Chemical Engineering M.S.Ch.E.

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Program Overview

The M.S.Ch.E. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a hands-on, research-focused graduate program suited to students who want to deepen their chemical engineering knowledge while working closely with faculty on applied research. Students develop advanced research, communication, collaboration, and technical skills through graduate coursework and one-on-one research, preparing for opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by strengthening their advanced chemical engineering foundation through graduate-level study while developing their research direction with faculty. The program offers two completion options, and students can progress toward either a research-intensive Plan A thesis or a coursework-focused Plan B pathway.

Year 2:

Students completing the research pathway place greater emphasis on independent research, analysis, scholarly communication, and completion of their master's thesis. UMD's Chemical Engineering curriculum includes areas represented by courses such as ChE 3031 Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering, ChE 4111 Separations, and ChE 4301 Chemical Reaction Engineering, providing a foundation in computational analysis, separation processes, and reaction engineering.

Focus Areas:

Advanced chemical engineering, computational methods, chemical reaction engineering, separation processes, applied research, process engineering, sustainable engineering, materials, environmental applications, energy-related engineering, biotechnology, and interdisciplinary engineering.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced technical knowledge, research and methodological skills, quantitative problem-solving, scholarly communication, leadership and collaboration, interdisciplinary thinking, and the ability to apply chemical engineering knowledge to practical research problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S.Ch.E. itself is not separately listed as ABET-accredited. UMD's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing an established undergraduate engineering accreditation foundation within the department.

Reputation (Employability):

UMD's Chemical Engineering department emphasizes hands-on and active learning, faculty-guided research, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. UMD's career data for Chemical Engineering graduates reports a $71,129 average first-year salary across its 2021–22 through 2023–24 three-year compilation, with employers including Cargill, Emerson, Packaging Corporation of America, Sappi, Andersen Corporation, Barr Engineering, Crown Iron Works, and the U.S. Navy; this published salary figure is for Chemical Engineering graduates generally rather than specifically for the M.S.Ch.E.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S.Ch.E. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth is designed around hands-on research, with graduate students working one-on-one with faculty on research problems and developing research, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills. The Chemical Engineering Department provides access to departmental research facilities, while UMD’s wider Swenson College of Science and Engineering adds specialized instrumentation and interdisciplinary research resources. Students can apply classroom knowledge to active research projects, work with advanced materials and analytical equipment, and collaborate with researchers across UMD and affiliated research organizations.

Students can gain practical experience through these program-relevant opportunities and facilities:

One-on-one faculty research: The M.S.Ch.E. specifically emphasizes working individually with dedicated faculty to conduct research, giving students direct experience with research methods and applied chemical engineering problems. Faculty also publish research with students and help them develop teamwork and presentation skills.
Advanced Materials Center: UMD’s Advanced Materials Center supports research involving advanced materials and provides an interdisciplinary environment for chemical engineering research and collaboration.
Research Instrumentation Lab (RIL): Students can benefit from UMD’s shared Research Instrumentation Lab, which provides access to specialized research instruments and capabilities, along with basic tool training and assistance. The facility has also supported Chemical Engineering courses including CHE 4502 Chemical Engineering Senior Design and CHE 5131 Polymer Engineering.
Research laboratories and facilities: The Chemical Engineering Department maintains multiple laboratories and facilities for student, faculty, and staff research. Its research environment spans areas such as advanced materials and chemical engineering, allowing graduate students to connect theoretical knowledge with experimental research.
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI): UMD Chemical Engineering researchers have access to research partnerships with the Natural Resources Research Institute, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary work connected to natural resources, materials, environmental applications, and engineering research.
Heikkila Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building: The HCAMS Building provides modern research space and houses 12 research laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, as well as collaborative spaces. Its resources support interdisciplinary research involving chemical engineering, chemistry, and advanced materials.
Teamwork and research communication: Chemical Engineering faculty frequently publish with students and help them develop teamwork and presentation skills. Students can also gain experience communicating research through presentations and scholarly publications.
Interdisciplinary research environment: Through Swenson College, students can work across engineering and science disciplines and access connections with organizations such as the Natural Resources Research Institute, Large Lakes Observatory, and the Advanced Materials Center.
Internship and co-op opportunities: UMD’s Swenson College provides access to internship and co-op opportunities with regional partners. These opportunities are part of the broader professional-development environment available to SCSE graduate students, although the M.S.Ch.E. page does not state that an internship is a mandatory degree requirement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S.Ch.E. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth combines advanced coursework with hands-on research, preparing graduates for technical careers in the public and private sectors as well as further graduate study. The program develops research, methodological, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills that can be applied across chemical processing, energy, materials, environmental engineering, biotechnology, and related industries.

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

Students can strengthen their transition from graduate study to professional careers through:

Career support: UMD's Career Center provides graduate students with career resources and its Chemical Engineering career pages track employers, internships, co-ops, and post-graduation outcomes. The Chemical Engineering department also maintains information on companies hiring its graduates.
Employment and salary data: UMD's three-year Chemical Engineering graduate survey covering 2021–22 through 2023–24 recorded 133 responses from 147 graduates. Among the 120 employed graduates who reported salary information, the published average first-year post-undergraduate salary was $71,129. This figure is reported for Chemical Engineering graduates generally and is not identified as M.S.Ch.E.-specific.
Industry connections: UMD lists employers of Chemical Engineering graduates across sectors including Cargill, Emerson, Packaging Corporation of America, Sappi, Andersen Corporation, Barr Engineering, Crown Iron Works, and the U.S. Navy. Its broader employer list also includes companies such as 3M, BASF, Chevron, Dow, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Pfizer, Intel, Shell, and Bechtel.
Internships and co-ops: Chemical Engineering students have accessed internship and co-op opportunities with organizations including Cargill, ADM, 3M, Domtar, Sappi, IBM, U.S. Steel, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Wisconsin Pollution Control Agency, and Barr Engineering. These provide opportunities to gain industry experience alongside academic preparation.
Accreditation value: The M.S.Ch.E. itself is not separately ABET-accredited; ABET accreditation at UMD applies to the B.S. in Chemical Engineering, which has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET since 1988. The graduate degree therefore builds advanced research and technical expertise on top of an established ABET-accredited undergraduate chemical engineering program.
Graduation outcomes: UMD's Chemical Engineering graduate data shows that students continue into employment as well as further education. The university's published continuing-education destinations include UMD, Rice University, University of Delaware, and UW–Madison, with Chemical Engineering listed among the further-study programs.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the M.S.Ch.E., students can continue into Ph.D.-level study in Chemical Engineering or pursue other advanced research programs. UMD's Chemical Engineering career data specifically lists Chemical Engineering M.S. & Ph.D. among further-education pathways, making doctoral study a natural option for graduates who want to move toward advanced research, university teaching, or specialized R&D careers.