MS in Chemical Engineering

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Missouri

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) is a research-focused graduate program designed for students who want to deepen their chemical engineering expertise and open pathways into industry, national laboratories, or academia. Students build advanced knowledge in heat and momentum transfer, mass transfer, thermodynamics, and chemical reaction engineering while pursuing research in areas such as catalysis, electrochemistry, energy storage, sustainability, soft materials, and nanocoatings.

Curriculum Structure:

Graduate study:

The M.S. requires a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours, including at least 3 credits at the 8000 level or above, and students must complete a thesis and final examination demonstrating mastery of Chemical Engineering fundamentals. The core curriculum develops advanced understanding through CH_ENG 8336 Advanced Heat and Momentum Transfer, CH_ENG 8337 Advanced Mass Transfer, and CH_ENG 8451 Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I.

Advanced coursework and research:

Students also complete CH_ENG 8463 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering as part of the 12-credit core and take additional 7000-level Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Physical, Chemical, or Biological Sciences courses. The remaining degree requirements combine advanced coursework with research and thesis preparation, allowing students to develop deeper expertise in areas such as catalysis, computational materials science, electrochemistry, energy conversion and storage, sustainability, and thin films and nanocoatings.

Focus Areas:

Catalysis, Computational Materials Science, Electrochemistry, Energy Conversion and Storage, Materials for Environmental Sensing, Soft Materials, Sustainability, Thin Films and Nanocoatings.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop advanced knowledge of heat and momentum transfer, mass transfer, chemical engineering thermodynamics, and chemical reaction engineering, while gaining research experience through thesis-based study and preparing for careers in industry, national laboratories, academia, or further graduate education.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a graduate research degree and is not separately identified as ABET-accredited by Mizzou. The department states that its B.S. Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, while the graduate M.S. is positioned as an advanced research degree.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Mizzou Engineering reports that 93.6% of its students reported a successful career outcome within six months of graduation. For the 2025 graduating class, the university reports a $77,000 median salary for Chemical Engineering graduates; this is an engineering career-outcomes figure and is not identified as M.S.-specific.

The university also highlights the M.S. as a route into industry, national laboratories and academia, while its Chemical Engineering department conducts graduate research in areas closely connected to current engineering challenges such as energy conversion, sustainability, electrochemistry, advanced materials, and environmental sensing.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri gives students a strong research-based experience alongside advanced chemical engineering study. Graduate students conduct research with faculty in areas including catalysis, computational materials science, electrochemistry, energy conversion and storage, sustainability, soft materials, and thin films and nanocoatings, allowing them to work on problems connected to energy, materials, environmental sensing, and advanced manufacturing. The department also provides access to specialized chemical engineering laboratories and advanced equipment where students can translate chemical engineering concepts into experimental research and process development.

Students can build practical and research skills through the following program-specific opportunities:

Jost Chemical Company Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory: This recently renovated facility gives students hands-on experience with distillation, membrane separation, catalytic reactors, chemical conversion, and heat-transfer processes. Students can investigate how variables such as temperature, pressure, and composition affect separation and reaction performance.
Advanced research equipment: Mizzou Engineering provides access to equipment including gas chromatographs, BET analyzers, high-pressure liquid chromatographs, ion chromatographs, atomic absorption spectrophotometers, and UV-Vis spectrophotometers for experimental and analytical work.
Computational Materials Science: Students can pursue computational research within the department, particularly in materials and molecular systems, alongside experimental research in chemical engineering. Computational materials science is one of the department's explicitly identified M.S. research areas.
Electrochemistry and energy research: Research opportunities include electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and energy conversion/storage, supported by faculty laboratories such as the Zeng Laboratory.
Sustainable manufacturing: Research in the department includes sustainable chemical manufacturing, advanced functional materials, and chemically reacting systems, with faculty research supported by organizations including the NSF, Department of Energy, Army Research Office, Air Force Research Laboratory, and industrial partners.
Materials and nanotechnology research: Students can work in areas involving thin films, nanocoatings, nanostructured materials, conductive polymers, semiconductor materials, and chemical/biosensing platforms.
Interdisciplinary research facilities: The department connects chemical engineering research with Mizzou's MU Materials Science and Engineering Institute, NextGen Precision Health, Missouri Water Center, and Midwest Industrial Assessment Center, creating opportunities to work across materials, health, water, energy efficiency, and manufacturing.
Graduate research experience: Mizzou specifically states that graduate students conduct research alongside faculty and can serve as graduate research or teaching assistants, providing direct experience in academic and research environments.
Industry exposure: The department's Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board and industry-supported research contribute to training aligned with professional chemical engineering practice; the renovated unit operations laboratory was developed with input and support from the Jost Chemical Company and the Chemical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
Collaborative engineering environment: Mizzou Engineering reports that students work on real problems in research labs and alongside companies that recruit its students, reinforcing the university's hands-on learning approach.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) is designed to expand career opportunities across industry, national laboratories, and academia while developing advanced expertise in chemical engineering research. Graduates can apply their skills to areas such as catalysis, electrochemistry, energy conversion and storage, materials, sustainability, and advanced chemical processes.

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

Career development and progression are supported through:

Career Services: Mizzou Engineering provides career exploration, resume reviews, mock interviews, interview preparation, networking advice, job and internship/co-op searches, and biannual engineering career fairs. Students can also use Handshake to connect with employers.
Employment outcomes: Mizzou Engineering reports that 95% of its students report a successful career outcome within six months of graduation. This is a college-wide figure and is not specific to M.S. Chemical Engineering graduates.
Salary information: Mizzou reports a $78,000 median starting salary for 2024 Chemical Engineering graduates. This figure refers to Mizzou Engineering Chemical Engineering graduates and is not identified as M.S.-specific.
Employer connections: More than 300 companies recruit Mizzou Engineering students annually, and the College holds two engineering career fairs each academic year. Recent career fairs have brought employers from business, government, and industry to campus for internships, co-ops, and full-time opportunities.
Chemical engineering industry connections: Mizzou Chemical Engineering maintains an Industrial Advisory Board, with alumni and industry leaders contributing to the department. Jost Chemical Company founder Jerry L. Jost serves on the Chemical Engineering Industrial Board and supported equipment for the department's chemical operations laboratory.
Industry examples: Mizzou identifies Chemical Engineering alumni working with organizations including Dow, Burns & McDonnell, Pfizer, Bayer, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, demonstrating career pathways across chemicals, consulting, pharmaceuticals and government/environmental work.
Research and professional experience: Graduate students can conduct research alongside faculty and serve as graduate research or teaching assistants, gaining research, teaching and professional experience. Mizzou also offers graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships that include professional training and academic experience.
Accreditation value: Mizzou's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission. The university does not identify the M.S. as separately ABET-accredited, so the graduate degree should be viewed as an advanced research qualification built on chemical engineering preparation rather than as a separately ABET-accredited program.
Graduation outcomes: Mizzou Engineering reported that more than 90% of engineering graduates achieved successful career outcomes in 2024, while the current College career-services figure reports 95% within six months. These are college-wide outcomes rather than M.S. Chemical Engineering-specific figures.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students interested in advanced research can continue into Mizzou's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. The doctoral program offers research in areas including bioprocess and food process engineering, catalysis, computational materials science, electrochemistry and atomic layer deposition, energy conversion and storage, micro/nano devices, soft materials and bioelectronics, thin films and nanocoatings, and water studies and sustainability.