Chemical Engineering MS

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Rochester

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester combines advanced chemical engineering fundamentals with opportunities to specialize in emerging areas such as bioengineering, computational modeling and machine learning, and sustainability and the environment. Designed for students seeking advanced professional or research careers, the program offers both a thesis-based Plan A and coursework-based Plan B, with research opportunities spanning advanced materials, catalysis, batteries, biotechnology, and AI-driven simulations.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build a strong graduate-level foundation through core courses such as CHE 402: Advanced Math Methods for Engineers, CHE 441: Advanced Transport Phenomena, CHE 461: Advanced Kinetics and Reactor Design, and CHE 485: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Students can then begin tailoring their studies through one of Rochester’s optional concentrations, including Bioengineering, Computational Modeling and Machine Learning, or Sustainability and the Environment.

Year 2:

Students pursuing Plan A deepen their expertise through 6–12 credits of research and complete and defend a master's thesis, typically completing the program in two years. Students choosing Plan B focus primarily on advanced coursework, can optionally take up to six research credits, and complete an oral exit examination; this pathway can be completed in approximately one year.

Focus Areas:

Bioengineering, Computational Modeling and Machine Learning, Sustainability and the Environment, Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Catalysis and Electrochemistry, Energy and Sustainability, Micro- and Nanosystems, Polymeric Materials, Batteries, Advanced Materials, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Functional Interfaces, Optical Materials, Simulations and Artificial Intelligence.

Learning Outcomes:

Advanced chemical engineering fundamentals, mathematical and computational modeling, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, thermodynamics, research and experimental skills, machine learning and AI applications, sustainable process development, interdisciplinary problem-solving, technical analysis, independent research, and professional technical communication.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a graduate program and is not separately identified as ABET-accredited. Rochester’s undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is ABET-accredited, while the M.S. focuses on advanced graduate-level coursework, technical specialization, and research preparation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

The University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences was ranked #48 among Best Engineering Schools in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings according to the university’s current rankings page. Rochester’s Chemical Engineering department also reports that its graduates have moved into industry, government, and university positions, with past employers and institutions including St. Gobain, IBM, Exxon-Mobil, 3M, and Stanford University.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester gives students direct access to faculty-led research, advanced instrumentation, and computational resources rather than limiting learning to classroom theory. Students can choose the thesis-based Plan A, which includes 6–12 research credits, or the coursework-focused Plan B, which can include up to six research credits; research opportunities span advanced materials, catalysis, batteries, biotechnology, micro/nanosystems, and simulations and AI.

The department also emphasizes interdisciplinary work with chemistry, optics, biomedical engineering, and materials science, supported by state-of-the-art research equipment and computer facilities. Students interested in computational Chemical Engineering can work with machine learning, molecular simulations, and high-performance computing through the University’s Center for Integrated Research Computing (CIRC).

Key experiential-learning opportunities include:

