Chemical Engineering, M.S.

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Oklahoma

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma is a graduate program designed for students who want to deepen their technical and research expertise in chemical engineering while preparing for advanced careers in industry, research or further study. Students can build on core chemical-engineering fundamentals while exploring areas such as colloids and interface science, catalysis and reaction engineering, energy, materials, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Curriculum Structure:

The M.S. curriculum combines advanced chemical-engineering coursework with research, allowing students to tailor their studies toward their academic and professional interests. The program's graduate offerings are supported by faculty expertise in areas including Colloids and Interface Science and Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, with applications spanning biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry.

Students can develop deeper expertise through advanced coursework and research in areas such as thermodynamics, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, polymers, process systems engineering and energy. The research-oriented structure is particularly suited to students who want to move beyond foundational engineering knowledge and investigate current chemical-engineering challenges.

Focus Areas:

Colloids and interface science, catalysis and reaction engineering, energy, thermodynamics, polymers, process systems engineering, materials development, biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals and sustainable chemical engineering.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced chemical-engineering knowledge, research and problem-solving skills, ability to analyze chemical processes and materials, expertise in specialized research areas, and preparation for professional engineering careers or doctoral-level study. The program's research environment also supports students in developing the skills needed to contribute to industry and academic research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a graduate research degree offered through OU's School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering. The university specifically identifies ABET accreditation for its B.S. in Chemical Engineering, rather than presenting the M.S. as a separately ABET-accredited program.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

The University of Oklahoma reported that its Chemical Engineering graduate program rose to No. 62 nationally in U.S. News & World Report's graduate engineering rankings, up from No. 72 the previous year. OU's School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering also reports approximately $7.8 million in research expenditures, 103 original publications and 12,065 citations in 2024, highlighting the research activity supporting its graduate programs.

The program also has a strong record of graduate-industry connections, with alumni working at organizations including 3M, Agilent, AMD, Baker Hughes, BASF, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Intel, Procter & Gamble, Schlumberger, Shell and Unilever.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma is strongly connected to research, giving graduate students opportunities to develop practical skills through faculty-led projects in catalysis, reaction engineering, colloids and interfaces, energy, materials and biotechnology. The School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering has active research supported by federal agencies, private foundations and 26 companies, while its research portfolio includes experimental, computational and materials-focused work.

Students can build hands-on and research experience through the following resources:

Colloid and Interface Science Lab: Research facilities support work in colloids, interfaces and related applications in chemical engineering, biotechnology, nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Crossley Catalysis and Nanomaterials Group: Students can engage with research in catalysis, nanomaterials and carbon-free hydrogen production and storage, with computational and experimental approaches.
Digital Materials and Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Chemicals Lab: This research group provides opportunities to work on computational and materials-focused approaches to sustainable energy and chemical processes.
Polymer and Surfactant Characterization Lab: Students can work with advanced characterization and materials research involving polymers and surfactants.
SMaRT Lab: The university lists the SMaRT Lab as one of the dedicated research laboratories within the School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering.
Catalysis and reaction-engineering equipment: Research facilities include catalytic reactor systems, electric-field reactors, Berty gradientless reactors and photocatalytic reactor systems, allowing students to work with experimental reaction-engineering systems.
Advanced analytical equipment: Available research equipment includes gas chromatographs, quadrupole mass spectrometers, FTIR, liquid and gel permeation chromatographs and atomic absorption spectrometers.
Materials characterization: Students working in polymer and materials research can access equipment including scanning and transmission electron microscopes, AFM, wide- and small-angle X-ray diffractometers, differential scanning calorimeters, rheometers, dynamic light scattering equipment and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Computational research and machine learning: OU faculty research includes computational catalysis, kinetic modeling, continuum modeling, high-throughput computation and machine learning, particularly for sustainable-energy applications such as water electrolysis, fuel cells, CO₂ conversion and ammonia production.
Center for Interfacial Reaction Engineering (CIRE): CIRE brings together research in heterogeneous catalysis, nanomaterials, colloidal and interfacial science, thermodynamics and molecular modeling, giving graduate students access to interdisciplinary research environments.
Center for Biomass Refining: Students can engage with research on the thermo-catalytic conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals, directly connecting chemical-engineering research with sustainable processing.
Institute for Applied Surfactant Research: The institute focuses on surfactant systems and developing processes and techniques with industrial applications, providing an additional research pathway for chemical-engineering students.
Bioprocessing Core Facility: Located in Oklahoma City, this facility provides hands-on training using industry-level biotechnology equipment, with nine laboratories supporting upstream and downstream bioprocessing through pilot scale.
Industry-linked research: SCBME research is supported by organizations including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, NIH, EPA and 26 companies, creating opportunities for research with real-world industrial and societal applications.
Sarkeys Energy Center: The School is based in the Sarkeys Energy Center, which houses chemical-engineering research laboratories and faculty research groups.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma can prepare graduates for advanced technical, research and engineering roles across chemical processing, energy, materials, biotechnology and related industries. OU's Chemical Engineering graduates have progressed into industry and research positions, with the department reporting alumni at organizations such as Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Shell, Unilever, 3M and Intel, as well as universities and national research institutions.

Potential career roles include: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Engineer, Materials Engineer.

The program's academic and professional environment provides several pathways for career development:

Career development: OU's Office of Career Development for Engineers and Scientists (CDES) provides career-readiness guidance, professional-development opportunities, industry workshops, networking events, career fairs and connections with employers.
Career advising and recruitment: The OU Career Center provides personalized career advising, while the College of Engineering supports an extensive on-campus interviewing program with representatives from approximately 300 organizations each year.
Internships and industry connections: OU Engineering supports internships and co-ops and holds an annual Engineering Career Fair connecting engineering students with companies and government organizations for internships and full-time opportunities.
Employment outcomes: The Gallogly College of Engineering reported an 85% employment rate at graduation in 2023–24 across its undergraduate population. This is a college-wide figure and is not specific to the M.S. in Chemical Engineering.
Salary information: OU reports an average starting salary of $60,000 for its chemical engineering graduates. This is an undergraduate/field-level figure and should not be interpreted as an M.S.-specific salary outcome.
Industry employers: OU's reported engineering hiring data includes organizations such as Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, International Paper and Devon Energy, while the Chemical Engineering graduate program lists alumni and graduates associated with companies including 3M, Agilent, AMD, BASF, Baker Hughes, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Intel, Procter & Gamble, Schlumberger, Shell and Unilever.
Long-term professional value: The M.S. provides advanced graduate-level preparation for technical and research careers. The B.S. in Chemical Engineering at OU is ABET-accredited; the M.S. itself is a graduate degree rather than a separately ABET-accredited program.
Research and academic outcomes: OU reports graduates from its chemical-engineering graduate programs progressing to faculty and research positions at institutions including MIT, University of California–Berkeley, University of Delaware, National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of Toronto and University of Bristol.

Further Academic Progression: Students who want to continue into advanced research can pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma or apply to doctoral programs in related areas such as materials science, energy, biotechnology or chemical engineering at other research universities. The M.S. research experience can provide a foundation for doctoral-level research, academic careers and advanced R&D positions.