Chemical Engineering, ME

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Tulsa

Program Overview

The Chemical Engineering, M.E. at The University of Tulsa is designed for students who want to advance their chemical engineering knowledge and apply it to modern industrial challenges across areas such as alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum. The program combines advanced graduate coursework with rigorous engineering design and practical learning, making it suitable for students seeking to strengthen their technical expertise for professional engineering careers.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering knowledge through graduate-level study that builds on their undergraduate engineering foundation, with coursework tailored toward chemical processing, energy, materials and other areas of professional interest. UTulsa's Chemical Engineering curriculum emphasizes progressive coursework and rigorous design projects, helping students connect chemical engineering fundamentals with practical industrial problems.

Year 2:

Students continue advanced and specialized study while applying their knowledge to more complex engineering problems and professional applications. Depending on their selected coursework, students can build expertise relevant to areas such as alternative energy, biotechnology, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas, petroleum and petrochemical processing, supported by UTulsa's research and laboratory environment.

Focus Areas:

Alternative energy, biotechnology, chemical processing, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas, petroleum, petrochemical engineering, pharmaceutical applications, food processing, semiconductor applications and industrial chemical engineering.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced chemical engineering knowledge, engineering design and problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, technical analysis and the ability to apply chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering principles to industrial challenges. The program also develops practical professional skills through design projects, progressive coursework and access to experimental facilities based on industrial models.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The University of Tulsa's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The university does not separately identify the M.E. in Chemical Engineering as ABET-accredited, so the master's degree should not be described as independently ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability):

UTulsa reports a 100% placement rate for M.S.E. and M.E. Chemical Engineering graduates, providing a strong official employment outcome for the university's master's-level Chemical Engineering graduates. The university also reports a $122,000 median annual salary for chemical engineers, while noting opportunities across environmental, pharmaceutical, food processing, semiconductor, natural gas, petroleum and petrochemical industries; this salary figure is not identified as M.E.-specific.

UTulsa also identifies employers of its Chemical Engineering graduates including Pfizer, ExxonMobil, Accenture, ABB and Guardian, demonstrating the range of industries in which graduates can apply their engineering training.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Chemical Engineering, M.E. at The University of Tulsa is built around practical engineering education, with students developing problem-solving skills through rigorous design projects, progressive coursework and optional research. UTulsa specifically states that its chemical engineering teaching laboratories and experimental facilities are built around industrial models, giving students the opportunity to work with practical scenarios that reflect professional chemical engineering environments. Graduate students can also engage with faculty research spanning alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum.

Students can further develop hands-on and computational skills through the department's laboratories, research projects and engineering facilities, including:

Industrial-model teaching laboratories: Chemical Engineering teaching labs are designed around industrial models, giving students practical exposure to professional engineering scenarios rather than relying solely on theoretical study.
Rigorous design projects: UTulsa's Chemical Engineering curriculum emphasizes design projects that require students to apply engineering fundamentals to solve industrial problems.
Research opportunities: Students can participate in faculty-led research connected to alternative energy, biotechnology, chemical processing, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum.
Process simulation: UTulsa Chemical Engineering students have used process-simulation software to simulate chemical separations and operate a virtual distillation column, combining computer-aided design, process simulation, profitability and safety considerations.
Chemical Engineering laboratories: The department provides laboratory environments for areas including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mass transfer and separations, process control and unit operations.
Faculty research laboratories: The department's research environment allows students to work with faculty on specialized research projects and develop independent research skills.
TUFACE research facilities: The University of Tulsa Flow Assurance and Cold Environments project operates a hydrate flow loop, cold-flow loops, DEH test rig, autoclave, jumper/riser, low-pressure test section and analytical laboratory, supporting research relevant to flow assurance and energy applications.
Computational research: UTulsa provides computer workstations and access to high-performance computing resources for computational and theoretical research across engineering and science disciplines.
Industry-connected research: UTulsa has worked with industry partners for more than 40 years, resulting in research consortia and joint industry projects that address practical engineering problems.
Team-based experience: Chemical Engineering students have participated in team-based process simulation activities, including the university's ChemE Sports competition, where teams operated a simulated distillation process while managing safety and profitability.
North Campus resources: UTulsa's North Campus provides a major research environment focused on energy-related innovation and industry research, complementing the university's Chemical Engineering expertise in natural gas and petroleum.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemical Engineering, M.E. at The University of Tulsa prepares graduates for professional roles across chemical processing, energy, biotechnology, environmental engineering, materials, natural gas and petroleum. UTulsa reports a 100% placement rate for M.E. and M.S.E. Chemical Engineering graduates, with alumni employers including Pfizer, ExxonMobil, Accenture, ABB and Guardian.

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

Students can build their careers through UTulsa's career services, industry connections and applied engineering environment:

Career support: UTulsa's Center for Career Development (CaneCareers) offers a Job Placement Guarantee: students who follow the program and do not obtain an entry-level job in their field or continue their education within six months of graduation can receive a free semester of graduate school.
Employment outcome: The Chemical Engineering department reports a 100% placement rate for M.E. and M.S.E. graduates.
Salary information: UTulsa reports a $122,000 median annual salary for chemical engineers. This is a general Chemical Engineering career statistic and is not identified as M.E.-specific salary data.
Employer network: Chemical Engineering alumni employers include Pfizer, ExxonMobil, Accenture, ABB and Guardian, representing opportunities across pharmaceutical, energy, consulting, technology and manufacturing-related sectors.
Industry input: UTulsa's Chemical Engineering program maintains an industry-connected environment, with professional perspectives incorporated into the program through its Chemical Engineering advisory structure and industry relationships.
Practical industry preparation: The curriculum emphasizes progressive coursework, rigorous design projects and optional research, while UTulsa's teaching laboratories are built around industrial models to expose students to professional engineering scenarios.
Accreditation value: UTulsa's B.S. Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited. The university does not separately identify the M.E. as ABET-accredited, so the master's should not be described as independently ABET-accredited.
University-wide graduate outcomes: UTulsa's Graduate School reports a 100% placement rate for advanced-degree graduates, alongside close faculty interaction, hands-on experience and access to research opportunities.

Further Academic Progression: After the M.E., students can continue into The University of Tulsa's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering for advanced research and doctoral-level specialization. UTulsa lists Chemical Engineering as one of its Ph.D. fields, allowing students interested in research, academia or advanced technical positions to progress to doctoral study.