Faculty-led research: MS students can join one of the department's 13 faculty research groups, with projects covering biomedicine and biotechnology, catalysis and electrochemistry, energy and sustainability, micro- and nanosystems, polymeric materials, and simulations and AI.
Plan A thesis research: Students pursuing the thesis option complete 6–12 credits of research and defend a master's thesis, providing substantial hands-on experience in a faculty research laboratory.
Advanced departmental instrumentation: Shared resources in Gavett 123 include a variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometer, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry equipment, optical microscopes, a stylus profiler, and a benchtop SEM.
Electrochemical and battery research: Faculty laboratories provide access to potentiostats, battery cyclers with approximately 50 channels, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy equipment, rotating-disk electrode setups, and a Zahner Zennium electrochemistry workstation, supporting research in batteries and electrochemistry.
Catalysis and reaction engineering: Students can work with equipment including a packed-bed reactor with an in-line Agilent 7890B gas chromatograph, as well as spectroscopy and characterization tools used in catalytic research.
Materials characterization: Research facilities include SEM with EDX, Raman microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, contact-angle measurement, thermal analysis, and thin-film measurement equipment, giving students practical experience with advanced materials characterization.
Nanotechnology facilities: The university's Integrated Nanosystems Center (URnano) provides a cleanroom, advanced materials-characterization instruments, and nanofabrication tools, with required training available for individual equipment.
Computational modeling and AI: Rochester research uses graph neural networks, Bayesian optimization, molecular dynamics, quantum calculations, and machine-learning algorithms for catalyst, polymer, battery, and materials research. These workflows are supported by the University's Center for Integrated Research Computing (CIRC) and its high-performance computing resources.
Chemical engineering software: University computing facilities provide access to AspenONE, LabVIEW with LabJack, MATLAB, R/RStudio, JMP, Minitab, SolidWorks, and other engineering and data-analysis software. AspenONE is specifically available on designated University computing machines.
Interdisciplinary research: Students can collaborate beyond Chemical Engineering with researchers in chemistry, optics, biomedical engineering, materials science, as well as the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Process-control laboratory: Rochester's Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Lab includes a process-control column where students work with control systems, heat transfer, mass and energy balances, and LabVIEW/LabJack data acquisition. This facility is primarily used in the undergraduate CHE 272 course, so it should be viewed as a department facility rather than a dedicated M.S.-only activity.
Industrial internships: The department's current M.S. page emphasizes research rather than listing a dedicated M.S. internship requirement. Therefore, an internship should not be presented as a mandatory component of the M.S.; the strongest program-specific experiential route is faculty research through Plan A or optional research in Plan B.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester is designed to open pathways to higher-level professional positions across industry, government, and academia, while also providing a route into doctoral study. Rochester reports that past M.S. graduates have moved into organizations including St. Gobain, IBM, ExxonMobil, 3M, and Stanford University, reflecting the program’s breadth across engineering, technology, research, and advanced manufacturing.

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

Key career and progression opportunities include:

Career services: University of Rochester Graduate Education provides graduate students with professional-development resources and personalized career exploration for both academic and industry pathways. Students in the Hajim School can also access school-specific career support through the University’s career-development network.
Employment and salary figures: The department identifies a $121,860 median annual wage for chemical engineers in May 2024, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is an occupation-wide U.S. figure rather than an M.S.-specific Rochester salary statistic.
Graduate employment: Rochester states that past M.S. Chemical Engineering students have quickly found employment across industry, government, and universities, with examples including St. Gobain, IBM, ExxonMobil, 3M, and Stanford University.
Industry connections: The department's alumni and professional network spans organizations such as 3M, Apple, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chevron, Dow, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Merck, Procter & Gamble, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and SPX Flow. Rochester also highlights interdisciplinary connections with engineering, chemistry, biomedical engineering, materials science, and data science.
Research-to-industry preparation: The M.S. offers faculty-led research in advanced materials, catalysis and electrocatalysis, batteries, biological and medical systems, computational fluid dynamics, functional interfaces, optical materials, and simulations and AI, giving students opportunities to build expertise relevant to emerging engineering sectors.
Accreditation value: The M.S. itself is not separately identified as ABET-accredited. Rochester's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited, while the M.S. adds graduate-level specialization and research experience rather than a separate ABET credential.
Graduation outcomes: Rochester describes the M.S. as a pathway to higher-level professional positions or continued Ph.D. study. Students can complete the degree through a thesis-based Plan A or coursework-based Plan B, allowing them to align their graduate experience with professional or research goals.
Institutional reputation: The University of Rochester's Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences was ranked #48 among Best Engineering Schools in the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S., students who want to pursue advanced research can apply to the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester or another doctoral program in a related field. Rochester's Ph.D. includes advanced Chemical Engineering coursework and original research, with research areas including materials, catalysis, biotechnology, electrochemistry, computational methods, and simulations/AI.