using state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities. Thesis students begin with coursework and then move into independent research guided by a faculty advisor, while coursework-only students can gain industry-oriented experience through Chemical Engineering industry practicum courses.

The program's practical learning is supported by specialized research groups, computational methods and extensive campus research infrastructure:

Faculty-led research labs: Graduate students can work with research groups covering bioengineering, catalysis and renewable energy, materials science and nanotechnology, and molecular, multiscale and system-level modeling.
Computational modeling and simulation: Research includes computational quantum mechanics, density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo simulations, computational fluid dynamics, multiscale modeling and process-system modeling, as well as AI/data science for materials discovery.
Industry practicum: The coursework-only MS track allows students to take up to two Chemical Engineering industry practicum courses, providing a direct opportunity to connect graduate study with industrial applications.
Specialized technical coursework: Students can develop applied skills through electives such as Microfluidics and Microscale Analysis in Materials and Biology, Electrochemical and Electronic Materials and Devices, Physical and Chemical Processing of Materials, Nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering, Polymer Processing & Sustainability, and Catalysis: Fundamentals, Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization.
Bioengineering research: Research facilities and groups support work in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biosensors, microfluidics, artificial cell membranes, tissue engineering, immunoengineering, drug delivery and nanomedicine.
Materials and nanotechnology: Students can participate in research involving advanced materials, nanomaterials, materials processing and structure-property relationships, supported by faculty research laboratories.
Chemical engineering research buildings: The department occupies research and instructional space in Goessmann Laboratory, the Conte National Center for Polymer Research, Engineering Laboratory II (ELab II), and the Life Sciences Laboratories building. ELab II includes chemical engineering research laboratories and graduate facilities.
UMass Amherst Core Facilities: Engineering students and researchers can access the university's 30 Core Facilities, which provide specialized instrumentation and dedicated technical expertise for research.
Graduate workspace: MS students are assigned space in the Graduate Hub in Marcus Hall, providing a dedicated environment for graduate study and collaboration.
Interdisciplinary research: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering faculty collaborate across areas such as healthcare and biomedicine, energy, environment and water, materials and nanotechnology, allowing graduate research to extend beyond traditional chemical engineering applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at UMass Amherst is designed to prepare students for advanced careers in chemical engineering and related industries, with the thesis track specifically providing the independent research experience the university says is valuable for competitive industry roles. The program also allows coursework-only students to build specialized expertise in energy, materials, or bioengineering, while the department's research spans bioengineering, catalysis and renewable energy, materials science, nanotechnology, and advanced modeling.

Typical career roles: Chemical Process Engineer, Process Development Engineer, R&D Engineer, Energy Engineer

Students can strengthen their transition from graduate study to professional roles through UMass Amherst's engineering career resources and industry connections:

Engineering Career Center: Students receive one-on-one support with résumé and cover-letter writing, career-fair preparation, mock interviews, job searches, salary evaluation and negotiation. Graduate students also have dedicated career support through the Associate Director of Graduate Career Programs.
Employment outcomes: The Riccio College of Engineering reports 98% job placement for the Class of 2023 among respondents, with 81% participating in experiential learning and a $72,000 median starting salary. These are college-wide engineering figures rather than M.S. Chemical Engineering-specific outcomes.
Chemical Engineering career placement: UMass's Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department currently reports 87% career placement six months after graduation among graduates who reported, providing an additional department-level indicator.
Industry partnerships: The Riccio College of Engineering operates an Industry Partner Program that connects companies with faculty research, emerging technologies and the student talent pipeline. Companies can recruit through career fairs and employer recruitment days, while higher-level partnerships can sponsor graduate research and other student opportunities.
Chemical Engineering industry advisory board: The department has a dedicated Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Industry Advisory Board, bringing industry and academic leaders into departmental guidance and strategic development.
Industry-connected research: UMass Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering faculty collaborate with industry on areas including biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, biomanufacturing, renewable energy and advanced materials. The university also highlights research collaborations involving academic and industry peers.
Long-term accreditation value: The M.S. itself is not separately listed as ABET-accredited. However, UMass Amherst's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited, and the university explains that ABET accreditation provides assurance against established engineering education standards and is typically relevant to professional engineering licensure, registration and certification.
Graduate outcomes: UMass describes the M.S. as preparation for careers in chemical engineering and related fields, while its Graduate School highlights career opportunities across energy, biology, food and other industries. The thesis option is particularly research-oriented and normally takes less than two years, while the coursework-only option can be completed in a single calendar year.
Alumni and industry pathways: UMass Chemical Engineering alumni have progressed into senior industry and energy roles; for example, alumnus Imona Omole has worked with ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 and has specialized in renewable fuels, carbon mitigation and hydrogen solutions.

Further Academic Progression: After the M.S., students interested in research-intensive careers can pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UMass Amherst. The doctoral program focuses on areas including bioengineering, catalysis and renewable energy, materials science and nanotechnology, and molecular, multiscale and system-level modeling, with research conducted in state-of-the-art facilities. UMass also states that its Ph.D. graduates are prepared for research careers in industry, academia and national laboratories.