Master of Science in Engineering in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Engineering in Chemical Engineering at UMass Lowell gives students advanced knowledge and practical skills for solving complex engineering challenges, with opportunities to build expertise across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, materials science and advanced chemical processing. The 30-credit program offers both thesis and non-thesis options, allowing students to tailor their graduate studies toward advanced industry roles, research or further academic study.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year:

Students begin with the program's four core courses: CHEN.5200 Advanced Thermodynamics, CHEN.5260 Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design, CHEN.5280 Advanced Transport Phenomena, and CHEN.5390 Mathematical Methods for Engineers. Together, these courses develop advanced understanding of thermodynamic equilibrium, reactor systems, transport processes and mathematical approaches used to analyze chemical engineering problems. Students then begin shaping their specialization through electives in processing, materials or biotechnology/bioprocessing.

Second Year:

Students deepen their chosen area through advanced electives such as CHEN.5300 Advanced Control Strategies, CHEN.5480 Engineering Process Analytics, CHEN.5240 Self Assembly and Nanotechnology, CHEN.5370 Nanomaterial Characterization I, CHEN.5340 Industrial Bioprocessing and CHEN.5550 Biopharmaceutical Regulatory Compliance. Students following the thesis option complete six thesis credits under faculty supervision and defend their research, while non-thesis students complete the required 30 credits through coursework.

Focus Areas:

Advanced thermodynamics, kinetics and reactor design, transport phenomena, mathematical methods, chemical processing, process control, process analytics, nanomaterials, advanced materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology, bioprocessing, biomaterials, biopharmaceuticals, sustainable chemistry and engineering.

Learning Outcomes:

Construct and solve chemical engineering equations involving fluid mechanics, heat transfer and mass transfer; use commercially available software to obtain numerical solutions for chemical engineering problems; analyze thermodynamics and phase and chemical equilibria; design batch and flow reactors for homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions; communicate technical knowledge through written documents and presentations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S.E. is a graduate Chemical Engineering degree designed around advanced chemical engineering knowledge and applications. UMass Lowell's undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is ABET-accredited, but the university does not identify the M.S.E. itself as a separately ABET-accredited program; therefore, the ABET accreditation should not be presented as accreditation of the master's degree.

Reputation (Employability & University Profile):

UMass Lowell's Chemical Engineering department highlights preparation for careers in biopharma, sustainable manufacturing, clean energy, environmental remediation and process design, with industry connections incorporated into the department's hands-on learning environment. The university is also classified as an R1 research university, placing it among the highest-research-activity category of U.S. universities, while the department reports research involving biotechnology and bioprocessing, advanced engineering materials and nuclear engineering.

For broader career context, UMass Lowell reports a $121.6K median annual salary for Chemical Engineering bachelor's degree holders in New England and 7.2% projected job growth in New England from 2023–2035, based on Lightcast 2025 data. These figures are for bachelor's-level Chemical Engineering graduates and should not be interpreted as M.S.E.-specific salary or placement outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UMass Lowell’s M.S.E. Chemical Engineering combines advanced coursework with practical application, research, and industry-connected opportunities. Students can develop hands-on skills through chemical engineering research laboratories, specialized characterization and biomanufacturing facilities, and the department’s graduate co-op pathway. The program’s learning outcomes specifically include using commercial software packages for numerical chemical-engineering problems, while thesis students can apply their knowledge through faculty-supervised research.

Key experiential-learning resources include:

