Chemical Engineering, M.S.E.

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Tulsa

Program Overview

The Chemical Engineering, M.S.E. at The University of Tulsa is a research-oriented master's program designed for students who want to deepen their chemical engineering expertise and work on advanced industrial and technological challenges. The program combines advanced chemical engineering coursework with a thesis and research component, making it particularly suitable for students interested in areas such as alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish their advanced chemical engineering foundation through the program's graduate core and approved technical coursework, developing deeper knowledge of chemical engineering analysis, processes and industrial applications. The curriculum is built around progressive graduate study, with students able to shape their coursework toward areas of interest while beginning to identify a research direction with faculty guidance. The M.S.E. requires 30 graduate credit hours, including the core chemical engineering curriculum and thesis research.

Year 2:

Students move further into specialized study and independent research, completing additional approved graduate coursework while developing their master's thesis. The thesis pathway includes at least 6 credit hours of thesis work, culminating in a comprehensive oral examination covering the student's graduate program and research. The department's research environment spans chemical and biochemical processing, energy, materials, biotechnology and related engineering applications.

Focus Areas:

Alternative energy, biotechnology, chemical processing, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum, advanced chemical engineering, industrial processes, energy technologies, research and technological innovation.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering knowledge, critical-thinking and engineering problem-solving skills, research capability, technical analysis, independent project skills and the ability to apply engineering principles to industrial and technological challenges. The program's research-oriented structure also develops students' ability to investigate problems and communicate technical findings through graduate research and thesis work.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The University of Tulsa's B.S. Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The university's official accreditation information specifically identifies the undergraduate Chemical Engineering degree as ABET-accredited and does not separately identify the M.S.E. as an ABET-accredited program.

Reputation (Employability):

The University of Tulsa's Chemical Engineering department reports a 100% placement rate for M.S.E. and M.E. graduates on its current Chemical Engineering program page. The department also reports a $122,000 median annual salary for chemical engineers, although this salary figure is presented for chemical engineers generally and is not identified as M.S.E.-only data.

The university's First Destination reporting also documents Chemical Engineering master's graduates moving into industry, with Petro-Chem Development Co., Inc. and Solvay USA Inc. listed among employers for M/Chemical Engineering graduates in the 2022–23 report.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Chemical Engineering, M.S.E. at The University of Tulsa combines advanced coursework with opportunities to work on research and engineering problems that reflect real industrial environments. The university emphasizes progressive coursework, rigorous design projects and research, while its Chemical Engineering facilities and teaching laboratories are designed around industrial models so students can develop practical engineering skills and experience realistic professional scenarios. Graduate students can also work with faculty on research connected to areas such as alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum.

Students can build their practical and research experience through these program-relevant opportunities:

Industrial-model teaching laboratories: UTulsa's Chemical Engineering teaching laboratories are built around industrial models, allowing students to experience practical chemical engineering scenarios rather than relying solely on classroom theory.
Research projects: The M.S.E.'s research environment allows students to work with faculty on advanced engineering problems. UTulsa highlights research opportunities connected to alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum.
Rigorous engineering design projects: Chemical Engineering programs at UTulsa use design projects to develop students' ability to approach and solve industrial engineering problems.
Earle Hall and laboratory facilities: Chemical Engineering is housed within UTulsa's engineering facilities, providing access to teaching and research environments supporting chemical engineering education and research.
Interdisciplinary research: UTulsa's College of Engineering & Computer Science supports interdisciplinary research collaborations involving engineering, science, technology and other fields, giving graduate students opportunities to work beyond a single disciplinary area.
Institute of Alternative Energy: This university research institute is particularly relevant to students interested in energy-related chemical engineering applications and alternative-energy research.
Institute of Nanotechnology: Students interested in advanced materials and nanoscale applications can benefit from UTulsa's university-wide nanotechnology research environment.
Materials Research Group: UTulsa's research collaborations include a Materials Research Group, providing an interdisciplinary setting relevant to materials-focused chemical engineering research.
Industry-connected research: UTulsa's engineering college has maintained industry research partnerships for decades, with research consortia and collaborations designed to address real industrial problems.
Energy and petroleum research environment: Students interested in petroleum, natural gas and energy applications can benefit from UTulsa's broader engineering research infrastructure, including industry-supported research collaborations such as the Tulsa University Center of Research Excellence (TUCoRE), a partnership between UTulsa and Chevron.
Computational resources: UTulsa research facilities include access to computer workstations and high-performance computing resources for computational and theoretical research, particularly through its broader engineering and science research infrastructure

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemical Engineering, M.S.E. at The University of Tulsa prepares graduates for careers across chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, environmental engineering, energy, materials, natural gas, petroleum and related industries. UTulsa currently reports a 100% placement rate for M.S.E. and M.E. Chemical Engineering graduates, while its Chemical Engineering graduates have gone on to employers including Pfizer, ExxonMobil, Accenture, ABB and Guardian.

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

Students can build their professional pathway through UTulsa's career services, employer connections and industry-focused engineering environment:

Career support: UTulsa's Center for Career Development (CaneCareers) provides job preparation throughout students' academic journeys, and the university offers a Job Placement Guarantee for students who complete the required program and do not secure an entry-level job or continue their education within six months of graduation.
Employment outcome: UTulsa reports a 100% placement rate for M.S.E. and M.E. graduates in Chemical Engineering.
Salary information: UTulsa lists a $122,000 median annual salary for chemical engineers. This is a Chemical Engineering career figure and is not identified as M.S.E.-specific salary data.
Graduate employer outcomes: UTulsa's 2022–23 First Destination Survey specifically lists Petro-Chem Development Co., Inc. and Solvay USA Inc. as employers of M/Chemical Engineering graduates.
Industry connections: The Chemical Engineering Advisory Board includes professionals from organizations such as Shell, CITGO, Honeywell-UOP, OneOK, Koch Methanol, Murphy Oil, Coterra Energy, Enerflex and Select Energy. The board contributes industry input to curriculum development, computing skills, safety and program educational objectives.
Industry-focused career preparation: UTulsa's Chemical Engineering program highlights opportunities in alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum, with alumni employers including Pfizer and ExxonMobil.
Accreditation value: UTulsa's B.S. Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The university's accreditation information does not identify the M.S.E. as separately ABET-accredited, so the master's should not be presented as independently ABET-accredited.
Graduate-school preparation: UTulsa describes its graduate programs as providing close faculty interaction, cutting-edge research and hands-on experience, giving students preparation for both professional careers and advanced study.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.S.E., students can continue into The University of Tulsa's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, allowing them to move from master's-level research into deeper independent research and doctoral specialization. UTulsa's Chemical Engineering department offers a dedicated Ph.D. program, and the university has supported Chemical Engineering doctoral students through research-focused Dissertation Completion Fellowships.