MS in Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of New Hampshire

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a research-focused graduate program designed for students who want to build advanced expertise in chemical engineering while working closely with faculty mentors in state-of-the-art laboratories. Students develop research skills through advanced coursework and a master's thesis, with opportunities to specialize in areas such as bioengineering, electrochemical engineering, advanced materials, sustainable energy, reaction engineering, and environmental engineering.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish their advanced chemical engineering foundation through courses such as CHBE 823: Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CHBE 832: Advanced Chemical Engineering Kinetics, and CHBE 840: Advanced Transport Phenomena. They also begin CHBE 900: Seminar, which students take during their first two semesters, while working with an adviser to select electives aligned with their research interests.

Year 2:

Students deepen their specialization through elective coursework while focusing on independent research. The program requires CHBE 899: Master's Thesis, worth 6–9 credits, where students conduct and analyze original research in areas such as catalysis, green engineering, fluid dynamics, sensors, computational biophysics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, or synthetic biology.

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits and is listed as 1–2 years full-time; the exact course sequence can vary according to the student's research and elective choices.

Focus Areas:

Bioengineering, biochemical engineering, biomedical engineering, electrochemical engineering, advanced materials, sustainable energy, reaction engineering, environmental engineering, catalysis, green engineering, fluid dynamics, sensors, computational biophysics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, synthetic biology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy engineering, industrial chemicals, petroleum and petrochemicals, plastics and textiles, and pollution abatement.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates learn to use appropriate chemical engineering techniques, tools and methods to solve broadly defined engineering problems; critically analyze scientific literature and identify the state of the art in a research area; apply computational and/or experimental skills to solve original chemical engineering research problems and evaluate results; and communicate technical work effectively in written and oral formats.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

UNH's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The university does not identify the M.S. in Chemical Engineering itself as separately ABET-accredited, so the master's program should not be described as ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability):

UNH highlights its Chemical Engineering program's award-winning faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and cutting-edge research, including faculty recipients of National Science Foundation CAREER awards. The department also reports research initiatives such as NH BioMade, which advances biomaterials research, and work using biomolecular simulations to investigate novel therapies and treatments.

The university further states that an M.S. in Chemical Engineering can translate into more than $15,000 annually in additional salary compared with an undergraduate degree alone; this is a university-published comparison rather than a program-specific graduate salary statistic.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) is strongly research-oriented, giving students the opportunity to work alongside faculty mentors in state-of-the-art laboratories and develop practical experimental and computational skills. The required master's thesis allows students to plan and execute original research, interpret results, and apply chemical engineering methods to problems in areas such as advanced materials, energy, catalysis, biomaterials, and synthetic biology.

Students can build hands-on and research experience through:

Master's thesis research: Students complete CHBE 899: Master's Thesis, conducting original research and critically analyzing experimental and/or computational results.
Specialized research areas: Graduate research opportunities include biomaterials, biomedical engineering, biophysics, catalysis, chemical and biosensors, energy storage, fluid dynamics, microfluidics, modeling and simulation, synthetic biology, and tissue engineering.
Advanced materials and characterization: UNH's CEPS research infrastructure provides access to materials-characterization capabilities including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, and HPLC.
Computational research: Students can work on multiscale biophysical modeling, molecular simulations, fluid dynamics, microfluidics, and computational analysis, supporting the program's emphasis on computational and experimental research skills.
Energy-storage research: Research includes electrochemical charge-storage materials, energy storage, charge conduction through biomaterials, and desalination using redox-active materials, connecting chemical engineering with emerging energy technologies.
Catalysis and sustainable engineering: Faculty research includes direct methane conversion to chemicals, carbon capture and utilization, and selective transformation of glycerol, providing exposure to current chemical and sustainable-energy challenges.
Microfluidics and nanoparticle research: Students can engage with research on nanoparticle synthesis in microfluidic reactors and enzyme-catalyzed reactions in complex flow environments.
Biomaterials and biomedical applications: Research projects include injectable hydrogels for drug delivery, bioadhesives for medical implants, tissue-engineering scaffolds, biosensors, and multifunctional biomaterials.
Department computing facilities: The department provides state-of-the-art laboratories, departmental computer clusters, and advanced classroom spaces, supporting both experimental and computational graduate research.
Research seminars and networking: The department hosts a robust seminar series, while events such as the UNH Bioengineering Symposium give graduate students opportunities to hear research talks, participate in discussions, and present research through poster sessions.
Research library resources: The Chemistry Library specifically serves chemical engineering and related disciplines, while the Engineering, Math and Computer Science Library provides approximately 26,000 books and 890 current periodical subscriptions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) prepares graduates for advanced technical and research-oriented careers across biotechnology, energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, industrial chemicals, and environmental applications. The program’s research thesis and faculty-mentored experience can also provide a strong foundation for students interested in doctoral study, academia, or industrial R&D.

Typical career roles: Research & Development Engineer, Chemical Process Engineer, Energy Engineer, Biochemical Engineer.

Students can build their professional prospects through:

Career and professional development: UNH provides career-development resources through its career services, including career advising, job-search assistance, employer connections, and opportunities to engage with recruiting organizations.
Salary outcomes: UNH states that an advanced degree in Chemical Engineering can translate into more than $15,000 in additional annual salary compared with an undergraduate degree alone. This is a university-published comparison and is not an M.S.-specific median salary.
Industry pathways: UNH identifies employment opportunities for Chemical Engineering graduates across biotechnology, biochemical and biomedical engineering, energy engineering, industrial chemicals, petroleum and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and medicine, plastics and textiles, and pollution abatement.
Research-to-industry opportunities: Graduate research covers advanced materials, energy storage, catalysis, electrochemical engineering, synthetic biology, biomaterials, and biomedical engineering, giving students opportunities to develop expertise relevant to technology-driven industries.
Faculty and research network: Students work alongside award-winning faculty in state-of-the-art laboratories, while departmental research initiatives such as NH BioMade connect chemical engineering research with biomaterials and biotechnology applications.
Accreditation value: UNH's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited, but the university does not list the M.S. itself as separately ABET-accredited. The M.S. therefore provides graduate-level specialization rather than a separate ABET accreditation designation.
Graduation outcomes: The program specifically prepares students for leadership opportunities in industry, academia, and related fields, with research training in planning, executing, and interpreting chemical engineering research.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the M.S., students can progress to a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at UNH or pursue doctoral research at another university. UNH's Ph.D. program offers advanced research in areas including biochemical engineering, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, catalysis, electrochemical engineering, fluid dynamics, microfluidics, modeling and simulation, and synthetic biology, making it a natural pathway for students who want to move deeper into research or academia.