Chemical Engineering research laboratories: The department identifies specialized laboratories in biotechnology and bioprocessing, ceramics, advanced materials characterization, and computer-based work. These facilities support research in the department’s major areas, including biotechnology, advanced materials, nuclear engineering, and process controls.
Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center: Students working in biomanufacturing-related research can benefit from facilities including a Cell Culture Lab, Microbial Fermentation Lab, Millipore Process Development facility, Analytical Development and Characterization facility, and Pilot Plant.
Materials & Chemical Characterization Lab: The Core Research Facilities provide access to specialized analytical equipment including GPC, HPLC, LC/MS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, XRD and QTof for chemical analysis, purity testing, materials characterization and method development.
Lyophilization Lab: The university operates a pilot-scale, non-GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility with cutting-edge lyophilization equipment and a Class 100 cleanroom, supporting R&D that moves laboratory-scale materials toward optimized pilot-scale processes.
Nanofabrication facilities: UMass Lowell’s Core Research Facilities include a Nanofabrication Lab Wing with clean-room facilities for complex micro- and nanoscale fabrication research.
Advanced polymers and soft-materials facilities: The William J. Kennedy Nanotechnology Research and Development Center includes wet/dry chemistry, biology and materials laboratories, with equipment for blow molding, extrusion, injection molding, nanocomposite processing, electrospinning, roll-to-roll processing, DSC, TGA, DMA and rheological testing.
Computational/software skills: The M.S.E. learning outcomes specifically require students to use commercially available software packages to obtain numerical solutions to ordinary and partial differential-equation systems used in chemical engineering applications. The department also identifies computer-aided process design and controls as an area of graduate study.
Graduate co-op: Chemical Engineering participates in UMass Lowell’s Graduate Master's Co-op Option in Engineering. The structured pathway includes ENGN.6020 Graduate Professional Development for Engineers and ENGN.6030 Graduate Cooperative Experience, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in an authentic professional setting. Participation is voluntary.
Industry-connected experience: The Chemical Engineering department reports 407 Chemical Engineering co-op experiences since 2012 and 85 unique employers, while its co-op program works with the local high-technology business community.
Applied biomanufacturing research: The Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center conducts research on areas such as bioreactor process control, continuous perfusion reactors, purification technologies, cell growth and biopharmaceutical production, providing a strong connection between chemical engineering principles and industrial biomanufacturing.
Core Research Facilities: Across UMass Lowell, the Core Research Facilities provide access to 150+ instruments and services used by researchers from universities, government agencies and companies, creating a substantial research infrastructure for graduate students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S.E. in Chemical Engineering at UMass Lowell is designed to prepare graduates for advanced engineering careers across biopharmaceuticals, advanced materials, sustainable manufacturing, clean energy and chemical processing. The program is STEM-designated, and UMass Lowell highlights employers such as Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, MilliporeSigma, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dow, DuPont, Takeda, Moderna and Entegris among organizations where graduates in the field can work.

Typical career roles: Chemical Process Engineer, Process Development Engineer, Research & Development Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer

Key career advantages include:

Career services: UMass Lowell's Career & Co-op Center provides graduate students with individual career appointments, drop-in advising, workshops, Handshake job listings, career fairs, employer panels, on-campus interviews and information sessions.
Co-op and professional experience: The Chemical Engineering department participates in the Graduate Master's Co-op Option in Engineering. Its Chemical Engineering co-op network reports 407 Chemical Engineering co-op experiences since 2012 and 85 unique employers, with graduate opportunities available through the university's structured co-op pathway.
Employment and salary outlook: UMass Lowell's current program page cites $117.9K mean annual wage for chemical engineers in Massachusetts and +10% projected job growth based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data. These are occupational/state-level figures, not M.S.E.-specific graduate salary or placement statistics.
Industry connections: The Chemical Engineering co-op program is connected with the Merrimack Valley's high-technology business community, while the department identifies employers such as Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, MilliporeSigma, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dow, DuPont, Takeda, Cabot Corporation, Moderna and Entegris.
STEM designation: The M.S.E. Chemical Engineering program is officially STEM-designated. UMass Lowell specifically notes that this designation can provide international students with eligibility for extended Optional Practical Training (OPT), subject to U.S. immigration rules and individual eligibility.
Accreditation value: UMass Lowell's undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is ABET-accredited. The university does not identify the M.S.E. itself as separately ABET-accredited, so the master's degree should not be marketed as an ABET-accredited graduate program.
Graduation outcomes: The program offers both thesis and non-thesis pathways, allowing students to graduate with either substantial research experience or a coursework-focused master's degree. The STEM designation, graduate co-op option and access to the university's employer network provide additional career-development opportunities as students transition into professional engineering roles.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S.E., students can pursue doctoral-level study in Chemical Engineering or related engineering/science fields, particularly if they choose the thesis route and build research experience with faculty. UMass Lowell's graduate structure also supports continued research through its broader doctoral programs and faculty research environment.